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What it’s like to live in Ubud, Bali

I’ve been asked the question dozens of times: “what does your life in Bali look like?” I always answer with a detailed description of Ubud, the beautiful spiritual and artsy town we live in. Either I’m not finding descriptive enough words or words just don’t cut it; the reply usually says: “I still don’t really know what you’re doing there, but you sound happy.”

I guess sometimes, you really need more graphic illustrations…

rice fields around Ubud

We live in a house surrounded by a lush tropical garden where flowers and fruits grow freely.

frangipani, bugainvillea, aloe vera and orchids in the garden

pineapple

banana’s

daily dose of Balinese passion fruit from our garden

It’s cheaper to eat at a local restaurant then to cook your food at home. Since most of the restaurant food is organic and freshly prepared, we eat out most of the time.

gluten free vegetarian burrito

fruit salad with yogurt

tofu and brown rice salad

“healthy” treats

Even though the food is healthy, there are a lot of treats to indulge on; shakes, baked goods, pizza, ice cream, delicious chocolate- approved by Belgians. I try to stay active to minimise the damage. Jogging, dancing and yoga help.

fantastic pizza

We work comfortably from home, every day of the week unless we don’t feel like it; that’s when we “do weekend”.

my office…

The town is quite small and you could walk everywhere, but it gets so hot sometimes, walking is not an options- unless you don’t mind arriving at you destination drenched in sweat. We prefer to drive a scooter.

driving down our car free street

the gas station

Besides work, I’ve been learning Indonesian and taking yoga classes.

Indonesian class

Every now and then, I treat myself to a fancy coffee or a spa treatment.

Sunday capuccino

hot springs

We spend our evenings and weekends pretty much in the same way we used to in Europe: concerts, talks, parties and outings with friends… Only the setting is a little more exotic.

BBQ with friends

dancing at a concert

brunch

a day at the beach

Ubud is an artsy town. Balinese as well as foreigners inspire and get inspired to create.

Blanco museum

anyone can be an artist

The Balinese are very spiritual. They honour their gods with daily rituals and offerings containing food (often rice), flowers, coffee, cigarettes… and incense. Every minute of the day, somewhere there is a stick of incense burning and filling the air with a mystic aroma of frangipani and sandalwood. It leaves you sighing: “Ah… Bali…”

ready for the royal cremation

ceremony

offerings everywhere all the time

A growing New Age community has settled down in Ubud. There are holistic healing centres, energy readings, tantric workshops, Tibetan bowl meditation sessions, energy crystal shops, Kirtan chanting, vegetarian-vegan-raw restaurants. Now, I have an open mind about exploring spirituality and every now and then I join the party, but I must admit I’ve been stunned more than once by some of the methods I hear about in the “neo hippie” community.

event posters

Of course there are some down sides of living in Ubud. Like the construction everywhere, all the time. The traffic jams. The fact that the centre is super touristy-in a cheesy kind of way. The fact that every time I walk down the street, I get at least 10 “taxi maybe?”’s. Just to name a few. That being said, I love living in Ubud and I gladly accept the negatives.

ducks and rice fields

Have you ever lived abroad? Would you like to?

The post “What it’s like to live in Ubud, Bali” first appeared on Travel Cake.

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December 23, 2013
Warsaw is not that boring…

“Warsaw? Why are you going to Warsaw? It’s so boring! Go to Krakow instead!”

According to a large poll by Trip Advisor conducted in 2008, Warsaw is the third most boring city in Europe, Brussels being first. I refused to listen to the opinion of connoisseurs and booked a €20 return flight to Warsaw, Poland. I hoped to get sunny winter days, but my friend and I were in for heavy snow and temperatures dropping to -7 °C. Yikes, not the best city trip conditions. We packed our best winter attires and took off.

cold and gloomy

The city surprised me with its young and dynamic atmosphere. This is a city on the rise! There are plenty of quaint bars, restaurants and shops. The food is delicious: well seasoned and hearty. And here I was thinking I’d be eating bland boiled potatoes, cabbage and fatty sausage -aah, the clichés.

plate of delicious Polish treats

Krakow may very well be more exciting, but Warsaw wasn’t boring. Although we did wonder a few times where everyone was; the main shopping street being dead quiet on a Saturday afternoon. I blame the freezing temperatures.

We took the “orange umbrella” free walking tour through the city. That’s where we learned all about Warsaw’s interesting history. How it was completely devastated during WWII and how architects used paintings and old photo’s to reconstruct the old city centre. I suppose you know you’ve become an adult when stories which used to put you asleep in your high school history class, suddenly sound so fascinating.

the old town

colourful reconstructed facades

As captivating as the tour was, the last 15 minutes were unbearable. The cold was taking its toll. Our hands and feet were completely numbed so we there was “obviously no other choice” than to stop at a bar to warm up. “Vodka will do the trick”, our spirited guide promised… It did. Vodka at 1 pm? In Poland, that’s OK.

vodka at 1 pm in Karmnik

We spent the remainder of the day, meandering the streets of the city centre, taking enough breaks in hip coffee shops to keep warm.

meandering

tea time

We visited the well known “Uprising Museum” which I strongly recommend, especially if you could use a history brush up. It’s such a wonderful source of information and illustration. I was particularly touched by the old video fragments showing some of the war atrocities in loops. The museum is packed with interactive displays, photographs, video footage, artefacts… So don’t make the same mistake we did: do come more than 40 minutes before closing time! Entrance is free on Sundays!

We stayed with a fun-loving Varsovian who, one evening, introduced us to the world of Polish vodka. We headed to one of the cheapest bars in town for a lesson in “vodka drinking etiquette”. These are the lessons I somehow managed to remember very clearly:

Lesson 1: never drink vodka alone, it’s supposed to be a social thing

Lesson 2: never refuse a drink unless you’re pregnant or on antibiotics

Lesson 3: preferably drink in public

Lesson 4: only drink your vodka straight. Diluted versions and cocktails are for losers. Flavoured vodka is OK.

flavoured vodka

Lesson 5: the vodka has to be drunk in one gulp, no matter how big the glass is (usually it’s 50 ml though)

Lesson 6: make a toast before you drink. “Na zdrowie” [nazdrovje], meaning health, will do just fine.

bottoms up!

Lesson 7: drinks are immediately refilled

Lesson 8: eat Polish snacks in between the shots

raw minced meat and egg

perfect drinking snack

Lesson 9: -one I had to learn on my own- unless you’re Russian, don’t to try to keep up with a Pole

One thing I liked about this destination for a city trip, is the fact that there is no pressure of big highlights you must see in just a few days. This leaves you time to get the feel of the city and spend some quality time with your travel mate.

Four days spent in Warsaw, not one moment of slight boredom. It might not be the most exciting capital to live in, but it’s definitely a pleasant and fun city to visit.

Have you been to Warsaw? Did you find it boring? Have you been surprised by a place recently?

The post “Warsaw is not that boring…” first appeared on Travel Cake.

December 19, 2013
8 Days in South Vietnam

My trip to Vietnam was somewhat of a failed mission. Over the past few years, I have heard so many negative stories about the country and the hospitality of its people. I had heard about absurd scams, aggressive vendors, rigged taxi meters…

The large majority of Vietnam travelers I met, told me horror stories and/or found it the least likable country in Southeast Asia. Then I found out Vietnam had a returning rate of only 5% where as in Thailand for example, the returning rate is 50%.

What gives? I wanted to experience this first hand, to understand. I was ready to face the madness and let my overly assertive alter ego scream back at anyone scolding me for not buying their goods. I wanted to scam the scammer. So I flew to Saigon, eyes wide open to spot the scams, claws out, ready to scratch back.

So what did I find? Nothing of such sorts. I didn’t get scammed, mugged, scolded nor pushed into doing something against my will.

What I found were friendly people who, as opposed to neighboring countries, do a lot less “ass kissing” towards the tourist. I found this attitude rather refreshing, much more natural.

My “mission” didn’t fail entirely; the trip did allow me to get some insights on why so many people have negative experiences in Vietnam. But that should be a blog post on its own.

Meanwhile, I had a “jolly good time” in South Vietnam.

Here is how I spent my 8 days in South Vietnam

Drinking Vietnamese white coffee

Strong black coffee with condensed milk and ice. I wouldn’t normally go for it, but I had no idea what I was ordering. I guess I was just intrigued by the name. Wow! I was immediately hooked and had a least two white coffees a day, every day.

white Vietnamese coffee, an intense pick-me up

Strolling around the old quarter of Hoi An in the evening

Brightly lit lanterns, motor free streets, wishing candles by the river… Even without a love interest around, the streets scream ‘romance’ and had me daydreaming the following days.

lanterns

Hoi An by night

Admiring colourful dilapidated walls

It took my travel partner a short while to understand my fascination with these walls, but in the end she was enthusiastically pointing out these alluring walls to me. “Have you seen that one? What a beauty…”

Contemplating a meal at every street corner

It’s clear that Vietnamese love to eat and preferably do so on the streets. Every other corner, I was greeted by the mouthwatering smells of a steaming bowl of food. All I needed to do was grab one of the tiny chairs, join the locals and dig in. I tried to restrain myself as often as possible, but… They say you should have 5 meals a day, right?

street stall

street dining

puppies love street food

Getting lost in Hoi An’s tiny streets

Of course I didn’t have a map. And I loved it.

narrow streets

Waking up at the crack of dawn to visit the hustle and bustle of the morning markets

surprising popularity of the conical hats

fresh herbs used royally in every dish

“I love the smell of duck and nicotine in the morning…”

the one that got away

Being in awe of the dramatic landscape changes

From the mountainous greenery to flooded rice fields to quiet beaches to… Impressive sand dunes and red dirt! I couldn’t have suspected I was still in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the dunes were partially ruined by mass tourism. Standing among the tall yellow dunes could have been -and probably once was- a mind boggling experience. But the dozens of deafening quads zooming by killed the marvel. The dunes of Mui Né are still worth a visit though.

from coastal villages…

…to sand dunes covered in quad tracks

Discovering a new kind of stress free work ethic

no clients? no stress!

fruit stall napping

taking a break from work

“I’ll be in my hammock, if you need anything”

Exploring the Mekong delta by boat and by bicycle

an easy float on the Mekong

Mekong by bicycle

Indulging in Vietnamese cuisine in Saigon

I met up with a “foodie friend” of mine who has been living in Saigon for ten years. She took me from one incredible restaurant to the next, sampling Vietnamese cuisine, one dish at the time. Vietnamese food was new to me and was an incredible revelation. It tickled my taste buds and I’m hungry for more.

food sampling in Saigon

Downing shots of “cobra eats scorpion” liquor

You read that right. Strong alcohol infused with a dead cobra and scorpion. To make the drink more spectacular, the scorpion’s tail is inserted into the cobra’s mouth. Way more impressive! It tasted like rotting fish eaten out of the stomach of an alcoholic. I paid a heavy price for my curiosity; hours on the loo with severe cramps.

“cobra bites scorpion” infused liquor

Having sandals custom made

As it turns out, it’s not simple to chose a design, material and colour. Hats off to designers out there! After nervous contemplation I put together the elements resulting in some very cute sandals. The shoe maker drew around the soles of my feet and measured each foot individually. Fifteen dollars bought me a pair of sandals that fit me like a glove. However, with the shoe being made in only a couple of hours, I wasn’t surprised to get footwear of dubious quality.

existing models to chose from and customize

Trying a new and exciting kind of “exotic meat”

After my dog story in East-Timor, you might be aware of the fact that I love trying unusual foods. So when I got this new opportunity, I seized it with both hands. I must admit, I had doubts about this one, I even had to sleep on it. Once again, my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a portion. It was simply delicious! What it was? I’ll tell you some day.

the mystery meat

Have you been to Vietnam? Is it on your bucket list?

The post “8 days in South Vietnam” first appeared on Travel Cake.

December 15, 2013
Fez, Morocco: a Perfect Quick Getaway

What is the perfect getaway anyway? For me, it’s spending a couple of days in a new environment. Leaving the old and familiar to take in new and exciting smells, tastes, sights and sounds. It’s getting a sensory overload, bringing you a renewed ‘joie de vivre’. It’s returning home relaxed, energized and inspired. I found it all during my December getaway to Fez, Morocco. Four days in Fez was all I needed to overcome the winter gloom creeping over my mood and to get the necessary strength to tackle the cold days awaiting in Europe.

There is nothing sunshine, Moroccan cuisine, a good dose of exotic culture and quality time with a loved one can’t fix!

Here’s how I experienced the perfect getaway in Fez.

Dump the city map

There is only one way to experience the old medina of Fez and that’s by getting lost in it. Just wander and enjoy not knowing where you’re going. Every corner feels like an important discovery especially since there are hardly any tourists during the winter.

narrow streets

markets

beautiful gateways

Shop or window shop

Fez has some gorgeous locally produced goods. High quality leather goods, silver jewellery, nougat, lamps, precious stones, argan oil from the South… The shop keepers are ferocious and cunning, so bring up your most assertive alter ego and operate your best bargaining skills.

buying nougat

beautiful lamps

selfie while drooling over lamps

Spend the night in a riad

The traditional Moroccan house (riad) really transports you to another world with its exotic grandeur. Riads are characterized by their (usually well decorated) inner garden/courtyard. When used as guest houses, you can be sure they are furnished in the most refined possible way, using local handicrafts. It’s the place to be for a relaxing “1001 nights” experience. Although many riads are luxurious and expensive, plenty of them offer budget/mid-range options.

budget riad room

breakfast in the December sunshine

If you can’t afford to stay in a riad…

Have drinks in a fancy Riad

If you can’t afford to spend the night, splurge for a drink! Dress up, get a drink and make the night count. Not something you do in everyday life.

fancy riad

inner court with pool

martini at the fancy riad

expensive but worth it

Taste “Pastilla”

Pronounced Bastila, the sweet and savoury meat pie has Andalusian-Arab origins. Slow cooked pigeon meat- although chicken is more commonly used nowadays- seasoned with a wide array of spices among which cinnamon, cardamon and black pepper. The meat mixture is wrapped in a blanket of phyllo dough, baked and finally topped with crushed almonds and icing sugar. Very unusual, one to try!

pastilla

Marvel at the golden gates of the Royal Palace

Or at least at its doors. The palace is not open for public, so you’re likely to be standing in front of closed gates. I found them beautiful, others found it a lame sight as you can not see the inside of the palace. I say, leave that to your imagination and check out the golden gates. They’re at least worth a photo stop, if you ask me.

royal palace

knocking at the golden gates

Visit a tannery

It’s fascinating to find out about the origin of your beautiful leather bag/shoes/insert almost anything. Visit the tannery, ask a few questions and learn all about the leather making process. It’s easy to get there: follow the arrows and follow your nose. As soon as you start smelling leather and piss, you’ll know you’ve reached your destination. Small tips for the guard or the worker explaining his craft are well appreciated, not to say expected.

meat rotting off the skin

drying skins

tannery in the medina

hard labor at the tannery

Learn to cook a tajine dish

Tajine dishes can be quite simple to make and easy to learn. All you need are fresh ingredients and the right spices. A secret recipe helps too. I got mine from a Moroccan CouchSurfer at a house party somewhere in the heart of the Medina. Alternatively, there are plenty of official cooking courses to attend in Fez. Recreating the dish once you’re back home, takes you back to your getaway within seconds.

learning to cook a simple tajine dish

to be enjoyed with friends

Get out of town

Walking around in Fez can take up a lot of your energy. Exchange the bustle of the city for a more peaceful setting in the partly excavated Roman city of Volubilis. Just 70 km away from Fez, you can find yourself in the middle of a stunning UNESCO sight, full of ancient ruins. Either take a taxi (1 hour) or catch the train heading to Meknès. It’s worth the trouble even for people who have a tendency to fall a sleep at archaeological sights!

out of town

Volubilis

Would you consider Fez as a (weekend) getaway? Where was your last getaway?

The post “Fez, Morocco: a Perfect Quick Getaway” first appeared on Travel Cake.

December 8, 2013
Myanmar: land of infinite Buddhas

Myanmar is often called “land of a thousand pagodas”. Thousand is definitely inaccurate. It surely feels like ‘a thousand’ should be replaced by “hundreds of thousands”. The Burmese dedicate their lives to honouring Buddha and constructing pagodas/stupas/temples. Each stupa or temple is filled with relics or statues of Buddha. Building a stupa ensures the believers of Myanmar several extra karma points, allowing them to be reincarnated on a higher spiritual level in their next life and eventually reach “nirvana”.

Traveling through the country, I noticed that the Burmese have a unique way of practicing the Buddhist religion. In this version, there is a heaven and a hell. Hell is depicted as a dark place deep under the ground where sinners reside temporarily before being reincarnated. Terrifying monsters spend their days torturing said sinners. Heaven is portrayed as a beautiful setting in the sky where there is no hunger, no pain and no sadness. It’s both a mental and physical nirvana.

very graphic depiction of hell

Back to the stupas and why there are so many. Constructing a stupa dedicated to Buddha clears off a large amount of committed sins. It was confirmed to me that most people in Myanmar believe that building and sustaining several temples outweigh a lifetime of thieving, cheating, misconduct or even murder. Although the latter would require an extra large amount of temples. One still has a good chance of crossing the gates to the afterlife paradise providing he/she has enough cash to build a couple of pagodas.

I can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason why everywhere you turn, there are stupas, temples and absurd amounts of Buddha statues. Is this evidence of unacceptable behaviour of the rich and powerful throughout the ancient and modern history of Myanmar? I wonder…

grave Buddhas

After 3 weeks in Myanmar, I remember thinking: “how is this even possible?!” We would be in the middle of nowhere, not one human soul to be detected, yet there it was… A temple emerging from the untamed wilderness, covered with thousands of tiny Buddhas. Mind blowing at first, overly predictable later. I found out the hard way there is such thing as a “Buddha overdose”. I could no longer be bothered to enter another temple or look at another Buddha.

Places of prayer are one of my favourite points of interest in foreign countries. I have seen countless temples in India and Nepal, huge amounts of cathedrals in Europe and a large number of mosques in the “Arab world”, but never have I seen this many houses of prayer in one country.

ancient Buddhas

tiny wall Buddhas

32 storey Buddha

Buddha highway

can you spot the 15 Buddhas?

the smaller the Buddhas, the more you can fit in one temple

reclining Buddha with bizarre entrance location

accidental Buddha

Even though by the end of the trip I had seen enough Buddhas for the next few years; I enjoyed getting to the point of disinterest.

Buddha wallpaper

Have you ever gotten insensible to a local custom or curiosity while traveling?

November 26, 2013
New Year’s Eve abroad: Hogmanay Street party, Edinburgh

As the end of the year approaches, that question starts popping up again… “So… What are you doing on New Years’s Eve?” Then start the discussions, the dilemma’s and the decision making process.

Two years ago, a few of my friends and I decided to welcome the new year abroad. Instead of spending our money on brand new flashy party outfits and tickets to some overpriced party, we booked cheap flights to Scotland. That year we celebrated by joining the Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh.

A very wise decision as Hogmanay, turned out to be an incredible way to start off the new year with a BANG! Literally… I don’t know how many tonnes of fireworks were rocketed to the sky, but I’d definitely had my dose of fireworks for the following 2 years!

All through the night, the streets of Edinburgh were filled with laughter, singing, skipping, drinking, dancing, eating, twirling, hugging…

So what exactly goes on during Hogmanay in Edinburgh?

There are many street concerts entertaining the crowds. Dance, sing along, make friends… Do as you please. The entire event takes place outdoors, in the city centre, so you’re are free to roam around or move from one performance to the next, keeping in mind that there are around 80 000 attendees to navigate through.

…people… and lots of them

As the night progresses, the mass grows, the streets fill up and the atmosphere heats up. When midnight approaches; the bands stop playing and the crowd flocks toward the main square.

Countdown begins!

At 00:00, impressive fireworks light up the sky. The Scots then proudly sign “Auld lang syne”. Tens of thousands of people sing (more or less) simultaneously… Heart warming! Hugs, kisses and best wishes are exchanged between friends and random by-standers, it’s magical!

fireworks and camera’s

After the remarkable moment, a couple of dj’s play some tunes and you can dance on the square. Once the music dies down, a challenge awaits; getting off the square! As all the participants try to leave at the same time, you can imagine there is a lot of pushing and shoving. All you can do is go with the flow and let it happen.

so many fireworks you don’t know which side to look

That can be the end of the evening or you can step into one of the bars to continue the party.

“Sin”, a club/bar in a church

Some tips for an awesome Hogmanay street party

– Protect yourself against the cold weather the best you can. As I’ve mentioned earlier, the event is outdoors and, well, it’s winter! Be prepared for rain as well!

– Most people bring their own drinks in plastic bottles. It’s too hard to get a drink from a bar or a stand when you’re gathered before and after the countdown. It will save you a lot of trouble and a few pennies.

faux fur, home mixed drinks and plastic cups

– If you hate the masses and drunk people, you might want to reconsider Hogmanay… OR challenge yourself to try it anyway!

– It’s well worth staying a few extra days to explore the city. Edinburgh is a beautiful gothic city with a strong personality. There is much to see, to do and to taste!

haggis

Scotch Whisky tasting

– There are plenty of other activities going on around New Year’s Eve. You can participate in a torchlit procession through town or ride the ferris wheel. Let your inner child go nuts in the ‘winter wonderland’ attractions. For the real daredevils, why not start the new year fresh by taking a splash in the river -for charity. Find out more about Hogmanay and the other events here

– If you’re on a budget, you’ll find lots of cheap food in town, admittedly not the most healthy food, but hey, you’re on holiday… I’d also recommend you stay as far away from the shops as you possibly can! There are sales during this period and you could easily be tempted!

Spending New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, was an unforgettable experience. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Not only is the event well organised, but the Scots are warm, welcoming and know how to throw a party!

Have you already made plans for New Year’s Eve?

The post “New Year’s Eve abroad: Hogmanay Street party, Edinburgh” first appeared on Travel Cake.

November 18, 2013
What’s in… Palestine?

Israel is, agreeably, a popular travel destination that sees millions of visitor each year. But what about Palestine? As it is often forgotten by travellers or ignored because of its size, ‘danger’ or whatever the reasons may be.

I felt the need to find out…

What’s in palestine?

Very competent barbers.

Like in the olden days, they use a sharp knife to shave every single facial hair off the surface. Complementary head massage at the end.

trust the barber

Bethlehem and Nazareth; birthplace and hometown of Jezus Christ.

Pilgrims cross the border from Israel and make a quick stop to Jezus Christ’s place of birth. A grand basilica -church of Nativity- was built on the spot where said birth supposedly took place. As you can imagine, the town has a plethora of kitsch souvenirs on sale everywhere.

Hummus and falafel galore!

There is some argument between Israel and Palestine on the origin of these dishes, but let’s not nitpick about who started it or who did it better… At the end of the day, you will find top-notch hummus and falafel in Palestine. Some of the best I’ve ever eaten!

hummus and falafel

Lively market scenes…

As in every Middle Eastern country, there is shouting, haggling, laughter and various smells of spices, meat and fruit whisking by.

at the market

having a hot mint tea just outside the market

Israeli military men and women armed to the teeth

This is a phenomenon you see in both Palestine and in Israel. It’s very unusual for most of us to see heavy ammunition resting on the hip of a 19 year-old, while they’re having a laugh and a smoke. You get used to it… eventually.

army

A concrete wall that’s 8 meter tall and segregates Israelis from Palestinians.

The extensive wall surrounds the Occupied Territories and is equipped with militarised watch towers overlooking both sides as well as snipers making sure nothing or nobody tries to cross. Palestinians use the wall space to express their dreams, wishes and the injustice they feel is done to them.

walking around the endless wall

watch tower and palestinian art

expression and protest via street art

wall art

Massive refugee camps

When I heard about the ‘refugee camp’, I thought of the camps I had seen before in war zones; temporary blue tents, white bags of rice and flour, people standing in line to get some food. That’s not what the Palestinian camps are like. They are “permanent” refugee camps. Small concrete houses/rooms next to one another, housing several member of the extended family. They have schools, mosques and playgrounds. People have been living in these camps for years and probably will keep living that way for a while.

We stayed in one of the camps and were shown around by a resident; a 25 year-old man who has been living there his entire life. He told us about his struggles, his daily life and openly shared his opinions. If you have the opportunity to visit the West Bank, make sure to visit Dheisheh Refugee Camp. Even if you don’t spend the night, it might help you get some insight on the conflict’s history and the current developments.

Dheisheh Refugee Camp

kids at school in the camp

So what else is in Palestine?

Things you would never believe if I told you so.

So is Palestine worth a visit? Absolutely.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s fairly easy for many nationalities to enter Palestine and the locals are very pleased to receive independent visitors.

Is it dangerous? Some places are. Beyond the protests happening in some villages, life goes on. Generally speaking, if you stay away from the protests, there is not much danger for you as an outsider. Check the current political situation before you decide to cross the border!

peace…

After years of traveling, this is one of the off -the-beaten-track destinations that really touched me. It’s a place we’ve heard so much about in the news and it seems as though the “shock value is gone down and so has the media coverage. Eventually, it has been “forgotten”.

I choose not to write politics, but visiting Israel and Palestine, is a trip involving politics to some degree whether you like it or not. Both places are impressive in their own ways, couldn’t we all just get along? *Dreams…

Have you ever considered visiting Palestine? Do countries with an unstable political character scare you off as travel destinations?

The post “What’s in… Palestine?” first appeared on Travel Cake.

November 11, 2013
5 Quirky Things To Do in Manila

Manila is a vibrant city where everything seems to be possible. People are loud, full of life and know of no embarrassment- at least that’s what it looks like to an outsider. I only spent a couple of days in the metropolis, but I immediately LOVED it. It’s fun, hectic, crazy and weird. There’s no other place quite like it. So I put together a list of the quirky things I did in Manila, hopefully it inspires you to discover some of Manila’s quirks!

1. See the pro’s at work after a cockfight

Although cockfighting is popular in several countries, there aren’t many places where it’s perfectly legal to do so in the foreseen cockpit arena’s. In these arena’s the cock’s fight till death.

But what happens to the wounded winner? I always thought they were put out of their misery, plucked and prepared for dinner. But that’s not the way they do it in Manila! The wounded winners are brought to the “cock surgeons” who patch them up quite professionally. Their wounds are examined meticulously, cleaned up with antiseptic and carefully sown up… All right outside the arena. And here I thought the excitement of a cockfighting arena was quirky enough… These improvised surgery stations haven proven to be even more so.

at the arena

cockfighting as a national sport

the doctor will fix it

cleaning up

closing up the wounded winner

TIP: “La Loma cockpit” in Quezon City is a great place to see the fights and the surgeons at work.

2. Be a rockstar for a night with “Rockeoke”

Why would you settle for regular karaoke when you can have a live band headbanging while accompanying your singing? Filipinos take their karaoke very seriously and have taken it to the next level. A live band plays the requested songs and all you have to do is (get drunk first,) look fabulous and sing your heart out.

anyone can be a rockstar…

TIP: during the past decade, at least half a dozen people in the Philippines have been murdered after singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”. The ‘my way murders’ have even caused the song to be banned from some karaoke bars. You’ve been warned!

3. Visit the Chinese Cemetery, where graves have toilets and air-con

The Chinese like to treat their dead well. VERY well. Their graves are mind-boggling! Most are equipped with at least a toilet and a mailbox- how else would you send letters to your deceased family members? Some have air-conditioning, others are two stories high. Some have jacuzzis and wifi, others even have a full time guard standing by their “entrances”… Most of these graves are bigger and more luxurious than my house!

It’s not everyday you get to roam around endless streets of “fancy shmancy zombie cribs”. Visiting this cemetery is not only quirky; it’s a real eye-opener on cultural differences regarding the after-life.

basic toilet and sink

wo storey church-like grave

personalised simple graves

mansion graves with pet dogs

TIP: the cemetery is enormous. You could walk around for days and still not see everything. Hire a guide at the entrance for a maximised experience. They are caretakers of the cemetery and know the area by heart. They will show you the most impressive graves and will tell you all about the why’s and the how’s. Besides they are hilarious, in true Filipino-style.

4. MC for a night at a Midget Boxing Match

Yes, midget boxing… It’s a thing. A humorous show where little people get into the boxing ring and smash each other’s faces. Cheering on the fight is the crowd, which consists of one more-or-less lost, older tourist and 30 prostitutes working at the bar. They cheer on their favourite fighter and laugh like the world will end if they don’t. ‘Weird’ doesn’t even begin to describe this. As soon as the fight is over and the “staff” notices you’re not there to get a girl, the prostitutes go back to their seats and continue doing what they were doing before you entered; looking incredibly bored. Four of them enter the ring and perform some badly choreographed dances, similar to the ones you did at a 3rd grade dance recital; very PG.

Although it’s more an act than an actual fight, it’s bizarre enough to be funny. They might offer you to MC the boxing match. Go ahead if you dare!

welcoming sign right outside the bar

midget boxing

we have a winner!

If you care to see a short video Midget Boxing Manila

TIP: you’ll find this place in the Burgos area. The entrance is free but the drinks are very pricy so order a beer and consider it your entry ticket.

5. Slurp up the embryonic juices of a young duck

Walking around in the streets, you will hear vendors shouting: “Balut! Balut!” Street food that’s worth a try, a true delicacy in the Philippines. It’s a developing duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell. Add salt and vinegar, slurp up the broth surrounding the embryo, then eat the embryo. Not for the faint of heart!

TIP: eating this peculiar snack can get pretty messy if you’re not a seasoned balut-eater. Have something ready to wipe your hands and face with.

note the staring eye

A special thanks to my friend Aubrey Aliguyon for pointing me in the right direction for a quirky Manila experience

Do you enjoy doing quirky things while traveling?

The post “5 Quirky Things To Do in Manila” first appeared on Travel Cake.

November 4, 2013