1. The Dome, Bangkok
Located at the top of The State Tower, the Dome is indeed a sight for sore eyes, and dry throats. Besides offering a scenic view of the vibrant city below and the enchanting Chao Phraya river, the skybar also lets customers choose from a tempting array of the best whiskies known to man. The bar itself changes color ever so often, creating a fairytale like ambiance as you sip on champagne and feast on fresh, juicy oysters.

2. Vertigo 42, London
Like its name implies, this skybar is located at the 42nd level of Tower 42. Couples have been known to frequent this bar to enjoy the romantic view of the Thames and the St Paul’s Cathedral, and there has been quite a number of proposals which happened right in the bar. Besides offering a good selection of canapes, you can also ask for their famous cheesecake, which is said to melt in your mouth AND in your heart!

3. Rainbow Room, New York
Are you dressed to the nines in New York and want to be seen AND heard? Check out the Rainbow Room, all the way up in the 65th floor of the famous Rockefeller Center. Here, you can revel in the Art Deco-ish ambiance and rub shoulders with famous celebrities such as John Travolta who, incidentally, names the Rainbow Room skybar as one of his favorite night spots in New York.

4. Aqua
If you’ve been to Hong Kong and wondered where’s the party at, wonder no more. Ask any local about Aqua and chances are they will nod their heads in approval – only the most glamorous crowd mingle amongst each other in Aqua. Besides indulging in drinks and merry making all night long, you have the option to caress your tastebuds with the most palatable morsels of food. Take your pick from Italian food from the Aqua-Roma, or Japanese sushi from the Tatami Room.

1. Castle Leslie, Ireland
This ornate castle was build more than 3 centuries ago and belonged to the Leslie family ever since. Perfect for celebrities and those who are rich and famous, this 5-star retreat offers ideal solitude with the absence of the Internet, telephones and televisions. And if you have a craving for the supernatural, do ask to stay in the Norman Room, so called based on the name of the ghostly apparition that manifests from time to time. Don’t worry, he’s harmless, only known to haunt that particular room and appear to guests as a smiling entity.

2. Crescent Hotel, Arkansas, Unites States
The hotel itself was established in the year 1886 but due to financial problems, it was abandoned in the 1940’s. Several decades later, the new owners of the Crescent Hotel re-opened the grand Victorian structure in the year 1972. From then on, ghostly hauntings were so common that even the infamous Ghost Hunters team from the titular TV show deemed it fit to visit the hotel and conduct their investigations. During the course of their one night stay there, they captured a dark figure roaming the grounds with their infra red camera. So know you know the hotel has been given a seal of approval – for possibly America’s most haunted lodging establishment.

3. Hotel de Coronado, San Diego, United States
The Hotel de Coronado in San Diego bears two similarities to the Crescent Hotel featured above: it was also built in the 19th century and featured Victorian designs on its exterior facade. In the recent years, this hotel is well known amongst both locals and tourists as a premier Victorian beach resort AND a haunting hot spot after the spirit of one Kate Morgan was reported to roam the hotel grounds and especially room 302 in the year 1892. Why room 302, you ask? That’s because it was the room that she was supposed to meet and make up with her estranged spouse, Tom. Tom never did appear and her dead body appeared on the main hotel steps six days later, with a bullet wound on her head. As much as the locals would draw their own conclusions, the mystery was never solved…

4. The Langham Hotel, London
This hotel was established in the year 1865 and was deemed the first luxurious hotel in the London. The British Broadcasting Corporation were once owners of this opulent hotel in its heyday and although the hotel since retained its regality, it is now a famous site for ghost hunters and those who seek a paranormal thrill during their stay in London. It was said that Room 333 houses the most spiritual activity where a spirit dressed to the nines in Edwardian costume was said to have appeared out of thin air. Assorted ghosts such as a German soldier and the spirit of Napolean III has been seen in the compound.

5. Hollywood Roosevelt, California
This hotel is a historical landmark in the city of California, United States. Named after President Teddy Roosevelt, the hotel was built in the year 1927 and was situated most strategically across the street from the Chinese Theater, ensuring that the Hotel Roosevelt was never short of celebrities in its guest roster, especially the ghostly apparition of Marilyn Monroe who continued to haunt her favorite suite 1200 even after her death.

China is actually a vibrant and rapidly developing economy. It’s now one of the strongest in the world, and every Chinese person is proud of their heritage.

Almost everywhere you go in China you can see people who are proud and respectful. As the world looks on, many are uncertain as to what China is about and there is still a great deal of mystery about what will become of this country, as it has rapidly transformed into a major global superpower.

The Beijing Olympics is perhaps the single most important event that could have happened to China. The Olympic Games brought world-wide media coverage to a country which for the most part had been ignored. From Hong Kong to Macau, many westerners have treated China with a wide berth, but China has now proven to the world it can be a great place for a holiday as there are countless great locations to visit. This really is a country that offers something unique every day, but the great part is that much of it is undiscovered and lies ready to be found as the country has largely opened up to western tourists.

Shenzhen is a major city in the heart of China. It’s not Hong Kong, it’s not Macau – it’s Shenzhen. Shenzhen is the third largest city in China, and it is also the country’s richest. It’s a place that’s often been forgotten by the west, however within China itself Shenzhen has a famous reputation for its shopping, restaurants and architecture that makes it very typically Chinese.

Shenzhen is an amazing city, and this is evident everywhere you go with its well-developed infrastructure. It is right next to Hong Kong and many residents from Hong Kong come here regularly to take advantage of the great night life and other attractions such as the many theme parks, museums and galleries which are central to the city.

Shanghai is home to around 18 million people making it one of the largest cities in the world. The city of Shanghai is also one of the most famous, with countless sights and attractions citywide. With Shanghai, simply staying in one part of the city and venturing out is not enough, as there is just so much to see. Everything from the French district that you never knew it had to the Bund which is now the major financial hub of China can be seen in Shanghai as well as countless other spectacles await you in Shanghai.

Shanghai really is the fusion of old, new east and west. It is here that you can really start to see China’s greatness, and from Shanghai you can discover this amazing city which is just as much of an urban metropolis as any city in the west, and with 18 million people is one of the largest cities in the world.

Beijing is the capital city of China and it’s a city that like many in China is growing so fast, that many maps you’ll find in tourist guides are outdated. Beijing serves as the capital city of China and it is here that you can find the world-famous Bird’s nest stadium which held the Olympics, as well as some of the most famous museums in Asia.

This city like no other, with locations such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City just a stone throw away. Beijing is a city with so much character that it simply must be seen to be believed. People say that one of the best ways to get around the city is by bicycle, but that’s only if you’re brave enough!

Hong Kong is one of the very unique islands under Chinese sovereignty, in that it’s very much a Cantonese city and its former British influences means that you can experience a diverse range of cultures on this small island which has also become a major world financial center. Hong Kong is a great city in its own right, and one cannot truly call it Chinese, and whilst the people are proud to be Chinese, they are even prouder when they say they’re from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is rapidly becoming a major tourist destination because of its history but more importantly because of its future, as even though Hong Kong is under Chinese rule, it still has its own administrative government and currency. There is so much to do here with museums beaches, and also the much loved city life that makes it so famous.

Hangzhou is like the land that time forgot. It’s a world famous tourist destination because it is unspoiled and simply breathtaking. One of the most famous attractions is the Hangzhou it features amazing scenery, from the pavilion located on the island which is around 500 years old, or to the Su causeway which is over 3km long and over 800 years old.

Hiring a bike is something that you can do easily in Hangzhou and it’s one of the best ways to enjoy this famously beautiful city. With so much to see, you really will need to stay here for a while to take in the whole city, never mind everything on the West Lake itself.

No matter what anyone says, China is a magical kingdom that’s developing fast. Now may be the perfect time to see the country which has managed to transform in as little as 60 years. If you’ve thought about a trip to Asia, then visiting China will give you the experience of a lifetime.

Trinidad and Tobago are renowned for their vast variety of exotic foods. Travelers should go out of their way to make sure that they give these 3 classics a go. You’ll be glad that you did.

Doubles is a sandwich with Eastern Indian descent. It is made with two flat fried flour flat breads, called “Bairai”, filled with curried peas and other vegetables. It is topped with a very spicy chile sauce and if you are feeling adventurous, you can add some chopped jalapeños. Doubles is actually considered a breakfast food and can typically be purchased from street vendors in the morning. It is also a very popular “after bar” food. There’s nothing quite like ea Doubles at 3am after a long night of drinking! Remember to always keep an eye out for the cart that has the longest line. This will be the best and probably safest place to find a Doubles.  

Roti, also of East Indian influence, is a wonderful alternative to convenience foods like burgers and fries. Roti is an Indian made tortilla wrap that has curried chickpeas, goat and several different types of cabbages and greens. It is usually served with chopped peppers with a variety of sauces. The traditional condiment for this dish is usually Siracha (a Vietnamese chile and garlic paste sauce)

Shark Bake, this is a Trinidad invention by a local called Richard Papaya. If you could tell by the name, Shark Bake is a sandwich made of a grilled bun and deep fried shark in the middle. The best place to get a Shark Bake is at Maracas Bay There are several vendors selling this traditional dish in this market. The best stalls will always have the longest lines and will have a wide variety of toppings and fillings to choose from. Although it may seem unappetizing, Shark is actually quite a subtle flavor and is very tasty.

The unique food of New Orleans’ locals is a virtual melting pot of worldwide cultures. The big easy has used recipes from all parts of the world. French, Indian, Southern American, Mexican and even African influences can be found in a lot of New Orleans dishes. When you think about food from New Orleans two terms probably pop up, Creole and Cajun. Although these terms are thrown around loosely, especially with a popular chicken franchise, there is a distinct difference between the two styles of cooking.

 Cajun dishes refer to a very rustic, almost hotpot style of cooking. Flavors are typically put together in stews or other heavy sauces. This type of cooking is heavily influenced by not only French, but African campfire cooking techniques. In one word Cajun = Hearty.

 Creole food on the other hand is “city food”. Creole food is a little more refined than its Cajun cousin. Typically these dishes were historically serviced to the businessmen and prominent members of pre-industrial era New Orleans. This type of cooking is primarily French with small Spanish and Mediterranean influences, especially on seafood. Original New Orleans French settlers borrowed several preparations of local ingredients from Spanish and southern Island travelers

 There are some dishes that nicely pair both Cajun and Creole cooking both into the preparation. Gumbo is a great example as it pairs both classical French Creole roux making techniques and rustic Cajun ingredients.  

 There are some key steps to making a good gumbo.

 The roux

A traditional New Orleans gumbo is made with a very dark roux. A roux is simply 1 part clarified butter to 1 part flour. This will give the gumbo not only that tell tale New Orleans Smokey flavor but is also necessary to thicken the gumbo.

 The ingredients.

Fresh ingredients are must for Gumbo. Typical ingredients include celery, green bell pepper, garlic, onion, spicy sausage, shrimp, crawfish and okra.

 Time and preparation.

Although I suppose it’s possible to make something close, good, authentic gumbo can’t be made in an hour. Heck it would be tough to make the roux in an hour! Good gumbo is a day long preparation. The best and most authentic way to make it is in a large cast-iron pot over an open outdoor fire. I’m not sure what it is but there’s something about cooking gumbo over an open fire that just screams rural Cajun.

North Africa is home to the world’s largest and hottest desert, the Sahara. Although on the surface the Sahara may seem like a culinary wasteland, however you’d be surprised to find out that the regions around the Sahara have a lot of choices when it comes to food. Lamb, chicken and various vegetables are staple ingredients in Saharan cooking, which borrows technique and recipes from all of its many desert neighbors.  

North African cuisine is very prominent in the areas around the Sahara. You simply can’t replicate these types of flavors anywhere else in the world. The preparation and source of ingredients makes the Sahara are truly unique culinary experience. Although African cuisine is definitely a little different than we might be used to, their influence is very French and European. Although the ingredient may scream exotic African, traditional sauce creation and classic culinary technique all originated with the French Escoffier culinary techniques.

One of the best parts of Saharan dining is the huge variety of foods to choose from. The thing people should realize about the Sahara is that although the desert itself may be pretty inhospitable and culinary choices are quite limited (unless you’re really into eating insects!) the Sahara is so big that it borders a lot of different areas. Food professionals around the Sahara have easy access to the Sahara’s neighbors and their ingredients. As strange as it may sound, seafood is very popular in the Sahara. Many of the border nations of the Sahara have thriving seafood and fish industry, which gets traded for other areas produce, dairy and other ingredients. It’s actually really interesting to see the give and take relationship these traders have with each other. For decade’s world conflict and other “outsiders” issues have been out aside to keep this complex network of food purveyors moving.

The Saharan desert may look like a complete wasteland on the surface….and to a point that’s true. The desert itself it’s a pretty tough environment. However, the local purveyors around this region have worked together for centuries now to turn a once desolate area into a real culinary “hot” spot!

Think you’ve tried everything? Are you the type who laughs in the face of nuclear strength Asian hot peppers? Scoffs at a handful of African deep-fried crickets or will happily grub down on things that normal people wouldn’t even touch? (Well except maybe the French!) Well then you are going to love this list of exotic culinary delicacies from around the world.

 Grilled Iguana meat, El Salvador

Iguanas are typically thought of as the pets of eccentric lizard-lovers or in very dry regions of America as bothersome desert pests… But that’s not all – in some areas of the world, especially El Salvador, iguana meat is a true delicacy revered more than the finest seafood or beef. El Salvador locals also swear by iguana meat as a cure-all for any number of ailments. The most humorous thing about iguana meat…almost everyone that has tasted it will tell you the same thing – it really does taste like chicken!

 Fermented century eggs, Southern China

Disgusted yet? Most people are. In china the Fermented century eggs are highly revered as an expensive delicacy. Here’s a brief explanation on how they are made. Duck, quail, chicken or guinea fowl eggs are kept in a mix of salt, clay, ash and various other ingredients dependant on the region. Next the entire concoction is wrapped in a rice straw bundle. Lime juice is added to make sure the egg doesn’t actually become TOO rotten. As the egg ferments, the clay mixture will turn into a hard crust, preserving the delicate egg. Only after 4 long and smelly months is the egg finally ready to be eaten. Typically the crust is cut as smoothly as possible so the egg can be cooked and served in it.

 Odori ebi, Japan

Odori ebi or “dancing prawn” is a live sushi dish that you probably aren’t going to find at your neighborhood sushi restaurant. Unless you are in some remote village in Japan of course! The Odori ebi is a type of soft-shelled prawn that’s eaten live. For what we’ve read the prawn literally “dances” all the way down. There is also a traditional sauce and drink that goes with this dish. Although we aren’t discounting it just yet, we’re pretty sure this local delicacy won’t be making an appearance in America any time soon.

One of the worst things that can happen on a vacation is food poisoning. The traveler’s sickness, some call it, can ruin a perfectly good vacation and have laid up for days or even weeks in bed. This is especially common if you are traveling to an underdeveloped country. Here are a few easy steps to help you avoid the most common food mistakes that can make you sick.

Try to stay away from raw vegetables if you are in an area that is not industrialized. This includes lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers and especially mushrooms. Cooked vegetables are fine, but make sure that the food has been cooked properly and hasn’t been sitting out for too long.

When traveling to undeveloped countries, stay away from fruit without a natural peel.  Fruits like oranges, bananas and mangoes should be ok because the rind will act like a natural shield from bacteria. It’s best to stay away from ready to eat fruits like apples, strawberries, blueberries and other non-rined fruits.

It’s important to understand where the water is coming from. If you are in a resort down in Jamaica then you probably don’t have to worry about a glass of tap water, however in other parts of the world, the water can make you really sick because your stomach isn’t used to the contaminants in them. Locals have grown immune to these bacteria’s and can usually drink it safely. Our delicate Western stomachs however can’t. .

Be very careful of street food. Street foods in foreign places might be some of the best food you’ve ever eaten and some may make you violently sick. The best rule of thumb for street food is to simply follow the locals. If there are stands that always have long lines and are very popular then it’s probably ok to eat there. The food is usually made to order and hasn’t been sitting long if at all. However if you see a lonely stand that doesn’t get a lot of business, stay away.

Eating authentic foods of the region can be really fun, but it again can also make our western stomachs very upset. Foods like insects, nuclear-hot peppers, and strange meats we’d typically throw away are staple foods in a lot of counties diets. Although they might be tasty (not sure about the insects) you could have a bad reaction to them.

Bananas are a natural indigestion cure and can help with all sorts of digestive problems. Try to eat 1 or 2 bananas a day t helps you stay healthy on vacation.

Cipro is a very powerful digestion supplement that you could use in a worst-case scenario. It’s probably a good idea to buy this on your trip even if you aren’t going to a place that food safety is a concern.  If for whatever reason you do get food poisoning Cipro will help fight the bug better than anything else.

One of my favorite southern dishes is a classic, New Orleans Jambalaya  Unfortunately for a 9-5 mom I rarely get to make it because it takes so long to make. At best I’ll only be able to mix up a pot of Jambalaya once or twice a year because to make it authentic, you’ll practically need all day to cook it…and seriously, who has that kind of time? Recently I’ve began experimenting with adding seasonings and different ingredients to the premade box Jambalaya mixes. Usually I stay as far away from boxed food as possible, but this recipe is probably the closest i’ve come to real Jambalaya that can be cooked in 30 minutes.

Ingredients
1 premade box of Jambalaya mix. Zataran’s is the best I’ve found. Stay away from Uncle Ben’s Jambalaya mix…it turns to mush in this recipe very quickly.
1 pound of Anduie sausage (smoked sausage will work well, as well as chriritzo sausage)
¾ pound of chicken cut into bite sized pieces
One red onion, medium dice
1 green bell pepper medium dice
1 red pepper medium dice

1. Heat up a medium sized skillet on high heat. Brown your sausage. I typically try to season each ingredient separately so I would probably add some pepper here. I wouldn’t add salt because there is plenty in the sausage.

2. Next add the cut chicken and onions and peppers. We add the chicken separately from the sausage because the fat in the sausage will render out in the cooking process. This way we don’t have to add more butter or oil to brown the chicken and onions. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

3. In a separate saucepan, mix the Jambalaya mix with 2 cups of water and boil over high heat until it is almost done but it’s still a little crunchy to the bite. 

4. Combine both pans together and let it simmer in another ¼ cp of water for about 15 minutes over medium-low heat. This will finish cooking the rice in the mix.

*If you like a little kick to your Jambalaya you can substitute one of the bell peppers for a spicy jalapeño or habanero pepper. Just be careful when cutting it that you don’t get any of the pepper’s juices on your hands and then rub your eyes. I typically use a glove I keep in the kitchen for exactly this purpose.

The traditional Fijian Breadfruit has been gaining is becoming more and more popular in Fiji and around the world where it can be imported. Originally the Fijian Breadfruit was considered a food for the lower class, but like almost all ingredients like this around the world, it has grown to be a delicious and traditional dish of the area. The breadfruit trees grow very fast and can reach almost 90 feet tall. Its fruit can be sautéed, grilled or roasted into what the Fijian’s call ”bread”. Breadfruit doesn’t actually resemble bread itself, but the texture of the fruit is very much like a crusty French baguette when cooked. Raw Breadfruit is commonly made into purees, deep fried or even candied.

There are various foods indigenous to Fiji that you’d have a hard time finding anywhere else in the world. One of the staple Fijian root vegetables, Dalo, tastes very close to an artichoke, although it looks a lot like a potato.

Fijian Seafood is typically sauced in a coconut béchamel sauce made with shallots, lemons and peppers in a preparation called “Minti” Palusami, a very traditional island side dish is composed of taro leaves that are formed into cups with fish, root vegetables and spicy peppers added in the middle. The “cup” is then steam-cooked.

A typical Fijian meal isn’t going to be quite like a Sunday lunch at Grandma’s although you soon won’t forget the unique flavors and textures of indigenous Fijian ingredients.