The sharper edge to traveling in Asia

Archive for the 'Food & Dining' Category

Eating bugs in Thailand: Supplementing your daily caloric intake the upcountry way

Westerners visiting Thailand for the first time may quickly encounter a dramatic indicator that they’re no longer in the western world: the streetside bug cart. Loaded with trays filled with a number of delicious insect delights, these carts serve primarily Thai people who’ve emigrated to Bangkok from outlying provinces such as Isaan and the northern […]

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Exotic Fruits of Thailand: What’s this thing called, and how do I eat it?

Westerners from even the more abundant agricultural nations will quickly become transfixed by the breadth of palate to be sampled in the fruits commonly found in Thailand.  Fruits here are categorized as either seasonal (e.g. durian, lychee, longan, mango, mangosteen) or year-round (banana, jackfruit, papaya, pineapple).  Here is your guide to the most common, encountered […]

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Kretek clove cigarettes Dji Sam Soe 234 from Indonesia

Wherever you go in Indonesia, you’re going to be feasting on the redolent fragrance of kretek clove cigarettes, and Dji Sam Soe 234 is by far the most popular brand. Blended from Maduro and American tobaccos, kreteks are laced with clove casings, and the tastiest are the unfiltered variety. They are inexpensive and hand-rolled, and […]

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Grilled buffalo penis Thai delicacy has westerners scratching heads, animal rights groups on the warpath, and Chinese visitors asking for more

Thai animal rights groups are up in arms over the proliferation of hot spiced buffalo penis  snacks on the outdoor grills located in Bangkok’s adult entertainment zones. Rot kan cart owners generally agree that Khun Mot’s grill just outside of Nana Plaza on Sukhumvit Soi 4 was the first to offer this delicacy, which is […]

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The rice terraces of Malecong, near Bontoc, Philippines

Perhaps the most-visited ancient rice terraces in northern Luzon are those near the city of Banaue, but few would disagree that having this bucolic setting pretty much to oneself makes the experience more personal. The terraces of Malecong are 30 km north of Banaue, 7 km north of the city of Bontoc up a winding […]

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Chocolates and sex in Angeles City

Do sex and chocolates go together? They must, because David Bogaert has been successfully hawking his white chocolate treats in the gogo clubs of Angeles City’s Field Boulevard now for three years.  Selling items not particular to the sex industry is not completely unfamiliar in Asian nightlife venues (Bangkok’s raving evangelist Brother Tony comes immediately […]

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