Japanese Cuisine Unveiled: A Delicious Exploration A Brief History of Japanese Cuisine Japanese cuisine has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. It has been heavily influenced by its geography, as well as various cultural exchanges with neighboring countries. The roots of Japanese cuisine can be traced back to the Yayoi period, around 300 BCE, when rice cultivation began to take hold in Japan. Rice quickly became the staple food of the Japanese people and continues to be a vital component of their cuisine today.Throughout history, Japan has been shaped by a variety of factors...

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Navigating the Sushi Scene in Japan: A Tourist's Guide Japan is renowned for its delectable sushi, and many tourists from around the world flock to its shores each year hoping to sample the very best Japanese sushi. But with so many sushi restaurants scattered throughout the country, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog post, we'll be exploring the history of sushi in Japan, offering tips on how to spot the best sushi restaurants, and providing a few insider tips to make sure you have the ultimate sushi experience while visiting Japan. The Origins of Sushi in Japan Sushi h...

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Tokyo: What to Do If you’re considering a trip to Tokyo, Japan, you may be wondering what to do in the city. With its buzzing energy, modern culture, and rich history, there’s a lot to take in. That’s why it’s important to know what to miss and what to do in Tokyo to make the most of your visit. In this blog post, we’ll provide a guide to help you decide what to skip and what to do in Tokyo. Navigating Tokyo's Highlights When navigating Tokyo's highlights, it's important to have a plan. Start by visiting iconic landmarks like the Tokyo Tower and Meiji Shrine. Then, immerse yourself in the vi...

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Mastering Japan Packing: Tips and Tricks for Your Trip Packing for Japan can be an overwhelming task. From deciding what items to bring to choosing the right clothing for the climate and culture, it can be difficult to know what to bring. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, this blog post is for you! We will provide helpful tips and tricks for mastering your Japan packing, so you can be well-prepared and enjoy your trip. Essential Items to Bring When packing for your trip to Japan, it's important to bring along a few essential items to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. First and foremos...

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 Thailand is a country of raw natural beauty, but if you’re planning a trip to Thailand with visions of empty, white beaches lined with palm trees, then you’re going to have to follow the advice of poet Robert Frost and "take the road less traveled.” In 2019, 39 million international tourists visited Thailand. It has one of the most developed hospitality industries in Asia. While popular Thai destinations such as

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The Best Way to Get Your Caffeine Fix in Japan: Animal Cafes! If you're looking for a unique experience when visiting Japan, then Japanese animal cafes are a must-see! Animal cafes are a popular phenomenon throughout the country and offer a fun way to get your caffeine fix. These cafes feature a variety of animals from cats and dogs to owls and hedgehogs, all of which can be interacted with while sipping on coffee or tea. Whether you're a fan of furry friends or just looking for something out of the ordinary, these Japanese animal cafes are sure to give you an unforgettable experience. What...

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 To the outsider, Japan is a place of puzzling contradictions. Its people are modest and welcoming, yet nightlife is vibrant and rowdy. Workers in tailored suits loosen ties in backstreet clubs and sleep off their exuberance on the metro ride home while Buddhist monks meditate in hillside temples.Ancient temples and picturesque landscapes provide a further baffling contrast to the bustling neon cities. It's this exhilarating, contradictory cultural clash that makes Japan such a rewarding place for travelers. However, people in the West seem determined to cling on to a set of long-establis...

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 Situated on the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok is Thailand’s cultural, political, and financial center. It's also known as the Tiger capital and is one of the busiest and most connected hubs in Asia. As a travel writer for BBC put it, “Bangkok flows but never ebbs.” Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world. In 2019, 39 million people visited the Thai capital, with most travelers visiting between November and February. June to September is Thailand’s rainy season, so not as many tourists visit. Shopping  Bangkok’s shopping opportunities come in every size and shape, and the...

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 Camera-wielding tourists… we’ve all seen them. We’ve all been them. These are the vacationers who glide through the Louvre taking in the action through a viewfinder or camera-phones, never once coming up for air. These are the travelers who stand on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and are so overwhelmed by the natural beauty that they can’t take it in with the naked eye… only a selfie stick will do.Capturing the moment and safeguarding memories is part of taking a vacation. And while it’s easy to criticize people for taking pictures to save the moment instead of living in the moment, s...

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 The Maldives are one of the most luxurious islands in the world, where life can seem like you’re living on an island of paradise. The islands are located in the Indian Ocean, in between India and Sri Lanka. But what exactly is it like to live in these tropical paradises? Keep reading to find out everything that makes the Maldives so unique and why so many people consider it the ultimate tropical escape. Let’s get started!A Taste of Paradise The Maldives is a collection of about 1200 tropical islands, known for their crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. The lush tropical islands ...

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 Friendly and fun-loving, sacred and exotic, Thailand attracts travelers from all walks of life. You can find cheap backpacker guesthouses and $5,000 a night luxury resorts with rooftop bars and Muay Thai boxing rings. Most travelers, however, are neither gap year vagabonds lugging rucksacks stuffed with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, nor are they shouldering Hermes Birkin bags with the jet-set crowd. Most people have a modest budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel like a king (or Queen Sirikit) in Thailand.Eat Local Besides flight and accommodation, what’s the one thing you spend the...

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 Malta is an island in the Mediterranean Sea that’s situated between Sicily and Tunisia, with the island of Gozo to its north and the archipelago of Comino to its south-east. The main island has a rich history and culture, which makes it both beautiful and popular with tourists, especially those who love islands where they can enjoy both sandy beaches and historic cities. Here are five reasons why you should visit Malta if you haven’t yet.1) The food With dishes from all over Mediterranean, European and Middle Eastern cuisine and influences, Maltese food can be quite unique. Maltese cuisi...

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 Beautiful and mysterious, exotic and overwhelming - to many travelers, Japan is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. It’s a place of large, neon-drenched cities and quiet, lantern-lit towns, a place where the hyper-modern and traditional sit side-by-side, as does “Shogun” and “You Only Live Twice.” It’s a place of colorful contrasts and far-flung juxtapositions, a land both frenzied and quietly beautiful. A trip to Japan is like a trip down Alice's rabbit hole: you never know what you're going to find. Here are 5 things you should know before planning a vacation package to Japan.There’s No Tip...

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 Chiang Mai is a food paradise. Before you see the street stalls and food carts, you smell them: mu ping (pork skewers), sai ua (spiced lemongrass sausage), khao kha mu (stewed pork knuckle over rice). Food is everywhere in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. According to novelist Deepti Kapoor, you can pick any point on a map of Chiang Mai, go there, and eat something wonderful. Or you can just eat your way from one end of the city to the other. There’s something surreally communal about food culture in Chiang Mai. Up and own the streets, shop owners set up small gas burners after wo...

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 The ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru was built by the Incas hundreds of years ago and lies high in the Andes Mountains. Visitors flock to it from all over the world, but few know its history or how it compares to similar sites such as Chichen Itza in Mexico or Stonehenge in England. Before you tour Machu Picchu, let’s learn a bit more about its builders and what makes it special. The Inca Civilization And Its People The Inca civilization emerged in Peru in approximately 1200 BCE and developed into a highly organized empire that spanned much of modern-day South America, including Ecua...

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 Leaf peeping is big business in America. Every fall, sometime around Columbus Day weekend, families and day-trippers take to New England roads in search of vibrant autumn colors- shocks of red sugar maple and yellow birch. Sleepy towns are alive with fall festivals and the smell of cider donuts. Little kids in fleece hoodies run through corn mazes and search pumpkin patches for the perfect Jack-O-Lantern. But what does the fall foliage look like in other countries? If you’re planning a trip to Japan, where do you go to see the country's beautiful kouyou?In and Around Tokyo The best time...

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 In 2014, a 37-year old British nurse was arrested in Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of a meditating Buddha on her arm. In 2012, three French tourists were apprehended for kissing a Buddha statue in a disrespectful manner. In Sri Lanka, the mistreatment of Buddhist images is a serious offense. Even in Sri Lankan homes, religious statues are kept at the highest point and no other photographs or ornaments are hung above them. What the British and French tourists experienced as culture shock, the people in Asia experienced as cultural insensitivity. When you travel, it’s important t...

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 Turkey’s location in both Europe and Asia makes it easy to draw culinary inspiration from the surrounding areas, as well as from its own heritage as part of the Ottoman Empire. The result is an eclectic cuisine that’s rich in flavors and textures, and offers plenty of tasty dishes you’ll want to try when you visit this fascinating country. Here are some of the best traditional Turkish foods you should make sure to taste on your next trip to TurkeyPatlican Salatasi - Stuffed Eggplant Salad One of Turkey’s most beloved summer dishes, Patlican Salatasi is an eggplant stuffed with a deliciou...

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  Rabindranath Tagore said, “The heart wants to go on; that is its dharma. For unless it moves, it dies.” And that’s how you’ll feel when you travel to

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 Spanish is the official language of Peru, but English is also widely spoken and understood. That being said, there are certain phrases in Spanish that will give you an immediate advantage when interacting with the locals. Don’t be intimidated by the Spanish language; it’s actually pretty easy to learn some basic phrases and use them right away on your trip to Peru!Trying your hand at greetings Good morning – Buenas diasHow are you? -Como estas?Good evening – Buenas nochesI'm fine, thank you – Estoy bien, graciasAnd you? -Y tu?Your friend/husband/wife is here (informal) -Tu amigo/marido/e...

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