Siew Mai

Har Gau (see below) and Siew Mai (or usually translated to Steamed Meat Dumpling) combine to form the one of the most popular pairing of dim sum dishes. I’ve eaten Dim Sum umpteen times, and never had one without at least an order of each. In fact, they are the first things my dad would order when eating dim sum. So while we ponder on what to order next, we’ll be munching on these delicious dumplings. The original Cantonese Siew Mai is usually made out of pork and mushroom, but nowadays you can find all kinds of Siew Mai to suit your preferences.

Har Gau

I personally prefer Har Gau (Steamed Prawn Dumplings) compared to Siew Mai. The skin of Har Gau is delicate and translucent, wrapped around fresh juicy shrimps to form a pouch-shaped dumpling. They are usually dipped in soy sauce, rice vinegar, or even a combination of mayonnaise and chili sauce. This dish is a crowd pleaser, so be sure to order enough so that everybody will have at least one.

Cheong Fun

This dish features a thin roll of rice noodles that are filled with meat, vegetables or other ingredients. Before serving, the roll is usually cut into a few pieces and a spoonful of soy sauce is poured on top. With a wide variety, this dish comes filled with shrimp, beef, char siew, or even youtiao (Chinese fried bread stick), chicken or fish. My personal favorite is Cheong Fun with Youtiao, which features fried youtiao wrapped in noodle rolls. The crispy youtiao combines well with the silky noodle rolls, melting away in your mouth with a heavy dose of soy sauce. Heavenly!

Baos / Buns

The most popular type of Baos (Buns) is Char Siew Bao, which simply means BBQ Pork Buns. They are soft bread with a unique texture, filled with char siew (BBQ pork) at the center of the bun. The char siew is pork tenderloin slowly roasted to achieve a tender and sweet taste, which combines well with the fine soft bread on the outside. Though Char Siew Bao is another popular dim sum dish, it is not exactly one of my favorite. As much as I enjoyed the taste very much, it is however, a very filling dish. My preference is to skip this so I can eat more of the others.

Daikon & Taro Cake

Here’s another standard pairing when ordering dim sum. They are both similar in appearance, usually cut into square-shaped slices and pan-fried before serving. This makes them crunchy on the outside, but soft on the inside. The Daikon Cake is made of shredded radish and flour while the Taro Cake is made from the vegetable taro.

Dan Tat

Dan Tat (Egg Tarts) is the Cantonese interpretation of egg custard tarts which are popular in many parts of the world. This pastry was initially introduced to compete with dim sum restaurants, but ironically they have now become part of the dim sum experience. Many variations are available, including egg white tarts, milk tarts, honey-egg tarts and even bird’s nest tarts.

Jin Dui

Jin Dui (Sesame Seed Balls) is a fried ball-shaped pastry coated with sesame seeds on the outside that is crisp and chewy. The pastry is filled usually with lotus paste, black bean paste or red bean paste. A more modern interpretation I’ve seen before are Jin Dui filled with chocolate and even durian.

Chun Juan

This is not a dim sum dish per say, as you can easily find them in various countries with differing interpretations. However, the fried version is one you would encounter in dim sum restaurants, usually filled with various meats.

Fu Pi Quan

This dish is similar to Spring Rolls, with the main difference being the outer layer of the dish is made of tofu skin. Just like Spring Rolls, you can find the fried and steamed versions, with various meat fillings inside of it.

Fung Jeow

Phoenix Talons is the fancy way of translating this dish name, which is usually just called Chicken Feet by non-Chinese speaking eaters (like yours truly). The chicken feet are first deep fried or steamed to make them puffy, and then stewed and marinated in flavored black bean sauce. The result is a dish that is moist, tender and flavorful, though it does consists of many small bones.

Lo Mai Gai

The English translation to this dish is quite a handful – Steamed Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf Wrap. It features glutinous rice filled with chicken meat and various vegetables, which is then wrapped in a dried lotus leaf and steamed. The result is a savory and flavorful dish, with the aroma of the lotus leaf and chicken melting into the sticky glutinous rice. A personal favorite.

Almond Jelly

This is a common dessert made of sweet Chinese almond. Almond milk is extracted, sweetened and then heated with a gelling agent. It is then chilled to create a tofu like pudding with a sweet almond taste.

Mango Pudding

Last but definitely not least, is one of my favorite dessert – the Mango Pudding. This is the perfect way to end your feast, a simple dessert that captures the glorious flavor of mangoes like no other. When done well, the pudding is silky smooth in texture, rich in flavor and refreshing in taste.

About the Author. Nikolas Tjhin. A graphic and web designer in its previous incarnation, Nik’s journeyman career has seen him do work for various creative studios in Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Singapore and Jakarta. Now, he’s settled down for the time being and focusing his efforts as the editor of an Asia travel zine, Unearthing Asia.

For our Issue 02 of the magazine, we share with you travel tales from four cities all over Asia – Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Seoul - and much more!

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In this issue
+ Shanghai Hip
+ Singapore’s Dempsey
+ The Heart of Seoul
+ Sydney’s Culture Capital
+ Tasty Taiwan
+ The Art of Humanity
+ Asia’s Little Dragon
+ Wellness for the Soul
+ Chic Melbourne
+ Jakarta Capital Treats
+ Bali, Romance in Paradise

The economic centre of Southeast Asia’s rising economic star, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the planet’s most exciting cities, where influences from France collide with the Orient, and where the Vietnam War is remembered like it was yesterday. And with skyscrapers, landmarks and fashion cenres galore, never has there been a better time to head to a place that, despite the global recession, is still very much alive and kicking.

Photo credits - Colin Purrington

Authentic Vietnamese

Vietnamese cuisine is taking off around the world, but there is still no better place to find it than in the country’s gourmet capital. Join the likes of Bill Clinton at Pho2000 near Ben Thanh Market, which proudly proclaimed “Pho for the President” along with various photos of the then President of the United States enjoying a bowl of pho at the iconic restaurant. The menu here is long and varied, and is packed with locals and tourists alike. Those looking for something a little more fusion should head to Xu Bar, which is not only one of the cornerstones of night life in the city, but is also the place where the celebrated Chef Nyuyen is attempting to revamp traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Photo credits - Kirk Siang

Coffee & Cafe

The Ho Chi Minh City is brighten up by various lights at night, giving it a laid-back atmosphere that give rise to the prevalence of cafes dotted along the streets. Vietnam is one of the world’s most renowned producers of coffee, and caffeine lovers will find themselves in aromatic heaven trying out the varied local brews here. For a sure-fire way to refresh and relax, pick a random cafe at a bustling street corner and order a local brew. Sit back and enjoy as you laze yourself and watch the various pedestrians passing by.

Photo credits - alex.ch

Hitting the Town

Other than a pick of bustling cafes to relax and sip your time away, the Ho Chi Minh City also plays host to numerous trendy bars that is a favorite of both locals and expats. The Q Bar, Saigon Saigon Bar, Xu Bar, Lush and Velvet are but a few in the long list of popular hangout spots for the party crowd, each with their own distinct trendiness and appeal.

Photo credits - Wilson Loo

Iconic Landmarks

It’s pretty easy to navigate the sprawling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City on foot, particularly since most of the places of interest is located in District One. Start with the Notre Dame Cathedral, an outstanding red-brick building adorned with staiend glass, then move on to Saigon Central Post office, a French colonial building with a classic interior. This also operates all postal services from the city and is the best place to buy a phone card. The Opera House typifies the city, showing both western operas and traditional Vietnamese performances. The Reunification Palace was the home of the former Viet Cong leader who the city is named after and is a grand colonial building overlooking the city centre.

Photo credits - Lynt

Bikers Gang

After exploring the iconic landmarks of District One by foot, rent a motorbike and cruise along the streets for a way of transportation that has become ingrained into the fabric of society. Throngs of Vietnamese commuters travel by motorbike, and although it may not be one of the safest way to travel, it is certainly one of the most authentic.

Photo credits - nerdcoregirl

War Remnants

One of Vietnam’s biggest tourist attractions, the Chu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground caverns built during the Vietnam War. About 121 kms long in total, visitors can take a tour of the tunnels and see for themselves the conditions in which the Vietcong waged a bloody war against the machineries of US. The War Remnant Museum, also known as the Museum of American Atrocities, is another tourist attraction worth visiting. It’s extremely biased and one sided, but still an important insight nevertheless into the Vietcong’s reaction to the war.

Photo credits - martywindle

Shopping Seasons

Aside from eating most visitors to Vietnam’s number one city find themselves spending most of their time here shopping. Ben Thanh Market is a major market in Ho Chi Minh City and is the place to find souvenirs. There is a wide selection of t-shirts sporting the likes of “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Miss Saigon” to lacquerware and embroidery, and for those that love a good brew, some of the best coffee beans in the region. Ladies will want to try out the Ao Dai, the Vietnamese national dress, which is one of the most exquisite in the region, combining trousers and a dress.

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About the Author. Trangh Nguyen. Come to Vietnam, enjoy a cup of bia hoi in the street restaurant, ride moto, cruise in the labirynth of Mekong Delta and Halong Bay. Come with us and share the delight of one of the most beautiful country in Asia. We welcome you with our heart, hospitality and excellent cuisine.

Just as the rest of the world moves forward into the online digital world, there are still various classical traditions from centuries past that retains their popularity with the new younger generation of people. Even as some of these traditions are bizarre and unusual, they have continued to grow in infamy. With its colorful local cultures and numerous differing locales, the region of Asia is filled with such festivities that makes you go “Huh?” Here are some of them to keep you amused and piqued with curiosity.

Photo credits - A Malchik!

Photo credits - Guanlong

Kanamara Matsuri

Often mistaken for a big, gigantic bachelor party or the Japanese equivalent of a grand Playboy bash, Kanamara Matsuri (or the Festival of the Steel Phallus) is a colorful festive event which sees various replica of the male gender’s “equipment” strewn about in various color and shape. Originating from the Edo period of the 1600, this annual Fertility Festival was initially organized by geisha escorts during the period, in the hope that they will be protected from various STDs. The Kanamara Matsuri is centred around a local penis-venerating shrine believed to grant divine protection not only against STDs, but also in business and the clan’s prosperity, marriage and family harmony. Now, this Shinto gathering is a full-fledged tourist attraction that helps various related social initiative. Only in Japan would such a festival can be made available to all the public, and even to children!

Photo credits - Nature Explorer

Bau Nyale

The full moon shone brightly up on the dark nightscape of Lombok’s beautiful southern coast. It was February, the month of love and romance, and a throng of locals were on the beach, looking out for… worms? Locally referred to as “nyale”, this colorful worms are only seen during the month of February to March, whose appearance are celebrated by the locals as they are believed to be a transformation of Princess Mandalika. The local legend goes that a beloved local princess was famed for her beauty throughout the land, with numerous suitors competing for her attention and love. Over time, the competition grasdfew fierce and distasteful, and the princess, not wanting to start a war between the locals, decided to sacrifice herself and threw herself into the sea. Every year, the locals celebrates the appearance of the colorful worms with various events such as traditional war games, musicals and a stage rendition of the story of Princess Mandalika.

Photo credits - Lock, stock and 2 smoking barrels!!

Photo credits - jpereiro

Holi Festival

This popular Hindu spring festival, observed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and other Hindu countries, is also known as The Festival of Color. The festivities can last up to sixteen days, with the main day, Holi, celebrated by people applying (or sometimes throwing) colored water or powder at each other. The Holi festival is a celebration of good over bad, and also of various Hindu legends. Culturally, the Holi is a festival that brings all fabric of society together, and strengthen the community, not an easy feat in a secular India where caste and race plays a large part in social dynamics. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month, usually in the later part of February or March.

Photo credits - Stinkie Pinkie

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong’s Mud Festival on Daecheon Beach brings out the child in everyone. During this summer event, festival goers apply mud packs to their entire body, believing the mud from Boryeong to contain important minerals which reduce wrinkles and remove excess oils from the skin. Aside from the mass mud bathing, there are also mud body painting contests, a mud beauty contest, mud massages and even a mud sculpture contest. Those not so into mud can simply gawk at the scene while enjoying your usual beach activities on the white sand of Daecheon Beach.

About the Author. Nikolas Tjhin. A graphic and web designer in its previous incarnation, Nik’s journeyman career has seen him do work for various creative studios in Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Singapore and Jakarta. Now, he’s settled down for the time being and focusing his efforts as the editor of an Asia travel zine, Unearthing Asia.

Although Asia is mostly made up of various sizes of island nations and several dense world capitals, there is a time and place to hire a car and push the pedal to the floor. Here are some of Asia’s greatest drives perfect for those wanting the sense of thrill and freedom only a road-trip can give you. Enjoy the breathtaking scenic drive as you feel the breeze of wind against your sun-tanned face. And don’t forget to check up on our unusual list of road trip songs for your perusal as you enjoy your drive!

Photo credits - Shermeee

Great Ocean Road – Australia

Just a stone’s throw from Melbourne is the Great Ocean Road, 151 miles of road wrapping around the southern coast of Australia. It is one of my favourite places in the world to catch a sunset, especially if you happen to be in the area near the 12 Apostles, a set of limestone stacks that are stunning. Don’t miss the helicopter tour of the coast if the weather isn’t inclement, as well as the discount surfer shops in Torquay. There are also forest walks near Lorne which boats gorgeous waterfalls, and the road runs near one of Australia’s last remaining rainforests, the Great Otway National Park.

Photo credits - wikipedia.org

The Hai Van Pass – Vietnam

The Hai Van Pass, on route 1A between Hue and Hoian, was claimed to be a “deserted ribbon of perfection…one of the best coastal roads in the world.” Hai Van means ocean clouds, and indeed the mountainous valley is often covered with mist. The route has an alternate path, the Hai Van Tunnel, because for many drivers this is one difficult drive so keep this in mind should you want to attempt it yourself! But with the green hillsides, the shimmering ocean, and mountain peaks all within eyesight, this is a very special place indeed.

Photo credits - N-i-b-i

Osado Skyline Drive – Sado Island, Japan

While Sado Island has been refuge to many political rebels over the years, tourists come to Sado for a bit of peace and quiet. With only 70,000 local residents, there is plenty of room to stretch out and relax while enjoying the lush green Osado Mountains, sea cliffs, and tiny little fishing ports. Hiking is quite popular on the island, but don’t miss the 155 miles of coastline roads to explore. The best views can be had from the Osado Skyline Drive, which cuts through the island via the Osado Mountains and Mount Kinpoku, the highest point on the island. Be sure to stop at the scenic point at Hakuundai; don’t forget, the road is closed in winter (Nov-Apr).

Photo credits - Tingting Sullivan

The Phuket Northeast Loop – Thailand

Despite Phuket’s busy atmosphere, there are a few drives that you can take to get away and just watch the countryside roll by. One is the Mission Mills Drive but another popular one is dubbed the Phuket Northeast Loop. It starts at the Heroines Monument and traverses a circle along the east coast of the island. There’s excellent views of Phang-nga Bay and little fishing villages along the way all waiting for you stop for some fresh seafood! Don’t miss the statue of Ganesha (Ganesh), the elephant-headed Hindu god.

Photo credits - isafrancesca

Halsema Highway – Philippines

If you want to reach the highest point in the Philippines’ highway system, then just head for the Halsema Highway, which connects Baguio and Sagada. It is named after an engineer who managed to get the roadway built through the mountains. Besides the great views and endless farms and vegetable patches you’ll see, there’s something far more interesting to catch sight of. It is a funny moment, one of those “only in Asia” sights when you see one for the first time. You see, many of the villages along this route have erected monuments to their main exports: vegetables. That’s right – be sure to stop for a photo opportunity at the potato statue, the carrot statue, etc. Only in Asia…

Photo credits - geoftheref

Twizel to Mount Cook – New Zealand

You’ll never see water so turquoise as the surreal waters of Lake Pukaki in the center of New Zealand’s South Island. The 39 mile drive from Twizel runs along the seemingly endless Lake Pukaki, terminating in Mount Cook Village, in the shadow of the snowy caps of Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in the country. From the village you have the option of many hikes or excursions out onto Lake Pukaki. There are many wonderful drives in this region (a fact you will confirm just getting to Twizel) but this particular section is a real charmer.

If You Go

It goes without saying: before you depart, be sure you research the rules and regulations of the Asia country you’re visiting. In some cases your current driver’s license will be sufficient, but in others you’ll need extra permits.

If you don’t speak the local language be sure to bring a guidebook with commonly used phrases and signage for a quick reference. And of course – drive safe. Many countries are notorious for poor driving (this is a phenomenon not limited to Asia) so take care. When in down, park the car elsewhere and take alternate transport.

About the Author. Andy Hayes. Andy Hayes is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. When not crossing the world to have his next Asian travel adventures, he is hitting the walking trails near home. To get in touch or see Andy’s other travelogues, visit his website, Sharing Experiences.

High altitude wilderness has its own uniquely self-eluding charm, one that held me in awe. This was the reason why I chose to start the year 2009 with a visit to Zanskar Valley. The Himalayan valley is one of the remotest in India, and can be reached by road only during the summer. I’ve always thought of planning a road trip to the barren yet beautiful landscape of Leh, but not this time – I flew down instead from New Delhi to Leh to save time.

Photo credits - t3rmin4t0r

Most people prefer to fly to Leh to reach Zanskar because of the altitude and the scenic vistas and not to mention the fact that you will get to fly over the Himalayan Ranges. If not for the comfort and ease of transportation, I was more than willing to fork out the extra money for the stunning views from above the sky.

As I walked out of the plane at an altitude of 11,500 feet above sea level, the first thing that caught my eye was the seemingly endless horizon filled with blinding whiteness. It started to drizzle a bit as I made my way towards the visitor centre, where I was greeted by a Tibetan with deep wrinkles and a large smile. He introduced himself as Chawang, and he was to be my guide for the trip to Zanskar Valley.

If you don’t have a guide for your trip then it might be a problem because to reach Zanskar, you need to cross over from Ladakh to Kashmir and back to Ladakh. There are several military checkpoints en-route which can be quite a headache. Another thing to note is that foreigners need a proper permit while traveling to some of the areas in Leh and Jammu and Kashmir – your guide can easily take care of that.

Photo credits - alles-schlumpf

Leh is a small town surrounded by the Ladakh Range on one side and the Zanskar Range on the other. Except for the Leh Palace, there are no attractions in the city. You can take a walk through the city, relax, and acclimatize. If you plan to stay in Leh for longer duration then you can pay a visit to some of the further attractions from Leh, such as the Thikse Monastery, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri Lake, and Khardung La Pass.

Early in the morning the next day, we made our way towards Zanskar Valley. To get to the valley the plan was to drive 234 kilometers through deep gorges, snow capped peaks and landslide zones towards Kargil, a halfway stop where we will spend the night and rest up. The next morning, we’ll drive the next 220km through from Kargil via Rangdum and Penzi La Pass towards Zangla.

In the morning light, the picture perfect scenery was simply unforgettable. A beautiful river snaked along snow capped mountains, with the imposing structure of Rangdum monastery bringing color into the barren landscape at the valley floors. The Rangdum Gompa, located some 7km from the Rangdum Valley, is perched on a hill offering a spectacular views of the nearby mountains and glaciers. This stunning monastery was established in the early 18th century and is home to around 40 monks.

Photo credits - Yogesh Sarkar

Next morning, we started off early with a 27km ascent to Pensi La Pass and were greeted by two huge glaciers that feed the Suru River and two charismatic high altitude lakes. A perfect picnic spot! After a small photo session, we moved ahead and closer to the famous Drang Drung glacier, which is the largest in Ladakh region. It is a long winding river of snow and ice with the Z3 peak in the background. The Glacier is the source of the Stod River, which joins the Tsarap River in Padum to form the mighty Zanskar River. From this point, we descended more into the Zanskar valley to Sani.

We crossed Padun by mid-day, and after a brief lunch hurried on to Zangla before sunset. After approximately 3-hour drive from Padum, we finally reached the Zanskar Valley, where I plan to stay for a good few days to enjoy the relaxing wilderness. The Zanskar Valley trip is not an easy one because of the terrain, altitude, and weather. It is a good 10-day trip from Leh and back. If you have plenty of time and are looking for more adventures then some of the places you can visit include the Nubra Valley, Suru Valley, The Hemis National Park, Lamayuru Monastery, and the Markha Valley in the Ladakh Region.