Travels Archives - Page 9 of 10

11 Incredible Reasons to Visit Plovdiv, Bulgaria: In Pictures

February 2, 2017 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

Plovdiv is the most under-rated city in Bulgaria, and my absolutely favorite from my week-long trip. It holds 6^th place on the list of the World’s 10 Oldest Cities, and the history dating back to the Roman empire (and long before) is ever-present as you explore the city’s many sights.

Why go? See for yourself in the pictures below!

Pedestrian Walkways

No need to keep an eye out for aggressive drivers, you can stroll the city center in peace, where some of the most picturesque buildings and ancient ruins reside.

Ancient Stadium of Philipopolis

The stadium, an archaeological remnant from the Roman Empire, was massive. However, only part of it is visible, as most of the stadium actually lies under the modern pedestrian walkway. Fortunately the exposed section includes the tiered seating that allows audiences to continue to enjoy performances, including the choir festival I enjoyed one of my nights in town.

Mosaics

There are many mosaics throughout Plovdiv, some of which are nearly two millenia old! Some of the most intact examples from the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries are at the Small Basilica in town and the Trakart Gallery in an underground passageway in the city center.

Ancient Roman Theater

Even though its one of the best preserved in the world, the 1^st century Roman Theater of Plovdiv was only uncovered in the 1970s! Today it hosts theater and musical performances, and on the day of my visit, there were stage hands hard at work preparing for a show.

Churches, but Not Only

The city of Plovdiv, over its 6,000+ years of history, has also been host to the world’s main monotheistic religions. In addition to churches, you’ll also find an active synagogue and mosque in town.

Forts and Monasteries on Nearby Hillsides

There is the Puldin Fortress in Plovdiv itself, as well as several other fortresses and monasteries in the surrounding hills, all featuring lovely vistas of the surrounding Bulgarian landscape. Nearby standouts featured in the pictures below are the Bachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress.

Singing Fountains

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, the fountains in Tsar Simeon Park put on a choreographed show with the fountains, colored lights, and music. I was mesmerized – it’s incredibly well done.

Alyosha Monument

Alyosha is a monument of a towering Soviet soldier, made even more imposing by its position at the top of the military park at Bunarjik Hill. The statue itself stands over 10-meters (35 feet) tall! And of course once you’ve hiked your way to the top, you get a lovely view of Plovdiv on all sides.

Street Art

From formal pieces to graffiti masterpieces, art is everywhere you turn in Plovdiv.

Food

Hearty, Eastern European specialties at their best. Think meat and potatoes in stoneware, but also some very fresh produce and delicious cheeses.

Wine & Wineries

While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture Bulgaria, this is wine country extraordinaire and as recently as the 1980s, Bulgaria was 2^nd in the world in wine production. With many excellent wineries surrounding Plovdiv – Wine Enthusiast has named this area a Top 10 Wine Destination for 2017 – whether you like to tour vineyards and do wine tasting or just cozy up in town at a wine bar, you’ll drink well while you’re here.

What city or country has taken you by surprise with how wonderful it is when you go? Have you been to Plovdiv? What convinced you to make the trek?

Where to Find the Top Tea Experiences in Sri Lanka

January 10, 2017 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

Sampling the local food and drink is a great way to explore a new culture as you travel. For several years now, wine tasting has been one of the top things I like to do when visiting a new place. Sri Lanka however is the first country I’ve visited where instead I sought out tea. There are actually a lot of similarities between tea tasting and wine tasting, so perhaps it was a natural transition?

Sri Lanka actually has a rich – if relatively recent – history of tea production, dating back to Sir Thomas Lipton. He started his own plantations there in the late 1800s, to have a direct source of tea to sell in his UK-based grocery stores. Lipton basically undercut prices this way, making tea affordable for the British masses for the first time, and cementing the widespread UK tradition of tea drinking.

While there are a lot of tea factory tours across Sri Lanka that range from mediocre to quite informative, there were only a small number of places where you could actually taste the tea or walk through the tea plantation grounds. The spot where I saw the most stunning tea landscapes and also had a great hike was around Haputale, while my favorite tea tastings were in two of the more unexpected locations: a tea shop in the center of Ella & at a tea plantation close to the coast.

Tea Landscapes & Hiking

Dambatenne Tea Factory & Hike to Lipton’s Seat (Haputale)

If you are visiting the nearby tea meccas of Ella and Nuwara Eliya, it is an easy train ride to Haputale. The tour of the tea factory was pretty interesting even after other similar tours, although unfortunately you don’t actually get to taste any tea. The real highlight here is seeing the surrounding plantation of rolling hills with workers shifting along the rows of plants as they pick the leaves, loading up the giant sack they carry on their backs.

There is also a lovely hiking trail to the lookout point known as Lipton’s Seat. On the day I visited, there was rolling rain and fog that only lifted for a second at the top, but the trail itself was wonderful to traverse and the bad weather became an excuse to befriend fellow hikers as we huddled under an awning to avoid the rain at one point. It was obvious at the top why Sir Thomas Lipton sought out this vista when visiting his tea plantation, a spot where you can take in the entire landscape on a clear day. It’s also possible to take a tuk-tuk to the top if hiking is not your thing. There are plenty available for hire in the town center of Haputale and at the main entrance to the Tea Factory.

Tea Tasting

Ceylon Tea Center, entrance inside Ella Village Inn restaurant (Ella)

Over a several-night stay in Ella, I popped into quite a few tea shops. But the only one where I could taste a large variety of tea all at once was at the Ceylon Tea Center. It’s a good thing I did a bit of online research to find them, because otherwise the location is the least conspicuous tea store in town, with the entrance actually inside a restaurant. I popped in at the tail end of lunch inquiring about a tasting, and within 15 minutes or so, a huge line of tea cups was laid out in an enticing line. After careful brewing of each variety of tea, the tasting began in the proscribed sequence. Some sips were more traditional Ceylon teas, other were aromatic infusions of ginger and flowers, and there were also some delicate, light versions of green and black teas. I’ll admit that offering tea tastings is also a brilliant marketing strategy, as I walked out with an armful of tea purchases, most of which I would not have bought without the opportunity to taste and enjoy them first.

Handunugoda Tea Factory (near Galle & Mirissa)

If you only go to one tea factory during your time in Sri Lanka, this should be it! Although it is not in the central ‘Hill Country’ where most plantations are located, it was the best overall experience and the most tea I was able to taste in conjunction with a tour. The tour at Handunugoda operates like a well-oiled machine, starting with some tea and cake, then progressing through the tea plants and factory machines for processing the tea. The guide was incredibly informative, and I was lucky that this was my first tea tour as I then had this information as a reference point for all of the subsequent tours. For example, they use parts of the same tea leaves to make both black and green tea, with the difference being in the processing method, which I didn’t even know was a possibility. This was also by far the most amount of teas I was able to taste at any tea factory, with dozens of teas available for tasting, from tea made with flowers to their signature ‘sapphire’ oolong to the renowned virgin white tea that is picked by hand by workers wearing gloves to protect the tea leaves! Just be aware that the teas are all pre-brewed, so were room temperature when I did the tasting.

Which tea experience appeals to you the most? Is there anything else you’d still like to know about tea tasting in Sri Lanka? Ask away in the Comments.

9 Reasons to Visit Sri Lanka: A Destination With It All

January 12, 2017 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

Every time I recommend Sri Lanka as a travel destination to someone, the first thing that comes to mind is the great variety of activities you can do on this single island. Anywhere else, you’d have to go to at least half a dozen different destinations to get comparable offerings. In Sri, Lanka, it feels like you can do it all:

Explore Ancient Temples

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy on December 31^st, because not only is that an auspicious day to go, but I also ended up standing two feet from the Sri Lankan President who also visited that day! I was close enough to get a great selfie with him, but it seemed rude to turn my back on him while I was so close, so I settled for a few excited pictures. And the exhilaration of the travel magic when you happen to land in the right place at the right time for an experience that no amount of planning would have created. There are of course ancient temples all across the island, worth exploring if you happen to be nearby or even planning your itinerary around.

Relax on the Beach

Sri Lanka is an island, so there is plenty of coastline to choose from. Along the western coast south of Colombo and continuing along the southern side of the island are a wide variety of hotels and resorts, including several all-inclusive and luxury options. The beaches on the eastern coast are more isolated, and possibly even more visually stunning. I stayed in a resort on the coast south of Colombo for a few nights, doing not much and decompressing before the more active itinerary for the 1.5 weeks after. Beaches are also accessible from many of the proper towns along the coast that have famous beaches nearby that you can check out with an inexpensive tuk-tuk ride during your stay.

Go Whale (and Dolphin) Watching

This is one of many items on this list that I consider a “bucket list” item, and it’s so incredible to me that this is one of several once-in-a-lifetime options you have to see wildlife while in Sri Lanka. However, this is one of those activities that require advance planning and due diligence to have a good experience – you’re not likely to accidentally have a great boat trip. I visited in December, when it is peak season for whale watching off Mirissa in the south, and saw many dolphins and several whales the morning I went.

The down side? Due to the size of the boat (too big with too many passengers) as well as the poor organization and communication from the crew, I spent the most visually spectacular moments of the trip doubled over seasick, and barely got any pictures of the morning at all. Be sure if you go to: take a pill to combat seasickness (even if you don’t normally have trouble) and ensure that you will share the boat with as few others as possible. And if they put you on a boat bigger than what was guaranteed during your booking, demand something smaller as promised.

Discover the Capital City of Colombo

Colombo is a bustling capital city, with a lot of different cultures and traditions represented, and not unlike other capital cities I’ve visited across Asia. It is a former colonial outpost, reflecting the Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences over the years. Colombo also boasts modern skyscrapers and an abundance of fancy rooftop bars with a cosmopolitan atmosphere for watching the sun set. And there are a ton of places where you feel the presence of locals, with street food stands and markets. Although I am not always a huge fan of organized tours or guides, it is worth taking in a few hours of knowledge from a local and getting a verbal history of the many nuances of Colombo that are not immediately visible.

Surf

Surfing is hugely popular on the beaches of Sri Lanka, and many visitors come just for that. You’ll see a mix of backpackers staying put for a while to do some surfing every day for weeks, tourists trying the sport for the first time, and locals taking advantage of the proximity of the waves. While unfortunately I did not get the chance to do any surfing in Sri Lanka myself, I saw plenty of beaches with surfers, with some catering nearly exclusively to the surfing community. Whatever your level of expertise – or even if you’re a complete beginner – there will definitely be an option close to you with the right difficulty of waves.

Explore Colonial Forts

The coastline of Sri Lanka is dotted with forts that in most cases passed through the control of the three colonial powers: the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British. I visited the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southwest that is probably the most popular Sri Lankan fort to visit. It’s actually more like a mini city, with all of the specialized buildings needed to be a self-sufficient community. As most of the fortifications are along the coast, they are also great spots for scenic views of the ocean.

Visit Tea Plantations (& Do Tea Tastings)

I’m a bit of an accidental tea lover, after getting into tea tastings after moving to Milan, and realizing how similar they were to the wine tastings I already appreciated. By the time I visited Sri Lanka in late 2015, tasting tea was an activity I was actively incorporating into my itinerary, and that was one of the many reasons I was excited for the trip. The good news about tea and Sri Lanka is that there are many spots across the country where you can do tea tastings and buy local tea and – especially in the central ‘Hill Country’ – lots of large tea plantations to tour and hike. Even if tea is not your thing, you’ll definitely be served plenty during your visit, so why not embrace it? You’ll learn a bit about tea, and get a better understanding of which types you most enjoy.

Go on Safari

When I think of going on safari, I envision Africa, so I was quite surprised in my trip research that this is a popular activity in Sri Lanka as well due to the incredible wild animal populations. There are national parks all over the island where you can experience safari, with your choice depending on the time of year of your visit and which animals you’d like to see most. I did a safari in Yala National Park on the southern coast, and saw many impressive creatures, including many of the large game animals: elephants and leopards. There are plenty of options and countless tour providers, or you can plan for accommodations nearby and arrange a day (or several) of safari through your hotel.

Eat Incredibly Well

From bowl-shaped crepes called hoppers for breakfast to “rice and curry” that comes with half a dozen side dishes, Sri Lankan cuisine was a delightful surprise. Due to its proximity to southern India, Sri Lanka has a lot of Indian influence on its food, both in the predominance of curries and also the roti bread that comes in many forms. You can have it served in what I consider a more Indian style with the roti stuffed like a burrito, or the more street food style kottu roti with the bread chopped up and stir fried on a griddle with eggs, vegetables, and your choice of meat. And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, eat with your hands like the locals – they think that the metal of silverware alters the taste of the food, and you get the best taste by not using any.

While I’ve never been to India, I came back from my Sri Lanka trip calling it “India light” because it featured incredible cuisine quite similar to Indian food, but the overall day-to-day tourist experience was quite pleasant – and lacking the harassment or negotiation needed in other parts of Asia, India or otherwise. People tended to quote reasonable prices the first time you asked. And if you were not interested and said so, they left you alone.

I had such a great time visiting Sri Lanka, and feel like there were plenty of areas I didn’t get a chance to explore over my visit, so I’d go back in a heartbeat. Plus, anywhere the food is that good is always top on my list for a return trip.

What about Sri Lanka appeals most to you? What cities or activities would you like more details about on the blog?

Visiting Liechtenstein: A Perfect Weekend Getaway

October 20, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 2 comments

Impressions

It’s been a long time since I’ve visited a country where tourist areas and restaurants boast almost no English at all. This is of course the impact of most tourists to Liechtenstein being German speakers from bordering nations Austria and Switzerland. It was a good reminder for me of what being a tourist is like for most nationalities – you arrive somewhere where you don’t speak the local language, and may only know a few words or phrases of English, the lingua franca of travel.

Fortunately I have a very rudimentary German vocabulary of maybe a dozen words, plus some mediocre “menu German.” And the Liechtensteiners were incredibly kind and helpful. Even when a menu was only available in German, all of the servers spoke passable English and were friendly and eager to help translate the different available dishes when asked. Phew.

The main focus for many visitors is Vaduz, the capital, and also the site where you’ll find most museums and also access to the Prince’s Castle. While I spent a fair bit of my time in Vaduz, I actually stayed in the nearby (and largest) municipality called Schaan. There are many restaurants easily accessible by foot in the Schaan center and it has a very different vibe, so I was glad to see another section of the country. Altogether Liechtenstein has 11 different municipalities, including ones at higher elevation you may encounter while hiking – take your time here to get out and explore a few!

Places Liechtenstein reminded me of:

Andorra. My first impression of Liechtenstein was how similar it is to fellow micro-nation Andorra. The driving approach isn’t nearly as dramatic as when you are getting close to crossing the Andorran border, but like Andorra, Liechtenstein is a small country with a main road and mountains on either side. They are a bit difficult to get to on account of there not being an airport, with both attracting outdoor adventurists for hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
Geneva. Geneva, although in Switzerland, will have many accommodation options in nearby France pop up as you plan your visit, where there are a lot of culinary options and cheaper places to stay. I found this happening in my searches for Liechtenstein as well, with many Liechtenstein or Vaduz restaurants actually boasting an address in nearby Switzerland.
Australia. There are a lot of bike paths in Europe, but I haven’t seen trails this well-marked since I lived in Australia. Bike trails are clearly marked indicating destinations and distances, making it an incredibly easy way to navigate Liechtenstein.
Stockholm. I came to Liechtenstein a few weeks after my July trip to Stockholm, and noticed a lot of the same trends. Although it is peak tourist season for many, there were a lot of local restaurants (especially in Schaan) that were simply closed for several weeks. Also, one of the breweries I tried to visit was closed the weekend I was there. Keep this in mind when you plan which time of year to come for a visit.

Things to Do

There’s more to do in Liechtenstein than you might think. See below for my top picks during your visit:

Around Town

Kunstmuseum

Located on the main pedestrian area in Vaduz, this modern art museum has a collection that has been carefully curated by locals over the years, and involved quite a bit of sculpture and interactive pieces as well as paintings. I enjoyed all of the three exhibits I saw on my visit, and there were pamphlets in English for each room.

Postage Stamp Museum

I wasn’t sure if I would pop in for a visit or not, and then I found out that this museum is FREE! It doesn’t take a lot of time to see it all, so it’s definitely worth checking out. And it’s nice because if you geek out like I did about visiting another micro-nation, you can buy a postcard and stamp, write and address it at a little writing table they have set up, and then the museum staff will mail it for you (yes, of course I did this!).

Off the Beaten Path

Vaduz Castle

Some people drove here, however it’s far more scenic to take the 20-minute (steep) walking path to get to the top where this iconic structure is perched. Each section of the path has a new view of Vaduz and beyond, and it’s nice to have the satisfaction of reaching the top, as the Castle is still in use and cannot be visited. Also along the path are informative signs about Liechtenstein in German, English, and French, the only multi-lingual signs I saw during my visit.

Harry Zech Weinbau Cantina

Although there are wineries closer to Vaduz and more tourist-oriented, this was by far the best wine I tasted in Liechtenstein (affirmed by its prevalence on the wine list at Michelin-starred Restaurant Maree – see the Best Bites section below). I’d recommend reserving your visit in advance, especially to come off the beaten path. Don’t be deterred by the Shell gas/petrol station that marks where you enter the parking lot, the white and red wines at this cantina are well-executed and with very particular flavors from the local growing area. Most visits here take place in German, so just plan to be patient for a visit in English, although all the key points will come across just fine – and let’s be real, there is no communication barrier with excellent wine to enjoy.

Liechtensteiner Brauhaus

This brewery’s Alpagold is available on most Liechtenstein beer menus that I saw, but if you’re interested in sampling some of their more unique brews, you can visit them not far outside of the Schaan center. It’s possible to taste the different brews, and get some quite inexpensive varieties like a coffee stout or a pale ale from their ‘Club Bier’ assortment.

Amazing views

Hiking

There is a huge variety of hiking trails, from relatively leisurely strolls to intense, steep paths that will take all day. Most hotels will offer a hiking map and advice if you ask, and you can also peruse the options through the official tourist website. Best of all, you can get to the trails on foot from many of the town centers, I accessed trails from both Schaan and Vaduz during my trip.

Vaduz Castle (see above)

A bit off the beaten path, but accessible by foot from the Vaduz Center and the views are wonderful as you stroll up to the Castle.

Going up to top of ski slopes (summer or winter)

Although I did not go myself, locals recommended to me that taking the ski lift to Malbun is a great way to get an incredible view without having to do all that hiking. There is more to do in winter of course, but some restaurants stay open for the summer visitors (do keep in mind though that snow tends to linger at the high elevations, and sometimes there is still snow as late as July).

Best Bites

Like in nearby Switzerland, food in Liechtenstein is a bit pricey overall. This similarity is of course not entirely surprising since both countries use the Swiss Franc as their currency.

I definitely saw backpackers who were picking up fruit and pastries from the supermarket to comprise a budget meal. Even if you’re on a budget though, some places are worth the splurge and there are quite a few set menus available for lunch for relatively reasonable amounts. Here are my top picks for places to check out:

Set Lunch

Adler Vaduz 1908

Close to the pedestrian area in downtown Vaduz, Adler/Vanini has a nice (covered) outdoor seating area and a reasonably priced set menu Monday through Saturday with 2 different options of main dishes, and the option of adding on an appetizer for under 20 CHF. The food was basic, but with great flavors and was a very enjoyable start to my weekend.

Local Specialties

Berggasthaus Masecha

I ate at this spot off-the-beaten-path at the end of many long hours of hiking, although you don’t need to hike to get here – the Liechtenstein bus systems comes here and many people drove as well. They even had an English menu, while many spots closer to downtown Vaduz do not. While Liechtenstein cuisine is similar to German, Austrian, and Swiss specialties with a focus on meat and potatoes, this Berggasthaus stood out for its several vegetarian and salad options. It is at a fairly high level of elevation outside of the main town, and priced similarly, but worth it for the incredibly delicious dishes they prepare. Oh, and the view.

High-end Cuisine

Restaurant Maree

Liechtenstein has a Michelin-starred restaurant! Once I made this discovery, I knew I wanted to eat there. While I did not find anything memorable about the amuse bouche sampler that arrived at the start, the dishes on the tasting menu were absolutely fantastic, especially the fish and seafood courses. There are also quite a few wines available by the glass to accompany the different flavors of the various courses. The cheese plate is wonderful but enormous, so plan accordingly, and come early enough for your meal to enjoy the sunset overlooking the Prince’s Castle.

(More) Practical Tips for Visiting

I’ve included a few practical tips above next to the relevant attraction. Here are a few more general tips for visiting Liechtenstein:

Country Abbreviation

Countries across Europe use 1- or 2-letter abbreviations, and the one you’ll see for Liechtenstein is FL. If you see it on a highways sign, don’t worry, you are going the correct direction. FL is an abbreviation for the German words for “Principality of Liechtenstein.”

Currency

Liechtenstein, in addition to bordering Switzerland, also uses the Swiss Franc as its currency, which you’ll see abbreviated CHF. Like in Switzerland, while the exchange rate between CHF and the Euro are close to 1:1, prices are much higher in Francs.

How to Arrive

Liechtenstein is one of the more accessible of the airport-less micro-nations, since it is close driving distance to several cities. I enjoyed my road trip there (get European road trip tips here), taking about 3 hours from Milan.

You can also get to Liechtenstein from:

Zurich, Switzerland in 1 hour
Innsbruck, Austria in 2.5 hours
Munich, Germany in 3 hours

If you are planning to taste and purchase wine here, or want to explore around Liechtenstein without hiking, biking, or public transit, definitely drive. Otherwise, there are many other options to get to Liechtenstein, best explained on Liechtenstein’s official tourism website.

Buses for Travel within Liechtenstein

Whether you drive to get to Liechtenstein or not, you may find yourself taking advantage of Liechtenstein’s thorough public bus system. There are a lot of routes connecting the end of hikes back to the city and the towns along the main road with one another. Your map app on your phone also likely can navigate you on the buses here.

Fares are on the honor system, and can be single rides, round-trips or day passes. You can buy directly from the driver, and I wouldn’t take my chances – one of the days I rode the bus there was a plainclothes woman who looked like a tourist checking tickets and issuing fines to those who hadn’t paid when they boarded.

Parking around Vaduz Center

There are parking lots immediately adjacent to the central pedestrian walking area along the Städtle in the center, but they tend to have a time limit of 2-3 hours. Especially on weekends if you are willing to walk a little extra, there is a lot by the Schloss-Apotheke with no time limit that is free on the weekend. I had already checked out of my hotel on Sunday morning, so this was an ideal spot to leave the car to explore more of Vaduz before heading home without the stress of a time limit.

Picture-taking.

With mountains all around, the sun can disappear quite quickly. When the light is good, get your pictures fast, the moment won’t last long!

Have you visited Liechtenstein before? What was the highlight for you? Or which attraction is enticing enough for you to go out of your way to come? Any other questions? Let me know in the Comments below.

6 Reasons to Visit Andorra

October 18, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 4 comments

Admittedly, stopping into Andorra was to check another micro-nation off the bucket list, but also to explore a country I really knew very little about. It was clear on the driving approach how prominent the mountains were in the view from all of the towns along the main, winding road, making it a perfect destination for outdoor adventures in any season.

Like other European micro-nations, Andorra also holds a bit of a unique status. While it is not part of the Schengen open border area, you have to enter Schengen to get there since without an airport, Andorra is only accessible via Spain or France – most commonly Barcelona or Toulouse. And it even uses the Euro as its currency.

Prices are also incredibly cheap, so the final stop leaving Andorra was to fill up the car at a gas station. When presenting the European gas card afterward, the attendant took one look at the card and said, “We can’t take this. It’s only good in Europe.”

This is the kind of seeming contradiction that makes travelling to a micro-nation so interesting. So why visit Andorra, this beautiful country that is both in Europe and not?

Hiking

In summertime when I visited, you are greeted by lush green cover along the Pyrenees mountains, and since the towns tend to be in the valley between, the heights are tempting you for a visit. There are quite a lot of hiking trails accessible from the main towns, with a range of lengths and difficulty levels, so whatever your inclination, you can find a path into nature to spend a morning or entire day.

Skiing

Although I did not visit in winter, Andorra was known as a skiing destination long before it became a summer draw. There are a lot of accommodations easily accessible to the various ski slopes, and you can also enjoy other winter sports like snowshoeing, with ample trails throughout. Many of Andorra’s small towns are essentially set up to be winter sports destinations.

Eating

Not surprisingly, food options in Andorra borrow from both neighboring countries, France and Spain (and if you speak French or Spanish, that will come in handy for ordering). I had a French-style dinner and then Spanish tapas for lunch, including some of the best papas bravas – roasted potato cubes in a spicy sauce – that I’ve ever had. I especially enjoyed eating along the river that passes through Andorra La Vella, with ample outdoor seating to do some people watching and take in the views.

Relaxing

Speaking of which, if activities in the great outdoors don’t interest you, there are plenty of pedestrian walkways in town and along the river to really relax and still enjoy beautiful views as you look up. And plenty of spa and “wellness” retreat options for really taking it slow, or relaxing after exertion hiking or skiing.

Exploring

The best part for me about visiting a country I don’t know much about beforehand are the surprises along the way. Of course, you don’t know what things you may happen upon until you take the time to wander. The two things that stand out most from my visit are a Dali sculpture in the middle of Andorra La Vella and happening upon a Cirque du Soleil rehearsal.

Shopping

Right after driving across the border from France, you begin seeing prominent signs advertising duty-free shopping. A quick stop out of curiosity revealed an adult wonderland of culinary delights and liquors produced at a local distillery as well as from around the world. I mostly stuck to things I can’t find elsewhere, like Andorran tea, but an entire trip budget could easily be spent in the span of thirty minutes.

In addition to the ample duty free wares, there are also quite a lot of brand-name stores with branches in Andorra, especially in the capital of Andorra La Vella. While it makes sense that purchasing opportunities would be plentiful in the tax haven of Andorra, this was the biggest surprise for me. Come with your shopping wish list ready!

Have you been to Andorra? What was the highlight for *you*?

Where to Find Stockholm’s Best Bites (and Sips)

October 27, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 2 comments

During my several days in Stockholm, I scoured the city not only for the best restaurants, but also for the best bites – the one item done well at a particular place. Where I landed was based on my own research and recommendations from friends, and also keeping my eyes open as I toured the city and trusting my instincts. It felt like I encountered culinary bliss everywhere I went!

Here’s what I found:

Best Bites

Barrels Burgers & Beer

That name says it all, huh? I normally wouldn’t get a burger as I try to eat my way through a new city, however when my primary plan fell through, I remembered a fellow blogger at TBEX raving about how this had been his favorite meal so far. There are many toppings available beyond your typical burger and cheeseburger, so I tried the ‘Eiffel’ since I adore Bearnaise sauce. Juicy and perfectly balanced, this burger was definitely a highlight for me as well.

Broms

Thanks to IKEA, many people associate cinnamon buns with Sweden, however I found the similar cardamom bun to be even more popular with locals. Plus, as I’ve never seen it outside of Sweden, a treat that you can only enjoy locally. I probably tried at least 5 different cardamom buns over my few days, and the one from Broms was hands-down my favorite. It had the right balance of doughiness and the sticky sweetness to contrast the more savory flavor of the cardamom spice – just heaven. I had planned to just take a bite to try it at first as I was still pretty full from lunch, and ended up devouring the whole thing in under a minute!

Ekstedt

It is hard to score a reservation to eat at Ekstedt, and with good reason. If you can be flexible (I went late on a weeknight), you’ll have a better chance of eating here. Why is it so sought after? Ekstedt is probably most well-known for only having one heat source: its wood-burning oven. What makes the creations that come from oven so delectable though, is the creativity they use in composing dishes. I had dishes that were baked, smoked, and cooked in a cast iron. The most creative preparation – and most memorable for me – was the amuse bouche, which was deer meat and aromatics prepared table-side in a stone bowl that had been heated in the oven.

TIP! Even if you’re not dining solo like me, I highly recommend sitting at the bar so you can observe the cooking and plating process first-hand.

Östermalms Korvspecialist

I’ve already written about how korv is a food to seek out in Stockholm, and I greatly enjoyed the version I sampled here. Not your ordinary hot dog, as there are dozens of meat and spicing combinations available, I recommend consuming whatever korv you choose on a baguette with all the toppings.

Östermalms Saluhall

This is an indoor food market with many tempting stalls, although I’d head straight for the Melanders counter, where you can find giant salmon fillets in a variety of cured and smoked preparations. You can order by weight or by the slice, and the fish will be expertly sliced with the care typically reserved for Spanish or Italian hams. Every sentence I’ve written (and deleted) so far to describe the taste has sounded contrived, so let’s just suffice it to say that if you like salmon, each bite is a little bit of heaven and will give you pause.

TIP! Sample culinary delights at the other stands while you’re at the Saluhall, especially any Swedish foods you’d like to try during your trip. I also enjoyed one of the local specialties I found at another stall, a potato pancake served with lingonberry jam.

Restaurant Rakan

I went here looking for a relatively quick bite close to the train station, and was surprised at how well-balanced and flavorful the fish stew turned out to be. The layering of flavors and textures, with each piece of seafood perfectly cooked, made this a surprising find on my first full day in town. Even though it was a decent portion size I could not completely finish, I did soak up and savor every last bit of the broth between the bread and rice.

Best Sips

Other than the wine pairing at Ekstedt (see above), which was phenomenally well done, the wine, beer, or cocktails I sampled elsewhere in Stockholm honestly don’t stand out for me. I did however have some delicious coffee during my visit:

Barista

I was not impressed with the first few cups of coffee I consumed in Stockholm, so asked a local who was my tour guide on an excursion where she would recommend, and she steered me toward Barista. Don’t let its location inside of the train station be a deterrent, it is a spot where you’ll find espresso-based drinks done right.

Espresso Sosta Bar

And the other place to seek out for good espresso? A place run by Italians, of course! I would say that while I was there, about half the people were conversing with the baristas in Italian, with the rest of the customers requesting their coffee in an an even split between Swedish and English. Like in Italy, you can consume your coffee standing at the bar, or at one of their tables inside or outside.

Certainly this is not meant to be an exhaustive list, especially since many restaurants in Stockholm close or relocate for the summer, so not everywhere on my original list was even open when I was there. But if you follow the list above, you’ll certainly make the most of the limited time you have in Stockholm on your visit!

What singular bites stick out in your memory or have made you want to go back to a particular city? Anything else you’d like to know about Stockholm’s food scene?

5 Reasons to Visit Stockholm after Summer

October 6, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

Unless it’s to see the Northern Lights, I’ve always thought of Scandinavia as a summer destination. Scandinavia and Sweden are pretty far north, so the best time to go intuitively should be at the hottest point of the year. So when presented with the opportunity to attend a travel blogger conference (TBEX!) in Stockholm back in July, I was excited since I imagined that summer would be the perfect time to check out the Swedish capital.

I had a wonderful time in my few days in Stockholm, both at the conference and out and about in the city on my own, however I couldn’t help thinking throughout my time there that summer just didn’t seem to be the absolute best time for a trip. Here are a few things about summer in Stockholm that made me dream of Stockholm in autumn (or spring):

Stockholm gets hot in summer.

No, really, it does. Actually hot, even by non-Scandinavian standards. Some of the days walking around I was sweating profusely, and even got some color despite slathering up with high-SPF sunscreen. What I did not completely realize until my visit is that Stockholm is actually an archipelago composed of 14 main islands, so as you go around the city you are crossing bridges with no shade and getting a lot of the reflected sunlight from the water everywhere. The hot time of year may be your preferred travel climate, but for me to visit a city, I’d prefer a cooler day where is comfortable to walk around without overheating or needing to carry large quantities of water to stay hydrated.

Many restaurants close down for several weeks or the whole summer.

In a way it made my travel planning a bit easier, but I was surprised at how many of the restaurants that were on my “to eat” list ended up being closed while I was in town. Fortunately, most places had their closure dates listed prominently on their websites, but there was still one stand for korv that I went out of my way to check out, only to discover that it was closed for several weeks. There was even one restaurant that relocated outside of the city at one of the popular island destinations for the entire summer. If you’re a foodie like me, or want to taste the best of what Stockholm has to offer, you’ll have greater options available by waiting until after summer to make your trip.

There is construction everywhere during summer.

It makes sense that a city with a cold climate would take advantage of the summer months to catch up on construction and renovations around town, and this is exactly what happens in the Swedish capital. A lot of streets and sidewalks were blocked by active construction and there was a lot of scaffolding around town. Summer also seems to be the time of year that restaurants choose to undergo renovations, so it being prime time for construction further contributes to restaurants being closed at this time of year.

Avoiding peak season for tourists.

Summer is definitely peak tourist season in Stockholm. Flights and hotels are more expensive, restaurant reservations are harder to come by for the places still open, and all of the sights are more crowded. Obviously between summer vacation for school-age children and it being the warmest weather of the year in Scandinavia, it will remain a popular time for a visit. But if you are a traveler with a bit of scheduling flexibility, coming during the fall or spring shoulder season will mean a more relaxed (and cheaper!) overall experience.

Better weather to enjoy fika

Fika is the Swedish tradition of a coffee break with pastry, part of the rhythm of a typical day. If you’re like me, if it is hot outside and you’ve been out and about sightseeing, the idea of a hot coffee and snacking on a pastry is not particularly appealing. While I did have the occasional coffee beverage to keep my energy up, I just couldn’t manage to sit down and eat between meals in the heat. I love the idea of having a set break like fika in the morning and afternoon though, which reminds me of living in Australia where it was part of my work contract that I got allotted break time for both morning and afternoon tea. But for me, autumn with its crisp air and turning leaves is the perfect time to savor a hot beverage and have a sweet pastry to break up the day.

Have you been to Stockholm? What time of year do you think is best for a visit?

How this Wine Lover Got Into Tea Tasting: 11 Ways Tea is like Wine

December 15, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

With how much I enjoy wine, you might ask how I came to become such a tea aficionado. The surprising but true answer: it all started in Milan, Italy.

Shortly after moving to Milan, I was immersed in language classes and looking for ways to practice and speak with Italians, so joined a language exchange. And it just so happened that one of the other members I befriended is affectionately known as “The Tea Lady” and hosts tea tastings at her home.

Once I attended my first tea tasting, I was hooked:

There were so many varieties of tea!
It could taste so different depending on the brewing method!
Even within a single, small category like Japanese green teas, there was such variety!

This excitement and continuing discovery is one of the reasons I got inspired tasting different wines, and my tea journey has gone through similar phases. Along the way, I realized how similar tea tasting and wine tasting can be:

Many Varieties

Just like wine is not one thing, tea isn’t either. You may have tried a single wine and didn’t like it, but that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike all wine. The same goes for tea. Wine has red and white grapes of many varietals – like chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, and syrah to name a few (and as I know from living in Italy, so many more!). With tea there are 6 categories to acquaint yourself with: black tea, green tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong, and pu’er. I think prior to living in Milan I had only ever tried the first three types, but found out from doing lots of tastings that I quite like both oolong and pu’er as well.

Importance of Terroir

Prior to starting with tea tastings, I thought of terroir as that French word for soil that I can’t quite pronounce correctly and always gets thrown around by wine snobs. Of course, when it comes to wine-making, characteristics of the soil like minerality and salinity do impact how a grape will taste, along with things like the amount of sunshine and the altitude at which the grapes are grown. And for tea? The effect on the growing plant is so very similar, affecting the tea as it grows and also the taste of the final product. In Sri Lanka for example, the plantations and packaged tea are actually organized by the altitude of where they were grown because that will tell you so much about what taste to expect.

Processing Method is Also Key

Did you know that black tea and green tea can be produced from the same tea leaf? Apparently it’s all in the processing method. Processing tea leaves usually involves some form of heating and/or drying, to go from the leaf on a live plant to the dry version you see loose or inside a tea bag. There is also typically some type of rolling or crushing involved, depending on the shape – loose tea tends to be in larger pieces, while the tea you find inside of tea bags has usually been crushed fairly small. What exact steps are part of the processing method depend on which category of tea is being produced. Wine also undergoes a variety of processing methods, depending on the type of grape and the quality of the harvest. Grapes for wine undergo fermentation possibly in steel tanks, concrete tanks, large wooden barrels, or the smaller barriques (or a combination of the above), which in turn affects the taste and color of the wine.

It Will Taste Best Served/Brewed at the Correct Temperature

I’ve been enjoying wine for long enough that I know that not only are whites and rosés typically served chilled, while reds are not, but there is actually a lot more nuance than that depending on the grape. Some reds are really meant to be served chilled, or at least slightly chilled. Some white wines have more prominent flavors when they’re a little less cold than usual. For tea, it’s really the brewing temperature (and time) that impacts the final flavor and strength of your cuppa. Growing up, my mom would always boil water on the stove for her tea, while I typically just heated a mug of water in the microwave before immersing my tea bag. I always thought it was just laziness on my part, and that it was a sign of adulthood when I finally bought a tea kettle for my kitchen. Only recently did I discover that not all teas are meant to be steeped at boiling temperatures, and each one will have an ideal brewing temperature ranging from 80 to 100 degrees Celsius or 170 to 212° Fahrenheit. Brewing tea at the correct temperature helps to avoid that bitter taste it can sometimes take on, so perhaps my microwave strategy was wise? Fortunately for all of us, this information is often helpfully printed on the package that tea comes in, so you can brew at the temperature and for the amount of time directed and then taste the tea at its best.

Color

Color can tell you a whole lot about a wine. Is your white wine pale, golden or hay-colored? Is your red a bright claret or a deep opaque purple? (Yes, readers, I’ve done a lot of wine tasting, those color descriptions took me about 15 seconds to type off the top of my head.) Color may be something pretty to take in, but can also tell you about what to expect when you take a sip of a glass of wine. And yup, tea is oh-so-similar. If you’re a tea drinker, you probably already know that the darker the color, typically the stronger the brew. And as you saw from the first section that outlines the 6 categories of tea, many of the ‘categories’ are really colors – black, green, white, and yellow. Because the tea leaves and/or processing method vary to produce those different tea types, the taste you can expect from the color also varies. Next time you have tea or wine, take the moment to savor the color as well =)

Wine tasting "with" the Queen — Wine tasting “with” the Queen

Importance of Smell

Usually for me I can tell whether I think I’ll like a wine or not based solely on its aroma. Is it pleasant to sniff? Or do you have a cozy moment inhaling the perfume of a piping hot cup of tea before your first sip? They say that taste can be up to 80 or 90% smell, and it turns out to be quite true. If you’re raising something to your mouth and it doesn’t smell appealing, you may not even get to your first sip. Not only does the aroma of tea and wine give you some kind of indication of whether you’ll like what you’re about to drink, but it will also set a baseline of what flavors you can expect when you do.

Tasting Notes

They give you tasting notes at tea tastings too, something I was delighted to discover. Although I can tell from a sniff if I think I’ll like something or not, I don’t have the most developed sense of smell in terms of discerning particular aromas. So it’s nice when there is some specific fruit or aroma I can hunt for as I sip based on what someone else has sensed. Tasting notes help me to appreciate the wine in a new way, and has a similar effect when I’m tasting tea. I may not always agree, but it’s good to have a starting point, and a little guidance from the experts helps me develop my own expertise over time, no matter how slowly I progress.

Taste in Order from Mild to Bold

At my first tea tasting, when it was explained that we would be tasting the teas in a particular order from mild to bold it was again something I hadn’t considered before but made complete sense. Of course for me, I also find it fun to sometimes jump back to an earlier tea or wine sip, as the taste will change a bit if you taste something milder after one of the bolder options. I’ll even do this sometimes if I have loaded up a plate of food at a buffet – start with the most delicate dish while my palate is clear so I can appreciate it properly, the move on to the more bold flavors of the other food. Speaking of which…

Used for Cooking

Wine and tea are both liquids that can be added to a meal as you cook to impart some additional flavor or note. The alcohol in wine boils off when exposed to heat, so you are just left with the flavor when adding wine to a risotto, sauce, or stew. Even boiling it off can be a sauce in itself, like a red wine reduction you might put on a steak. Of course, a liquid like tea (or the leaves themselves) can also impart flavor to food. And the same way that the grapes from wine-making can be used to infuse hard liqueur to create a grappa, tea leaves can be used to infuse liquids other than water. Many ‘cooking with tea’ recipes involve using tea to infuse the dairy used to make desserts, like ice cream or panna cotta, but tea can also be used in stocks, marinades, or poaching liquids. Since tea comes from leaves, it could also be part of a spice rub or used to infuse condiments like oils and vinegars. The nice part about cooking with wine or tea is that it gives people who wouldn’t normally consume them an alternate way to appreciate it.

Can Be Paired with Different Dishes

I doubt I had ever considered the possibility of pairing teas with different course of a meal, but when I heard the suggestion from my friend “The Tea Lady,” I was intrigued. Just as you would pair certain wines with particular dishes, either because they have similar notes that tie together, or because it poses an interesting contrast of tastes, the same principles apply to pairing tea with food. Some teas are more earthy while others are more floral or smoky, and can make your taste buds appreciate your bites of food that much more.

When it’s good, take some home with you!

When you get a chance to taste a lot of different varieties, whether of tea or wine, you’ll know which ones you’d like to purchase instead of just guessing at a tea store or wine shop. While I often like teas and wines that are considered the “best,” sometimes it is the tea or wine a tier or two down from the top of the line that I enjoy the most. Plus for me, sipping a tea or wine when I’ve seen where the plants grow and procured it at the source is just another (very sensory) way of remembering my travels and bringing a smile to my face wherever I am when I enjoy it.

I’m not sure if it’s just a quirk of my personality or a love of food and drink, but I find both tea and wine tasting incredibly interesting (and delicious). Are you a wine aficionado? Take a chance and explore some new teas that you may have never even heard of before. Are you a daily tea drinker who doesn’t usually go for wine? Take a chance and venture into new wine territory. For example, you may find that if you like floral teas, there is an aromatic wine for you.

Really, there are so many varieties of tea and wine, there’s bound to be something for everyone even if you don’t consider yourself a “tea person” or a “wine drinker.” What do you like most about tasting different types of tea? Or doing a wine tasting?

Travel Checklists & Why Even the Most Experienced Traveler Needs Them

December 13, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

We’ve all been there. You think you’ve packed everything, done a thorough check, and then ten minutes after you’ve left for the airport you remember – that key item you meant to bring, that will now sit at home for the duration of your time away. Sometimes for me it’s even hours later that I suddenly realize in a panic what it is that I’ve forgotten.

Fortunately it’s usually some non-essential item I can do without. And after that one time in Washington, DC that I forgot my passport at home (and very luckily had time to metro back, retrieve it, and still make my flight), I always do a final check walking out the door that at a minimum I have my passport and ATM/credit cards so I have a way to buy anything else I may have forgotten.

But the danger area for so many travelers – and especially us frequent travelers – is that you get complacent and have this false sense of security that you know what you’re doing when booking travel. Which is of course when you make the most egregious oversights and end up stuck with an inconvenient travel itinerary or miserable hotel booking. Checklists may seem elementary, but even experts get better results by using them, as many doctors can attest to.

This past summer, when in the course of a week I had inadvertently booked a smoking hotel room & a friend who’s also a frequent traveler booked a flight for 6am instead of 6pm, I knew that I had to put up some booking checklists on the website, both for me and also for all those other travelers out there. Before clicking that “confirm” button to commit to a flight booking or hotel reservation, run through the relevant checklist now in the Travel Savvy Gal ‘Travel Resources’ section:

Travel Checklist: Booking Flights

Before purchasing your next flight, do a quick check of these items, especially if you’re comparing the costs of multiple itineraries

Travel Checklist: Booking Accommodations

Things to check to ensure you don’t have any unpleasant surprises when you arrive on holiday

Travel Checklist: To Do List (Pre-Trip)

Things to check or look into *before* you take your next trip

Travel Checklist: Packing Must Haves (everything else you can buy in a pinch)

Your last reality check before you walk out the door

What is on *your* travel checklist??

11 Ways Singapore is Like Hong Kong – and why you should visit both!

November 10, 2016 Lana @TravelSavvyGal Comments 0 Comment

I had very little in the way of expectations before visiting Singapore. I knew that its cuisine was a mix of influences from across Asia, and that food culture is strong. But really, I did not know much else. I booked my plane ticket without having a single item on my “To Do” list – although I had already gotten recommendations from friends for two places to eat when I arrived. And I have three different sets of friends living there, for various reasons. Some Singaporean, some as expats, and what I wanted most was to spend time with them.

So onto this blank slate, after a lazy first morning, I spent an afternoon getting to know the city. By the time the late rain broke and I was heading to the marina area for some more tourist exploration it occurred to me what had been on the edge of my consciousness all day – Singapore is so similar to Hong Kong!

I wondered if talking about the similarities between the two locales would be enough material for a blog post, and jotted down a few notes. Within minutes, I had nearly a dozen ways the two places were alike. An idea that was later cemented by a Singaporean friend who commented how “Singapore is becoming more like Hong Kong every day.” I loved both places and would go back to visit Singapore and Hong Kong in a heartbeat – and this is after a week (or more) in both places, coming nowhere close to exhausting the “things to do” or “places to eat.”

Here are some of my observations on ways the two cities are alike:

Efficiency
Airports with a lot of international arrivals should be taking their cues from Hong Kong and Singapore (I’m looking at you, Milan Malpensa). Customs waits are negligible or sometimes nonexistent, and everything is done with the customer in mind. Even taxi lines are rapid – in Singapore I didn’t even have the two minutes it took to get a WiFi password before I was whisked away in a cab. And in Hong Kong, you can check your luggage with your airline at the Central Station in town, so you don’t need to worry about dragging your large bag on the train to the airport.

Of course, an airport is just a microcosm of how efficient a place is overall, and the smoothness and quickness of service everywhere mirrored this. If you want to see efficiency in Singapore at its best, just go wait in line for a Singaporean breakfast somewhere, it functions like clockwork or perhaps a well-orchestrated ballet.

Cityscape filled with High-Rise Buildings
Both Singapore and Hong Kong have dramatic cityscapes, where one modern high-rise next to another has sprung up to meet the increasing housing demand that comes with economic growth. Both places also are in the top five most densely-populated areas in the world. This means a lot of people packed into a small geographic area, but this is also what gives both places its bustle and energy, not to mention endless culinary options.

Abundance of Street Food
Speaking of which, there is an abundance of street food or food-on-the-go in Singapore and Hong Kong. A lot of this I think is tied to the speed of life that comes with high population density and people toiling away at work. Also, as apartments get smaller (and kitchens along with them) it can be practical to get your meals out of the house. Not only is eating out at these small vendors often cheaper than cooking at home, you also encounter someone who has spent a lifetime mastering the one dish that they sell, yielding delicious results.

Spread at Hong Kong's Tim Ho Wan, at the time the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world — Spread at Hong Kong’s Tim Ho Wan, at the time the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world

Michelin Dining on the Cheap
Hong Kong has had a Michelin guide for a while, and through when I visited in 2015, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world was located there. When the first Michelin guide to Singapore came out in mid-2016, a couple of hawker stands that received one star served meals that were even cheaper. Certainly Michelin is not the only arbiter of good cuisine (that’s a whole ‘nother debate), but it is definitely an indicator of the value for money and delicious bites you can get eating in both places.

Metro Systems
Hong Kong’s MTR and Singapore’s MRT systems are nearly twins. Some features – like the lanes marked on the ground so people leaving the train have space to exit before others board – I’ve seen in other Asian cities, like Bangkok. However, even the station map inside the train car has an incredibly similar setup of flashing lights for the current station and a separate indicator to let you know which side of the train will have its doors opening at the next stop. An excellent and inexpensive means of transport in both cities that I relied on heavily during my stays.

Large Expat Communities
Not only does this explain why I had reason to spend so much time in both Singapore and Hong Kong (thank you, hospitable friends!), but having a large expat community in both cities is intricately entwined with their growth. Large expat communities also mean that the services to keep them happy follow, so everything from yoga classes to restaurants serving a variety of ethnic cuisines are readily available for you, the visitor. What makes expat living easy and comfortable also extends to travelers, making both cities great places for a holiday.

Rooftop Bars
Build a city of skyscrapers and what do you get? Rooftop bars! Singapore has a lot of rooftop or high-floor bars, especially in the area of the marina. Hong Kong offers more of the same, including the highest bar in the world – so high, that the night I went there we were *above* the clouds and there was no view of the city. But I hear it’s amazing on clear days…

Light Shows
For some reason, both Hong Kong and Singapore love their light shows – and so did I! In Hong Kong, there is the LED digital display of animation that shows nightly on the ICC building. If you’re in the vicinity, watch from the outdoor terrace where you can also hear the musical accompaniment. Singapore also has a musically orchestrated show, with lasers and fountains around the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel – watch from anywhere on the marina or from a boat on the water to hear the music as well. And even more surprising for me, the light show in Singapore’s Supertree Grove at the Gardens by the Bay is not set to classical music like the others, but instead features Broadway showtunes. So fun =)

Cheap Taxis
Yes, public transit is wonderful, but sometimes a taxi is the most convenient way to arrive at your destination. Not to worry, Hong Kong and Singapore feature the cheapest taxis of possibly anywhere I’ve ever visited. Want to bar hop across Singapore’s downtown area? No problem. Want to catch a taxi to the start of an obscure hike off the beaten path in Hong Kong? Yup, I did that too when I visited. Having cabs as a cheap transportation option makes it an easier decision to just go and do something spontaneous or inconvenient that you might otherwise think twice about doing.

Islands Galore
The relatively self-contained areas make both destinations easy to explore with many coastal areas and islands. Singapore of course is its own country, with the main island, and dozens of other smaller ones nearby. Hong Kong is now a “Special Administrative Region” of China (like Macau), and consists of a few main islands and areas, with lots of smaller islands nearby. In both places, you can stay in the center and soak up city life, lounge on the beach of a nearby island, or hike the lush, green hills. Variety is the spice of life.

English!
Thanks, British colonialism, for making Hong Kong and Singapore such easy travel destinations. Due to their history, The English language abounds in both locations, making it that much easier to be a tourist. From restaurant menus to museum descriptions, it’s just a little bit easier to navigate a new place when everything is ready to read and you can ask for directions or recommendations in English from most people you encounter.

Although I now have spent a week in both Hong Kong and Singapore, I loved them both so much I want to go back the next time I’m in Asia. Fortunately, both locales have excellent flight connections around the region, so kicking off my next Asian adventure with a few days in Hong Kong or ending with a few days exploring more of Singapore is totally feasible.

Have you ever been somewhere that so strongly reminded you of somewhere else? Of course, Hong Kong and Singapore have their own nuances, but it is clear to me why I love both so much!

Travel Savvy Gal

Making the Most of Your Time Away

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