Picture this – The bluish tint of nightfall is just beginning to settle on the streets of your favorite Asian city, but the arrival of dusk doesn’t dampen your plans. In fact, you’ve been waiting for this moment since the alarm rang hours ago. You’ve whiled away the daylight on the obligatory temple visits and rickshaw rides but now it’s time to get down to business – the very serious business, that is, of what you’re having for dinner.
There’s no doubt that a good traveler lets his stomach lead the way, and why shouldn’t he, on a continent where the cuisine is as much an attraction as the Taj Mahal or the terracotta warriors? In Asia, there seems to be no shortage of opportunities to test drive adventurous taste buds. Maybe you fancy snacking on a spider or two during your Cambodian sojourn or salivate at the mere thought of a seat at the counter of any Tokyo sushi bar. Or perhaps you’re willing to wait for the good stuff and think nothing of queuing up in Shanghai’s Yuyuan Bazaar for the best soup-filled dumplings in town or sitting through a knee-killing tea ceremony for that perfect, indescribable Japanese sweet. And while you might currently believe nirvana can only be achieved through meditation, a single bite of tantalizing Kobe beef will banish that notion from your head forever.
So next time you find yourself exploring the highlights of your favorite Asian destination, don’t forget to stop and – literally – savor the moment.
Chinese dumplings
Fresh fish from Tokyo's Tsukiji market
Singapore street food
Spices from Vietnam
Written By Mandy Bartok.
All that food looks exquisite! My first time in southeast Asia, I was surprised how good the cuisine really was. Your post brings back memories of the smells, the flavors and the good times.