So you want to go to Japan, but do you know the acceptable manners by Japanese standards? These manners are very much different than in other countries. One must know them in order to not offend or embarrass your host and other people around you.

BOWING

Bowing is probably the most well-known Japanese etiquette outside of Japan. Bowing is extremely important in Japan. Even though kids learn to bow at a very young age, companies still provide training for their employees on how to bow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Food, Japan, Things to do |

Pen and Paper. Peanut butter and jelly. Porcelain and food. If you think about it, the history of the last pair has been intertwined ever since humanity came up with the idea of cuisine. Porcelain is used to create not only the dishes which hold the food we eat, but also the toilets to hold the food we excrete. And now, from a culture that celebrates both porcelain and food, comes a restaurant devoted to the dual role of porcelain in our digestive cycle.

Marton Modern Toilet (Marton is derived from Matong, the chinese term for ‘toilet’) is a chain of a dozen or so theme dining establishments that revolves around toilets and urinals. Based in the Shilin district of Taipei and other major cities of Taiwan, this restaurant group stuns diners with interior decoration that continually remind them that the food we eat will eventually come out.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Food, Taiwan |

Amazing Asia is home to over 400 species of edible fruit. Want to send your tastebuds on a journey? Gathered from the forests and farms of beautiful Asia, these savory fruits are ready for the tasting!

MANGO

By now, you may have tasted a luscious mango because this is one of the most widely eaten fruits from the tropics. Asian mangoes may range from yellow to pale green, and what’s likeable about this fruit is that it’s yummy when both ripe and unripe. To eat, cut the mango into three tasty parts by slicing lengthwise around the big seed. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

LYCHEE

Eaten from the can or fresh from the tree, lychees are guaranteed to tickle your tastebuds. With its unique flavor, it isn’t a surprise that China treats this as one of its most beloved fruits. In fact, legend has it that an emperor of the Tang dynasty lost his throne because he regularly gives his concubine fresh lychees at great expense from his people! Eat like royalty: choose a lychee with rosy looking skin, remove the stem and the rough skin, pluck and munch the fruit and spit the round seed out with flair.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Food |

Tired of the usual burgers and fries? Why not dine Korean style? Korean cuisine is noted for its bold flavor, unique taste and exotic recipes. If you want to get a taste of Korea, read on for some spicy bites to sizzle up your appetite:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Food, Korea |

Are you feeling the urge to just get away from it all and pack your things to go on a much deserved or long overdue vacation? Yes? So, what’s stopping you then? More often than not, the reason would be budget constraints.

The good news is traveling in this day and age is no longer just for the Rich and Famous. An average person or a regular employee can go on trips not only domestic ones but international trips as well.

Whenever I travel, I always make it a point that I do a lot of research so that I can make the most out of my trip without blowing off my entire year’s savings. This is why I’m very thankful that there are now quite a number of budget airlines that service the Philippines, my country of origin. These airlines include Air Asia, Tiger Airways and Jet Star. The destinations are interesting enough even if limited.

I decided to go on a trip late last year and was able to work around a limited budget for my trip. My destination of choice was Kota Kinabalu or KK, as it is popularly known.  It is the state capital of Sabah in Malaysia and is fondly described as a “pleasant Borneo surprise” as it is unexpectedly set between the magnificent South China Sea and rich tropical rolling hills.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Airlines, Food, Malaysia, Things to do |

For a foodie like me, where better to buy and eat food than in the streets? Littered in the streets of Japan are stalls that sell udon, soba, ramen, takoyaki, nikuman, castella, taiyaki, imagawayaki and yakitori, just to name some.

Can you name these Japanese street foods?

For those who are unfamiliar with the food that was mentioned; udon, soba and ramen are all noodles served in soup or broth. Ramen noodles are relatively thin compared to udon and soba noodles. Ramen is usually served in hot pork or chicken broth. Udon noodles are thick noodles also served in broth, although the broth is usually made from shoyu or soy sauce. Soba is served either in hot broth or chilled with a dipping sauce, much like udon. Also, yakisoba has actually more in common with ramen than soba.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Food, Japan |