Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
For those of us who live closer to Australia than to the U.S., a trip to Melbourne is probably easier to wrangle. And if you have a craving for good, old lone star barbecue, then Bluebonnet Barbecue in Melbourne may fill those needs. Besides excellent Angus beef ribs, they also make their own sausages and have really good sides.
While the Australians claim the "barbie" as part of their culture, I don't think it beats the way the Americans slow cook their beef ribs so that the meat falls...
While my recent meals at Iggy's have not disappointed, they've not entirely wowed me either. The good thing is that it's not gimmicky and food is nicely cooked and tasty. With reliable service, I still see Iggy's as a good (and safe) place to bring clients but not necessarily a restaurant I would rush back to on my own time. However, with a good set of friends, it's still a nice evening out.
The one thing that's nice about Iggy's is their effort to change up the menu for their...
Singapore – I had a quick bite at Gyoza Ya in Robinson’s (at the Heeren Building on Orchard Rd.) basement the other day. Overall, it’s tasty food. Noodles – the Jya Jya men, chicken cartilage, fried tofu starter and the pork gyoza were good. Cheap and cheerful if you’re in need of a pick-up while shopping.
One thing great about Melbourne is that there are a variety of nicely laid out walks. This makes it easier for visitors like me who may have a few hours to spare and don't want to spend the whole time shopping. I checked out one of the suggested routes recently that took me through the city's historical lanes and arcades.
The Melbourne Visitor (tourism) Centre in Federation Square is the best place to start. I picked up a map that outlined the route - "Arcades and Lanes" - I wanted to do...
If in your mind’s eye of Japan, you see old wooden structures lining narrow lanes and paper lanterns then Kyoto is probably the best place to find this. And specifically, the Kawaramachi and Gion areas in central Kyoto are great places to soak up the atmosphere of old Kyoto. I think the evenings are the best time to walk around and especially in the summer when the restaurants along Pontocho-dori expand out over the river.
My first trip to Kyoto, I stayed south of Gion so I started...