Tourist Attractions ： Iceland Photos

Laugavegur Trail

Laugavegur Trail

This is the point in Iceland’s 56-kilometer Laugavegur Trek where orange rhyolite hills give way to river valleys and snow-capped peaks. There is no prelude to this moment; one reaches the height of the pass and is rendered immobile by the totality of the scene. The desire to be a part of this spectacle eventually outweighs the desire to gawk at it, and hikers commence their downward trek.

Glacial Ice

Glacial Ice

Sunset

Ring Road

Ring Road

Iceland’s Route 1, commonly referred to as the Ring Road, traverses over 800 miles of scenic countryside as it encapsulates the rugged interior highlands and connects remote regions of the country to the capital, Reykjavík. This photo of the S-curve on Route 1 was captured on an overcast, damp day. The result was a wet road reflecting a bright white sky amidst a myriad of color.

 

 

Tourist Attractions ： Iceland Photos

Holiday in 2013:World's Best Foreign Airlines for Food Lovers

World’s Best Foreign Airlines for Food Lovers

O n most airlines, the food resembles the blankets—rarely free and small in size. Add a list of ingredients that’s weird and unrecognizable, and you’ll understand the less than enthusiastic response people have when presented with meals in the sky. But some carriers, mostly long-haul foreign ones, are embarking on a new culinary flight path. They’ve hired star chefs to create signature dishes tweaked for cabin altitude, built better-equipped galleys, and introduced onboard chefs and bartenders. Some of the high-end gastronomic perks are for first- and business-class passengers only, but on these five airlines, economy passengers also benefit from the attention to quality food service. So next time you take to the skies, you might find the experience just a bit tastier.

Turkish Airlines

It’s a food lover’s fantasy: A chef in starched whites and towering toque greets boarding passengers at the plane door as if to welcome them into a restaurant. The “flying chef” is in charge of all cuisine, for first and business classes, served on long-haul flights. These chefs work at preparing meals both pre-flight (at ground catering facilities) and in-flight (a perk reserved for business-class passengers only). With everything served fresh, enticing aromas of traditional Turkish dishes waft through all cabins shortly after takeoff, and portions for all classes are generous.

Coach flyers can relish starters like olive oil–poached artichoke and entrèes such as delicately spiced meat-stuffed eggplant. The culinary ante is upped further for Comfort Class guests: Business-class flyers receive a personally inscribed three-fold menu and a separate wine list. A meze, or small-plate, menu offers purslane with homemade yogurt, soups, and fresh artichoke with olive and pepper croutons. Entrées and desserts are just as excellent: Beautifully garnished grilled sea bass with red lentils, followed by homemade sour cherry cake paired with a foamy cappuccino, almost make you wish the flight would never end. (turkishairlines.com; 800-874-8875)

Cathay Pacific Airways

At 35,000 feet, are free-range organic scrambled eggs with freshly toasted bread a breakfast must-have? On Cathay Pacific, the first-class galley stocks skillets, toasters, and rice cookers, so celestial morning meals are made-to-order—and served with fresh-brewed espresso or cappuccino, no less.

Passengers in all seat classes can enjoy expertly prepared Asian and Western dishes, such as braised duck with taro in preserved red bean sauce, or slow-simmered veal shoulder with parsnips. Those in the premium seats may see a menu of signature dishes from Hong Kong hot spots like chef Gray Kunz’s Michelin-starred Cafè Gray Deluxe and Feast (Food by EAST), paired with glam pours like a 2007 Château Lynch Bages Grand Cru Classé Pauillac. And Cathay Pacific’s famously attentive staff comes through the entire aircraft with a soothing serving of Chinese tea before bedtime.

Like many long-haul carriers, Cathay Pacific accommodates a myriad of dietary requests—and then some. With advance notice, the airline can serve you one of 20 special meals that adhere to various religious and dietary restrictions: Muslims, Hindus, Jews, celiacs, and raw foodists alike all have options. (cathaypacific.com; 800-233-2742)

Singapore Airlines

The menus on Singapore Airlines read like Michelin-starred restaurants thanks to heavyweight chefs like Suzanne Goin of Los Angeles’ Lucques, Georges Blanc of the Michelin three-star restaurant of the same name in southeast France, and Singaporean über-chef Sam Leong. All three are members of Singapore Airlines’ International Culinary Panel, which works closely with the airlines’ own chefs to design menus for all seat classes.

Singapore Airlines is one of the few carriers to create menus in a test kitchen specially built to mimic the food-prep conditions found in an air-pressurized cabin. New dishes for all seat classes are developed and critiqued the way generals review battle plans: They are run by top brass multiple times. In-flight wines are also selected and tested here; they can lose precious nuances at high altitude.

Business-class, first-class, and suite guests are spoiled rotten. Galleys are equipped with three different ovens (including steam and convection) and each entrée component is cooked separately before being plated on Givenchy china. These fortunate flyers also sip Krug or Dom Pérignon, nibble malossol caviar, and choose from nine different types of bread. Even the chocolates are house-made.

Economy-class passengers also benefit from Singapore Airlines’ dedication to maintaining its stellar culinary reputation. While less lavish, the menus include appetizers like potato salad with baby shrimp, plus a choice of two entrées (such as wok-fried chicken and bamboo shoots in sesame oil), a cheese plate, desserts such as a strawberry mousse cake, and Asian and Western teas. (singaporeair.com; 800-742-3333)

Emirates Airline

Wild Iranian caviar? Check. Dom Pérignon? Check. Charger plates? Yup, it’s just like eating at fancy restaurants on terra firma. With seven-course lunches and dinners, it’s fortunate that these Emirates flights are long-haul or there’d be no time to sleep in first class.

But who would want to snore through smoked tangerine chicken on lentil salad, duck breast glazed with wild forest honey, or exotic Arabic meze and hamoor? Business-class customers dine on five-course lunches and dinners, including a cheese course served with port. On the Emirates Airline A380 aircraft, business- and first-class passengers sip grand cru wines and nibble on canapés in lounges manned by a dedicated bartender.

Emirates’ economy passengers don’t get shortchanged. Most drinks, including wine, are complimentary, while meals feature five courses. Smoked tuna with marinated vegetables, a seasonal salad, charcoal-grilled lamb brochette with cinnamon-scented sauce, sticky date pudding, cheese and biscuits, and chocolates are par for the course. It’s royal treatment for all. (emirates.com; 800-777-3999)

Etihad Airways

Etihad lavishes first-class travelers with exquisite food and personalized service. Armed with top resort and restaurant experience, the onboard chefs do much of the cooking à la minute, and can customize sauces, poach eggs, and brew macchiato. “The Mezoon Grille” menu, available to all its first-class customers, re-creates a top-notch steakhouse in the sky, with beautifully grilled rib-eye steaks ranging from rare to well-done and a choice of sauces and sides. Like most of the best long-haul airlines, Etihad rotates its menus. Six-course degustation menus showcase modern Arabic cuisine, although passengers can dine on what they want (including available Western selections), whenever they want, rather than just at set dining times.

In business class, a food-and-beverage manager caters to every whim. They work hand-in-glove with Etihad chefs and wine producers to guide guests through in-flight course selections and beverage pairings, and will even recommend restaurants in your destination city.

Coach flyers can choose between three entrées (Western, Middle Eastern, or destination-specific), served with a warm dessert and wine, spirits and beer. Etihad also provides surprises mid-route, like popcorn or ice cream. Cappuccino and espresso are also offered—a rarity in economy class.

Holiday in 2013:World's Best Foreign Airlines for Food Lovers

Travel Tips:Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Location: Alaska

Established: December 2, 1980

Size: 13,188,000 acres

Even in a state famous for its size, Wrangell-St. Elias stands out. It is by far the largest of our national parks—almost six times the size of Yellowstone. You fly over it and see mountains beyond mountains, glaciers after glaciers, rivers upon rivers. You float a river and watch the moods and mountains change by the minute. As you walk the tundra, you find Dall’s sheep and mountain goats grazing.

Four major mountain ranges converge here: the volcanic Wrangells, the Alaska, the Chugach, and the St. Elias—tallest coastal mountains in the world. Together they contain 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States, 4 of them above 16,000 feet. There are more than 150 glaciers; one, the Malaspina, is larger than Rhode Island. In 1980 Wrangell-St. Elias and adjoining Kluane National Park Reserve in Canada, along with Glacier Bay NP and Tatshenshini in British Columbia, were designated a United Nations World Heritage site.

Vast and rugged as it is, the park is not a fortress. Two roads lead into small communities, remnants of the gold- and copper-mining towns that thrived in the early days of the 20th century. Today not mining but the nearly limitless hiking, rafting, kayaking, and climbing opportunities beckon.

How to Get There

Drive, take a bus, or charter a plane. By car from Anchorage, take Alas. 1 (Glenn Hwy.) 189 miles northeast to Glennallen. Continue northeast 74 miles along the Copper River and the park’s western boundary to Slana, where an unpaved road branches 42 miles into the park, ending at the town of Nabesna.

Or, head toward McCarthy on the Richardson Hwy. from Glennallen 32 miles southeast to the Edgerton cutoff (Alas. 10), then turning left and continuing 33 miles to Chitina. There the pavement ends but a road follows an old railroad bed about 60 miles into the park. Buses run regularly in summer from Anchorage to Valdez with stops in Glennallen.

Air charters into the park operate out of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Yakutat, Cordova, Glennallen, Gulkana, Tok, Chitina, McCarthy, Nabesna, and Northway. Commercial jets service Yakutat and Cordova. In summer, the Alaska State Ferry serves Valdez and Cordova.

When to Go

Summer. Lodges and guide services operate in the park from mid-May to the end of September. June is best for wildflowers; July has the warmest days; berries ripen in August. Be prepared for cloudy skies, but September can be beautiful with clear skies, autumn colors, no mosquitoes, and a dusting of new snow on the mountain peaks. March and April offer excellent cross-country skiing for those of strong will.

How to Visit

Take one of the two unpaved roads into the park. The McCarthy Road is maintained and usually passable in summer, though a four-wheel drive may be needed in other seasons. Stop at park headquarters in Copper Center for latest road conditions. The Slana-Nabesna Road is also maintained, including some river crossings, but can require four-wheel drive in high water. Both roads end at trailheads for many backcountry hikes.

Or, charter a plane into a remote part of the park and hike or run a river. Several commercial companies offer guided rafting or kayaking trips on the rivers and in the spectacular coastal bays. You can get a full listing of them from the park.

 

Travel Tips:Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Tourist Attractions ：Mexico Photos

Tarahumara Indians

Tarahumara Indians

Costumed for pre-Easter rituals that merge ancestral beliefs with Christianity, members of the remote community of Choguita in the Sierra Madre prepare for their roles as Pharisees. Three days of dancing and a symbolic battle between good and evil will end with Judas, the traitor, burned in effigy.

Chichén Itzá Pyramid

Chichén Itzá Pyramid

A pyramid built by the mysterious Maya looms against sunburst clouds in Chichén Itzá, a postclassic site of the lost civilization on the Yucatán Peninsula. Recent decades have brought new understanding of the Maya culture and its rise and fall over 2,000 years.

Bullfighting, Mexico City

Bullfighting, Mexico City

Thousands of spectators gather at a bullring in Mexico City, where matadors and vaqueros, or cowboys, provide a show for the audience. Many of the world’s top bullfighters begin in Spain in March, move to Lima for a month in October, then head to Mexico to close the year.

Cuatro Ciénegas

Cuatro Ciénegas

Smack in the middle of the blazing Chihuahuan Desert, a snorkeler scans the bottom of a spring-fed pool for aquatic life. Known as Cuatro Ciénegas, or “four marshes,” this unique region of sparkling waters was set aside by the Mexican government as a biological reserve.

 

 

 

 

Tourist Attractions ：Mexico Photos

Tourist Attractions ：Scotland Photos

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan Castle

Widely considered Scotland’s most photographed site, Eilean Donan Castle perches on an island at the meeting of three lochs in western Scotland. The island’s first castle was an early 13th-century fortification against raiding Vikings, and it’s been sacked and rebuilt several times. The most recent facelift was completed in 1932.

Scottish Sheep

Scottish Sheep

Sheepherding in Scotland has a long history, not all of it pleasant. Many of the pastures in the Western Highlands—where these sheep peer through a fence—were created during the “clearances” of the late 1800s, when wealthy landowners seeking greater profits brutally evicted their tenants and converted their subsistence farmland to pasture.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Castle Rock, whose vertical flanks rise above the Scottish city of Edinburgh, may have first served as a strategic stronghold around 850 B.C. For the past thousand years it’s been the site of Edinburgh Castle, the thick-walled fortress at the center of nearly every major conflict in Scotland’s history.

Tourist Attractions ：Scotland Photos

Places to visit：TOP 10 Things to Do in U.K. Parks

Things to Do in U.K. Parks

Go Fishing at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Go Fishing at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Great Britain, and its namesake park includes dozens of other lochs and some 50 rivers. Much of that cold, clean water teems with salmon, sea trout, rainbow trout, and grayling. Some lochs also hold feisty brown trout and coarse fish species like toothy pike. Dozens of loch fisheries are found throughout the park, each one selling its own permits, setting tackle restrictions, and enforcing daily limits. Boats and guides are widely available for hire.

Climb the Cairngorms

Climb the Cairngorms

Head for the high ground in mountain country. Cairngorms National Park includes four of Scotland’s five highest peaks and large tracts of barren but beautiful highlands. The ground above 1,970 feet (600 meters) is more ecologically akin to the Arctic than the nearby British lowlands. Those with a head for heights can walk or scramble to the region’s more accessible summits or tackle challenging routes of vertical rock. In winter these mountains become a premier playground for ice climbers. Mountain weather is notoriously variable; climbing and camping in these high peaks is a serious endeavor in any season. Guides are available for those with high enthusiasm but little experience.

Visit Historic Homes in the Lake District

The Lake District boasts such enchanting scenery that many British notables have made homes here. Visiting their houses and country homes offers a glimpse into the good life. Mirehouse, built in 1666, is a splendid example. Wordsworth and other famed poets were once regulars here; today the family welcomes all visitors. Townend was built in 1626 and still showcases the lifestyle of that era’s wealthy local landowners. Architect M. H. Baillie-Scott built Blackwell in a much later era (it was completed in 1900) and its Arts and Crafts style artfully bridges Victorian and modern architectural styles.

Go Caving in Brecon Beacons

Go Caving in Brecon Beacons

Explore the world under scenic Brecon Beacons National Park, home to some of the U.K.’s most incredible cave systems. More than 300 million years ago, ancient seas laid down a layer of limestone, which became the foundation of a karst landscape now cut with extensive caves. Caving requires special equipment and experience but Brecon Beacons is a great place to begin. Several local clubs and companies can give novices a first glimpse at the park’s underworld and help the experienced discover its wonders. For those with no interest in technical caving but a desire to poke their heads underground, the National Showcaves Centre for Wales offers well-lighted tours.

Go Coasteering at Pembrokeshire

Go Coasteering at Pembrokeshire

The rugged, rocky boundary between sea and shore is a playground for the well equipped and wild-spirited. Sign up for a coasteering adventure and climb, cliff-jump, splash, swim, and wave-ride through some of the U.K.’s most scenic landscapes. Wet suits, helmets, buoyancy aids, and other gear make the wild coast accessible. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park works with half a dozen outfitters eager to get you started.

Go Boating at The Broads

Go Boating at The Broads

The Broads is a wet and wonderful realm of lakes, marshes, and an enormous inland waterway with six free-flowing rivers. Boating has been at the heart of the local culture here for centuries and remains an essential part of any visit to the park. Canoes and kayaks offer an intimate, surface-level experience and give access to nooks and crannies that are off limits to larger craft. Silent paddling also helps in spotting wildlife. Those who prefer to let others take the helm can simply sit back and enjoy a cruise on any one of a wide variety of guided boat trips.

Explore Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland

Explore Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland

Hadrian’s Wall is an enduring echo of an ancient age, a time when Roman soldiers stood here at the very edge of the world’s greatest empire, on guard against threats from the barbarian lands beyond. Exploring the wall and its associated Roman ruins involves passing through some of England’s finest countryside. Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the 84-mile (135-kilometer) length of the wall from coast to coast; Hadrian’s Cycleway provides similar access for bikers. The Hadrian’s Wall Bus AD122, named for the year of the wall’s construction, drops visitors at sites along the wall, such as the large Roman fort and settlement at Housesteads and the Roman Army Museum at Greenhead.

Go Roaming in Snowdonia

Go Roaming in Snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park is for walkers. Some 1,490 miles (2,400 kilometers) of public footpaths take casual strollers—and hard-core hikers—through the park’s thick forests and fertile farmland, along coastal beaches and deep lakes, and among jagged mountains. A legendary high traverse crosses the rocky peaks of the Glyders. Accessible trails offer access for wheelchairs and strollers at scenic spots like the waterfall at Dôl-goch.

Go Hang-Gliding Above South Downs

Go Hang-Gliding Above South Downs

Take in South Downs National Park’s rolling hills, vast open spaces, and scenic coastlines in a new way—from aloft. Numerous jumping-off points in and around the park make this area one of the U.K.’s most popular hang-gliding and paragliding sites. First-timers can get in on the fun by sailing in tandem with a licensed instructor. Those bitten by the bug will find several local schools nearby; solo flight is possible in just a few days. Prefer a little less adrenaline? Get the same bird’s-eye view from the basket of a hot air balloon. Champagne flights are particularly popular.

Cycle to the Sea Across North York Moors

Cycle to the Sea Across North York Moors

The Moor to Sea Cycle Route, an excursion best suited for ATBs or mountain bikes, is in fact a scenic series of loops totaling some 80 miles (129 kilometers) of roads, forest tracks, and converted railway bed winding through North York Moors National Park. The ride offers plenty of opportunity to experience the park’s namesake moors in all their stark beauty. But the trek also passes through rolling hills and verdant forests before fanning out to reach several charming seaside spots. The route is dotted with small towns and villages, reachable by public transport, which offer quaint and convenient places to start or end trips of any length.

Places to visit：TOP 10 Things to Do in U.K. Parks

World Food Guide:The Best Places to Eat in Morocco

morocco restaurant

Adecade ago in Marrakesh, Morocco, you could usually count on getting a floor show served along with your dinner. The palatial big-splurge restaurants dished up lots of low camp and ersatz exotica—including jiggly belly dancers and manic drummers twirling their fez caps—designed, perhaps, to distract you from what you were eating. Dry tagines, soupy couscous, and perfumed fruit bowls were commonplace stand-ins for real Moroccan cuisine, and just as faux as the show. (Ironically, the early aughts saw authentic Moroccan cuisine flourishing in cities as far afield as San Francisco and Berlin, where emigrant chefs were composing more thoughtful dishes.)

Back then, dining choices for tourists like me were confined to public spaces—hotels, expatriate restaurants, and medina stalls that actually welcomed travelers. The best Moroccan chefs, though, were the dadas, female home cooks who worked behind the closed doors of their own kitchens. But slowly, the doors have opened, and in today’s Morocco, where the private has begun to go public, more and more boutique riad hotels, as well as an increasing number of serious restaurants, are featuring meals produced by dadas, along with the food of young chefs who are reviving and seriously sourcing soulful Moroccan dishes. The result is a genuine Moroccan cuisine that travelers can actually taste. The following nine dining options offer a taste of the best of Marrakesh and Fez.

Classic Moroccan Restaurants in Marrakesh

La Maison Arabe, Marrakesh’s pioneer boutique riad hotel in the medina, takes its food very seriously. The culinary ambition comes courtesy of owner Fabrizio Ruspoli, whose restaurant Les Trois Saveurs triumphantly reclaims Morocco’s beleaguered signature dish, the tagine. Chef Didier Levy’s famous lamb tagine is a vibrant tour de force roused by saffron, onions, sesame seeds, ginger, turmeric, and caramelized oranges so the tender lamb is brightened by the fruit’s sunny sweetness. Just as good are his chicken tagine with sun-dried peaches, and his pigeon pastilla. Sign up for the hotel’s cooking classes, led by a dada who will reveal recipe secrets that have been passed down through generations. (1, Derb Assehbé, Bab Doukkala; 011-212-5-24-38-70-10; lamaisonarabe.com)

Lunch Al Fresco

Most Marrakesh visitors spend the day prowling the souk until hunger or heat demands that they stop for lunch. Until recently, lunch options in the medina were uninspired. But Kamal Laftimi, the Marrakshi son of a local Arabic teacher, wasn’t shy about fusing the best of old and new Marrakesh when he opened Café des Épices in the thick of the souk. This rooftop café, clubhouse and hangout isn’t easy to find, so diners tend to be insiders who know their way through the medina’s maze. Black stone cabanas, big round wicker chandeliers, and cushion-lined banquettes spritzed with hiccupping clouds of cooling mist from ceiling vents create a perfect hideaway from the heat. The photogenic waitstaff wear big straw hats and bear portable chalkboards scrawled with each day’s menu, a list of eclectic dishes that jumps from tagliatelle to tagines, couscous to crème brulée. At midday, opt for the lighter dishes with clean, bright flavors: the trio of Moroccan salads (usually cubed eggplants, the sweetest carrots, and potatoes) or a fruit bowl piled with oranges, kiwi, and pineapple. (Place aux Esclaves, 011- 212-5-24-39-17-70, facebook.com/cafedesepicesmarrakech)

If the rooftop at Café des Épices is too crowded, head over to Kaftimi’s second, newest restaurant, Le Jardin, a few twists of the medina away from the Café. Situated in the blooming courtyard of a restored riad, Le Jardin is a mash-up of café and performance space, where films are projected on the walls at night and a small library nestles under the courtyard arches. The food, like that at the café, is best for a simple lunch: Try the chicken club sandwich, salad of three melons, sardines in olive oil with toast, or the ricotta ravioli. The calm, oasis-like setting under tall courtyard palm trees makes for a smart escape from the sun.

World Food Guide:The Best Places to Eat in Morocco

Places to visit：Europe’s most unusual restaurants

Hospitalis

Europe’s most unusual restaurants by Emma Starkie: For many, eating out has become a bit of a dull affair. The standard three courses, no matter how delicious, just don’t get the juices flowing like they used to. Exciting and eclectic eateries are now a prominent feature on the restaurant map, with unusual settings and adventurous cuisine bringing about something of a revolution in the way we eat. Though rather than detracting from the culinary experience, this move away from the norm can serve to enhance, and leaves diners with gastronomical memories they’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. For those looking for something a little weird and wonderful, these unusual haunts in Europe offer gourmet dining with a twist.

Dans Le Noir – London, England

Dans Le Noir

For a truly unique culinary adventure, Dans Le Noir sees diners sample French-inspired flavours in complete darkness. Guests choose from colour-coded categories which offer meat, fish and vegetarian options, as well as an innovative selection from the ‘surprise menu’. Led through the darkness by blind waiters, diners are encouraged to completely re-evalute the notion of taste, and focus on the intense aromas, and vibrant explosions of flavour. Never compromising on culinary finesse, Dans Le Noir presents an enlightening experience in London‘s trendy Clerkenwell.

Solo Per Due – Rieti, Italy

Solo Per Due

For the most intimate dining experience the world has to offer, Solo Per Due presents a globally-renowned eatery in the idyllic village of Vacone. The concept is simple: one couple occupy the restaurant at a time. Seasonal delicacies are crafted each day, which are served accompanied by the undivided attention of the restaurant’s staff. Often cited as one of the world’s smallest restaurants Solo Per Due is housed within an attractive 19th-century building and decorated with plush Chesterfield furnishings and glistening candelabras. Catering for the seasons, guests can bask under the jungle of exotic plants in the summer whilst enjoying views of the valley or nestle by a crackling log fire in the winter.

’s Baggers – Nuremberg, Germany

S Baggers

Bringing a welcome end to bad service, ‘s Baggers in Nuremberg brings an ingenious concept to the restaurant scene: the automated waiter. Housed within a trendy warehouse conversion, ‘s Baggers brings an end to forgotten drinks, mixed up orders, and that guy that’s asked you if you’d like a top-up- eleven times. Ensuring absolute precision, guests use touch screens to order, and are even given exact waiting times. Dishes then glide through the multi-storey building via metal rails, coming to an elegant halt right in front of the hungry diners.

Hospitalis – Riga, Latvia

Hospitalis

Bringing a whole new dimension to ‘doctor’s orders’, Hospitalis sees guests enjoy hearty Latvian and European cuisine in a wonderfully slapstick, hosptial-themed setting. Recline in the dentist’s chair or decant your cocktail from a test tube, whilst nurses dressed in slinky uniforms offer a glamorous edge. Sleek and sterile, Hospitalis offers radically presented Latin-named dishes for the adventurous diner, as well as traditional European cuisine.

Le Restophone – Montpellier, France

Le Restophone

Blending haute cuisine and arguably the most sociable dining room in the world, Le Restophone is a fashionable eatery in Montpellier. Leave your mobiles and phone cards behind and instead go old-school – each table is fitted with its own telephone which interconnects every table in the restaurant, letting diners lose their inhibitions and get to know each other. Infinitely easy-going, La Restophone is filled with contemporary art, and flashy cocktails are mixed at the bar. Meeting and greeting undoubtedly works up an appetite, and Le Restophone doesn’t disappoint with its refined selection of French cuisine. Favourites include beef tartar or a succulent house burger.

Places to visit：Europe’s most unusual restaurants

World Food Guide:Where to Eat in Orlando and Disney

Where to Eat in Orlando and Disney

 

W e beg you, Orlando locals cry, don’t judge our city by the theme park foods of your childhood vacations. Today, talented chefs are making the City Beautiful a sophisticated dining destination in its own right. Similarly, discriminating diners might be pleasantly surprised by the diversity of meal and snack options within Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney complex.

Culinary travelers seeking the city’s best tables will find that most are situated beyond the tourist corridor (comprising the Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld theme parks as well as the convention center area), so allow a 15- to 30-minute drive to find the headliners and insider favorites. Sprinkled throughout Orlando’s leafy neighborhoods, they range from wallet-friendly holes- in-the-wall to farm-to-table gastropubs to white-tablecloth establishments offering top-tier service.

So serious is the city’s emerging culinary scene that five Orlando-area chefs have been named regional James Beard Award semifinalists for 2013. Besides New Orleans, that’s more than from any other metropolitan area in the South. If you’re traveling to the region with children, keep in mind that all but the tippy-top dining rooms will welcome them. Inside the parks and out, anticipate kid-friendly menus and diversions ranging from simple paper/crayon combos to bendable Wikki Stix and moldable raw pizza or tortilla dough.

World Food Guide:Where to Eat in Orlando and Disney

Losing your heart in South Korea: 10 travel highlights

gyeongju

We love hearing from other travel bloggers and when the couple from Always Trekking contacted us we read their sweet background story and wanted to find out more. Both claim to have been infected with the travel bug quite early – Jonathan when kissing seals in the Galapagos Islands aged six and Natalia when rustling through the ruins of Acropolis aged five. Their paths crossed on a ‘dinky Mount St Louis hill’ where Jonathan decided to take pity on Natalia and teach her how to ski. Here we learn about their recommendations for South Korea, a country not always on everyone’s travel radar…

The amount of Foreign English teachers definitely outweighs the tourist presence even though Korea is place definitely worth visiting. Korea is an interesting country that is caught up between strong traditions and accelerated development. It is a beautiful country with a rich, tumultuous history that should be given a chance by travelers. So if you’re dropping by Korea for a couple of days or for an entire year here are ten things you should consider doing…

Climb a mountain, any mountain

Climb a mountain

Korea is a very mountainous terrain, most mountains do have a hiking trail leading up to the peak and are doable with an average fitness level. The highest mountain on the mainland, Jirisan, is only 1,915m and can easily be done in a couple of hours. Hiking is an incredibly popular past time among Koreans, hiking stores take up a spot on every shopping street and if you are not decked out in the latest climbing gear you are doing it wrong.

Eat, eat, eat

eat

Korean cuisine is unlike any other. It has taken centuries of tradition perfect the recipes. Korean cuisine is an assault on all your senses and it is quite wonderful. Eating just one dish you can experience blaring heat from chillies, sweetness from sugar and random tartness from kimchee. Don’t dare reach for the water during your meal, the saliva generated from the heat is supposed to ease your digestion. My personal favorites are Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup), Dak Galbi (university favorite chicken fried rice) and Pajeon (green onion pancake)

Visit the Haesindang park

haesindang

A visit to Gangwon-do province in Korea would not be complete without a look at the odd park filled with gigantic wooden phalluses. The story originates with Korean folklore that deals with death, virginity and fertility. Also, be sure to check out one of Asia’s biggest caves (that’s right) nearby.

Party in Hongdae, Seoul

Seoul

Seoul is an electrifying city filled with buzz and life 24 hours a day. Hongdae is a university area in Seoul busy with restaurants, bars and clubs. On every street corner there are live bands, performances and loud beats escaping from all of the clubs in the vicinity. Don’t worry about subway closures, some clubs don’t even open until 4am so you can wait for your ride while ripping up the dance floor.

Visit Buddhist temples

temple

Not many temples in Korea have survived centuries of conflict in the peninsula. Most temples you will see have either been reconstructed or redone over the past century. You can still find temples within Korea still in their original form. One of the temples in Tongdosa survived the 16th century Japanese invasion and still stands today. Regardless of their age and reconstruction, Korean Buddhist temples are still worth a visit.

Cycle across Korea

Cycle across Korea

Korea recently invested in a cross national bike route and now you can bike from Seoul to Busan through beautiful rice paddies and mountains. The route is still a little choppy in some parts (missing pavement at times) but it is a great way to see the countryside. The bike path is around 700 kilometers and incredibly popular among Koreans. As a commemoration of your achievement the Korean government will give the cyclist a nice medal and certificate.

Go to Gyeongju

gyeongju

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla and due to the amount of historical sites the city is deemed a “museum without walls”. The city is a beautiful collection of tumuli and temples. It is worth having wheels in the city as a lot of the sites, like the Bulguksa temple, are scattered outside the city. There are also many bike rentals in the city.

Fix your cellphone

Fix your cellphone

Did you drop your phone on the pavement or did the rain soak through your jacket right into your precious phone? If you have a damaged Korean phone, worry no more. Pay a visit to any of the Samsung’s or SKY’s conveniently located repair centers and have your phone repaired by a tech official right before your eyes. It will probably cost you 8 dollars. Phew, that’s a load off my mind!

Pay a visit to Busan

Busan

Busan is the second biggest city in South Korea on the south east coast. Although it is a busy and densely populated coastal city filled with spaghetti roads, beaches and seafood, it is often overlooked by travelers. Busan is home to the world’s largest department store, Korea’s largest beach, and the largest beach umbrella presence in the world. If you need some work done, it is also “the” place to go due to a very prominent plastic surgery industry in the city.

Enjoy the Ridiculous

korea

Korea went through accelerated development over the past 30 years. The country is still moving at an incredible pace. Development is everywhere you see, construction cranes are everywhere, new roads are being constantly built. Korea has got better internet, better public transit, better interconnectivity than we have at home. The clash between tradition and progress is evident in everyday life. The push forward sometimes comes at the expense of safety, but that’s what makes it so much better. Things get done. With traffic using the new highway network, old country mountain roads are the perfect place to explore on a motorbike. Expect to see traditional homes and farmer’s markets and other motorcyclists with helmets tied down to their bike instead of on the heads of the drivers.

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10 of the most beautiful places to vist in Germany

Brocken

A country of contrasts, Germany is a mix of age old traditions and forward thinking ideals. It it also filled with impossibly beautiful countryside, chocolate-box-pretty villages and perfectly preserved towns. An ideal winter or Christmas travel destination, many people choose to get a flight to Germany this time of year. Drawing from my many trips to this unique European country over the years, here is my choice for the most beautiful places to visit in Germany:

1.Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Step back into Medieval Europe and follow the cobbled streets through the fairytale gate in the city walls. This is one of the most beautiful towns along the Romantic Road in Bavaria, a route in itself worth including in this list. The Romantic Road runs from Frankfurt to Munich. Rothenburg, although small is packed with interesting sites and museums including the main Market Square surrounded by 14th century buildings; the tall Town Hall Tower which has 241 steps leading to one of the most beautiful views over the city and the Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum. At night don’t miss the amusing Night Watchman’s Tour.

2. Black Forest (Schwarzwald)

 

Black Forest

The Black Forest covers a large area within which you’ll find the spa town of Baden-Baden; the “Jewel of the Black Forest” – Freiburg and Offenburg – the capital of the wine region as well as many other quaint villages. However the most beautiful part of this area can be seen by driving or hiking along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße – a route through the rolling hills and valleys, thick forests of black fir trees and mist covered lakes. One of the most beautiful lakes in the area is Titisee, try taking the Zapfle-Bahnle train alone the scenic route around the lake or follow the lake road which encompasses the tranquil water.

3. Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

Mad King Ludwig’s castle south of Munich is the Romanesque building that inspired the Disney castle. Although over run with tourists this doesn’t detract from the perfection of this castle both inside and out. The most beautiful and picturesque view of the structure is from Mary’s Bridge, a stop half way up the hill towards the castle. You can be taken there by horse drawn carriage making this an even more fairytale like experience. Nearby is the equally beautiful Hohenschwangau Castle.

4. Heidelberg

Heidelberg

In the heart of the Neckar Valley this German university city was untouched by WWII bombs and is a classic example of baroque architecture. The Hauptstraße (main street) stretches for a mile and is perfect for people watching and ogling at the artistic buildings. The Altstadt is one big photo-op, with its cobbled streets, shuttered buildings, dozens of churches and picturesque plazas. Go up to the Heidelberg Castle to get a bird’s eye view of the city and river below.

5. Sanssouci Castle

Sanssouci Castle

Near Potsdam in East Germany, on a small hill sits this grand summer palace. Created for Fredrick the Great of Prussia it is said to resemble Versailles mostly because of the beautiful terraced gardens perfectly planted to cascade down the slope of the hill. Within the gardens are secluded temples and gazebos. The building itself is embellished with golden Rococo detail.

6. Rheinsteig (Rhine Valley)

Rheinsteig

Running along the bank of the Rhine River from Bonn to Wiesbaden this hiking trail passes through some of the most picturesque forests, villages and vineyards in Germany. The trail through the Rhine valley gives you spectacular views of mountains, castles, mineral springs and small country inns. The area from Bingen to Koblenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting 40 castles and stately homes.

7. Bremen

Schnoor in Bremen

Along the river Weser this small city is one of the oldest in Germany dating back 1200 years, and is perhaps most famous for the story of the Musicians of Bremen. In the older part of the city, in the Schnoor-Viertel area, follow the winding cobbled alley ways surrounded by the most beautiful medieval houses with wooden beamed facades. Not far from the city centre are farms and countryside waiting to be explored along the edge of the river Wümme.

8. Sylt

Sylt

Often forgotten by foreign travelers, the Island of Sylt is connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway. With several resorts, 40km of beaches, an unusual shoreline and breathtaking nature Sylt is worth a vist. Sylt is part of the German Frisan Islands and being separated from the mainland it has remained relatively untouched. The houses on Sylt are in the Fristian-style and the cliffs lining the coast are slowly eroding which has created an unusual and unique pattern. Fields of flowers, colourfully painted light houses and sparsely populated villages has made this an exclusive hidden gem and playground for the rich and famous.

9. Brocken within the Harz National Park

Brocken

The highest mountain in northern Germany is almost always shrouded either in mist or snow as well as legends! Stories abound of mystical creatures on this eerie peak. You can take a gauge train to the summit and get the most beautiful view of the Harz National Park below. You could also follow the Goethe Way path to the top by foot. The mountain peak rises above the tree tops and only low shrubs and plants grow on the upper part of the mountain. In the park itself are botanical gardens, hiking trails and rare flora and fauna. The area is also blessed with many species of butterflies and small creatures unique to this area.

10. Bamberg

Bamberg

The narrow lanes of the Old Town of Bamberg and its numerous historic architectural styles has earned it the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the beautiful Dom and the town hall which is on a bridge over the river Regnitz as well as wandering alongside the meandering streams. Be sure to enjoy a glass of the local beer in one of the outdoor beer gardens.

Written by Petal Mashraki. Petal is a freelance travel writer who has lived and been educated in England, South Africa and Israel. Her occupation have always revolved around the arts and things she feels passionate about. I use the experience I’ve gained traveling to over 25 countries to write about travel. She currently write for Bangari Content Studios and on her blog-Unique travel experiences.

10 of the most beautiful places to vist in Germany