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Top Local Markets of India

Apart from the thousands of Shopping Malls popping every second day, India still thrives on its original markets. From the ethnic Jewellery to Dresses like Lehnga Chunri and decorative pieces, these have something which you don't find in modern day Shopping Malls. Be in one of these and find it for yourself. Here is a  list of the most famous local markets of India....

Article & Tours by: famous-india.com

The Market famous for its Indian Fast Food. A must visit local market.... Chappan Chowk	There cannot be a better market for Indian Ethnic Jewellery than the Johari Market of Jaipur.... Johari Bazar
One of the finest Hill Station Markets is the Shimlas Mall Road.... Mall Road	The warm woollens and the cottons are best found here in Chowringhee of Kolkatta... 36 Chowringhee Lane
The most famous Market of Old Delhi, it still holds the attraction for its clothes... Chandni Chowk	Artificial and real stones are best found here, in Manik Chowk of Aligardh.... Manik Chowk
The best local Market of Mumbai. Its a must visit... Colaba Causeway	Everything duplicate can be found here from Electronics to clothes. Want to try?.... Chor Bazar
Best place in Delhi to buy Indian and Western dress. From clothes to decoration items, all are here... Connaught Place	All kinds of Chinese Items are found here. Give it a try.... Chinese Market

Top 10 Things to Do in Bangkok

Bangkok began as a small trading centre and port community on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River some 200 years ago. Today, while the city is up to speed with modern times, the grandeur and glory of its illustrious past still prevails. Be it dazzling temples, spectacular palaces, a world-famous floating market or colourful Chinatown, each of these famous places has an intriguing story to tell.

Article by: Bankok.com

1

Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) Riverside The impressive silhouette of Wat Arun’s towering spires is one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia. Constructed during the first half of the 19th century in the ancient Khmer style, the stupa showcasing ornate floral pattern decked out in glazed porcelain is stunning up close. Apart from its beauty, Wat Arun symbolises the birth of the Rattanakosin Period and the founding of the new capital after Ayutthaya fell.

2

Grand Palace & Wat Prakeaw Old City The Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew command respect from all who have walked in their sacred grounds. Built in 1782, and for 150 years the home of Thai Kings and the Royal court, the Grand Palace continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail. Wat Pra Kaew enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the secred Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of emerald.

3

Floating Market Damnoen Saduak The pioneer of all floating markets, Damnoen Saduak continues to offer an authentic experience despite its increasingly touristy atmosphere. Imagine dozens of wooden row boats floating by, each laden to the brim with farm-fresh fruits, vegetables or flowers. Food vendors fill their vessels with cauldrons and charcoal grills, ready to whip up a bowl of ‘boat noodle’ or seafood skewers upon request.

4

Chinatown (Yaowarat) Chinatown Chinatown is a colourful, exotic and pleasingly chaotic area, packed with market stalls and probably the highest concentration of gold shops in the city. During major festivities like Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival, the dynamism and spirit of celebration spreads across town like wildfire, and if you happen to be around, don’t miss an opportunity to witness Bangkok Chinatown at its best.

5

Wat Pho Old City There’s more to Wat Pho than the gigantic reclining Buddha and traditional Thai massage. Wat Pho harbours a fascinating collection of murals, inscriptions and sculptures that delve into various subjects, from warfare to astronomy to archaeology. The vast temple complex contains a landscaped garden with stone sculptures, stupas adorned with glazed porcelain, a souvenir shop and the College of Traditional Medicine.

6

Chao Phraya River & Waterways Riverside One of the most scenic areas, the riverside reflects a constantly changing scene day and night: water-taxis and heavily laden rice barges chugging upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and luxury hotels. The areas from Wat Arun to Phra Sumeru Fortress are home to some of the oldest settlements in Bangkok, particularly Bangkok Noi and its charming ambience of stilt houses flanking the complex waterways. 

 

Continue reading the full article:
Top 10 Things to Do in Bangkok
http://www.bangkok.com/most-popular-historical.htm

 

 

 

8 dishes to try in Nanjing

Typified by exquisite shape and cut, Nanjing's own homegrown dishes provide some of the tastiest examples of Jiangsu cuisine.
Here are 8 essential orders in Nanjing.

By Hiufu Wong 29 August, 2013  (Travel.CNN.com)

1. Sweet and sour Mandarin fish

Mandarin fish is the perfect example of Jinling cuisine.​
Sweet and sour Mandarin fish is perhaps the quintessential example of Jinling cuisine (a subset of Jiangsu cuisine, typical of Nanjing) -- preparation requires delicate skill, and there's an emphasis on appearance as well as savory taste.
The fish is de-boned and sliced in grids before going into the wok.
Boiling sweet and sour sauce is combined with ingredients such as shrimp, nuts and mushrooms and poured onto the fish, creating a squeaking sound.
The result is a plate of fish shaped like a squirrel, hence it’s common name, “squirrel fish.”
Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

2. Salted duck

The best salted duck has pale skin and pink meat, like this.​
Nanjing is a city with duck fever -- from marinated to roasted, from the meat to the blood.
As the local saying goes, “Without duck, it’s not a proper meal.”
Salted duck is a cold dish usually served as an appetizer or snack with alcohol.
More on CNN: Around China in 31 dishes
Plum Garden’s salted duck is marinated in a special brine that keeps the meat tender and imbues it with a slightly salty flavor.
Best at: Plum Garden, 2/F, Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing; +86 25 8471 1888 (ext. 4204); open daily 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6-10 p.m.

3. Pan-fried beef dumplings

For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup.
With its crispy wrapper, flavorful beef and onion filling and steaming soup, it's no wonder niu rou guo tie (pan-fried beef dumplings) are the pride of Nanjing.
Pan-fried beef dumplings are considered one of Nanjing's eight traditional Qinhuai treasures, as designated by government-sanctioned experts in 1987.
The original dumpling mentioned as a Qinhuai treasure comes from Jiang You Ji restaurant, which is still located in an alley in Nanjing's Confucius Temple area.
Liji Halal Restaurant is another popular local choice for the dumplings.
For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup, or niu rou tang.
Best at: Jiang You Ji, 313 Qin Hong Lu, Qin Huai District; +86 25 5262 2265
Liji Halal Restaurant, 1 Dading Xiang, Pingshi Jie, Baixia District; +86 25 5225 7736

4. Tangbao (soup dumpling)

Bursting with flavor ... literally. ​
Who needs fries or chips when you can snack on these marvelous soup dumplings for a dollar or two?
The sight of chicken broth and pork wobbling inside a paper-thin wrapper -- assuming a chopstick hasn't accidentally pierced the tender wrapper -- is sheer heaven for many locals.
The most famous places for the dish is Yinshi Jishi Tangbao restaurant, though the flavor can be too sweet for some.
If you prefer your dumplings less sweet, Liu Changxing restaurant is recommended.
Best at: Liu Changxing, 506 Zhongshan Dong Lu, Baixia District; +86 25 8441 1031

5. Duck blood vermicelli soup

Duck blood and offal -- waste turned into treasure.​
Yes, the soup is made of duck blood curd and offal -- but that doesn't deter local connoisseurs.
It’s said that duck blood vermicelli soup was brought to Nanjing by a traveler from Auhui, a neighboring province.
But the dish has become a Nanjinger favorite cheap eat.
You can find duck blood vermicelli soup as easily in Nanjing as you can find kebab stands in Berlin.
Best at: Yadebao, 11-12 Chaozhi Xiang, Baixia District; +86 25 8452 4820

6. Jinling roast duck

Less fame, same famous flavor.
It’s a never-ending debate as to where roast duck was invented -- it's called Peking duck in Beijing and Jinling duck in Nanjing.
According to one legend,

Continue reading the original article at:
8 dishes to try in Nanjing
By Hiufu Wong 29 August, 2013
http://travel.cnn.com/8-dishes-try-nanjing-422931?hpt=travel_hp_row5left

Five amazing places to experience another culture

by BRETT ATKINSON· 20 May 2013 (lonelyplanet.com)

 

Learning about the culture and customs of other people is one of the great experiences of travel. Explore the planet's diversity with one of these locally owned and authentic tribal encounters.

H'mong women by Maria Hsu. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Trekking with the H'mong around Sapa, northern Vietnam

Negotiate generations-old mountain tracks and cascades of rice paddies to the villages of the H'mong people, an ethnic minority in Vietnam. Trek with Sapa O'Chau – the name means 'Hello Sapa' in the H'mong language – and you'll be boosting the education and literacy of young H'mong tour guides. Sapa O'Chau is headed by Shu Tan, an energetic H'mong woman making a real difference for her people, and if you're keen on a longer stay in Sapa, she's always looking for volunteer teachers at Sapa O'Chau's community school. Contact Sapa O'Chau (www.sapaochau.org)

Mola textiles of the Kuna people, Panama by Brett Atkinson

Island life with the Kuna, San Blas Archipelago, Panama

Scattered across the 400-plus islands of Panama's San Blas Archipelago is the autonomous Kuna Yala homeland, where you can spend time getting to know the Kuna people. Fly from Panama City to the tiny island of Mamirupu and stay at the rustic and locally owned Dolphin Lodge. The snorkelling and fishing are sublime, and boatmen can take visitors to nearby islands to learn about the Kuna's proud history of independence and resistance. The Kuna's iconic local handicrafts include molas, finely crafted and colourful appliqué textiles. Contact Dolphin Lodge Panama (www.dolphinlodgepanama.com)

Indigenous Aboriginal culture, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

Journey to the ancestral lands of the indigenous Adjahdura and Ngadjuri peoples on South Australia's rugged Yorke Peninsula

To continue reading this article kindly visit:
Five amazing places to experience another culture
 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/kenya/travel-tips-and-articles/77685#ixzz2fx3dTPRs