Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 149 of 195

Polestar ramps up Volvo XC60 to 421 hp

Polestar has optimized the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid to deliver 421 hp, making it the most powerful Volvo ever along with the Polestar version of the XC90 plug-in.
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Despite the extra 21 hp, Polestar says its XC60 plug-in hybrid maintains the same pure electric range as the standard model. To improve performance, Polestar adjusted the engine for more power and torque in the mid-range. It also made the XC60’s transmission shifts faster and optimized the shift points to enhance mid-range engine performance.

Volvo’s performance partner since 1996 offers a number of optimized Volvos, including the XC60’s stablemates, the S60 and V60. Two years after Volvo bought Polestar Performance, the tuning company announced it would become its own separately branded high-performance company dedicated to electrified vehicles. This announcement came just before Volvo vowed to stop producing vehicles that run only on gasoline, moving toward an electrified future.
The Polestar XC60 plug-in retains the Volvo warranty. Other than the T8 plug-in hybrid model, Polestar offers other high-performance versions of the XC60 around the globe, including the T5 and T6 gas models and D4 and D5 diesel models.
The 2018 Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid for the U.S. combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to an electric motor for a total system output of 400 hp. It goes on sale here this fall.

Motortrend | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

5 Reasons to Visit Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

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Despite its formal name change, the sprawling southern Vietnamese metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, is still widely known as Saigon—its name prior to being taken by North Vietnamese troops in April 1975 at the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In the four decades since Vietnam’s reunification—and particularly over the past decade—rapid economic development and a construction boom have drastically altered the city’s physical complexion, if not its character.
The contrast between old and new comes into stark focus even as the city whips past in a blur from the back of a Yamaha motorbike. Vendors slowly push bicycles laden with flowers, fruit, and baked goods past storefronts like Salvatore Ferragamo and Starbucks. Men loll on the back of parked motorbikes swiping lazily at smartphones, shaded by the growing cast of office towers crowding the city’s skyline. Rooftop bars, swimming pools, restaurants, and nightclubs now dot the skies—though in a former time some, like the U.S. embassy, served as evacuation centers for U.S. military helicopters during the final hours of the war.

GET A CAFFEINE FIX

The Old Compass Cafe just off Pasteur offers serene surroundings in the otherwise chaotic city center alongside quality European and Vietnamese coffee drinks and a small menu of excellent Vietnamese bites, beer, and wine.
A regular hangout for expats and travelers, Au Parc is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant, but its enviable position alongside the park at Independence Palace makes it an attractive vantage point for enjoying a morning coffee as the city awakens.

Outside the city center in District 3, the family-operated, 79-year-old Cheo Leo Cafe still serves cà phê vợt, or “stocking coffee,” brewed by an antique method of straining coffee through a long, sock-like filter into traditional clay pots before serving.
Hatvala on Lê Thánh Tôn offers an expertly curated range of locally sourced teas and coffees that can be enjoyed in a well-appointed tasting room as well as beans and tea leaves to take home. Staff can also prepare a tea tasting of several varieties—call ahead for availability.

HIT THE MARKETS

Centrally located in District 1, Bến Thành Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most popular, offering goods like Vietnamese silk, handicrafts, T-shirts, souvenirs, and street-style cuisine. Haggling is encouraged and expected, and good Vietnamese silk can be bought on the cheap for those who can spot quality and are willing to stand tall in the face of a highball offer.

Opposite Bến Thành Market, Lê Công Kiều Street—also known as Antique Street—is lined with narrow storefronts selling porcelain, art, old coins, furniture, religious statuary, colonial-era artifacts, and U.S. military relics. Recognizing the difference between genuine and counterfeit items can be tough, and haggling rules remain in effect. Those with a specific interest in military memorabilia may have better luck at Dân Sinh Market a few blocks to the south, a clearing house for military kit left behind by the French, U.S., and various Vietnamese forces that have occupied Ho Chi Minh City throughout the past century.
Bình Tây Market in Ho Chi Minh City’s largest Chinatown district mainly serves locals, and while less interesting to souvenir shoppers, much of what’s sold there comes in bulk. Bình Tây Market includes both a sprawling food market packed with local and unique Vietnamese and Chinese ingredients as well as a food court serving regional favorites. Come for breakfast—that’s what the locals do.

STROLL THROUGH HISTORY

Located on the northern edge of District 1, the Jade Emperor Pagoda—built in 1909—is a tranquil Taoist homage to the ‘God of the Heavens’ (Ngoc Hoang). A functioning place of worship, the temple complex teems with Taoist and Buddhist divinities and symbols, including an incense-shrouded statue of the Emperor himself.
Now home to the city’s ballet and symphony, the Saigon Opera House was built in 1897 and briefly served as the Lower House assembly of South Vietnam after its establishment in 1955. Nearby, the Saigon Central Post Office, designed by French architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux (though often erroneously credited to Gustave Eiffel) and completed in 1891, provides what is perhaps the city’s best example of French Colonial period style, boasting high, barrel-vaulted ceilings, liberal wrought iron accents, and a beautifully tiled floor.
The Notre Dame Cathedral, completed in 1880, holds Sunday morning mass and is open for tours every other morning of the week. Many visitors, however, find the statue of the Virgin Mary standing in front of the Romanesque cathedral holds more mystique. In a so-called miracle, a tear reportedly streaked down the statue’s face in 2005, though this has not been recognized by the Vatican.

EAT LOCAL

Travelers burned out on Vietnamese staples like pho can find just about anything, from seriously good Mediterranean mezze (try Beirut near the old opium refinery building) to Carolina-style barbecue pork ribs (seriously—inquire at Jake’s American BBQ on Pasteur).

Cuisine originating closer to home includes hủ tiếu, a southern Vietnamese dish of rice noodles and pork in a pork-based broth that originated with the region’s long-ago Chinese settlers (try it at Quán Hủ Tiếu Mỹ Tho Thanh Xuân, a 40-year-old joint tucked into an alleyway in central Ho Chi Minh City). Though not exactly local, Bun Cha is a northern Vietnamese favorite, comprised of grilled pork served over rice noodles and served alongside various herbs and a sweet dipping sauce.

Pho lovers will have no problem tracking down a warm bowl of that ubiquitous, expertly seasoned beef noodle soup (Phở Quỳnh and Phở Cao Vân are popular local places), as well as other lesser known savory dishes like bò kho, a French-influenced, but very Vietnamese, braised beef stew.

OLD-FASHIONED SIPS

For three years in the early 1950s, English novelist Graham Greene holed up in the Hotel Continental Saigon writing The Quiet American, an alternately harrowing and romantic picture of wartime Saigon. Lovers of both history and literature still flock to the Continental’s historic bar overlooking the hotel’s charming courtyard.
The nearby Caravelle Hotel housed various embassies and news bureaus throughout the Vietnam War, making it a hub of international communication and an attractive watering hole for thirsty reporters. Bombed in 1964 and nationalized after the city fell in 1975, the Caravelle has undergone many changes since opening its doors in 1959, but the tenth-floor Saigon Saigon rooftop bar remains where it’s always been.
Arguably the best vantage point from which to take in Ho Chi Minh City—old and new—is the rooftop bar at the Rex Hotel, a historic French-colonial verandah now surrounded on all sides by the city’s vertical building boom. During the war, the U.S. military held its daily press briefings in the Rex Hotel bar, affairs that grew increasingly raucous as the gap between the war’s grim reality and official military accounts widened. Reporters nicknamed the briefings “The Five O’Clock Follies,” an afternoon ritual after which journalists, military officers, diplomats, and spies could all enjoy a few cocktails, take in the sunset, and watch the returning bombers. These days the bombers are gone but the stunning sunsets remain, and the only Five O’Clock Follies come in Collins glasses, over rocks, with plenty of vodka, rum, and Midori.

Nationalgeographic | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Ho Chi Minh City ranks among best cities for solo travellers

Taking a solo trip to explore exotic parts of the world is becoming more popular among globetrotters, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is a rising star on the list of places to visit. Airbnb has listed Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City among the top 10 best cities for solo travellers.

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Ho Chi Minh City ranks in second position in the list, after Mexico’s Cancun City. The list is based on data provided by the popular home rental site for 2016. Airbnb shows that HCMC is one of the friendliest destinations for solo travellers, solo bookings for HCMC surged 146 percent in 2016.

Airbnb is a website that connects travelers with empty rooms to rent during their travels. In addition, the website also supports travelers in selecting tourist attractions, restaurants and cafes.

10 hottest cities for solo travel, according to Airbnb:

1. Cancún, Mexico

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3. Cologne, Germany

4. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

5. Johannesburg, South Africa

6. São Paulo, Brazil

7. Auckland, New Zealand

8. Mexico City, Mexico

9. Charlotte, North Carolina

10. Busan, South Korea

Airbnb | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Well-known destinations in Can Tho

Also known among Vietnamese as ‘Tay Do’, meaning the Capital of the West, Can Tho is a truly happening city in the Mekong Delta Region. While famous for its pastoral beauty of complex waterway network and lush fruit orchards, Can Tho is also a buzzy city with sufficient facilities to accommodate and entertain visitors both domestic and abroad.
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1. TAY DO NIGHT MARKET

Tay Do Night Market is approximately 1km far from the central of Can Tho City. This market is not only well-known as the trading centre of Can Tho City, but also attractive tourism destination.
In the past, Tay Do night market was a wholesale market, mainly exchanging goods in and out of Vietnam. However, in the recent year, besides the task of exchanging products, Tay Do night market is also used for cuisine and entertainment services. Basing on its large scale and importance, Tay Do night market is recognized as a large trading centre in Mekong Delta.
Tay Do night market is designed in accordance with the landscape around and expresses the Southern style. The market is divided into many stalls of clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, foods… which can meet all the demand of local and tourisms. In addition, there are many interesting activities like games and traditional music shows.

2. CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET

The Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta, starts around 05:00 and runs until around midday, meaning that you’ll have to get an early start to the day if you want to visit. Most tour boats along the riverfront leave between 05:00 and 07:00, so if don’t make it to the water by then you’ll have a hard time finding a tour.
The market is about six kilometres from Can Tho, or about a 30-minute boat ride. While floating down the river, you will glimpse life along its shores. You’ll pass vibrantly painted boats anchored along the shore, merchant vessels carrying loads down the river and houses built on stilts over the water.
Once you finally reach the market, it’s an impressive site. A stretch of boats selling all variety of goods lines the river. Not really a place for souvenirs, people come here instead to buy large quantities of goods, mostly foodstuffs, and you will get an idea of what water commerce in the Delta looks like.

3. BUU TRI PAGODA

This pagoda is located about five kilometres from the city centre and is housed in a square four-storey structure. The entrance is dominated by ornate tiling and a wooden sitting Buddha. While this part emanates spirituality, throwing off the ambiance a bit is the rather gaudy chandelier hanging just before the Buddha.
The pagoda also houses an orphanage so don’t be surprised if you have an entourage of children following you. While each floor has an almost identical floor plan, there are different buddhas on each level.

4. PHAT HOC PAGODA

This immense building dominates the corner of Hoa Binh and Nguyen Thai Hoc — one of the busiest intersections of Can Tho. Set on five floors, ornate stone staircases crisscross at the brown and tan building.
The ground floor courtyard holds a tree festooned with red pieces of paper that wellwishers can purchase at the gift shop next door and place on the tree for good luck. Smiling monks congregate throughout the complex and like Buu Tri Pagoda, each floor has a different Buddha statue as a centrepiece. The top floor has commanding views of the city but none overlook the river.

5. BANG LANG STORK GARDEN

Located in Binh Thoi Hamlet, Thoi Thuan Commune, Thot Not District, 52 kilometers from the center of Can Tho City, Bang Lang Stork Garden is a popular stop for tourists. The garden covers about two hectares and is home to thousands of storks as well as many other kinds of birds. There are various species of storks living at Bang Lang Stork Garden including cattle egret, ibis, striated heron and painted stork.
There are also other species making it their home such as black-crowned night heron, little cormorant and greater coucal heron. Eighty percent of birds in the garden are the white cattle egret. This species of stork often builds their nests in the garden from March to August of the lunar year. The best time to admire the garden is 5 p.m. when flocks of storks fly back to their nests. They hover on the sky then perch on tree peaks, twitter together and pose in the wind. There is a three-meter watching tower for tourists to see birds.

6. BINH THUY ANCIENT HOUSE

Binh Thuy ancient house is an ideal place to explore the region’s history. Located at 26/1A Bui Huu Nghia Street in Binh Thuy ward, about five kilometers from downtown Can Tho, the house is filled with features that represent rural areas in the Mekong Delta region during the 20th century.
The French-style house was built in 1870 by the Duong family on an area of nearly 6,000 sq m. Its base is about one meter higher than the land surface. In order to keep warm and avoid termites, the house owner laid a 10 cm layer of salt under the floorboards. With front and back gardens, the five-room house offers a comfortable environment full of fresh air and brilliant sunshine.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Two-day trip in Can Tho

No trip to the south of Vietnam is complete without a stop in the Mekong Delta and the usual destination is Can Tho. Though primarily known for its vibrant floating markets, it has enough to see to keep you occupied for a little longer. Here’s how we’d suggest spending two days.
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You’ll probably arrive in the early afternoon if you take the early bus from Ho Chi Minh City, so the first order of business is finding accommodation. Due to its popularity as a tourist destination, there is plenty to be had across price ranges. If you are on a budget, Tay Ho Hotel is a good option due to its central location, clean rooms and cheap prices, with rooms starting at 300,000 VND. If this is booked out, try Hien Guesthouse (do try the house-made yoghurt) or neighbouring Thanh Ha. Good midrange options are Hau Giang and Saigon Can Tho, while if you are looking to splash out, look no further than Kim Tho or Golf Hotel.

For lunch, check out Phong Nam, which has front and centre seating to the action on the riverside. Or try Cay Me, which has some of the best banh cuon this side of the Mekong. Originally a dish from the north, southerners spruce these pork-stuffed rice rolls by adding in fresh basil, bean sprouts and a tangy nuoc cham dipping sauce.

Next: exploring. Take a stroll to Can Tho Museum, though do make sure you arrive on the right day as the museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays (and also for a long lunch break). Try the cafe sua da at their cafe, then pop across the street to the Can Tho Military Museum, which houses rather drab and rusting war relics but it’s free — and you should check out the two stained glass windows done in 1960s-style propaganda art at the back.
For a pre-dinner drink, head to Kim Tho Hotel’s 12th floor cafe-bar which boasts stunning views of Can Tho Bridge and Ninh Kieu Quay. Then for dinner, Nam Bo is the high-end option, while the more budget conscious should head along Phan Chu Trinh for street fare. For a nightcap, check out head Cappuccino, which has the cheapest Tiger beer in the Mekong with a 450ml bottle running 50,000 VND.

Next morning, wake up way too early to check out Cai Rang floating market — most tours start at 6am as the market tends to wind down by 9am. The Delta’s abundant produce is on show as you watch a lively scene that has played out across the generations living on and around the Mekong. Farmers in small boats ply their wares to buyers in larger boats, which will eventually make the long trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

If you are in need of breakfast, be patient — someone will eventually pull up to your boat with coffee and either some hu tieu or chao for you to munch on. Depending on how long your tour is, you might be able to check out some of the smaller canals as well, which we would recommend.

Load up on some more caffeine at Hop Pho, a Can Tho mainstay serving coffee and ice cream, then for lunch, head to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, which offers an abundance of local eats such as nem nuong. If you are in the mood for pho, head to Pho Oanh on Ly Tu Trong and make sure to get a stick of bo nem nuong with your soup.
Spend the rest of your afternoon touring Can Tho’s four notable pagodas: Buu Tri, Quang Duc, Phat Hoc and Chua Munirensay. While the first three are typical of pagodas in Vietnam, the last reflects the style of the former Khmer owners of the region, with its bright yellows and oranges standing in contrast to the usual browns seen in Vietnamese pagodas. Monks in the pagoda will gladly show you around.
For something a bit different, grab dinner on Nha Hang Du Thuyen, a floating restaurant on a three-decker boat. The boat leaves at 19:30 and serves local fare at higher prices than you’ll find on land, but the premium is worth it. Grab a seat on the top deck and dine al fresco with view of Can Tho town on one side and the bridge on the other. Do note that once you are on, you are there until 21:00.

For something a bit cheaper, head to De Tham Street, a magnet for hungry locals. We suggest the tasty grilled chicken wings you’ll find at a small green house about 100 metres past Hem 88. Round out your night with a bit of shopping at the Can Tho Night Market.
Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta, which makes it a hub for transport in the region. From Saigon, a bus will take four hours and cost 120,000 VND. It is also possible to fly to Can Tho with regular flights on Vietnam Airlines from Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc Island.

Travelfish | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Wanderlust Tips travel magazine’s July issue 2017: Leaving to return

The July issue of Wanderlust Tips will be the melodious tune that follows us all the way. Sometimes we travel not only to come but also to return to our beloved ones, to the cultural and historical values.
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“Cross the rocky streams, climb steep slopes, no matter how big the challenges, we will overcome them.”

For today’s young generation, maturity is marked by the journeys you’ve completed and the distinctive experiences you’ve had. Sometimes, we travel to come home and be with our beloved families. Sometimes, we go on a journey to return to nature or explore history and cultural heritage.

These are journeys to find core and long-standing values. Be it fresh and romantic Dalat with its ancient French architecture, flowers on grassy hills and green pine forests full of hidden love stories.

Or Kathmandu covered in red dust, home to local people in traditional clothes living in old buildings that look like they were built decades ago.

Here, caves, stalactites and stalagmites created by Mother Nature millions of years ago, overwhelm visitors.

There, travellers are astounded by the splendour of palaces, castles and temples built by human hands centuries before ours.

Travel with the July issue of Wanderlust Tips to hidden corners of the gentle and darling Hanoi, or on yachts floating amidst the wonders of the sea, admire majestic mountains, the oldest historical and religious monuments in Nepal or sip a cup of warm tea while tasting a golden sweet-smelling waffle – the thousand-year-old culinary heritage of Belgium.

Most importantly in this issue, we discover the luxurious lifestyle on the classy cruise Paradise Elegance, a voyage on which will take you through the pristine bay and give you a sense of true luxury.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Best cheap eats in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia’s capital offers a dining experience as eclectic as its skyline, but everyone knows the tastiest side dish is a cheap bill. From humble street stalls to value-for-money restaurants, here are the best places to fill up in Kuala Lumpur that’ll cost you less than a taxi ride across town.
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A SLICE OF SARAWAK IN BANGSAR

If you set out to find the epitome of a neighbourhood eatery in Bangsar, the Sarawak laksa stall inside the Nam Chuan Coffee Shop food court is your best bet. The laksa (RM8) here is built for rainy days: a heap of chewy rice vermicelli arrives in a spicy, coconut milk-based soup that is crowned with shredded chicken, huge prawns, ribbons of sliced omelette and lashings of chopped coriander. Owner Christina Jong has been doling out bowls of comfort for more than 16 years – her version of Sarawak laksa doesn’t get any more authentic than this.

VEGAN MIXED RICE IN A TEMPLE

A heads up: don’t come here expecting a leisurely meal or doting servers. The neighbouring office crowd flocks to this budget-friendly canteen located at the back of Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery for one of the best vegan meals in the city. The mixed rice buffet (from RM5) displays more than 50 dishes, including vegan mock-meat items. Come on a Friday for lei cha (which literally translates to ‘thunder tea’), a Hakka rice speciality served with an assortment of chopped vegetables and accompanied by a ‘pounded’ tea drink.

NASI DAGANG IN A MALAY SETTLEMENT

The unpretentious Chunburi Seafood (7 Jln Raja Muda Musa) restaurant in Kampung Baru – one of the last Malay villages in the heart of the city – is famed for its Kelantanese nasi dagang (nutty rice cooked in coconut milk, from RM6), which is traditionally eaten as breakfast on the east coast of Malaysia. Diners pair the rice with a variety of fish dishes, especially the gulai ikan tongkol – a tuna curry that woos you with a rich depth of flavour. Chunburi is consistently crowded during lunchtime; grab a mango and coconut rice dessert from the sweets stand while you wait.

PISANG GORENG FOR A MIDDAY SNACK

The best way to treat a king banana? Fry it to a golden crisp. Stall owner Uncle Chiam has been catering to a steady stream of office workers, students and construction workers every day for the past 34 years. Sourced all the way from a farm in Pahang, the bananas (RM1.40 per piece) are deep-fried in a heavy batter, giving them a satisfying crunch while maintaining a caramelised interior within. Round out your pisang goreng snack with some fried kuih bakul (rice cakes).

BEEF NOODLES WITH A SIDE OF NOSTALGIA AT SOONG KEE

The battered restaurant signage and tinted windows make this old-timer at Masjid Jamek feel like a true find. Beef noodles are aplenty in KL but it’s the noodles, and sometimes soup, that help define each particular style of this local staple. Go for the dry version (RM7) at Restoran Soong Kee (facebook.com/SoongKeeBeefNoodle): springy egg noodles coated in dark soy sauce are topped with minced meat, and served with your choice of beef balls, sliced beef, cow’s stomach or tendon in a light-tasting broth.

FLUFFY CHAPATI IN LITTLE INDIA

For cheap and cheerful refuelling, nothing beats a fluffy chapati at just RM1.80 each. Sure, you’ll find a much cheaper version of the unleavened flatbread elsewhere but the price at Authentic Chapati Hut (3 Lorong Padang Belia, Brickfields) is justifiable – the chapatis, cooked fresh on the griddle, are moderately chewy with perfectly browned crispy spots. They’re basically blank canvases to mop up curries or the restaurant’s signature chana masala (chickpea curry). Save some space for their pillowy naan bread too.

A BELLY-WARMING PORK NOODLE

You can still score a decent bowl of pork noodles in the city even when you’re strapped for cash. Machi Pork Noodle (33 Jln 34/154, Taman Bukit Anggerik) outshines its contenders by cranking out a heady, cloudy pork broth that comforts you like a big warm hug. The noodles (RM6), cradling a poached egg in the centre (ask the waiter for it), are fortified with the addition of minced pork, pork balls, various pieces of pork offal, pork slices, fried lard and a flurry of chopped spring onion. Fortune favours the bold – break the yolk and stir through for a silkier and thicker soup.

PAIR VEGETARIAN NASI LEMAK WITH MASALA CHAI

A nasi lemak without the requisite fried anchovies and hard-boiled egg sounds almost blasphemous, but the vegetarian version (RM2.50) at Annapuurnam Chetinad Restaurant (74 Lorong Maarof, Bangsar) will prove you wrong. A warm, nutty fragrance permeates the air as you unpack the wrapping of the dish to reveal a mound of hot fluffy rice cooked in coconut milk, with peanuts, sliced cucumbers, a piece of mock meat, and a spicy sauce that packs flavour and heat in equal parts. A masala chai (spiced milk tea) seems like a sweet ending to a meal – until you spy the jars of murukku (crunchy Indian snacks) at the cashier.

HAVE ROJAK NEXT TO THE PURU WET MARKET

For the uninitiated, walking through the sprawling labyrinth of the Pudu wet market can be overwhelming. But those who brave the crowd will be rewarded with Sulaiman’s rojak pasembur (from RM5), a concoction of prawn fritters, deep-fried bean curd, hard-boiled egg, yam bean and shredded cucumber – all doused in a thick nutty sauce. Don’t leave without ordering a bowl of cendol, a cooling shaved ice heaped with strands of green rice ‘noodles’, coconut milk, sweet corn, Adzuki red beans and a caramel-like gula Melaka. Find the restaurant in front of MSS Maju Restaurant, off Jln Pudu.

BANANA LEAF RICE WITH AN ADDICTIVE MANGO CHUTNEY

Devi’s Corner stands out in a crowded field of banana leaf rice spots in KL for one reason: its mango chutney. Only available on Friday and Sunday, the sweet and tangy relish is reason enough alone to put up with Bangsar’s snarly traffic. The banana leaf rice (from RM7.50) action takes place on the upper floor of the restaurant, where you’ll find diners knuckle-deep in a heap of rice, raita, crab curry and crunchy pappadam. Make sure you clear your schedule afterwards – a nap is almost inevitable.

Lonely Planet | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Best carry-on backpacks for your next trip

Most backpacks tend to be lighter than standard luggage (they’re often made of sturdy polyester) and smaller, too — usually fitting neatly under the seat in front of you. Plus, you can easily take your carry-on backpack from the airport to the beach and beyond, while using your hard-shell suitcase as your beach bag is perhaps not the most functional idea. Here we rounded up 20 durable and stylish options to take with you on your next flight.
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Marc Jacobs Nylon Knot Camo Backpack

You could also wear this cool camo-print backpack as a tote thanks to its two top handles.
To buy: nordstrom.com, USD151

Poketo Voyager Backpack
This versatile backpack has a leather clasp that makes carrying it as a tote comfortable, too. It features a large exterior and two interior pockets so you’ll have plenty of room to store your carry-on essentials.
To buy: shopspring.com, USD158

Kipling Seoul Backpack

Kipling’s trendy metallic backpack will not only fit all of your valuable belongings, but it will also make you the chicest passenger on board.
To buy: macys.com, USD124

Tumi Tahoe Butler Backpack
Perfect for the business traveler, this sleek backpack fits a 15-inch laptop and features a removable sternum strap.
To buy: zappos.com, USD345

Adidas by Stella McCartney Backpack

This sporty, yet stylish backpack features multiple exterior and interior pockets and is made from lightweight polyester so it won’t take up much of your – on weight allowance.
To buy: saksfifthavenue.com, USD130

Pacsafe Slingsafe LX350 Anti-theft Compact Backpack

This modern two-tone backpack comes in combination with a detachable cross-body strap. The interior slip pockets feature RFID-blocking technology that blocks identity scanners.
To buy: zappos.com, USD90

Fjallraven Kånken Water-resistant Backpack

Originally used by Swedish schoolchildren in the ‘70s, the Kånken backpack is now a staple in travel gear due to its functionality, sturdy design, and cool Scandinavian look.
To buy: nordstrom.com, USD80

Nike Hoops Elite Max Air Backpack

The main compartment of this backpack can fit all of your travel and gym essentials in case you don’t like skipping workouts even when you travel.
To buy: zappos.com, USD90

Briggs & Riley BRX Duffle

The sturdiness and versatility of this water- and dirt-resistant backpack will blow you away — it has a top handle and a removable shoulder strap in addition to its backpack straps, so you could wear it as a messenger bag as well.
To buy: zappos.com, USD170

TRAKK Vigor Power Charging Backpack

Never run out of battery again thanks to this water-resistant backpack with a built-in rechargeable power bank and an external USB port.
To buy: ebags.com, USD130

Deuter Helion 80 Backpack

This cool backpack features a large main compartment and easily switches from carrying to rolling thanks to its exchangeable wheels.
To buy: zappos.com, USD217

Incase EO Travel Backpack

This sleek weather-resistant backpack expands to increase its capacity by 35 percent, which means you can carry a lot more in it.
To buy: shopspring.com, USD180

O’Neill Beachblazer Backpack

Headed to the beach for a few days? This pretty floral-printed backpack is TSA-friendly and is perfect for carrying your holiday essentials.
To buy: zappos.com, USD46

Ogio Soho Backpack in Windowpane

This padded backpack can fit a 15-inch laptop and looks stylish with its three oversized front buttons.
To buy: ebags.com, USD90

Timberland Walnut Hill Backpack

This durable canvas backpack features a padded laptop compartment, but we have to admit, it’s the classic, rugged look that sold us.
To buy: nordstrom.com, USD115

Samsonite Luggage Vizair Laptop Backpack

This backpack provides your laptop with superior shock absorption thanks to three air bumpers at the bottom and corners that protect your valuable electronics in case you drop it.
To buy: amazon.com, USD85

BirkSun Sport Backpack

This cool backpack is equipped with a built-in battery that is recharged via waterproof solar panels. As long as you’re somewhere sunny, you’ll never run out of juice.
To buy: shopspring.com, USD139

eBags TLS 22″ Convertible Wheeled Carry-On

This carry-on easily coverts into a backpack thanks to two adjustable straps that tuck away into its front pocket.
To buy: ebags.com, USD220

Vera Bradley Backpack in Rumba

We’ll take any opportunity to stand out in a crowd, and this bold-colored, water-resistant backpack will help do just that.
To buy: zappos.com, USD98

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Idyllic beaches in Phu Quoc island

Phu Quoc is home to some of Vietnam’s best beaches, and for many years it was Vietnam’s best-kept secret. Not any more. Developers have realised the island’s potential and Phu Quoc is now booming – and not always in a good way.
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BAI TRUONG

The vast bulk of Phu Quoc’s hotels (and the vast bulk of construction sites) is on Bai Truong, also known as Long Beach, a 20-plus kilometre stretch of yellow sand that runs down the central west coast of the island. In wet season the seas here are rough and not great for swimming, but in dry season, it’s a placid pool with gentle waves. It’s the liveliest beach on the island, the entire length offering accommodation and spots to play, laze and eat seafood with your feet in the sand. It’s the type of place where you can get a massage on the beach and women sell you fresh fruit, cutting a whole pineapple to order.
The northern part of the beach closest to Duong Dong town is the busiest. The further south you go, the more breathing room you get. It’s all easily accessed. Phu Quoc is a very laidback place and we had no problems walking through any of the resorts, be it cheap or high end, to get to the beach. A popular route from Tran Hung Dao is through Lane 118, a busy way lined with guesthouses and restaurants which deposits you close to La Veranda Resort and Rory’s Bar.

Northwest loop

Starting from Duong Dong town, head up the west coast on nicely paved Cua Can road seven kilometres to reach the quiet sweeping bay of Bai Ong Lang (Ong Lang Beach). There are a couple of magnificent nature-focused resorts. Ong Lang is quiet, relaxed and a pleasant spot to park your bum, and there are several dining options available. The access road is hard to miss; look for the corner with dozens of hotel signs pointing the way.

VUNG BAU BEACH

Bai Vung Bau (Vung Bau Beach) is the next one up from Ong Lang. It’s a small cove with only a few properties and it’s a low-key beach ideal for those who want peace. Look for the signs for Bamboo Cottages and Wild Beach Resort and turn left, following the dirt road for two kilometres. Resorts are pretty relaxed and since only a handful of day-trippers make it here, it should be okay to park the bike and walk through the hotel to the water. From the beach you can see Fingernail Island off the coast, which has a good reef for snorkelling.
With warm blue-green waters and a generous stretch of fine yellow sand, Bai Dai Beach is one of the prettiest beaches on the island. One way to easily access Bai Dai is to fork over the 500,000 dong admission to Vinpearl Land. The only other obvious way to reach the beach is by continuing on the dirt road from Vung Bau beach up along the coast. The road is quite challenging, a hilly mix of dirt, loose gravel, rocks and sand. We tried to get to the beach via another dirt road north of the golf course but were stopped by a security guard.

GANH DAU BEACH

Bai Ganh Dau (Ganh Dau Beach) on the northwest corner is a wonderful surprise. The clear turquoise waters sparkle like a jewel as it gently laps onto blonde sand. We spent an hour on a sun-lounger underneath a palm tree without seeing another visitor. There are a couple of seafood restaurants where you can quench your thirst or appetite. This is a fantastic under-the-radar spot.
Prepare your backside for a bumpy ride. Head east for a fun, pretty 19-kilometre journey through the jungle on dirt track. Fourteen kilometres in, it’s possible to stop at Bai Rach Vem which has a fishing village, a shipbuilding yard and rubbish-strewn white sand beach. Look for the small sign “Rach Vem” and turn left. We didn’t get a great feeling here and didn’t linger.
Eventually the dirt road ends and you’ll meet a nicely paved arterial road that runs north-south down the centre. You have a few options from this junction. If time allows, you can take a side trip to the northeast corner to Bai Thom. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to make it but we spoke to a few people who did. The consensus was that the beach was small and mediocre but you could cross a land bridge to tiny Hon Mot island for a look.

Venturing further, from Bai Thom travel another 12 kilometres west along dirt track to reach remote Bai Rach Tram (Rach Tram beach). And while it may be tempting to continue south from Bai Thom along the east coast, this route is very challenging and only for experienced riders. Otherwise, head back to the junction in the centre.
To head back to Duong Dong, it’s an easy paved journey south on Nguyen Trung Truc, or go west, passing pepper and bee farms to join Cua Can Road.

SOUTHERN ROUTE

There are less notable beaches in the skinny southern tail of the island but you’ll still want to give yourself the whole day. From Duong Dong, take a road leading southeast to Ham Ninh, perhaps stopping for a dip at Suoi Tranh stream along the way (only flowing May to November). At Rach Ham town (which is a great place to eat giant crabs) turn left/head north for seven kilometres to Kiki Coconut Homestay on Cay Sao. The road will give you a taste of what Phu Quoc was like 10 years ago.
You’ll be rewarded with an isolated slice of coast. It’s easy enough to park the bike and follow footpaths to the water. The sand has natural debris but is deserted and pristine. For a meticulously clean patch of sand, Kiki Coconut Homestay is a tranquil breezy place to have a drink, enjoy a splash in the ocean and relax. Their palm-lined beach also has a view of the islands to the east.

Travel back south and take the sweet, smooth Highway 46 leading straight down the centre to An Thoi at the tip. Along this way is the road to Bai Sao beach. With photogenic white sand and turquoise water, Bai Sao is often considered Phu Quoc’s best beach – but as its popularity continues to increase, so does the rubbish.
For now it has just a handful of places to stay so Bai Sao is a popular spot for day-trippers. From the main road, it’s another two kilometres east on bumpy dirt track. Follow the signs to My Lan Resort to get to The Beach House, a chilled spot to relax and chow on some grub. My Lan itself is a chaotic hive of activity and Vietnamese style feasting. But there’s plenty of coast to escape the crowds and you should allot plenty of time to enjoy.

For now we suggest you give Bai Khem a skip. With white sand and stunning crystal water, Bai Khem has potential and a developer certainly saw it. But at the moment the beach is heaped with rubbish and a small fishing village is clinging on to existence. It remains to be seen what will happen once the resort opens. No doubt the beach will be cleaned, the road paved and we’ll hazard a guess that the village will be moved. If you want to take a look, it’s south of Bai Sao. From Highway 46, head east on the first lane south of the prison (now a tourist site).
If you’ve got time and want a scenic view, then head back up Highway 46. At Phu Son Ha Noi Resort, turn right and follow the road for about three kilometres to Ho Quoc Pagoda which gives you a pretty view to the water. You can also climb down the hill for a final dip on an unspoilt beach.

Travelfish | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

A round-trip to Antalya: The city’s cosy corners

At the end of the winter, as spring is arriving (from May), Antalya’s weather is warm and sunny, the plants are green, orange trees are full of fruits, sometimes you may come across herds of cows, sheep and goats grazing on green grass or undulating hills covered with white snow. This is a crowded city with modern shopping malls and amusement centres adjacent to thousand-year-old historical heritage and architecture. No wonder Antalya is referred to as the tourism capital of Turkey.
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VISIT

WATERFALL

Known as the kingdom of waterfalls, Antalya has dozens of picturesque waterfalls. Manavgat Waterfall, 40 metres in width and less than 5 metres in height is the most famous one, falling from the Taurus Mountains. Although the Manavgat Waterfall is not high, its flow is very strong and it is considered as one of the symbols of Turkey. Tourists can also visit the spectacular Duden Waterfalls nearby, about 10 kilometres from the centre of Antalya.
This group of waterfalls was formed by Duden River, the biggest waterfall – Upper Duden is 15 metres high and 20 metres wide, the second – Lower Duden, was formed by the water running into the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the river. This is a colourful natural picture, with turquoise water, green leaves and white foam.

MYRA ANCIENT TOWN (DEMRE COUNTY)

About 140 kilometres from Antalya, is the ancient town Myra located in Lycia, the present-day Antalya Province. No one knows the exact time when Myra was founded; it is only known that it was sometime in the 1st century BC. Myra is also one of the six leading cities of the Lycian alliance of ancient history, which also included Xanthos, Tlos, Pinara, Patara and Olympos. Visiting Myra, you will be surprised by the architecture of the outdoor theatre built in the year 200 BC with its intact stone steps, it can accommodate up to 12,000 people. You can also visit another ancient building: St. Nicholas Church, which is a popular destination for pilgrims and one of the most valuable architectural heritages of the Byzantine Empire that remains to this day. The most impressive architecture in Myra are the rock tombs located in two areas: the rocky mountains to the west of the outdoor theatre with tombs dating back to the 4th century BC and along Myros River, also known as the river cemetery. Myra’s prosperity had its source at the alluvial deposits of Myros River. But the rock-cut tombs on the rugged rock mountain make it look like a mysterious ancient castle.

KALEIÇI’ OLD TOWN

Kaleiçi Old Town is located in Muratpaşa District – the centre of Antalya. The 5-metre-high entrance gate in Northeastern Kaleiçi is made of Hadrian marble and features a Roman triumphal arch. Walking inside, visitors will experience a very peaceful pace of life when strolling on the serpentine stone or gravel paths, on both sides of the street, there is Ottoman-style architecture and shops selling unique, colourful handicrafts. You may come across poetic scenes like the old port with its colourful boats, Yivli Miranet Mosque made of red bricks, or admire Kesik Minare Cami with its thousands of years old stone blocks or hear the prayers in the dazzling Mediterranean sunset. Buying beautiful souvenirs or exquisite handicrafts in the Market Hall, then enjoying the delicious Turkish cuisine under the glittering umbrellas on Semsiye Sokak Street will be an unforgettable experience in Antalya.

KÖPRÜLÜ KANYON NATIONAL PARK

Covering an area of 366 square kilometres, the Köprülü National Park is the perfect place for you to experience the rich green beauty of Antalya. It is home to the 400 metres long Köprülüsö canyon that extends up to 14 kilometres along Köprü River. Around the canyon, cedars, pines, and Chinese incense cedars and the famous fairytale chimneys of Cappadocia create a breath-taking sight. This is the ideal place for trekking, camping or joining white water rafting on the Köprü River for a more adventurous experience.

ANTALYA AQUARIUM

The largest aquapark in the world, Antalya Aquarium, features 40 thematic aquariums that are 131 metres long and 3 metres wide. You cannot only admire sea creatures in the aquarium system, but also admire reptiles in the Wild Park and be entertained in the Snow World and unique Ice Museum, take photographs with a Hollywood background and enjoy delicious and plentiful meals served at the restaurants and cafés in the amusement park.

THE ANTALYA MUSEUM (OR ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM)

As one of the largest Turkish museums, the Antalya Museum is a contemporary style museum with 14 galleries and an outdoor exhibition space. Situated on an area of 7,000 square metres, the Antalya Museum has 5,000 works of art and nearly 30,000 artefacts some of which cannot be displayed and are in storage.

ŞEMSIYE BUTIK (FLYING UMBRELLA STREET)

Not far away from Kaleiçi Market (Antalya Merkez), just a few hundred metres away from Hadrian’s Gate, there is a place no visitor wants to miss to experience street food, it is also an ideal check-in spot where visitors enjoy meals under the colourful umbrellas. And the perfect dish to enjoy in these lovely streets is the traditional Kebab of Turkey. Enjoying a fragrant fish kebab with roasted soft lamb slices then strolling along the streets and going shopping for handmade items is ideal for a beautiful day in Antalya. The Anis Restaurant on Flying Umbrella Street is famous for Turkish-style pizza and Arabic-style lahmacun, güveç and traditional kebabs.
Cuisine: Street food.
Address: Flying Umbrella Street, from İnönü Street, Kaleiçi
Price: About VND50,000/dish

EAT

SHIP INN MARINA

If you are a devotee of cheese, and crave a quiet place away from the tourist centres of Antalya, do not miss the Ship Inn Marina – a modern style restaurant with unique culinary breakthroughs showcasing the variety of Turkish cuisine. Near Setur Antalya Marina, the restaurant overlooks a vast lake surrounded by lush green trees. Coming here, visitors will have the chance to taste traditional Turkish dishes such as yörük (roasted goat), grilled meat ball, or salads, pizzas, baked goods, seafood, and countless Ship Inn style dishes which are cooked with cheese. The restaurant is about 17 kilometres from Antalya’s city centre and about 10 kilometres from Antalya Aquarium.
Cuisine: Traditional, international food.
Address: Liman Mahallesi, Büyük Liman Setur Marina, Konyaalti District, Antalya.

SERASER FINE DINING

Many visitors return to Seraser Fine Dining because they want to enjoy the scent of the lush green garden and airy space by the shimmering Mediterranean coastline, although the price here is quite expensive. In this space decorated delicately and surrounded by ancient Kaleiçi stonewalls, each dish is a meticulous work of art. Seraser Fine Dining Restaurant of Tuvana Hotel is open all day and night, its indoor space can accommodate 80 guests, and the outdoor garden can accommodate 100 guests.
Cuisine: Traditional Turkish, European and Japanese cuisine, seafood, vegetarian food, international cuisine.
Address: Karanlik Street, 18 Kaleiçi, Muratpaşa District, Antalya
Price: Each dish ranges from VND120,000 – VND550,000.

SIBEL’S FOUR SEASONS CAFÉ & RESTAURANT

Built traditionally from blocks of stone and wood, Sibel’s Four Seasons Café & Restaurant never fails to impress visitors, offering a panoramic view of the mountains and the reshly made food cooked with ingredients grown at the owner’s farm. This is the ideal stopover before and after rekking the majestic Lycian Taurus Mountains. Sibel’s Four Seasons Café & Restaurant will spoil you with a soup menu, mezzes and daily specials. The restaurant also organises trekking tours to explore nearby destinations. Coming here, you should enjoy bulgur balls filled with minced meat (icli köfte), Beycik salad and goat ragout cooked in a clay pot.
Cuisine: Traditional Turkish cuisine
Address: No. 3, Kumluca Kemer Yolu, Kemer District, Antalya.

VANILLA LOUNGE

Near Hadrian’s Gates, Vanilla Lounge is one of the most famous restaurants in Antalya. Its philosophy is to provide a satisfying dining experience for all spectrums of tastes using modern, innovative and classic cooking techniques. You will be amazed when experiencing all the world flavours at Vanilla Lounge, where appetizers and Thai-style main courses are the highlight.
Vanilla Lounge’s menu is inspired by Italian cuisine. All dishes are made from the freshest local seasonal ingredients.
Cuisine: International cuisine, Italian food, Thai food, traditional Antalya food.
Price: VND100,000-VND420,000 per dish.
Address: Hesapat Street, No. 33 Kaleiçi, Antalya.

SHOPPING

DEEPO OUTLET CENTRE

If you want to go shopping without worrying about running out of money, this is an ideal place. Deepo Outlet Centre is the largest outlet centre in the Mediterranean with 80 booths, 5 cinemas, 15 restaurants and many facilities in an area of 4 hectares. Enjoy 365 days of discount and shopping at the retail prices. At Deepo Outlet Centre you will find a bargains from countless famous brands such as Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Koton, Hot, Vakko, Mavi Jeans, Colins, or Miss Sixty.
Address: Altınova Sinan Mahallesi, Serik Cad. Yanyolu, Kepez District, Antalya (more than 9 kilometres from the centre of Antalya).

TERRA CITY

Considered one of the best shopping malls in Antalya, Terra City is a must-see destination for travellers on a journey to explore this Mediterranean city. It is just 8 kilometres from the city centre. 150 booths selling products of famous brands such as Burberry, Armani, Michael Kors, Adidas and Hugo Boss, 30 restaurants and an
amusement centre for children will make visitors never want to leave.
Address: Fener Mahallesi, Tekelioğlu Cd., Muratpaşa District, Antalya.

SHEMALL SHOPPING MALL

Smaller than other shopping malls in Antalya, the SheMall Shopping Mall has about 70 booths. But this place is particularly attractive because of frequent cultural events and impressive shows that bring different shopping experiences to visitors. In addition, you can buy quality books, novels, and English magazines at D&R Book Store.
Address: Fener Mahallesi, Tekelioğlu Cad, Muratpaşa District, Antalya, Turkey.

MIGROS SHOPPING CENTRE

Considered one of the most affordable shopping malls, Migros Shopping Centre brings ogether 10 booths from a number of mid-range brands including 5M Migros, Zara, Mudo, LC Waikiki, Boyner, Mudo, and cinemas along with a number of restaurants and fast food stalls. From Migros Shopping Centre, you can admire the view of the Mediterranean Sea and the majestic Beydağı Mountains.
Address: No. 3 Atatürk Boulevard, Konyaalti District, Antalya. (About 2 kilometres from Antalya Aquarium).

MARKANTALYA

Situated at the heart of Antalya, MarkAntalya Shopping Mall is an ideal shopping and entertainment place on an area of over 5 hectares, with a convergence of 155 well-known brands, food stalls, international cafés and restaurants and modern cinemas. MarkAntalya is just 2 kilometres from the centre of Antalya, 3 kilometres from Kaleiçi Old Town and near the famous Murat Paşi Mosque.
Address: Tahilpazari Mahallesi, Kazim Ozalp Caddesi, Muratpasa District, Antalya.

SILVER HARMONI: SILVER JEWELLERY

Silver Harmoni’s silver handmade jewellery will fascinate you with its sophistication. Made from silver, gems and crystals, Silver Harmoni’s jewellery is a precious gift, crystallised from the love between Karen Henry from Australia and a Turkish man named Yusuf Gökben. Although born and raised in Istanbul, Yusuf was fascinated by the beauty of Kas, Antalya so the couple decided to settle down and open a handmade silver jewellery shop here. Silver Harmoni’s products receive praise from almost every tourist who visits.
Address: İbrahim Serin Caddesi No 12 A, Kaş District, Antalya.

OSMANLI SULTAN CARIK – HANDMADE LEATHER ACCESSORIES

This is a well known handmade leather accessories and jewellery store near Hadrian’s Gate in Antalya. A great collection of handbags, purses, shoes, sandals and boots made from cow or buffalo skin will make you go crazy even though handmade leather products are never cheap.
Address: Barbaros Mahallesi, Hesapçı Sk., Muratpaşa District, Antalya.

NIL TEKEL SHOP (POTTERY)

Pottery making has developed in Turkey for several centuries. If you come from a distant country, it is very difficult for to carry heavy ceramic items back home, but just looking at Nil Tekel Shop’s pottery items in all shapes, sizes and colours will definitely make your trip more interesting. In Turkey there are about 300 pottery workshops across the country.
Address: Gençlik Mahallesi, Tınaztepe Cad., Muratpaşa District, Antalya.

GÜLIZAR CARPET KILIMS GALLERY: TURKISH EMBROIDERED RUGS

Walking around Kaleiçi Old Town, you will find Turkish traditional handmade kilim stalls. A tablecloth or a square carpet embroidered sophisticatedly will be a valuable gift from a visit to Antalya. Stepping into Gülizar Carpet Kilims Gallery, you will feel overwhelmed by the colours and details on the embroidered products hung all over the wall and covering tables and chairs. Visitors may take hours to discover all the richness of the products here. The Gülizar Carpet Kilims Gallery is also appreciated by many visitors for its affordable prices, enthusiatic staff and the friendly boss Mehmet Bey. You can learn much about the history of this traditional product and what it means for the people of Antalya.
Address: Tuzcular Mah., Uzunçarşı Sok., Muratpaşa, Antalya.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet