After months of trying to get a booking for this unassuming Soho eatery I finally managed to get in for an early evening supper and I’m already planning my next visit. The Palomar is sister to the uber cool Machneyuda restaurant in Jerusalem. Like Machneyuda, The Palomar’s delectable menu features dishes from Southern Spain, North Africa and the Levant – but with a twist. As usual I took my trusty iPhone along to document my meal…
*WARNING* Overzealous use of superlatives, hyperbole and general gushing in this article. Sorry in advance. Jungle Fish is a bar/restaurant in the middle of the jungle which features a breathtaking infinity pool. Words and pictures can do this place no justice, but let me say this; my friend Amanda had tears of joy/awe in her eyes when we arrived. It’s that magical. Surprisingly it’s not that well known I don’t think, after speaking with people here in Bali it’s definitely still under the radar. My Tinder habit/addiction came through once again as it was a potential date who told me about this place. Seriously I get so many travel tips from Tinder – even if you’re not single it’s worth using it for that. You have to spend 150,000 Rupiah minimum to use the Jungle Fish pool, but that’s only about £8. My friends and I spent an afternoon there enjoying their sublime food, fluffy towels, excellent service and out-of-this-world cocktails. Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm and gets you 40% off drinks; try …
I can’t believe I found this place, it’s actually thanks to a guy I met on Tinder in Ubud who ultimately ghosted me but initially took me on a breakfast date here. I had breakfast here 5 days in a row, it’s that good. It’s also super chic and modern despite being in the middle of rice fields. You definitely need a scooter to get here but it’s so worth it. The decor, the vibe, the food of course… The build-your-own smoothie bowl is beyond delicious. My favourite combination is: the Spirulina smoothie, dragon fruit, strawberry, banana, apple cinnamon granola, lemon and turmeric dairy-free whip, bee pollen, cinnamon, lime and mint. You will glow after this. They also do a fantastic salad bar featuring everything from capers to kimchi, pumpkin seeds to pesto. There’s a huge selection of raw, vegan cakes and chocolates and lots of scrummy teas and coffees. Alongside all this glorious food you can shop organic vegan cosmetics and accessories, I picked up some virgin coconut oil for my frazzled tresses. Anyway, …
Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand is a definite must-do on your Thai backpacking trip or holiday. Plus it’s a pit-stop on the way to wonderful Pai (more on that later). To get there from Bangkok you can fly but there’s an a/c overnight train for just £18 which is very comfortable. Chiang Mai is a super cool, chilled town and full of backpackers and ex-pats read on to see what’s the sitch up in CM. BARS & CLUBS Because we all need a Chang now and again, right? One note, all the clubs and bars in CM close at midnight but they’re all a short walk from each other. Zoe’s Zoe’s is a sprawling indoor/outdoor complex of several bars to suit all but the most niche music tastes. Great for chilling out in the evening and catching up with friends. Zoe’s in Yellow, Rajvithi Road, เชียงใหม่ 50200 Spicy This club opens a little later most nights so you can dance away to floor fillers until 2am. Lots of talent here too. Chang Moi, …
There are many religions practiced in India, it’s a very spiritual place, Hinduism is probably the most common faith, but there are Muslim, Christian and Sikh people too. In Delhi I was lucky enough to attend a Sikh temple, and what an experience! I absolutely loved it. On entering the temple you must cover your head, I donned a lovely orange bandana (ever stylish even in India), remove your shoes and wash your hands and feet – then you enter into the temple to the sound of rhythmic drumming, chanting and singing – it’s quite a meditative experience just silently sitting cross-legged in thought, listening to the prayers beings called. After a quick prayer (I’m an atheist but it doesn’t hurt to put out some positive vibes into the universe) we went to the temple’s kitchen. Sikh temples (depending on the size) can feed hundreds or even thousands of people for free each day. Sikhs volunteer their time to cook chapattis, dahl and vegetable curries for anyone who wished to eat. Sikhs also see all …
My mate Akash told me that I had to visit Hauz Khas Village when I came to India, so I did and here’s what I found… GETTING THERE Get the Metro (yellow line) to Hauz Khas metro station, this cost me just 18p each way. Then get a tuk tuk as the walk is a little long, and not a particularly scenic one. Don’t pay more than 50IR to get to Hauz Khas village. If you must walk, just follow the road round to the left and I reckon it’d take 30 – 40 minutes. EATING The street food is plentiful and varied here, each district seems to have different dishes (so try them all). The prices are very cheap but go to the busiest stalls, they’re busy for a reason. And watch how much the locals pay so you don’t get given the tourist (higher) price. If you fancy something familiar there’s peri peri chicken, burger joints, pizzerias and crepe shops in Hauz Khaz, there is a definite European influence here, plus it’s one …
Food glorious (and I mean glorious) food. I would be telling pork pies, geddit?, if I said that grub wasn’t a large motivation in me travelling the world. Just think of all the delicious flavours and tastes I’m going to get to eat. The world is full of amazing things to eat but it’s the streetfood I’m interested in – not just because of my limited budget – so here are my top 3 fast foods from around the globe. 1/ Istanbul – Dürüm Wrap Dürüm, a tasty wrap with fresh salad and spicy meat paste, is one dish you can find in all of Turkey – whether it’s from a street vender or a super posh restaurants. It’s a delicious and fast food that’s usually surprisingly filling and pleasingly cheap. If you’re in Istanbul, the best dürüm, can be found in Bambi or Kızılkayalar in Taksim Square and even the stalls in the old town that target tourists are still pretty good! 2/Thailand – Mango and Sticky Rice The key ingredients here are sweet juicy ripe mangos. That’s what the Thai’s …
Eating healthily is hard enough most of the time, but what if you don’t have a fridge, an oven or *gasp* a Nutribullet to whip up something nutritious? As a backpacker, you’ll probably be eating on-the-go and be at the mercy of whatever the local cuisine is. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to stay true to the #eatclean movement while on the move. Forget Western Food Why anyone would want a Burger King in Thailand is beyond me, fast food chains are now sadly a completely global thing. That means whether you’re in Cambodia, Argentina or Cape Town you’ll be able to grab a McDonalds easily. Chance are that the local version of ‘fast food’ will not only be cheaper but way healthier. If you’re a fussy eater just GET OVER IT, try something new and you won’t regret it. An authentic dish like a Pad Thai in Thailand will taste immeasurably better that any western fast food. Besides, you can grab a pizza back home. The best fast food from around the …
Chez Shez 