Our Foodie tour focuses on street food

Test the most stunning dishes that Vietnam brings to the table! Taste your route through cooking from North Vietnam, Hue and The South! The "Foodie" is the most acclaimed sustenance visit in all of Vietnam (see our audits on Tripadvisor HERE), and is intended to acquaint you with the dishes and sweets that most nourishment online journals and different visits don't generally touch upon! We will take you to the most prominent road stalls and concealed back streets in the city and demonstrate to you where local people truly love to consume! So spare your hankering, joy your sense of taste and let us fill your tummy with delightful and credible Vietnamese sustenance!

Our Foodie visit concentrates on road nourishment; dishes that most individuals outside of Vietnam have never had an opportunity to experience.....so no Pho, Banh Xeo, or Banh Mi! We additionally won't make you to consume bugs or anything excessively weird...unless its an appeal. :)

The Foodie Tour is just accessible in the nighttimes when the majority of the road sellers open for business. All sustenance & beverages are incorporated in the cost! You get no less than 8 dishes (counting bunches of fish), pastry and beverages (yes...beer is on the menu!) on this visit. The shares are liberal, and we'll continue requesting sustenance the length of you continue consuming!

The Foodie is a gastronomic visit, as well as an incredible approach to see parts of the city that the greater part of visitors don't get to see! Most guests to Ho Chi Minh City are stuck in region 1; on this visit we'll take you to 5 other prevalent regions and reveal to you how true Vietnamese individuals live, work and consume! The Foodie consolidates our Saigon By Night visit with stops for astonishing nourishment and endures around 4 1/2 hours. We will provide for you a lot of time in the middle of each one stop with the end goal you should rest your stomach!

By a long shot our most famous visit, "The Foodie" is extraordinary fun and the ideal approach to find a portion of the lesser known dishes that local people adoration to consume! However don't take our statement for it, read an audit of our Foodie visit by New York Chef, Mario Tolentino HERE, and an alternate incredible compose up HERE by lovely Aussie expat Dani Moger, who in spite of having existed in Saigon for year and a half, said she amazed by the nourishment and parts of the city that she never knew even existed!

Related post: Vietnam travel

If its not too much trouble note that this visit is offered on a join in premise, so there may be different visitors going along with you on the visit. Our most extreme gathering size on the Foodie visit is 16 individuals. We do offer a private visit choice for an additional charge.

In case you're perusing about this visit you likely love Vietnamese Food! To take in more about the best places to consume in Ho Chi Minh City, look at the web journal Eating Saigon! This is our most loved nourishment blog in Vietnam and is frequently redesigned to peculiarity the best nearby places to consume in the city. Glad consuming!

A Day Trip To Cairo. Shukraan.

I tried associating my trip to Cairo more as a gateway to Europe. But soon realized that it was special in its own right. (Travel to Europe is some thing I'll write in the due course.) For now, first things first. Kahira.

Beautiful Sahara desert leading to grand pyramids and people that were really really lively. Cairo with its charm can stay with you forever. With early January chill making its way to clear blue skies and warmth of its ever hospitable people, we stepped to see the wonder world.

Day 1- Pre Noon

Bright Smiles and 'Shukraan' showered liberally everywhere. For something special, Egyptians are a happy lot. Karnak Tours, the official tour agency of Egypt Tourism approached us for a guided tour to the city at the time of check out on the airport. By what we had heard about Cairo, we accepted then and there. We were travelling to Rome from Mumbai, and with a complete day at our disposition and a beautiful city to explore, there was not an iota of a second thought. Karnak offered us the tour and the facility to drop us back to our hotel. The arrangement couldn't had been better.

Pyramids and a tour to local souk was included int he tour, that was also shared by two Nigerian nationals.(And they added to the journey in their own way by their restlessness) A comfortable Nissan above a great highway that ran beneath, we reached the desert miracle Pyramids in almost no time. River Nile passed by our side but we didn't have time by our side to soak in its beauty.

Excellent road connecting the airport and Giza complex

Sabr, our travel guide joined us half way in city of Cairo. Tall, a no non-sense man, he definitely 'belonged' to that place. After the routine security check before the pyramids, we headed to the 'wonder'. Along the dunes, there was a sight of sudden rise, the spectacular pyramids stood before us with its open arms with a message through its grandeur that in all ways it indeed was a 'Miracle'.

Day 1 - Post Noon 

Exlporing the Pyramids was a great experience. The Local Camel riders come close to you in their traditional wear with encouraging words 'free photo'. And there you go, you'll end up paying them post that. Same old story folks. Same Trap. Some Egyptian pounds. So Beware.

Majestic, they were, but they were certainly in need of better upkeep. We witnessed Picnic by locals on the stones of one of the wonders. Yes. It is an unfortunate realization to witness the appalling difference in the upkeep of monuments between the developed and developing nations. And Egypt stands as no exception.

The Pyramids

Several Pyramids

Of the several pyramids that resides in the 'complex' of Giza, the ones that stand out for their size and architecture are the Pyramid of Menkaure, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Pyramid of Khufu .The guide told us that a few of the Pyramids were originally in a smooth surface, which later subject to theft became in step-like surface. (Later found on the web that there were multiple theories for the step like structure though).

The select vehicles are allowed only up to a point and when on the road in the Giza complex, the distance from the monument is quite healthy. The dunes, the clear sun and the pyramids made a unravelled combination. Sabr, our travel guide was informative and gave us all adequate time to be on our own too.

Horse-riding: A great way to conserve ecosystem around Pyramids

The tomb inside the Pyramids can for sure be given a miss. It's not worth it.(The money for the ticket and time you invest)

Sphinx

 

We then headed towards 'The Great Sphinx of Giza', which is quite close to the pyramids complex. Its amazing architecture can take your breath away. Local artifacts, including duplicates of look alikes of authentic papyrus paintings, are sold by locals outside sphinx. You should (if you can :)) bargain and in turn can get a great deal too. Inexpensive mementos can also be seen around , but I preferred and suggest you not to buy them, primarily because of the quality.

We then headed to one of the shopping places to pick authentic perfumes made out of flowers and natural sources. The products were way too expensive and as souvenirs are a definitely not recommended. Although the shopkeepers in the beginning said that, there would not be any bargaining, they kept on slashing prices big time on their own! We decided to give it a miss. And Yes, I should add that this place reminded me of the Palika Bazaar in Delhi.

Tired, we were, as our tour operator dropped us to our hotel, (arranged by Egypt Air as the transit period was more than 8 hours with a night before our next flight). The hotel was ok, but the food there more than made up the deficit. Multiple cuisines and some really good food. My wife and I are strict vegetarians and yet could find a LOT to eat. The salads, breads, yoghurts and desserts among others...!! Hmmmmmm ... can't forget that meal in my lifetime!!!

We thought of taking a walk post our meal, but then almost  immediately decided against it, as soon as we stepped out of hotel. It was really really cold.

Night had fell, but the feeling of witnessing few of greatest architecture marvels was yet to sink in. To say much about the two architectures would be an understatement. 

This could perhaps sum up the glory of the Pyramids and Sphinx.

What a beauty !

Day 2 - Pre Noon

Chilled Morning greeted us for our delicious breakfast. The food was great, as usual, as we chose the continental part, and headed for our bus that took us to the airport. One could feel the freshness in the morning air as date palms led our way while sunshine smiling above us brightly en route to Al Kahira International airport.

Date Palms dotting fresh morning and brilliant sunshine

The Check-out in the transit Visa portion is swift and efficient.

Duty Free on the Airport

A big NO. All the products sold on the airport's duty free section are far more expensive than the ones in the main city. If you are looking for gifts or price is a no issue, then you could buy certain crystal based artifacts. Offers on chocolates/liquor may also turn out to be a good idea. There isn't much of a variety either on the choice of products that are available for shopping.

Shop What?

• Crystal Artifacts
• Papyrus paintings

 (Both the products to be shopped in the city as you also find some bargaining.)

• Natural Perfumes (Search a lot to find the right price, we couldn't.)

Bottom Line

Civilizations converge to make more firm identities. People are lost to discover themselves. Cairo redefines that more than any other city. A primitive civilization of its own, with a strong influence of African, Arabic and even European culture has made Egyptian identity even more unique. Geographically epitomized by the confluence of the resilience of the Sahara Desert and the beautiful and virile river, Nile.

Karnak offers some really good and 'value for money' tours and the offers and facilities by Egypt Air are also excellent, especially if you are flying to southern Europe.

Yes Kahira is a lively place, made so by its inhabitants. I so wish there was more time by our side in Cairo.

Travel Facts: 

• Stayed : 1 and 1/2 days.
• Travelled with my better half and the journey could be easily divided in three phases. 
• Travelled in Egypt Air in January 2013.

Everest 2009: Liaño's Double Traverse Off For 2009

David Liaño's plans for making an attempt at a double traverse of Everest are finished for 2009 thanks to unsettled conditions on the north side of the mountain. This is the second year in a row that he's had to give up on his project, after the Chinese closed the Tibetan side last year for the Olympic Torch expedition. According to this story at ExWeb, Liaño will now abandon his plans to go to the HImalaya this spring, and will shift his focus to 2010 when he hopes to make another attempt on the double traverse.

The original plan was for the Mexican climber to begin his ascent on Everest from the South Side. Once he reached the summit, he would then proceed down the North Side, rest for a week or so there before heading back up once again, and then descending via the South Col once again. Liaño is been frustrated with his inability to get a climbing permit for the North Side, as the Chinese currently have Tibet closed off to the outside world altogether and are not expected to re-open the mountain until April 1st at the earliest. Because of this, most of the Everest expeditions for this spring have shifted to the Nepali side of the mountain, which posed another problem for David, namely descending the North Face without fixed ropes or pre-established camps.

Last year, Liaño made the most of his situation by climbing Everest, then descending, resting up, and going to the summit of Lhotse. With that climb already accomplished, he no-doubt sees little to be gained by spending his time and money on Everest again this year. He'll reportedly begin training again in October for another go at the double traverse next year.

It's too bad that David's attempt at this milestone has been delayed once again by things completely out of his control. He has demonstrated that he is one of the stronger climbers in the world, and I was hoping he'd get the opportunity to go after his goal. Of course with the current situation in Tibet, it's difficult to fault him for not wanting to take the chance.

Meanwhile, I've begun to hear various reports from climbers that they are in the process of packing their gear, shipping supplies to Kathmandu, and in the final stages of their preparation. In less than 10 days climbers will be setting off for the HImalaya, and the season will be upon us once again.

Updated: And now Alan Arnette has updated his Everest 2009 page with the news that ALL traverse attempts on Everest this year have been cancelled. That means not only is David's double traverse done until 2010, but Bill Burke also says that he has scrubbed his plans as well, citing the permitting issues on the North Side too. He does say that he may still make a go at it, if something changes rather quickly, but for now, he thinks it's best to cancel as well.

Travel to Hoi An

Hoi an is an enchanting little riverside town well known for its wonderful old structures, its tight, calm lanes and its history as a shipper exchanging post. As the residents of the town developed wealthier from exchanging with China, Japan and whatever is left of Southeast Asia, they used their cash on building alluring houses and pagodas. 

It is presently a standout amongst the most famous vacationer goals in Vietnam, and legitimately so. The construction modeling in the town is delightful, the air loose and the sustenance incredible. There is a long shoreline not a long way from the town and a lot of shops and tailors inside the town that urge explorers to stay for some time. 

Hoi An Travel

Regardless of the high quantities of travelers Hoi A figures out how to hold its appeal - maybe a significant number of them stay shrouded away inside the numerous lodgings and resorts that fill the town. The principle proof is the quantity of shops and tailors lining the focal lanes, however even this doesn't reduce excessively from the climate. 

Indeed, numerous individuals come to Hoi A particularly for the tailors - reknowned all through Viet Nam for their ability and worth for cash, they can create pretty much any piece of clothing to request, be it a suit from $50, a duplicate of your most loved bit of attire or a propagation of a dress from a photograph in a magazine. 

The tailors are extraordinary esteem however it does pay to look around - inspect the nature of the examples in their shop, and take a stab at going to stores a bit further far from the fundamental visitor roads. 

Related tour: Travel Vietnam

There are likewise various workshops in Hoi A for individuals who might want to figure out how to cook Vietnamese nourishment, or maybe to make their silk light in the Hoi A style, which you can take home as blessings for loved ones. 

Above all however you can discover a ton of joy in walking around the calm lanes (as motorbikes and autos are banned from a large number of them), sitting quietly by the stream, going to exhibition halls and vendors houses and for the most part taking life at a slower pace than you may somewhere else in the nation.

Himalaya Spring 2009 Update: Manaslu Summits Tomorrow?

It's been another busy couple of days in the Himalaya, where things continue to progress on mountains all over the region.

Probably the biggest news out of the Himalaya is that it looks like the summit of Manaslu could well be a busy place tomorrow, with potentially 20 people topping out. ExWeb is reporting that summit bids were turned back yesterday when climbers reached a 300 foot vertical ice wall at 7100m. The wall is described as very technical and demanding, requiring teams to put up new fixed ropes, which slowed down the progress. It was too late in the day yesterday for that to happen, so the ropes were installed today, and everyone will take their shot at the summit tomorrow. Good luck everyone! Climb safe!

ExWeb is also reporting that Joe Puryear and David Gottlieb have reached the summit of Lunag Ri, and have also safely returned to base cam, completely the first ascent of that mountain. The 6907m mountain was the highest unclimbed peak in the Himalaya that was also permissible to climb. There are other, taller, unclimbed mountains, but no permits are issued for them due to cultural or religious restrictions. Congrats to Joe and David for the for reaching the top and getting back down in one piece.

Switching focus over to the Big Show, Alan Arnette is reporting that weather conditions have changed on Everest, with high winds shifting to the area, blowing things all over the mountain. On his Everest 2009 page, Alan talks to Michael Fagin of EverestWeather.com, who tells us to expect the warmer than normal temperatures on Everest to continue into May, but that it is far too early to say if the mid-month weather window will open up as expected.

The Peak Freaks posted a new blog update, and they weigh in on the windstorm hitting the area. The whole team is currently back in BC, and there is a real fear that the high winds will blow C2 off the mountain. For now though, they'll have to sit and wait and see what happens. They also report that their weather sources are telling them to expect heavy precipitation beginning around the first of May.

Meanwhile, the IMG team, who updated their dispatches this morning, with the news that their Sherpa team is now up at C3, where they are caching supplies, including three more tents. They also note that winds have died down some today, making it a bit more comfortable on the mountain.

Finally, Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and Jonathan Miller, the team that has targeted the 23,390 foot Baruntse in their attempt to Ski The Himalayas reached base camp on Friday. Ben calls it the most spectacular BC he's been in since first coming to the Himalaya seven years earlier, with great views of Lhotse, Everest, and Makalu. Ben also reports that everyone is feeling great, and are ready to go, but that they are taking a little down time to rest and acclimatize before they start scouting the mountain. If all goes well, in a few weeks time, they'll be making their way up to the summit, and then making the first descent by skis as well. Sounds like fun!