When you are trying to plan a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, at the top of your list might be Himeji. Himeji is a wonderful town with an amazing castle. But there is another great city near Kyoto with a small, but equally impressive castle. And this city is Hikone, located about 25 miles northeast of Kyoto on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The city is quite compact and packed with great sights, making for the perfect day…
Located about 30 minutes from Himeji Station is Mount Shosha, home to Engyoji, a beautiful temple complex with over 1,000 years of history. The many buildings of Engyoji are scattered around a dense forest along Mount Shosha, linked by peaceful, tree-lined trails. The area is a popular destination during the fall when the leaves start to change. Engyoji was founded in 966 during the Heian period by Shoku Shonin. Over the centuries, emperors, monks, aristocrats, and now tourists have visited…
If you are looking to take a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, then look no further than Himeji. Himeji, located less than an hour from Kyoto and Osaka by shinkansen (bullet train), makes for a great day trip. The main reason for visiting Himeji is to see the magnificent Himeji Castle, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s twelve original castles. For over 400 years, the castle has remained intact even with the threat of war, earthquakes,…
One of the best places in Singapore to try nasi lemak is at Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at the Adam Road Food Centre. While you can find nasi lemak all over Singapore, none are more famous than Selera Rasa, also referred to as Adam Road Nasi Lemak. So what is nasi lemak? At the core of nasi lemak is a fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. The rice is often served with various sides including fish, chicken,…
If you are looking for the best murtabak in Singapore, you come to one place, Singapore Zam Zam. For over 100 years, this Indian-Muslim restaurant has been serving time-tested dishes such as nasi briyani, fish head curry, and murtabak. So what is murtabak? Murtabak is made by stuffing thin sheets of dough with minced meat, eggs, and vegetables. The dough is then wrapped up and fried in oil until crispy on the outside and steaming hot on the inside. You…
Singaporeans love their chicken rice, considered by many to be the national dish of Singapore. This simple dish of boiled chicken and rice can be found at hawker centres and restaurants all across Singapore. Exactly who serves the best chicken rice in Singapore is up for debate. Everyone has their favorite. My favorite is Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, a famous hawker stall at Singapore’s Maxwell Food Centre. There may be no other hawker stall as well known as Tian…
For over 30 years, Zhen Zhen Porridge at Singapore’s Maxwell Food Centre has been serving rice porridge, or congee, a comfort food popular for breakfast. It’s really popular anytime of the day. You can find congee at restaurants and hawker centres all across the city, but none seem to do it better than Zhen Zhen Porridge. While I have been fortunate on my visits, not waiting more than five minutes in line, I have heard some visitors to the stall…
When visitors land in Singapore, the first question they might ask themselves is “how can I reach Singapore from Changi Airport?” Changi Airport is located some 10 miles (17 kilometers) northeast of Singapore’s Downtown Core where the iconic Marina Bay Sands is located. The airport, one of the busiest in the world, is a major hub in Southeast Asia. It’s not only one of the busiest in the world but one of the best in the world. Changi Airport has…
I have an obsession with Din Tai Fung. Visiting the original location of Din Tai Fung was at the top of my list of must do things in Taipei. Din Tai Fung was founded in 1972. Along with Taipei, there are branches in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and eleven other countries. The restaurant has become an international phenomenon for their Taiwanese soup dumplings known as xiao long bao. The restaurant chain is considered one of the best in the world…
Located just outside Exit 2 of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall MRT Station is Jin Feng, considered by many to serve the best lu rou fan in Taipei, Taiwan. You can find lu rou fan (滷肉飯), a simple Taiwanese dish of braised pork rice, at countless restaurants and street food stalls across Taipei and Taiwan. Jin Feng (金峰魯肉飯) might be the most famous. For over 30 years, Jin Feng has perfected the art of the pork and rice dish along with…