Travel Tips: Eating Street Food

Khao San Road, Bangkok

Joining the locals for a meal on the street is a delectable and affordable way to make connections, but nothing ruins the memory of a deep cultural or culinary experience faster than tummy problems.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so we figure that travel bloggers extraordinaire, Gadling, won't mind if we pass along these great five tips for staying healthy while eating street food.  In short order they are:

1. "Is there a crowd?"
2. "Are basic hygiene practices being implemented by the vendors?"
3. "Is the stand or cart cleaned and well-maintained?"
4. "Are the ingredients fresh?"
5. "Use hand sanitizer before eating...."

Here is a link to the full article if you want to read more.

Those traveling with small children might add a Rule #6 to be "extra-special careful" in your choice of street-side eating establishment.  In our experience, little digestive systems have really tough time bouncing back from rancid refreshments.

Have you had any good or bad experiences eating at food stalls?  Tell us about them!

Excerpt from October Travelogue - Beautiful Bali by Reid Coen

Presentation by Reid Coen of Imprint Tours
October 20, 2010 at Kitsap Regional Library (KRL), Bainbridge Branch
Bainbridge Island, WA
Sponsored by KRL and The Traveler

Note: This is our first attempt at taking videos, and the quality of the footage and editing is not what we had hoped.  Please be patient with us as we get up and running.

(The following text is from Reid Coen's original handout at the Travelogue.  We have inserted hyperlinks about specific sites to provide you with more information.)

"The island paradise of Bali has long been the traveler's jewel of Indonesia.  Blessed with great natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage, welcoming locals, and low prices, it is a perfect Southeast Asian destination.  Travelers enjoy volcanic peaks, photogenic rice terraces, dramatic waterfalls, and some of the world's best beaches on an easily traversed island of only 5,600 square miles.  The cultural life is colorful, rich, accessible, and engaging and includes dance, music, and theater.  The island is dotted with beautiful temples and Balinese arts and crafts make it a shopping paradise.  A traditional Hindu-Animist culture means visitors are safe and treated as honored guests.  Finally, and perhaps best, Bali is an incredible travel bargain for Americans.  By adding a quick foray to neighboring Java and its cultural capital, Jogjakarta, one can also enjoy the dual World Heritage sites of Borobudur and Prambanan.

"Southern Bali
Kuta, Legian, Seminyak - Bali's biggest "scene"; the hub of commercial resort tourism; easy access to airport; great beach, great surfing, great shopping, accommodations for every budget, nightlife, spas, and entertainment.  Tuban is slightly milder; one great spot: Waterbom Park.

Dancer
Ubud, Bali

"Nusa Dua - International resort chain HQ

"Sanur - a quieter alternative; lovely beach with promenade; access to Denpassar accomodations and restaurants for every budget

"Sights/Activities: Ulu Watu - one of Bali's most dramatically situated temples; stunning cliffs, lovely sunsets; Kecak/Fire dance nightly; nearby beaches for serious surfers, sunset seafood barbeque at Jimbaran Beach

Pura Goa Lawah Temple

"East Bali
Southeast coast - beaches and temples: Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple); Padang Bai (boats to Nusa Penida and Lombok); Candi Dasa -- quieter beach resort area; Tenganan - traditional Bali Aga village and craft center; Water Palaces of Ujung (abandoned) and Tirtagangga (still operational); Ujung to Kusambi coast road
Amed - quiet, undeveloped coastline; good snorkeling and diving; pebble beaches
Gunung Agung - Bali's highest, most holy peak -- rice terraces (Sideman Rd.);
Besakih - the mother temple, Bangli temples

Rice terraces

"West Bali
Tanah Lot - Bali's most famous temple; on island off southwest coast; sunset institution; sunrise without the crowds (Rambut Siwi)
Menjangan island snorkeling/diving; Lovina Beach -- quieter vibe; dolphins

Tanah Lot, southwest coast

"Interior Bali
Ubud - Bali's cultural capital: performances (Barong, Legong, Kecak, Ramayana, puppet theater, +), shopping (clothing, textiles, craft villages north and south), art (Puri Lukisan, Neka Gallery), dining, courses (cooking, meditation, dance, music, arts/crafts); trekking; rafting; cycling; bird watching
Sightseeing near Ubud: Goa Gajah (Elephant Temple); Yeh Pulu; Gunung Kawi; Tirta Empul water temple; Klungkung
Special Events: cremations and temple festivals

"Mt. Batur - volcanic mountain with steaming lava dome, verdant caldera with lake, caldera-hanging temples, spectacular views, magical sunset/sunrises

Gunung Batur, Bali

"Muduk/Bratan area - picturesque island temple Pura Bratan; Bali's best Botanical garden (Treetop Adventures); Munduk trekking -- waterfalls, lakes, mountains

Borobudur - 8th Century Buddhist Temple Complex
World Heritage Site, Java

"Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta), Java
Easy access - 70 minute flight; <$100;
great tourist infrastructure -- lots of accommodations (all budgets; Prawirotaman neighborhood)
Jogja - Kraton, Taman Sari water palace, bird market, batik demos/shopping, Kota Gede silver, shopping centers; Ramayana Ballet -- Puriwisata or Pramban (summer outside)
Borobudur - truly awe inspiring, 8th century Buddhist stupa "mountain", with Angkor Wat the greatest ancient monument in SE Asia
Prambanan - impressive 9th century Hindu temple site

Prambanan Temple Complex
World Heritage Site, Java

Reid Coen
Imprint Tours

www.imprintours.com

3033 NW 66th St.

Seattle, WA  98117

206-617-9928

Ballyhoo! Books on Bali

A quick look in our stacks revealed the following guidebooks on Bali and surrounds.  You can use any of these titles to continue your research...

Diving Bali: The Underwater Jewel of Southeast Asia by David Pickell & Wally Siagian

Lonely Planet Guide to Bali & Lombok, 12th  Edition (Apr 2009)

Lonely Planet Bali Encounter, 2nd Edition (Oct. 2010)

DK Eyewitness Travel: Bali & Lombok (2009)

Eating Smart in Indonesia: How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods, & Embark on a Tasting Adventure by Joan and David Peterson (1997)

Voluntourism - Gain Through Giving on Your Next Trip

From time to time, we will pass along content and links to other travel blogs we think our users with find of interest.  This week, the bloggers at Lonely Planet released a great article titled, 27 Travel Tips (or, How to Get More Out of your Trip).  Some of the ideas shared here are pretty intuitive -- like researching your destination before you go (#1) and planning activities other than "touristy things" (#18).  We liked some of the not-so-obvious suggestions, like #9, "take your hobbies with you" and #20, which espouses author John Steinbeck's practice of searching for some obscure item that you don't think would be available at your destination.  The resulting "wild goose chase" can show you a side of your destination that no tour book could possibly offer.

No. 28 - Lend a hand!

We would add a 28th tip to the list.  Getting involved in the community or "voluntourism" is a wonderful way to give back to the community you are visiting, but the experiences and insights gained are of equal if not more value.

Fiji Day Cleanup of Savusavu 2009
Savusavu, Fiji

Last fall, our family spent four months in Savusavu, Fiji, a little town on Fiji's second biggest island, Vanua Levu.  We were lucky to connect early on with the Rotary Club of Savusavu, which does wonderful work improving schools, providing safe drinking water systems for local villages and doing other community service projects.  We are not Rotarians, but were welcomed into the fold and immediately put to work.  Over the course of our stay, we did a lot with the organization, helping to feed hungry school kids after a city-wide garbage cleanup, making local treats and crafts to sell at to tourists on cruise ship day, and keeping a photographic record of some of the groups many community projects.  We learned a lot in the process.

It felt good to lend a hand in a place where there is an incredible amount of need.  At the same time, we got to meet some wonderful locals who filled us in on many of the day to day struggles and stories in our temporary home.  We got to see Savusavu from a local's point of view (Lonely Planet Tip #3), we learned a lot about Fijian customs (LP Tip #13) and we learned, as the Fijians would say, "plenty phrases" in the local language (LP Tip #4).  Even today it is hard for me to say who benefited more from our participation.

So check to see if there is a Rotary Club chapter or other social service organization in your next destination.  Attend a meeting or two and, if possible, sign yourself up to volunteer.  In addition to lending a hand, you'll meet new people and learn a heck of a lot about the local community, making your trip all the more memorable.

Have you "voluntoured"?  What was your experience?  Please use the comments section to pass along your thoughts and suggestions to our readers.

Savusavu Hospital Children's Ward Beautification Project
December 2009

-- Brooke Drury, staff 

Serviced Apartments: A Great Lodging Alternative, but Bring a Knife!

One of the joys – and sometimes the biggest challenges – of traveling with kids is providing them with the comforts of home at an affordable price.  In my family of four’s recent year-long excursion through Australasia, choosing a good place to call “home” during our various stays was vital.  It often made the difference between a happy day of homeschool and exploring and “The Grumps.”  Serviced or self-catered apartments provided us with an especially great lodging option, often at a very reasonable price.

Fewer $$$ & Less Hassle

Unlike in the US, where hotel stays are the norm and where home rentals or “suites” are rather expensive, it is easy to find affordable self-catered apartments in many urban destinations abroad.  For instance, using Wotif.com, we found a great two bedroom apartment in the very inviting Cuba neighborhood of Central Wellington, NZ for around NZ$90 (+/- US$70) per night.  This was a weekly rate and included internet, cable tv and in-building laundry.    Melbourne, Australia was one of the more expensive cities we visited, and yet we still managed to find a great one bedroom apartment with in-room laundry, fast and free internet service and – to our kids’ joy – a dishwasher for just over $100 per night.

Southern Cross Service Apartments
Central Wellington, NZ

In every case, we found our apartment accommodations clean and, for the most part, well equipped.  (See “Tips” section below.)  There were many places to choose from too, from high end, luxury flats to funky, retro-fitted spaces with un-matched second-hand furniture.  The “you get what you pay for” rule still applies in these spots, but we found many good options that were within our tight travel budget.  And, with a full kitchen and the ability to eat three meals a day at home, we were able to save even more.   

Buckingham Int'l Serviced Apartments
Brighton, AU

With all (okay, most) of the comforts of home, we were able to concentrate more on exploring and less on “Where are we going to dinner?” or “How am I going to get clean underwear for tomorrow?”  In addition, we all got a much better idea of what it is really like to live in these destinations. answering questions such as....What is it like to live in an apartment in the Big City?  How do people who live downtown without a car?  How do they do their shopping and other errands?  How do they get their exercise?   Where do they go for fun?  In my mind, that bonus was priceless.

Tips for Serviced Apartment Dwellers

Here are a few things to think about or do as you explore your family’s alternatives for serviced-apartments abroad. 

1.  Do your homework.  Research your alternatives like you would research any apartment rental.  Check out the neighborhood.  Is it safe?  Is it close to the places you want to visit?  If you have a car, make sure there is parking.  If you don’t, make sure there is easy access to a grocery store and/or public transportation. 

Wotif.com and other lodging websites provide pictures, location information and plenty of other data to help you make your lodging decision.  We also sometimes called the facilities directly to get answers to specific questions from real human beings.

One can find even better rates for stays longer than a day or two, and weekly specials are often available. To save even more money, ask whether further discounts are available if you forego or agree to reduced maid service.

2.  Watch your timing.  Serviced apartments are a favorite among local tourists as well, especially those with kids, so these places are usually the first to be snatched up during school holidays.  We learned this the hard way when our planned arrival in Christchurch, NZ coincided with the Kiwi schools’ April mid-term vacation.  Make your reservations well in advance if your itinerary coincides with such periods.

3.  Check connectivity.  Unlike the US, where it is easy to find free a wifi connection with unlimited downloads, you will often have to pay for internet access abroad.  If you want internet service in your apartment, it is crucial that you check out those details before booking your serviced apartment.  Just because the website says that internet is “available” does not mean it is free, and you can quickly rack up internet connectivity and download charges to make for a very expensive stay. 

Typical Kitchen Unit
Melbourne, AU

4.  Bring a knife!  While most kitchens contained sufficient kitchen “basics,” these items were often cheaply made and sometimes hard to use.  Perhaps most bothersome to me was that we never found a place with a good kitchen knife.  Had I to do it over again, I would have purchased a cheap plastic protective cover for my favorite chopper and thrown it in our suitcase.  

Other specialty kitchen tools are worth bringing or buying if you have the room.  For our three months in New Zealand, I bought a good peeler, a small grater and some disposable storage containers.  I left these with a friend upon our departure, but could just have easily left them behind in our last apartment.  Being Pacific Northwest coffee hounds, my husband and I also packed our own stove-top espresso maker.

Finally, it may seem strange, but bring a little bit of home décor to spruce up the place, if you have room in your suitcase.  We repurposed a small, cotton sarong as a table cloth and found that it really gave us a feeling of “home” when we spread it on the dining table. 

5.  Think about lighting.  Mangers of serviced apartments learned long ago that overhead lighting is a much better and cheaper alternative to providing free standing or table lamps.  We were homeschoolers and big readers on our trip, so we really felt the lack of reading lights.   Had we to do it over again, we would have brought a portable reading light or two. 

We also got a lot of use out of tea lights, which we placed in glasses or other safe spots around our lodgings at night.  Such “mood lighting” made for a more “homey” ambiance, giving us a needed break from the harsh fluorescent overhead bulbs that appear to be the norm.

So, next time you travel with your family – or not – think about renting a serviced apartment instead of a hotel room.  You may just enhance your living experience overseas and save money in the process!

Have you given serviced apartments a trying in the course of your travels?  Do you have any recommendations or advice that we haven’t covered here?  Please do share!

About the author:  Bainbridge Island-based Brooke Drury, her husband Ben and kids Tica (12) and Ian (10) just returned from a year-long adventure in Australasia, with extended stays in Fiji, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia.  They called it the year of Homeschool in a Global Classroom and kept a blog of their adventures.  Brooke now works for The Traveler, both in the store and on internet-related activities.  

October Travelogue: Bali on Oct. 20th

We hope you'll join us for this month's entertaining Travelogue on Bali.  Presenter Reid Coen is founder/owner of Imprint Tours has been a tour guide, travel consultant, and speaker for Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door for the last 13 years.  In 2005, he launched his own tour company with the intention of taking groups to parts of the world he felt particularly passionate about. Southeast Asia topped the list and our excursions to Thailand and Bali are the result.

Join us on Wednesday, October 20th at 7:30pm at the Bainbridge Branch of the Kitsap Regional Library as Reid discusses the treasures of Bali and ways to visit without breaking the bank. 

Click on this link for more information.

Click on this link for directions to the library.