Search Results for: iran
A short guide to hang out in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is modern, cosmopolitan and has a lot to offer, being easy to stay here for a week or more without getting bored.
From stylish cafes, trendy restaurants, concept shops… Yogyakarta has a lot of cultural events going on in this city, away from the traditional dance and music, mostly tourist orientated.
This post is just an unpretentious short list of spots that worth to visit while you stay in this appealing city. But there’s a lot more to explore that is impossible to find in a short five-days visit to Jogja… the nickname for Yogyakarta, used by locals.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Yogyakarta has a perfect balance between the
[clear]
[hr]
… a few places to chill
[clear]
Cokelat Monggo is an reference shop in Jogja, selling chocolate made from Indonesian cacao. At Jalan Tirtodipuran there’s a shop exclusively dedicated to this brand selling a big range of chocolate bars, but you can laos find Monggo products in other shops in Yogyakarta. The cafe next door is a chill place to hang out and try one of the chocolate treats available on the menu.
[clear]
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
[clear]
If you are walking on the long a exhausting Malioboro street, Margo Mulyo is a cool and unpretentious eatery to take a rest, eat or drink something in a place full of character… also very popular between the local population.
[clear]
Kedai Kebun Forum, at Jalan Tirtodipuran, is a cultural association that promote several events and where you….can see art exhibitions, watch a movie and get updated about what’s going on in Yogyakarta art scene… There’s also a restaurant in a cool and quiet spot surrounded by trees and bamboos that is a nice place to hang out, reading a book and enjoying a Indonesian coffee.
[clear]
[clear]
[hr]
Local Markets
[clear]
A good place to experience local lifestyle are the markets, locally called “pasar”… there are many around Yogyakarta, but from the ones that I visit I strongly recommend the Pasar Kotagede (also written as Kota Gede) as it is small, with the building focus on food products and with the streets around selling a bit of everything. Is better to go early morning when the market has more people and shows up more vibrant.
Is totally away from the Yogyakarta tourist beaten track, and not many foreigners come here… so be prepared to be the star!
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[hr]
Batik
[clear]
A stay in Yogyakarta can avoid the batick, as is part of the city identity… and as soon our eyes get used to the intricate patterns of this traditional art of dyed, you’ll be attracted by the diversity of designs, styles and colors of this fabrics. The batik is good souvenir from this city, which is also representative of the Indonesian culture that in Java are used mostly as man shirts and as sarong by the women.
There are hundred of shops specialize in batik, some selling the fabric by meter, other as a sarong, a shirt, trousers, scarfs, shawls, etc… Even if you are not in the shopping mood, it worth visit a visit to a couple of these shops!
[clear]
- Along Jalan Malioboro there are also many shops, from the simple to the more sophisticated. Outside along the sidewalk there are an endless number of streets sellers, most of them with batik items.
- Pasar Beringharjo (Jalan Malioboro) is definitively the highest concentration of batik sellers but the quality maybe is not the best and it’s quite busy place.
- In front of Pasar Beringharjo, there a big and old school shop Mirota Batik (Jalan Malioboro), with big choice of products made form different batik technics, with a beautiful decoration that really worth to visit, even if you are not in the mood for shopping. It’s a classic shop that looks more like an institution in Yogyakarta and which is also a good place for souvenirs.
- The Batik Winotosastro (Jalan Tirtodipuran) is a traditional shop of hand made batik that also includes a factory, that you can visit and learn the different processes to make the batik… and in the end you’ll understand why some of this fabrics are so expensive!
- There is also some antique shops specialized in batik articles in Yogyakarta which you can find a few along Jalan Tirtodipuran.
- Jalan Gamelan, inside the Kraton, has also a few shops but more focus on cloths made form batik fabrics, some of them sophisticated and made more for western customers.
[clear]
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
[clear]
[clear]
[hr]
… because food matters
[clear]
And because food matters… eating is also an important issue when we travel and an enjoyable food experience can change the perspective and the all experience of a place, that can be a city or a country.
The Indonesian food in not properly vegetarian, with the chicken being present in almost all menus. But there are a lot of dishes without meat or fish available in restaurants, warungs (restaurants), masakan padang and also at street food stalls that are a constant presence everywhere, since early morning until evening.
The tofu and tempeh are very popular, and eggs and steam vegetables (spinach, morning-glory and papaya leaf) are also common. Salads made with compressed rice and steam vegetables with a sweet peanut sauce – gado-gado and lotek – are also easy to find, mostly at street food stalls:
Here are some budget eateries that I try, most of them nearby them located near Mantrijeron (where I slept) and kampung Kraton areas.
- Mirang Raya, Ruman Makan Massakan Padang (Jl Parangtritis, 117). Tasty food with many options and cheap price. Some of these Rumah Makan (restaurants) restaurants work on the self-service system, and not really matter the quantity that you put on your plate, but you pay according to the number of items you choose to your plate. A vegan meal costs 10.000 to 15.000 Rp.
- Duta Minang, Rumah Makan Massakan Padang (Jl Mayjen D. I. Panjaitan, 50). The classic padang food with many delicious options in a more sophisticated atmosphere but also with the cheap prices, with a meal with tempeh, tofu, vegetables and egg cost 20.000 Rp.
- Gudeg Bu Hj. Rini (Gudeg Wijilan). Jl Wilijan, 7… if you visit Yogyakarta you must try the gudeg… a jackfruit curry that despite the less attractive look is delicious!!! Along with this street, you’ll find a dozen of gudeg restaurants, but this one was recommended by local people and has friendly prices and a casual environment. A gudeg dish, with rice, egg, krecek (a yellow sambal) and gori (unripe jackfruit curry with coconut milk and sugar) costs around 11.000 Rp…. this is the original version but meat can be added.
[clear]
[clear]
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
[clear]
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
[clear]
[hr]
…a bit of a bite on the Yogyakarta street food
[clear]
And as in any Asian country, the street-food is part of the gastronomic experience. And Indonesia offers a big choice always for a cheap price. And it’s safe! At least I have been eating street food daily for the last 6 weeks and no stomach problems!
There are street food everywhere around the center of Yogyakarta, and on a short visit is impossible to have a stomach to try everything… but in these particular places I found the tastiest options… vegetarians options:
- Jalan Kemasan on the way to Kotagede Market (Pasar Kotagede), early mornings. Inside the market and in the shops around the market building there are also food stalls, that is good opportunity to try the Indonesian sweets that usually are not too sweet and buy some savory snacks to take-away.
- Along Jalan Malioboro you find many food stalls with bakso (meatballs soup) and mie (noodles) options mainly concentrated on the top north of the street. There are as also food hawkers selling lotek (a mix of vegetables with peanut sauce on top… my favorite!), mainly located in the south part of the street.
- There are also some street-food stalls along Jl Mayjen D. I. Panjaitan, with soups, nasi and gado-gado.
- Deep fry stuff. Locally called gorengan, is widely available everywhere, but usually just in street-food stalls. Banana, tofu (tahu), chicken and tempeh are the most common ingredients of gorengan. At Yogyakarta is also easily available bolang baling… that are basically deep-fry dough with different shapes and slightly different taste, some of this are like doughnuts.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Yogyakarta street Art
[clear]
Yogyakarta stands up for it’s cultural and artistic activity that is visible in the vibrant street art that is spread a bit everywhere in the city, as also for the number of galleries, antique shops, cultural centers and art associations.
The street art in Jogja is alive and creative, filling empty spaces of the city with a colorful creativity and a sharp imagination. Just walk around and let yourself being surprised by the art that comes out from the small alleys or abandons walls!… Mantrijeron is a good place to start!
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Enjoy Yogyakarta!
Yogyakarta… the batik and the graffiti
Yes, the batik, this simple technique of dyeing fabrics that results in elaborate patterns, is definitively what pops up to your eyes as you arrive in Yogyakarta, or Jogja (jogh-jah) as it is locally called . But this city has much more to offer than this, being modern and cosmopolitan, but maintaining the charm of the traditional neighborhoods, where the pace of life with chickens here and there makes us forget that we are in a city.
[clear]
Yogyakarta definitely is a city with charm with many things going on, where you can spend several days or even weeks without get bored.
[clear]
The areas around the Taman Sari (Water Palace) and the kampung Kotagede are perfect for a random walk through the narrow alleys, too small for cars where only the motorbikes engines break the quietness of the place. Surrounding the Sultan Palace and limited by walls, the Kraton is a perfect place to wander along the grid of streets where the houses, painted with bright colours, have trees and nice gardens.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Due to the proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, Yogyakarta becomes the most touristic city of Java, but it deserves all the attention, and the high concentration of tourism, don’t change much its character.
But Jalan Malioboro, the commercial street of Yogyakarta, is strongly orientated to the tourism, not just foreigners but also from Indonesia, with the sidewalks full of souvenirs sellers, generally with batik articles, dozens of becaks (cyclo-rickshaws) asking “where you go” and a lot of touts with an annoying conversation trying to push you art galleries or shops.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
A bit less popular between the tourists is the Kotagede, a cozy and quiet neighborhood, but where the market (Pasar Kota Gede) gatherer all the activity, mainly early mornings, with the sellers occupying also the nearby streets. A vibrant and lively market where we are welcomed with nice smiles and a lot of curiosity. A good place out of the tourist route to find local and authentic lifestyle and where the usual question “were are you from?” just bring curiosity and joyfulness when I answer “Portugal”.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Pasar Kotagede. Yogyakarta
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Yogyakarta stands up for it’s cultural and artistic activity that is visible in the vibrant street art that is spread a bit everywhere in the city, as also for the number of galleries, antique shops, cultural centers and art associations. The street art here is alive and creative, far from being institutionalized or controlled like you find in Penang, filling empty spaces of the city with a colorful creativity and a sharp imagination. There are a lot of trendy places to hangout from vintage shops, stylish cafes or concept restaurants, as also quite some art events away form the touristic gamlean concerts or traditional Javanese dance shows.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Where to sleep in Yogyakarta:
There are many options far all budgets… from sophisticated villas to backpacker’s hostels, from the formal hotels to family style guesthouses.
I stay on the south part of the city (south of Kraton) on the Mantrijeron neighborhoods. Mantrijeron has a good balance between local lifestyle and tourist facilities, and away from the main busy roads, you can find nice places to stay. My choice was the Losmanos Hostel a recently open hostel with different kinds of accommodation: dorm 60.000 Rp, single room 110.000 Rp and double room 150.000 Rp. All with shared toilet, by the way are super cool and with a nice decoration… and hot water! The dorm is very-very basic, with just a mattress, a pillow and a fan… there aren’t lockers.
The wi-fi is very good and the staff is very friendly and helpful. This place with a nice concept and decoration is giving is first steps but already has a good vibe!
There’s a link for a map made by the crew that runs the business, Emi and Aldy, which give you the location the most important things in town, from sightseeing to restaurants, from supermarkets to laundry, from moneychanger to souvenirs shops. Very useful information based on local the experience! Thanks folks for this!
Address: Jl. Tirtodipuran, Gang Lesmana, Mantrijeron, Kota Yogyakarta
Phone: (0274) 4221665
But watch out: the price of the accommodation can change according to weekend and holidays!!!! So make it clear before you check-in.
[clear]
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
[clear]
Where to eat in Yogyakarta:
Basically, I just follow the Emi and Aldy map from Losmanos Guest House… there’s a lot of good tips on this map, most of them located near Mantrijeron and kampung Kraton areas.
- Mirang Raya, Ruman Makan Massakan Padang (Jl Parangtritis, 117). Tasty food with many options and cheap price.
- Duta Minang, Ruman Makan Massakan Padang (Jl Mayjen D. I. Panjaitan, 50). The classic padang food with many delicious options in a more sophisticated atmosphere but also with the cheap prices.
- Gudeg Bu Hj. Rini (Gudeg Wijilan). Jl Wilijan, 7… if you visit Yogyakarta you must try the gudeg… a jackfruit curry that despite the less attractive look is delicious!!! Along with this street, you’ll find a dozen of gudeg restaurants, but this one was recommended by local people and has friendly prices and a casual environment.
- Don’t miss the street-food along the streets of Yogyakarta… depending on the time of the day, you can find different types of food.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
There are street food everywhere around the city, and on a short visit is impossible to have a stomach to try everything… but in these particular places I found the tastiest options:
- Jalan Kemasan on the way to Kotagede Market (Pasar Kotagede), early mornings. Inside the market there are also food stalls.
- Along Jalan Malioboro you find many food stalls with bakso (meatballs soup) and mie (noodles) options mainly concentrated on the top north of the street. There are as also food hawkers selling lotek (a mix of vegetables with peanut sauce on top… my favorite!), mainly located in the south part of the street.
- There are also some street-food stalls along Jl Mayjen D. I. Panjaitan, with soups, nasi and gado-gado.
[clear]
Check more details at: A shot guide to hang ou in Yogyakarta
[clear]
Sweets and snacks at Pasar Kotagede, that is one of the many options of street food available in Yogyakarta
[clear]
How to move around in Yogyakarta:
Is a big city to do on foot!
The main train station (Tugu) is nearby the center of Yogyakarta but the bus terminals are located far out, like Jombor (buses to Borobudur).
There are a few options to move around Yogyakarta:
- Trans Jogja: modern buses with air-con, that link the main points of the city, like the bus terminals, train station, the historic center, immigration, airport, etc… It’s fast, confortable and efficient. But the bus stops are located far away from each other’s, and you always need to walk a bit until finding one. There’s a map online where you can see the bus number and routes, but at each bus halt, there’s a helper that sell the tickets and will help you. The ticket costs 3.500 Rp, no matter the distance. Usually, I didn’t wait more than 15 minutes for a bus.
- If you want to save some time, special for longer distances, the GoJek is the best, a moto-taxi service that you can call by a mobile application. A ride from the center to the immigration or airport cost around 000 Rp.
- Rent a bicycle… this is the most enjoyable way to visit the Kraton and the small alleys of the old part of the city, but the main streets have quite some traffic… but bicycles are still very popular between local population.
- “becaks”, a cycle rickshaws, are everywhere around the city, usually chilling at street corners while waiting for clients.
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
[clear]
Arriving in Yogyakarta by train:
If you arrive by train you’ll probably end your journey at Tugu Train Station. The exit is not clear and maybe you will need to cross some lines and platforms until you find the exit. As you arrive at the street the usual ojeks and taxi drivers will approach you. The way is not clear and you’ll find yourself on a busy street, full of traffic, motorbikes and people.
But no stress, you just need to walk left, 400 meters until you reach a big T-junction. If you turn right you are at Malioboro Street (Jalan Malioboro) the commercial center of the Yogyakarta.
But probably you don’t want to stay in this area as the accommodation is more expensive and the concentration of touts trying to push you to art galleries or batik shops is high.
So, if you are planning to go to the south part of Yogyakarta, south from Kraton, you can get a Trans Jogja bus, at the bus stand located on the left side of the road, about 50 meters from the junction. At the bus stand (halt) the staff will help to get the right bus to your destination.
[clear]
About me
Hello! I’m Catarina, a traveler and amateur photographer.
I’m from Lisbon, Portugal where I spent most of my life… but presently I’m wandering through the world!
My journey started in 2013 and led me to the Asian continent, mainly South-East Asia: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma)… but also a bit to North Africa and the Middle East: Iran, Morocco, and Turkey. The far Japan and Taiwan where my most recent destinations, as also the magic country of Myanmar that I have been visiting several times in the last years.
With this blog I share my trips, giving information and tips on how you can travel save and cheaper, based on my own experience, hoping that my experience will help other travelers and works also as an inspiration for the ones that didn’t start yet.
I’m not sure about what makes me keep on traveling but photography is for sure one of the reasons to keep on going, trying to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the places, the local lifestyle and portrait the people.
And the food… food is for sure one of the things that most trills me when I travel. But being vegetarian brings new challenges, and I hope that sharing my experience will make your travel easier and yummier!
Love and Respect
A call for the new, a thrill that drives to movement, a willingness to see other cultures, took me to long-term trips where every moment is a challenge to the imagination and an ongoing romance with life.
Narigama Beach in Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa, located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, became popular by the waves that provide good conditions for surfing, presenting itself as a cheaper and more popular alternative among backpackers than other beaches like Bentota, dominate by resorts and that attract more people… but as everything changes, Hikkaduwa also changed and also became popular and part of the itineraries of the “package” holiday, giving rise to hotels and resorts, leaving behind a quiet fishing village atmosphere to turn out hectic and touristic.
As a consequence, the most southern beaches were becoming more popular and also, the previously living from fishing was mostly replaced by tourism business.
So the place to enjoy the famous Sri Lanka beaches was Narigama Beach, a mere 5 kilometers from Hikkaduwa, who heads towards the south by the infernal national road, that link Colombo to Galle (known as Galle Road). In fact, it is hard to say when it’s over a village and starts another, as along the national road, line up t houses and more houses, restaurants, shops, guest houses, hotels, grocery stores, travel agencies, souvenir shops, etc… in an endless succession that don’t allow to see the dense green patch of palm trees from the tropical landscape of this region of Sri Lanka.
While Hikkaduwa continues to attract surfers, who also had already found new spots further south along the coast, Narigama Beach attracts more couples and older tourists, mainly Russians and Germans who fled the turmoil of restaurants and bars that animate the Hikkaduwa beach, seeking for quiet of a nearly empty beach.
Sri Lanka advertises itself as one of the destinations with beautiful beaches but its geographical position of the island in the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal causes strong currents and powerful waves. Here, the sea is reputed to be dangerous, and a short swim it turns out that in fact is not very safe, with many strong currents and cross waves which make animated baths but at the same time risky. To compensate this, the temperature of the sea is perfect: warm but not too hot.
Narigama beach extends for 3 kilometers long towards the south, in a broad and continuous sand, that as you walk will have a less occupation, that means fewer hotels and houses since in terms of tourists these beaches can not be considered crowded.
This extensive beach offers pleasant walks at the end of the afternoon when the sun softens intensity, hiding behind a blanket of clouds even before reaching the horizon line. Is at this time of day that the sky gets fantastic colors, contrasting with the dawn, bright and delicate, the sunset leaves a surreal track where nature gets bizarre colors, creating moments of a strange atmosphere.
Where to stay in Narigama Beach:
Along the national road, as also along the beach and a little to the inside (with the inconvenience of having to cross the main road to reach the beach) are dozens of accommodation including resorts, hotels, boutique hotels, guest houses and many houses that rent rooms (homestays). Prices vary widely, but you can be a room for 1000 LKR, and if you choose a guest house (or homestay) the prices can be bargained in low season or for long term stays.
Along the beach are the most expensive accommodation, but walking a bit along the coconut trees and asking locals you end up finding more modest and modest places that provide good rooms at reasonable prices.
Hector’s Place is one of those places, which brings together a few small houses and rooms of various types and sizes. This place is very quiet, far enough from the road to not hear the car noise, and at less than 100 meters from the sea, which provides a constant background sound of the strong waves.
A double room, living room, balcony, and bathroom costs 2000 LKR.
For those traveling on the main road, the entrance to the Hector’s Place is located just after the Ranmal Beach Hotel, for who go towards Hikkaduwa for Galle. For who walks the road the place is not easy to find because it has not sign or identified, but walking by the sand there is a discreet sign “rooms available” near one of the observation posts, a kind of “lifeguard” that run in mixed trade selling clothes and coconut while seem to watch who bathe in the sea.
Where to eat in Narigama Beach:
Find local food at reasonable prices is not easy in these areas by the sea, where the food prices are extremely inflated, where some rice and curry can cost 500 LKR, instead of the usual 150 LKR.
Most restaurants offer a mix of local food with international food stands the fish and shellfish.
Along the road linking Hikkaduwa to Narigama there are plenty of choice in terms of restaurants, but only after an exhaustive search, was possible to find a place that serves a proper rice and curry for 200 LKR… cheaper just taking the bus and going to the village of Hikkaduwa. The site is very popular among the locals, that early starts to flock to buy a meal and takeaway, which makes that around two o’clock the food finish. The rice, instead of the usual white rice is the called “red-rice”, a little more tasty; but the focus is on the curries, which varied every day, sometimes using the jack-fruit or its seeds as an ingredient, but always accompanied by traditional sambol, a spicy condiment made from freshly grated coconut. The place has no name or any indication in English, and can be easily unnoticed. The food is delicious and spicy, as the tradition in Sri Lankan cuisine, and can be vegetarian or not.
The No Name restaurant, also located on the roadside serves kotu in generous and delicious doses, as well as vegetarian rotis in variants with meat, fish or even with banana and chocolate, a variation according to the Western taste.
In fact, the easiest and cheapest meal is undoubtedly the rotis and the kotus, which are popular as evening meal, packing several restaurants that specialize in this kind of food.
All this type of inexpensive places, as also some more expensive restaurants are located along the national road and suffering from the same problem: the discomfort caused by the constant traffic of trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles and tuk-tuks almost always running at excessive speed, adding to the discomfort caused by constant honking and pollution.
But the village of Hikkaduwa remains the “center” of activity with the train station, bus station, banks and local businesses, is a good option to find meals at reasonable prices, as well a fruit and vegetables market.
And it is certainly the right place for lovers of the traditional Sinhalese snacks, the deep fry patties, filled with delicious and very spicy curries.
Next to the bus station the milk bar sells traditional curd, a thicker yogurt from buffalo milk, more fat than what we are used to, and that comes in clay pots. The price is displayed so there is no doubt that the smaller “pot”, half a kilo costs 150 LKR.
How to get to Hikkaduwa:
Hikkaduwa can be reached by train or bus, with direct links to the city of Colombo. South of there, there are also buses and trains from Matara and Galle.
The train ride from Colombo-Fort to Hikkaduwa takes about 3 hours and the route is always done by the coast so it is preferable to choose a place on the right side of the wagon… if you can find a seat! Leaving the Hikkaduwa railway station you’ll see a small Hikkaduwa bus terminal bound for Matara, Mirissa, Galle stopping in small villages in between.
How to go from Narigama to Hikkaduwa:
The best option is to use one of the many buses that constantly pass on the national road bound for Hikkaduwa and other northern villages.
There is also a train station that is closer to the Narigama beach: Thiranagama. But given the low frequency of trains the best option is to use the bus whose high frequency don’t make you wait more than five minutes for the next bus.
The Narigama trip to Hikkaduwa takes 10 minutes and costs 8 LKR.
How to go from Narigama to Galle:
From Narigama to Galle as the frequency of the buses is high, you never waiting more than 5 minutes. If you want to go further to Mirissa ou Matara, you’ll need to change buses in Galle Terminal.
Find a bus stand can be a little difficult because many times there isn’t a shelter or sign that identifies a bus stand, however, just follow the markings on the floor in yellow, in which the local stop is defined as a rectangle…. os simply ask to the local people.
The Narigama trip to Galle takes 30 minutes and costs 35 LKR.
Food in Singapore… so may vegetarian options!!
Singapore is proud to be the culinary capital of Asia, receiving influences of Chinese Malaysian, Indian and Indonesia cuisines, as also Sri Lanka and Thailand. Arise even traces of Portuguese and English presence in the region, were the “portuguese egg tart” which is no more than the famous pastel-de-nata.
Singapore like any big city offers a wide range of choice in terms of restaurants, not only in terms of cuisine, where Asian food dominates but also with many Western and World option, but also in terms of cost of a meal.
And through the city, we are faced with the simplest and informal restaurants, whose space is open to the street, to the most sophisticated places, passing through many restaurants “a la carte” that feature a wide range of prices. In between is a myriad of choices, showing that food plays an important role in the social live of Singaporeans, that given the high purchasing power fill up restaurants, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
And here we are faced with the question what really is the typical Singaporean food… the answer is: that’s a bit of everything, not a mixture of influences from which resulted an own cuisine that reflects the geographical position, climate, fauna and flora of the region, but an offer of diversity in terms of gastronomy that reflects the ethnic and religious diversity is what best defines this country-city-state.
The areas of Little India, Kampong Glam and Chinatown are the most attractive in terms of food, with any of them with options for all pockets. The shopping centers also have many options in terms of restaurants apart from fast food and big international food chains.
In Singapore the food although more expensive than in neighboring Asian countries is affordable, as you stick to food-courts and markets, as there isn’t in Singapore “street food”. These sites provide meals from 4 S$, which corresponds to € 2.5.
A bit all over the city, with the exception of the most sophisticated and wealthy areas (Wafles Place, Marina Bay, etc…) there are food-courts that comprised several kiosks, stall or small restaurants grouped in the same space sharing a common area consisting of tables and chairs, were people have meals or drinks. Each of these places has it own type of food that usually is served in take-away system. These food-courts could be huge to the point where a person almost get lost in there or of more modest dimensions, but they are always the cheapest and quickest option and the one that attracts most of the local people.
Usually these places offer several options in terms of food, Chinese, Malay, India … but some are more targeted to Chinese food, where it is sometimes difficult to find vegetarian food. The fried-rice and fried-noodles are easy to find and are a good vegetarian options, as the food is made in the moment and is possible to ask to replace the meat or seafood, for vegetables and sometimes tofu. Also very popular is the so called fast food or simply rice or rice plate, where food is exposed on trays in buffet style with many vegetarian options, and each person make his own plate, based on rice, paying for the number of varieties that are served. This type of meal can cost around 4 to 5 S$ and have a lot of choices for vegetarians, with lots of legumes, tofu and soy product dishes.
With so much diversity is not difficult to find vegetarian or even vegan restaurants, but these usually in more sophisticated areas of the city, and not so affordable. But Singapore brings together different types of cuisines and almost everywhere have at least one vegetarian option, with the Chinese food the most difficult in this field, and the Indiana the easiest since in Singapore there are a big Hindu community. The Malaysian food also has some traditional dishes, that depending on the restaurant may have or not animal products, but you can try to ask to replaced meat, fish or shellfish by tofu, which due to Chinese influence is quite popular.
But attention because sometimes the pastes that seasoning the food are often made with fish-source or other animal condiments. For vegans is more difficult as the eggs are a constant presence in many of the dishes.
Kampong Glam, the so-called Arab Quarter featuring up around the mosque Masjid Sultan, one can find food from Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Iran, as also many more options being an ideal place to enjoy traditional Malaysian dishes: laksa, lontong, nasi lemak, nasi goreng … where “nasi” means rice, that could be steamed or stir-fry in various forms and flavors, with vegetables, egg, chicken, beef or seafood… pork is excluded from Malay gastronomy as this is Muslim country.
The nasi lemak can be considered one of the most popular dishes from Malaysia and is usually consumed at breakfast, simple and very easy to prepare is based on rice with fried anchovies, fried peanuts, cucumber slices and egg (boiled or fried) at the side. The nasi lemak can be served on the plate or wrapped in banana leaf to take-away. But what makes this special dish is the sambal, a red paste resulting from a mix of chilies, onions, garlic, ginger and a few more spices, resulting in a spicy mixture, but very tasty.
Laksa is another popular Malaysian dishes easily found in Singapore, comprising a curry based on coconut milk, sweet and spice with ginger and lemongrass, which involves rice noodles and some vegetables. It may also served with shellfish.
Lontong is a traditional Indonesian dish that was built in Malaysian cuisine, and also popular in Singapore. Made with pressed rice forming a roll which is then cut into pieces seasoning with a vegetable curry cooked on coconut milk, to which joins tofu, tempeh and boiled egg. Like the nasi lemak, it adds a fish-based sambal.
Kampong Glam is one of the best places to try the biryani, an Indian dish made of rice, traditional in Muslim areas, but with a Malay “twist” with a strong meat presence. Here you can also appreciate the roti prata, or simply roti, or paratta, which is traditional South Indian specialty but that was incorporated in Malaysian cuisine being also very popular in Singapore. It is a flat bread, unleavened, but whose dough is extended to be very thin, with the help of much oil and then worked and flattened, in order to create rough layers, which later sintered in metallic surface until becomes slightly crispy. It is served with a small dish of curry, were pieces of the roti are soaked. We can find many versions of this dish, with the roti stuffed with egg, banana, sweetened milk…
For those who like Indian food, Little India is the place that offers best variety, especially focus traditional food of South India, as most of the Indian community resident here has his origins the state of Tamil Nadu. In addition to all the most popular type of snacks are the thalis with many restaurants serving this meal, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, in a banana leaf. Here are also the popular rotis, the dosa, uttapam, vada, puri, etc … Little India is also the best place to buy Indian origin products such as spices and condiments, lying in grocery stores a large variety of vegetables .
In Chinatown, even more than in other parts of the city, buzzing with activity around the food, dominating the food-courts, where you can meet hundreds of food stalls and find a bit of everything in terms of Asian cuisine, attracting thousands of people and open from morning until the evening, with food being served throughout the day. One of the most popular is the Chinatown Complex, where the environment is noisy and busy but it provides an interesting insight into the way of life, culture and way of being of the population. A meal in these food-courts can cost between 4 to 5 S$, with the meat and seafood dishes higher-priced.
One of Chinese specialties is the popiah, a very thin dough roll involving a mix of lettuce, soy sprouts, peanuts, cooked carrots and a spicy sauce. They are delicious, and a great vegetarian option for a snack.
Also in Chinatown, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, there is a canteen in the basement where only vegetarian food is served, but according to Chinese recipes, where the meat is replaced by derivatives from vegetable origin that resemble meat in appearance and consistency. A ideal way to explore the rich Chinese cuisine for vegetarians. Each meal, which consists of a rice dish with two dishes cost 3 $S. Only open till 3 pm. The food is good, the atmosphere is calm and has charitable purposes.
In terms of drinks tea is very popular among the Chinese community, being seen for medicinal purposes; but it is the milk-tea that gained in popularity, which is tea with sweetened milk that can be served hot or with ice. A sweet and refreshing drink that goes well with the hot and humid climate of Singapore. Addictive.
The coffee is also very popular and can be found at sophisticated coffee shops, coping the western style with espresso, cappuccino, latte, etc… or alternatively you can taste the Singaporean coffee, kopi, a filtered coffee extremely dense and very strong in terms of caffeine, which is served in different ways:
- Kopi: coffee with condensed milk, served hot
- Kopi C: hot coffee served with milk and sugar
- Kopi: with sugar
- Kopi Kosong: without sugar and without milk
Where to eat in China Town:
- Tooth Relic Temple: canteen with Chinese Vegetarian Food: 3 S$.
Address: 288 S Bridge Rd, Singapore 058840
- Chinatown Complex: the fresh market in the basement, laundry on the ground floor and food on the first floor where the options are so many it’s hard to choose with different types of cuisines and specialty stalls in specific dishes; meals from 3 S$.
Where to eat in Little India:
- Komala Villas: Typical South Indian food at affordable prices; thali served in a banana leaf.
Address: 76 Serangoon Road, Singapore 217981
- Famous Indian Curry Food Restaurant: serving delicious thali in banana leaf, in a informal and quiet restaurant in with vegetarian options. 6 S$
Address: 30/32 Upper Dickson Road, Singapore 207489
Where to eat in Kampong Glam (Arab Quarter):
- Kampong Glam Cafe: good food with a wide variety of Malaysian dishes (lontong, laksa, nasi lemak, nasi goreng and many more), rotis and also with the self-service option where based on rice can compose the dish with various side dishes to choose from a big range of option, and where you can also find vegetarian Optimal location for a meal or just for a drink (no alcohol) and watching the local way of life. Meals from 3.5 S$.
Address: 17 Bussorah St, Singapore 199438
- Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant: very popular for byriani (only meat) and the rotis
Address: 697-699 N Bridge Rd, Singapore 198675
Where to eat in Geyland:
- Rice House (Wang Da Zhou): This casual restaurant confeciona the recipes of Chinese cuisine but using derived from vegetable products, mainly soybeans, which are similar in texture to the meat, and we can thus enjoy “hainanese chicken rice” without sacrificing animals ☺
Address: Blk 129 # 01-102 Geylang East Avenue 2, Singapore380129, Singapore
- Rochor Beancurd House: here are produced and serve to soy-based products, for example soy-milk and beancurd (also called soybean pudding) a pudding made of very soft and smooth tofu that is served as a dessert or snack, washed down with sugarcane syrup, a typical product of Chinese cuisine. In addition, there is the “portuguese egg tart”!
Address: 745 Geyland Road (Lor 39), Singapore 389653
Singapore, is not just about shopping!
What stands out in a first walk through the wide, wide avenues of Singapore is a succession of shops and shopping centers, located in buildings of modern and audacious architecture that in common have the huge height, which are the symbol of this an island-country-state-city.
But a longer route shows the most attractive side of this place: the ethnic and cultural diversity, which brings together in harmonious coexistence Chinese, Malays and Indians to which are added many immigrants from neighboring Asian countries, which account almost 20% of the 5.4 millions of citizens. Singapore also attracts many Westerners who work in multinational companies that have here headquarters or delegations, as the “Lion City” (singa means lion in Sanskrit) is recognized as one of the sites that offer the best conditions for deployment, growth and success of a company.
The success story of this territory began with the British presence you saw here, in the eighteenth century ,a strategic location on the trade route between East and West, offering natural conditions for the location of a port, making this island passed from one village dedicated to fishing for an important trading post. After the Japanese invasion that ended with the end of World War II, Singapore became independent after a short time under the “flag” of “Federation of Malaysia” which included the Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah, on Borneo. The independence of Singapore, which in 2015 celebrates 50 years, was not on its own initiative, but resulted from intense ethnic conflicts, which have led the Federation to decide to “kick out” Singapore, preventing the spread of these conflicts to the remaining territory. In a small territory without many natural resources, where even the water is supplied by Malaysia, the government option was to create economic policies to attract foreign investment.
In a country so new and multicultural, where 74% of the population is ethnic Chinese, 13% Malaysian and 9% of Indian origin, is there a Singaporean identity?! Yes, there is, precisely from this ethnic and religious diversity, where tolerance is based on accelerated economic growth, where hundred of commercial surfaces bustling with consumers reflect the bet of this political system that governs Singapore, where economic success hides the restriction of certain freedoms, in a country where there is the death penalty and corporal punishment. However this repressive policy results in low crime and high safety, with citizens to give up some of their privacy and accepting the permanent surveillance of CCTV cameras that are a constant in the city, whether shops, coffee-hops, restaurants, markets, malls, hotels, metro, hostels, at the entrance of buildings, in streets, etc…
Although very modern, according to Western standards, where everything is planned and thought of forming a “perfect”, safe and predictable environment, it is impossible to hide that we are in Asia… the markets, the food, the smells, the bustling of urban life.
But the most attractive in this city-state is the cultural diversity, which is visible all over the place, but that becomes important in certain areas where greater concentration of a particular ethnic group; in the case of Chinatown, Little India and Arab Quarter, where you will feel immediately the differences, as if three or more generations have not been enough to erase the traditions, religions and customs, keeping each group bustling of a very strong identity, where the language is the best example. English is lingua-franca, but Mandarin, Malay and Tamil are also official languages, is common each individual speak two languages: English and corresponding to their own ethnic group.
Obviously these neighborhoods attract the population of these ethnic groups, both Singaporeans and immigrants, who find here their culture, temples, language, food, clothing, etc… And remarkably, arriving to Little India, after a quick subway ride where the vehicles move without driver, and we find the same rhythm, the same smells, the same tastes, the same products in grocery markets, the food served in the same metal plates, the same sahrees, the same lungis, the same ringing bells in temples… where everything takes us immediately to India.
The so-called Arab Quarter (Kampong Glam), which in Arabic has essentially the carpet traders but where you also can find some restaurants of Turkish and Iranian food, is ideal place to enjoy traditional Malaysian dishes, which dominates the meat, but which is not served pork according to Muslim tradition, an area where shines the Golden rood of Majid Sultan mosque. Curiously nearby this area, in the sophisticated and hipster Bugis are located a popular bar zone, along Haji Lane.
In Chinatown, buzzing activity around the food, either in restaurants or in food-courts, which are the most economical option and the one that attracts most of the local population, creating a buzz that is not only limited to dining hours, a concept that Asia is quite extensive. The streets of Chinatown arise organized and perfectly clean teashops, pharmacies of Traditional Chinese Medicine products and shops selling bird-nest (nests with saliva swallows or other bird) that are one of the specialties of Chinese cuisine, also with medicinal effects, constituting one of the most expensive foods in the world.
In Chinatown, along South Bridge Road, in just over 500 meters is the Jamae Majid mosque, Hindu temple Sri Mariamman and the Buddhist temple Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This last one appears more grandiose than the others, with a stately temple with hundreds of Buddha images, which dominates the ground floor of the building, which also houses a museum, a canteen, the room where the relic is kept and a garden located on the terrace, which is a small paradise. Daily at different times of the day, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, monks chant hypnotic songs that fill the space of a mystical atmosphere that gives an even brighter glow to the rich decoration of the temple.
But the place that makes us forget for a moment that we’re in Singapore, is located next to Chinatown Visitor Center, behind the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where daily gather men that spend here most of the day playing cards and chess, chatting, reading the newspaper or simply sleeping. On Sundays the plaza nearby becomes a dance floor, with music provided by loudspeakers that attracts several generations of men and women who gather here to perform elaborate choreographies.
Wafles Place, is the financial center of Singapore, which accounts for the largest buildings in the city, creating the famous sky-line dominate by skyscraper that is the image of Singapore and successful economic policy, in a country that the World Bank considers the “Easiest place to do business.” The dark streets of Wafles Place whose buildings hide the sun’s rays, circulate men in white shirt and gray business suits, a sober bustle.
Despite dominating buildings, boulevards and highways the city has plenty of green areas, where trees are quite common along the streets, adding some areas reserved for natural parks, furthest from the center, which retain some wildlife. The Botanic Gardens, millimeter organized with the thoroughly identified plant specimens are worth a visit and serve as a nice walk. The tropical climate of Singapore creates optimal conditions for vegetation with temperatures close to 30°C and humidity above 80%, with constant climate throughout the year, and frequent storms that bring rain and further increase the humidity.
Next to the Marina Bay, behind the iconic set of buildings Marina Bay Hotel, is another great green spot but a more artificial and entertainment approach, with the SuperTree Grove, a set of metal structures shaped trees, covered by vegetation that are lit in the evening earning fantastic colors.
Apart from the skyscraper, there are many niches where the old town, dominated by shophouses (buildings with ground floor for trade and housing above) typical Chinese influence, remain impeccably preserved, housing various commercial activities, highlighting shops and restaurants, which with its 5 foot inn (sidewalks under the arches formed by the first floor of shophouses) are the most attractive areas for walking around the city, but that invariably culminate in wide and rectilinear avenues where organized traffic flows quietly .
Singapore a city-state, technologically modern, planned and organized, where coexist harmoniously different cultures, ethnicities and religions, where everything is controlled by CCTV, where the wi-fi is available for free in almost all locations, where for eating in the subway you can get a fine, which the ever present air-conditioning almost makes one forget the tropical climate, where succeeded economy relies on migrant labor and where the wealthy population keeps entertained shopping.
Free activities in Singapore:
In an expensive city and where almost all the entertainment and tourist sites is charged entrance, you can find in Singapore free activities:
- SuperTree Grove, and part of the Garden By the Bay
- Botanical Gardens
- Concert at the Esplanade Theaters
- Lion Dance Performace (Pagoda St)
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Accommodation:
The accommodation in Singapore, a city struggling for lack of space, represents the largest share of the budget, so the hostels, offering dorms with 4 or more beds are the most popular and economical option.
And it’s not hard to find hostels in Kampong Glam, Little India or Chinatown, but where the price per night is never less than 20S$.
5 foot way inn … a concept made of small rooms, almost all with bunk beds, air-conditioning, en-suite shared, breakfast included (bread, cereal, milk, margarine, sweet and fruit); a machine serving coffee, tea, cappuccino, chocolate milk, etc… is available all day.
These hostels share the same concept, minimum dimensions of rooms, most without windows, lined up in narrow corridors forming a labyrinth, occupying old shophouses; intended primarily for short term stays, for who spends most of his time touring in the city, but also being used for those who come here on business.
5 foot way inn is located in various parts of the city with different standards in terms of quality and comfort, and with different prices. Prices vary from day to day, with higher values at the weekend or when occupancy is higher. Reservations can not be made at reception and to use the web-site or send an email to the reservation center.
The choice went to Chinatown 2 and the Bugis situated next to Kampong Glam. Prices per night range between 20 S$ and 30 S$ for a 4 bed dorm.
5footway.inn Project Bugis
Address: 10 Aliwal Street, Bugis, Singapore 199903
5footway.inn Project Chinatown 2
Address: 227 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058776
Transportation:
The best way to move around in Singapore is the MRT, the underground, covering efficiently the city, with regular services. Comfortable, quick and easy orientation.
In tickets can be brought in machines of stations halls and with the first trip you get a card by additional charge of 0.10 S$, that can be reused a maximum up to 6 travel and the amount paid for the card is refunded at the end of the third recharge. One can purchase round-trip ticket, that if not totally used you can ask for refund at ticket counters.
The cost of travel is proportional to the distance with a minimum of 1.4 S$ (Singaporean Dollar).
Buses are also modern and comfortable and allow you to see the city while moving.
How to cross the Persian Gulf by ferry. From Bandar Abbas to Dubai
After a trip by Iran for nearly a month put the question: where to go out? I entered the north of the country on the border with Turkey, went down towards the south, and the exit from Persian Gulf towards the United Arab Emirates made perfect sense, adding to the advantage of these sites offer attractive flights fares for Southwest Asia, my next destination.
But was hard to get information about how to cross the Gulf by ferry, nor in relation to the port of departure, destination, schedules or prices. In general all the places where I inquired about ferry trips, the information were often inaccurate, confusing or even contradictory.
However detailed information can be found at this site:
//caravanistan.com/transport/persian-gulf-ferry/bandar-abbas-sharjah/
Despite being more focused in transporting people with vehicles have reliable and detailed information.
The ferry company is the Valfarj Shipping Co. //www.valfajr.ir/52/Home.aspx
Schedule:
- Bandar Abbas – Sharjah
Monday and Wednesday: 9.00 pm (passenger + cargo: 12 hours)
- Bandar Lengeh – Dubai
Sundays and Tuesdays: 10:00 pm (passenger + cargo: 5-6 hours)
Saturday, Monday and Wednesday: 11:00 am (only passengers: 4.5 hours)
The option was at Bandar Abbas route (to save on yet another trip to Bandar Lengeh) and to enjoy the evening to make the trip coming to the Emirates in the morning.
Prices:
- Bandar Abbas – Sharjah: 2.700.000 rials
- Bandar Lengeh – Dubai: 2.700.000 rials
//www.valfajr.ir/156/index.aspx
Where to buy the ticket:
Bala Parvaz Travel Agency in Imam Khomeini Street, Bandar Abbas
The amount has to be paid in rials and is required passport.
No fee or commission is charged.
No need to buy the ticket in advance nor trying to book because the ferry was little more than 20% occupancy.
Currency exchange:
It is essential to exchange rials before leaving Iran because you can’t do it outside the country!
The option was to Morvarin Exhange, situated in a commercial area in Imam Khomeini Street, next to the Velayat Square; right in front, in the same shopping area there is another currency exchange store.
Here you can exchange rials per dirham or other currency, such as dollars or euros.
Bandar Abbas to Bahonar Port:
Taxi: 70,000 rials (30,000 rials if shared taxi)
It takes 30 minutes, from downtown to the port, depending on traffic. The taxi can enter the port and drop off passengers in front of the departure lounge.
Not worth arriving early. Though the boat starting at 9.00 pm, you must be in port by 5:00 pm… are hours of formalities, stamps, customs plus the time required to accommodate cargo and vehicles in the basement. Only there is a kiosk selling soft drinks and packaged snacks, cookies and little else.
At Bahonar Port:
In the port is expected to more than an hour to start boarding, passengers and goods (which are plenty) to spend the departure lounge by security devices (rx, metal detector, etc ..).
In the second room, for those who have no goods (the backpack does not count) can drive up to a counter and order your boarding pass showing the ticket.
The following is a wait of over an hour in this room, while all the goods are dispatched to the basement. Backpacks and suitcases remain with the passengers.
This room, are located immigration services, where they proceed to the formalities of stamping passports. It may take a few hours. Coincidentally or not the majority of western passports were trapped in the services being returned over an hour later, without justification.
Despite the departure being scheduled for 9 pm the boat just started the journey after midnight because of the time required to board vehicles and cargo.
Ferryboat trip:
Although there was reserved seats, these are not respected because of the small number of passengers, so crew direct people on the way that everybody can get over the three places and be able to lie down overnight.
At the boat is served dinner: meat with lentils and rice, bread, water, yogurt and doogh (yogurt-based drink but slightly salty(.
In the morning, around 7.00 am is served breakfast: bread, jam, processed cheese and tea.
As the boat is Iranian segregation keeps going on, with the front of the room reserved for families and women, and the rear compartment reserved for men.
The environment and noisy and confusing, especially in family area.
It is possible to access to the outside of the boat.
Sharjah to the Dubai:
Despite the delay on departing the ferry arrived at 10:30 to Port Khalid in Sharjah.
Passengers are directed to a bus that leaves us in front of the immigration services. Then the process slow but priority was given to Western foreigners; however from landing until we have the passport stamped is more than one hour.
Leaving the Port Kahlid the gate we are in the Emirates. To get to Dubai:
- Leaving the Port Khalid (Sharjah) walk on foot to find a small boat crossing a canal, parked between fishing boats. Ticket: 1 dirham; it takes 5 minutes. You can just ask to the people in the street that everybody knows the pier
- Across walk to the right side, crossing a viaduct where the left align plant vendors until you find the Bus: Jubail Bus Station. One can ask the direction to people on the way because everyone knows where it is. It is less than 2 km, but took about 15 minutes due to the hot and humid climate.
Khalid Port to Jubail Bus Station are about 5 km to the route is done by car, so the taxi is also an alternative. However the value proposed by the taxi driver was too high for what the option was to walk.
- In Jubail Bus Terminal, take the bus to Inter-Emirates Bur Dubai (Al Gubaiba bus terminal). The bus stand as the kiosk that sells tickets is the last terminal.
Please note: You must purchase a card to use the Inter-Emirates bus, which is also valid for the metro and buses in Dubai. There is the possibility of buying a single ticket. So the cheapest option for those wishing to stay for a short time in the Emirates is buying Silver Card of the RTA. You can recharge it in the bus terminals and Metro stations. It costs 25 dirham with a credit of 19 travel dirham.
- The journey takes more than 40 minutes off-peak hours, which can take hours.
- At Al Gubaiba bus terminal, just cross an intersection and you are at the entrance of the Metro. To reach the Dubai International Airport picks up the Green Line to “Burjuman” and then moves to the Red Line passing through several terminals of Dubai International Airport. The Silver Card RTA is valid in the metro and can be loaded with trips.