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New Orleans Jazz Tour by Urban Adventures

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What to Do in New Orleans: Jazz Tour by Urban Adventures

New Orleans is a city built on soulful Creole food, rich history, and yes, you guessed it right – Jazz music. And what better way to see the beautiful streets of the French Quarter than through a legit New Orleans Jazz Tour, right? We took one by Urban Adventures right on our first day in New Orleans. And it literally got us swinging and stomping. So let’s go and let’s get this Jazz party started! (Fair warning: lots of drinking, laughing, and dancing involved.)

4 Reasons to Take the New Orleans Jazz Tour by Urban Adventures

Tour Snapshot: New Orleans Jazz Tour

New Orleans Jazz Tour by Urban Adventures Louis Armstrong Park

New Orleans Jazz Tour Meetup Point: Louis Armstrong Park

Few cities rival New Orleans’ nightlife thanks to its thrilling music scene. In this 2.5-hour tour, hear about the origins and culture of jazz before making your way to the 19th century neighborhood that boasts the best music and bars in town. The tour consists of a scenic stroll around the historic Louis Armstrong Park, stops in some top local jazz clubs, and ends at the equally-jazzy and artsy Frenchman Street night market. Surely, there’s nothing quite like a night out in ‘The Big Easy.’

New Orleans Jazz Music 101 (Reason 1)

Before all the jazz music, must come the history. So we headed to the beautiful Louis Armstrong Park for our New Orleans Jazz Tour meetup. Unfortunately, we ran a little late so the tour has already started. But that didn’t keep our hip tour guide, Kiazer, to welcome us warmly into the tour. And for the next 30 minutes, we took a scenic stroll around the park, picking up these interesting jazz trivia along the way:

New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French as La Nouvelle-Orléans under the direction of Louisiana governor Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
Brass Marching Band
Brass music was actually used by soldiers in Louisiana for communication in warfare.
The Congo Square is an open space used by slaves in the 19th as a gathering place. There, they were allowed to sing native songs and instruments to their hearts’ desire.
Can you believe a masking costume can weigh as much as 100 lbs? Or is it 300? Hehe
As for Native Americans, they practice ‘masking’ during rituals and festivals. Wearing heavy and very elaborate costumes while dancing as homage to their ancestors.
Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential figures in jazz is fondly called “Satchmo”. It’s short for Satchel-Mouth as he was believed to had a wide jaw, and therefore a large mouth. His career spanned five decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s, and produced about 60 records.
Charles Joseph “Buddy” Bolden was an African-American cornetist who invented the “Big Four”. Thus paving the way for rhythmic innovation on the marching band beat, and later on developed to what we know now as “jazz” music.

Beautiful Jazz Bars, Clubs, and Pubs of NOLA (Reason 2)

After our quick jazz music 101, we then strolled around the historic streets of the famous French Quarter to visit a few local jazz bars and clubs. And what’s not to love? Music aside, each one displayed a beautiful fare of art, charm, and character. Whereas we have a few speakeasy bars in Manila, each jazz club in New Orleans felt like one. Dimly lit, with art-painted walls on one side, a mob-style bar in the center, and a jazzy corner reserved for musicians.

New Orleans Jazz Tour by Urban Adventures Hotel St. Pierre

The historic (and apparently haunted) Hotel St. Pierre in NOLA

And what’s a night-out without drinks, right? I don’t mean to get ahead of myself here. But I’ve tasted some of the best cocktail drinks in NOLA than anywhere else in the world. Yes, that includes the infamous Hurricane and Pimm’s Cup. (Much more on NOLA’s top drinks on a separate blog!)

Stomping Jazz Music (Reason 3)

New Orleans has always been characterized by busy streets, boasting of merry-making and music-frolicking. But I guess coming around Halloween could make things 1000% more interesting. Bourbon street aside, the whole French Quarter was bustling with people in all sorts of costumes (from silly, cute, to downright spine-chilling). While street performers and jazz musicians filled each street with beautiful, stomping jazz music. It was like a mini-Mardi Gras of sorts!

As part of the New Orleans Jazz Tour, Kiazer took us to this quaint jazz bar just off at Bourbon. With drinks on one hand, we enjoyed listening to this upcoming jazz singer named Shawan Rice. And she was just wonderful! Soulful, poetic, and with so much emotion to give.

Knowledgeable and upbeat tour guide: Kiazer (Reason 4)

From beginning to the end of the tour, our tour guide Kiazer was just awesome! Don’t let the young look fool you though. Kiazer’s in-depth knowledge about jazz and of the city made our New Orleans Jazz Tour all worthwhile. He was patient in answering questions, courteously offered drinks during bar stops, and was very polite. When we ended the tour, Kiazer even took time to wait for everyone at the Frenchman Street Night Market. Before bidding goodbye and promising to send us his food and bar recommendations around NOLA (which he did!) We couldn’t have gotten a better tour guide than Kiazer, thanks!

Appreciating all the art at the Frenchman Street Night Market

All in all, we’d totally recommend the New Orleans Jazz Tour! 5 stars for content, coverage, and service. Just don’t forget to eat ahead as drinks will be served all throughout. 🙂 To Book your New Orleans Jazz Tour, visit the Urban Adventures website. Or follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/urbanadventures) and Instagram (@urbanadventures) pages. TILL THE NEXT BITE!

Previously: Atlanta Food Walks Food Tour Review.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

http://www.hungrytravelduo.com

December 7, 2018 0 comment

Featured Food Tours Tour Reviews Travel USA

Atlanta Food Walks: Tastings, History, and a Cemetery?

written by HungryTravelDuo

Atlanta Food Tours: Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk Tour

Atlanta is the city built on food and you’ll dive into its food-loving past while tasting modern Southern-inspired flavors. Like fried catfish and okra with cucumber wasabi sauce and raspberry hibiscus meringues. Before catching our bus to New Orleans for Halloween, Karla and I decided to explore the culinary palate of Atlanta. And honestly, it’s one of the best we’ve tried in our US trip. Check out our favorites from Atlanta Food Walks: Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk Tour.

About the Grant Park Neighborhood

The Grant Park neighborhood was named after Lemuel P. Grant. A civil engineer from the Georgia Railroad who is otherwise called the “Father of Atlanta”. In the 1800s, Grant helped bring the railroad to Atlanta, opening up opportunities, and later on planned and supervised the construction of defensive lines around the city during the civil war. He then served in the committee to raft the new city charter of Atlanta in 1873.

Grant Park, as a neighborhood, began to be populated in the 1890’s by middle and some upper middle class families. Houses were built with a very distinct architectural style (American-Victorian) which we both loved, especially those eerily-decorated for Halloween. Today, Grant Pak is a mix of both old and new residents of different age and racial backgrounds. And lined with highly local restaurants, breweries, and artisan shops facing the Oakland Cemetery.

Atlanta Food Walks: Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk Tour

The Atlanta Food Walks tour features 12 modern and Southern fusion tastings from 5 locally owned food stops. It’s a 3 hour, 1.2 mile small group tour (there were 12 of us) around the Grant Park, including a ‘haunting’ jaunt through the historic Oakland Cemetery.

Meetup Point and 1st Stop: Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House

First stop of our Atlanta Food Walks tour took us right into a popular seafood house called Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House. We were first met by Joy, our spectacular Atlanta Food Walks guide, who happily briefed us about our stops for the day and about the neighborhood itself. Few minutes after, we were then seated for our first meal of the day.

Now I know the name sounds spooky (not to mention it’s located in front of Oakland Cemetery), but this hip pub hit all the right spots for me. We ate two lovely Southern favorites that still ‘haunt’ my tastebuds even after weeks passed.

Atlanta Food Walks - Grant Park - Six Feet Under Catfish and Okra Fingers

Six Feet Under’s Fried Catfish and Okra Fingers

We first had the Fried Catfish with Okra Fingers. Now, for those who know me, I am not a fan of both catfish and okra. BUT, I guess I had an epicurean epiphany when I tasted these two in Six Feet Under. I loved how the peppery-crunchy-seasoning of the catfish and okra blended well with the spicy-savory taste of the cucumber soy wasabi and sweet and sour dips served.

Atlanta Food Walks - Grant Park - Six Feet Under Shrimp Corn Grits

Six Feet Under’s Shrimp Corn Grits

It was an even bigger party in my mouth when I paired the fingers with the best Shrimp Corn Grits I’ve had in my life. It was tasty, soulful, and had a lovely-grainy texture that I enjoyed very much. Definitely one of the best meals I’ve had in my whole US trip!

2nd Stop: Young Augustine’s

It was a cold and rainy day when we took our Atlanta Food Walks tour but as they say, no amount of rain should and can stop a hungry foodie. So off we went around the block, marveling at the beautiful homes, en route to our second stop: Augustine’s. A favorite amongst locals, Augustine’s serves local brews and bar bites.

Atlanta Food Walks - Grant Park - Augustine's - Short Rib Grilled Cheese

Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Young Augustine’s

For Atlanta Food Walks, we dug into their 2 house bestsellers: the short rib grilled cheese sandwich paired with the honey-suckle ginger mule.

Atlanta Food Walks - Grant Park - Augustine's - Honey Suckle Mule

Honey-Suckle Ginger Mule from Young Augustine’s

I loved how the meat was so tender and juicy, while the cheese pimento gave it a creamy-salty kick. I also enjoyed the paradox of sweet and spicy flavors we had in our drinks. (Don’t forget to be on the lookout for the bar’s cute cat hanging out by the door.)

Pitstop: Oakland Cemetery

With heaping bellies, Joy then led the group to the neighborhood’s famous landmark: the Oakland Cemetery. It was first founded as Atlanta Cemetery in 1850 on six acres (2.4 hectares) of land southeast of the city. And later on renamed in 1872 to reflect the large number of oak and magnolia trees growing in the area. By then, the city already expanded and Oakland Cemetery also grew to the current 48 acres (190,000 m2).

Famous graves include Jasper Newton Smith, Margaret Mitchell (author of Gone With The Wind), and Maynard Jackson (Atlanta’s first African-American mayor).

3rd Stop: Growler Shop

Thirsty? Head on to My Friend’s Growler Shop. Just as we did for the 3rd stop in our Atlanta Food Walks tour. And wine not, right? It’s Grant Park’s premier stop for craft beer, growler fills, and specialty wine. We had three craft beers on tap: Creature Comfort, Archie’s Oktoberfest Beer Lager (my favorite), and the Malt Face Lagger.

We also got to try some of their local ciders to go (got the rootbeer instead).

4th Stop: Republic Social House

Nothing speaks Southern cooking more than good ol’ fried chicken with sweet potatoes. And that’s exactly what we grubbed on at the Republic Social House. A quaint watering hole with quirky decor, the fourth stop of our Atlanta Food Walks tour took us back to classic comfort food. While I found the spiced-up flavor of the Nashville Hot Chicken interesting, I found the chicken a little dry for my taste. But I did enjoy the very Southern feel of the sweet potato fries that came with it.

5th Stop: Little Tart Bakeshop

A French-inspired bakery, the Little Tart Bakeshop was certainly the icing on the cake that day. I took a peek inside and it was packed! And after having their bestselling Chocolate Chip Cookie and Apple Tart, I know understand why. The cookie was big and generous in chocolate chips, and had a soft ooey-gooey texture to it. The apple pie was also quite delightful – real apple slice bits that had the perfect sweetness.

All in all, I’d totally recommend doing the Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk Tour with Atlanta Food Walks. Joy had a light yet engaging energy, friendly, and was very knowledgeable. In fact, everyone in the group loved her so much that no one wanted to leave after the 5th stop! The food tastings were good representations of what Atlanta tastes like – Soulful and TASTY. See you at the next bite!

Previously: Ashveille Food Tour reviews.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

http://www.hungrytravelduo.com

December 4, 2018 0 comment

Featured Food Tours Sustainable Dining Tour Reviews Travel USA

Asheville Farm To Table Tours

written by HungryTravelDuo

What to do in Asheville NC: Asheville Farm to Table Tours

The Farm-to-Table concept has been around for quite some time. This movement started from the late 90s and has seen a rapid growth in the 2000s. With more and more famous and established restaurants adopting the practice. It incorporates the idea of “food traceability” or knowing where your food comes from. Often, restaurants partner with local farmers and fishermen to source their ingredients. The movement has helped sustain and promote local livelihood in many areas.

During our stay in Asheville, we had the chance to join the Asheville Farm to Table Food Tours. It was one of my favorite trips in Asheville, to be honest. Not only because of the great food but we also got the chance visit and learn the behind the scenes of a farmer’s life.

We started our day by meeting Ann, our lovely guide. A lot of people said that Asheville has incredible farms. But it might be hard to schedule individual visits to each of these farms. When I saw the Asheville Farm to Table Food Tours, I definitely told Tina that this was going to be part of our itinerary.

1st stop: Carolina Bison Farm

Our first stop was at the Carolina Bison Farm & Dr. King’s Meat Sales in Leicester. It is owned and managed by Dr. Frank King and his family. The farm has been through four generations of Dr. King’s family. And continues to thrive up to this day.

Asheville Farm to Table Tours - Carolina Bison Farm

Meats from Carolina Bison Farm (Asheville Farm to Table Tours)

Not only do they grow Bison in the farm, they also sell Bison meat and supply other restaurants.

We also had the opportunity to tour around the farm. And we even got to feed the Camels, drive through the Bisons, and see the Watusi. This was the first time we saw Watusis. So that was cool. We even learned the story about the donkey who thinks he is Watusi. (Side story: The lone donkey really has identified himself as a watusi. He didn’t want to leave the herd that the farmers just thought of letting him be – for 8 years now!)

As for Tina, it was her first time to interact with Camels so she enjoyed feeding them so much.

We also got to interview to the caretaker of the farm and the animals, farmer Bill.

Farmer Bill and his lovely camels at the Carolina Bison Farm

And you can clearly see how he had a special connection and relationship with these animals. (In fact, he’s so close to the camels, he told us the distinct personalities of each one.)

2nd stop: Franny’s Farm

Our next stop (and absolutely my favorite stop) was at a farm owned by an extraordinary woman – Franny.

Asheville Farm to Table Tours - Franny's Farm

Franny and Jolene!

She promotes sustainable farming and believes that quality is always better than quantity when it comes to her passion.She is an amazing character and does a lot to help the farming community. Her family was equally amazing as well.

Franny’s Farm itself is pretty wide and composed of the following areas:

The Edible Garden.

As its name suggests, this area is where Franny grows most of their produce. Marvel through raised beds and rows of organically grown vegetables, herbs, and even edible flowers. The nearby Farm Store, which is also part of the Edible Garden sells fresh eggs, honey, poultry, and seasonal goodies harvested from the farm.

The Greenhouse/Tool Shed.

This area is actually off limits for visitors. Since this is where they store their farming tools and other things used in the farm. However, visitors are always free to sit under the shade of the overhang of the muscadine grape vines on the fence or see some edible flowers.

Barefoot Garden.

Visitors are encouraged to get grounded and take off their shoes in this part of the farm. Feel the texture and the moisture of the soil on your feet. And have the time to just breathe, relax, and ponder.

The Love Barn.

The idea for this area is said to come from Franny’s dream. Wherein she was painting and all of a sudden her friends showed up. And they all played and sang music together as the animals listened and gathered around them. This area is the most picture-worthy area in the farm. That’s if you are looking for that Instagram photo your followers will surely envy. Just don’t forget the hashtag #LoveBarn and tag @frannysfarm!

Compost Area.

As part of their advocacy to promote sustainable farming and organic farming movement, Franny’s Farm has their own compost area. It is one of the best recycling program in existence and creates healthy soil in the process. Franny has a degree in Forestry and advocates the use of composting.

The Barn.

The Barn is not actually the “barn” that you might be thinking. It was the name given to the function area in the farm where you can have your events, business meetings, party, or even wedding reception.

Me and Blue at The Barn (Franny’s Farm)

The Barn House.

The Barn House is a custom built and designed to give the ultimate and most interactive experience in your stay at the farm. It is surrounded by the best views of the farm and is just around 20 minutes of drive away from the city center. As for us, we setup a picnic lunch at the back of the house.

The Pond.

This amazing farm wouldn’t be complete without the fresh waters of the pond. There is no place better than under the shade of the dock to play with the water or look for tadpoles, frogs, and fish. Enjoy the serenity of the place as the sounds you will only hear are the sounds of birds and the rustling of the winds.

Daddy’s Garden.

This garden was made in honor of the late Frank Scott Harris – Franny’s Father.

Peace Rocks Garden.

This is another garden in honor of the memory of Patty “Peace” Macomb who actually made the area. She strongly believes in her message that “Peace is the Way”.

Franny’s family hosts weddings and reception in the area. The farm also doubles as an events place and this one is something I would really love to rent or visit again in the future.

Asheville Farm to Table Tours - Lady Luck Farm

The IG-worthy pond at Lady Luck Farm

3rd stop: Flowers at Lady Luck Farm

Our last stop was in a flower garden which grows all this amazing and beautiful varieties of flowers.

Although the farm was at the tail end for their season, we still saw a lot of interesting things. They even taught us the most efficient way to plant and the practices related to it.

The Amazing Food at Asheville Farm To Table Tours

Another highlight of Asheville Farm To Table Tours is the delicious food served. To our surprise, our guide Ann personally cooked lunch for us that day. Needless to say, all the ingredients are fresh from the farms we just have been to. We setup a mini picnic and had our feast over the delightful dishes that Ann prepared.

I absolutely enjoyed the Asian Lettuce Wrap from Highgate farm with Carolina Bison Meat with Hoisin and Soy Sauce. As well as the Fresh Devilled Eggs!

Ann also served Long Valley Farm Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Another thing that I have never had before which I enjoyed was the Appalachian Cornbread,East Fork Farm Milled Bloody Butcher Cornmeal Drizzled with Madison County Sorghum.

The Mint-infused Iced Water we had for our drink was really refreshing. And cleans the palate well so your tongue can taste all the decadent flavors of the next dish. All in all the food we had was just beautiful! Thanks Ann!

Overall Experience of Asheville Farm To Table Tours

Asheville Farm To Table Tours was, in every aspect, incredible. Tina and I fell in love with the city more and we really felt that Asheville is a city we can move in to. I mean, it’s a small town but you have everything from hip bars, great food, nature, to beautiful farms at your disposal. It’s an Asheville Food Tour experience like no other.

Ann’s Asheville Farm To Table Tours definitely opened our eyes about farming and made us feel closer to it. The tour was unlike other farms we visited before. Where visitors are only limited to viewing and petting the animals. She runs different tours every day, which is great since you can visit different farms from the ones you already had. She contacts the farms herself and the owners are the ones who gives us the tour – usually they won’t let you or will be hard to do just by yourself.

Given the chance, I would love to do something like this again. We’ve never been more up close and personal to all these farm animals and farming stuff before. And we’ve truly felt much closer to nature after this. We learned about the hard work, passion, and dedication that goes into farming. And had a newfound appreciation of it.

How to Book Ann’s Asheville Farm To Table Tours

You can book this amazing tour via their website www.ashevillefarmtotabletours.com/#madison-county

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

http://www.hungrytravelduo.com

November 24, 2018 0 comment

Featured Food Tours Tour Reviews Travel USA

BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour

written by HungryTravelDuo

What to do in Asheville: BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour

Back when we were still planning our trip to Asheville, three things became top of mind: Ghost Tours, Good Food, and Great Beer. And now that we have touched based with the first two through Haunted Asheville Ghost Tours and our food pairings with Eating Asheville and Downtown Asheville; it’s time to move on to what Asheville is best known for — awesome Craft Beers! And the best way to discover the best ones in town? Through an Asheville Brewery Tour, of course! So we took one with the BREW-ed team!

Asheville: Beer City USA

How much do locals in Asheville love beer? Well, apparently, so much that the city boasts roughly 100 local beers in town. Served on both draft and in bottles. That’s actually more breweries per capita than any city in the U.S.

Beer Barrels at Hi-Wire Brewing Company

Beer Trivia 1: Did you know beer is one of the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drinks in the world? It was discovered roughly 9000 years ago because water wasn’t safe to consume.

The soul of beer

From hoppy IPAs to dark stouts, Asheville’s has their beer game so strong. While this was not our first time to encounter local breweries, the sheer amount of beer pubs and tap stations located in every nook and cranny of the city is just overflowing (pun intended)! No wonder Asheville has been dubbed as Beer City USA since 2009.

Downtown Asheville Brewery Tours by BREW-ed

Meetup Point: Hi-Wire Brewing

Fresh off our Asheville Farm to Table Tour, we proceeded to our meetup point for the Downtown Asheville Brewery Tours by BREW-ed. Since this is our first Asheville Brewery Tour, we were just two excited sailors eager to learn more about the bustling world of beers in Asheville. And why not, right? With so many breweries in town, there’s just more to drink and enjoy in the Beer City USA.

Luckily, we arrived a little earlier to this hip microbrewery called Hi-Wire by Hillard Avenue. That gave us some time to rest and use the restrooms. (Which we apparently needed given the amount of drinks we were going to have!) One thing we noticed, though, was the sheer amount of people present when it was just 5PM. Making both of us thrilled for the brewery tour ahead.

A few minutes after, some people gathered round the side of the bar. Which we clearly assumed was the group for the BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour.

Beer Trivia 2: Did you know that beer is made of 96-97% water? Making it healthy, hehe kidding.

All About Beer: Beer Making 101

The next hour of the BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour was Beer Making 101. AKABeer Education for beginners. Which was really cool! Mostly because of our guide, Cliff. He was prompt, entertaining and very knowledgeable.

First, we learned that there are apparently only two types of beers: a Lager or an Ale, while the others are just subs. We then learned what each type is made of (hops and gruits) then the general process of how beer is made (cold + hot sections). All the while pouring different kinds of beer into our individual beer glasses so we can differentiate between them. Everything was too cool, we actually felt like legit beer connoisseurs!

Beer Trivia 3: Did you know that water is important to the kind of beer to brew? The higher beer pH makes the beer taste dull.

Last Stop: Catawba Brewing

Before ending the tour, the group made our way to Catawba Brewing. It was almost close to 6 PM so we enjoyed looking at all the nice display of lights in Catawba and the street art along the way. We were then led to a private section where we finished our BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour.

I honestly liked the ones we drank in Hi-Wire as those served in Catawba were a little stronger, while one was sour (Cranberry). Not something I’d recommend if you didn’t have much to eat for lunch and hungry for dinner. Just the same, all was well and I enjoyed the 3 hour BREW-ed Brewery & History Walking Tour.

Brewery Tour Tip: Come with a full (but not too full) stomach for any brewery tour. As you’ll consume approximately 5-6 glasses all throughout.

Why and How to Book BREW-ed Brewery & History Walking Tour?

BREW-ed Asheville Brewery Tour is the city’s only expert led brewery tour. In fact, it’s recognized as one of the top 15 food tours in the world. Our guide was even generous enough with his time by giving us tips on where to eat and drink in Asheville. BREW-ed also offers beer education talks and beer themed private events.

Ready to book? Go and visit the BREW-ed website or give them a call at 828-278-9255. CHEERS!

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

http://www.hungrytravelduo.com

November 21, 2018 0 comment

Featured Food Tours Tour Reviews Travel USA

Eating Asheville Food Tour

written by HungryTravelDuo

Asheville never ceases to amaze. Whether the historical background, or cultural wonders, or its bustling food scene, there is always something to discover. During our stay in the Asheville, Tina’s cousins came to the city to explore with us. We talked about food tours, and they told us they have always wanted to try one. And as food tours fans ourselves, we happily joined them in their gastronomic adventure.

We chose the Classic Eating Asheville food tour. We met up with our EA or Expert Ambassador of Asheville Food Scene as they call themselves. The food tour was composed of 5 stops for around 2.5 hours of walking through the amazing sceneries of the city.

1^stStop: The Bier Garden, 46 Haywood St. Asheville, NC

Our first stop was a local pub. They pride their self as “eat local, drink global” place since they offer an extensive menu of local favorites and a whopping selection of beer. They have a total of more than 250 types of beer from around the world to complement with their appetizing foods.

For those who are not a fan of beer, fret not because they also offer a wide selection of fine wines you could indulge. They also have 26 televisions where anyone could watch sports matches. Just imagine how great to hang around this place during the Superbowl.

We had a Beer Porter to go with our samples of their burgers. Their regular Mushroom and Swiss Burger with porter grave and sautéed mushrooms and swiss on top. Then we also had their specialty burger, the North Carolina Bison Burger. It’s made with tender Bison meat and topped with sautéed mushroom, provolone cheese, and fried onions.

This was stop was a hit for most of the people we are with and I can agree since we really had a good time in the place. The food was also great and the beer is just great, I wanted some more actually.

2^nd Stop: Blind Pig, Lexington Ave., Asheville, NC

The next stop is another kind-of dive bar restaurant with a rather unique name. We learnt that Blind Pig as a term used in the 19^th century to call establishments that sold alcoholic drinks despite having a ban on these drinks. Bling Pigs would circumvent the law by charging customers to watch attractions usually animals and offering patrons a complimentary drink.

We tried a number of their drinks including the King Cobra. It’s made with premium malt liquor, red white, white wine, and jigger. All were equally good and complemented well with our food.

We paired it with their Pork Shoulder and North Carolina Rice Porridge. I loved the porridge so much that I had 2 servings of it. It feels like one of those comfort food that reminds you so much of home. So nostalgic, perfect for cold or rainy days!

3^rd Stop: Mountain Madre, 13 Walnut St., Asheville, NC

For our 3^rd stop, we headed to a Mexican restaurant. It’s a locally owned restaurant that boasts itself for serving homemade, fresh, and authentic Mexican cuisine. They also have world-class craft tequila selection to go with their delicious dishes.

We had their Chips and Agave tequila to go with it. Ate Grace loves tequila so she enjoyed this stop a lot. We also had their bestseller chicken tacos. And it sure did not disappoint!

4^th Stop: Blue Curry Dream House, 81 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC

From world class tequila and around the world choices of beer, we headed to a place of around the world curry dishes for our 4^th stop. We had already tried their Penang Curry prior to this food tour but we were just as excited as before.

We had their Vegetable Curry this time, which didn’t disappoint as well. It was very flavorful and tastes really authentic. We loved this place so much and I can highly recommend it for anyone visiting the city.

5^th Stop: Underground Café with DoughP Doughnuts, 22 South Pack Square, Asheville, NC

Our last stop is at local café famous for their crafty and delicious doughnuts. The ambiance of the place was really hip and cool. We tried their classic burger which was made with a 28-day dry aged beef patty, topped with onions, tomato sauce, and other ingredients.

In comparison with the burgers we had earlier, this one seems to have a cheaper bun but the meat was really good. As someone described it, the burger on the first one seems like it was designed for the palettes of the elite. This one is the stark opposite. It was more like of the comfort burger with trashy buns and wrapped to go. To be fair though, both burgers were delicious. Only, the meat on this one was just spectacular!

We also had a Ninja Latte Porter to go with it and two doughnuts for our dessert. Albeit striking out from classic flavors, we all loved their doughnuts! And knowing that they are handmade and served fresh daily is a plus. We tried the Chai Glazed Donut which I liked a lot, and the Beets by Jay.

The last doughnut was a creation of Chef J, the chef and owner of the café. I was surprised that I liked this one a lot since I am not a fan of beets. Maybe it’s the beer glaze and the goat cheese on top that made it really good.

We were so happy that we were able to join the food tour despite it being a last minute one. Good thing they had space for 4 more people so we were all able to have fun. The restaurant choices for the tour were impeccable. I am starting to realize that there is no such thing as “not good food” in Asheville.

How to Book

You can book a ticket through their website eatingasheville.com/tours or call 828-489-3266. You can also follow their social media accounts for updates and queries.

Price

They offer food tours almost every day, where you can choose either their Classic Tour or High Roller Tour.

The Classic Tour is priced at $56 per person and a total of at least 6 restaurants to visit. The High Roller Tour is priced at $69 per person with 7 restaurants to try.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

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November 17, 2018 0 comment

Featured Tour Reviews Travel USA

Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour

written by HungryTravelDuo

Things to do in Asheville: Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour

One rainy Tuesday night, in a dark and creepy alleyway behind the Asheville Masonic Temple, Karla and I nervously anticipated our first ever ghost tour in the US. I for one have a knack for horror and supernatural things but never did I imagine to be in an actual tour. But alas, the clock struck 8 and we were met by Tadd, our archaeologist tour guide. One of the most unique things to do in Asheville, welcome to the Haunted Asheville Ghost Tours.

Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour: A Themepark for Adults

Established in 1792, Asheville may only be 230 years old but already has a rich history as town. Coined as the “Paris of the South”, Asheville is a popular destination that draws about 250,000-600,000 tourists per year. And why not, right? It’s basically a melting pot of culture, good food, and architecture. Popularized by the Vanderbilts, it’s basically a little New York, without the crazy noise and hustle.

But as they say, every place has a dark side to it. And Asheville is just right up the alley of spooky, or rather hair-raising. Now I don’t want to spoil all the fun and spill the ghastly beans. But all I can say is, if LA or Orlando has Disney, Asheville has their not-to-miss ghost tours — a legit themepark for adults. And that’s exactly what we ‘enjoyed’ on our first night in Asheville!

Asheville: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Now before anything else, here’s a brief background about Asheville. Part of the Buncombe county, Asheville is home to about 90,000 residents, and about 64 local beer breweries. Although established in the 1790s, it was only in the 1880s when trains brought money, power, and affluence into Asheville. It was also around this time when the young aristocrat George Vanderbilt from New York visited the city. And with that, he purchased 125,000 acres. And eventually constructed America’s largest private residence – the Biltmore House.

As the 1900s drew close, more and more people and business owners grew interest in the progressive city of Asheville. Thereby drawing new businesses and hotels to be built left and right. There was also a scramble to build tall buildings, such as the iconic Jackson Building, The Battery Park Hotel, and the Grove Park Inn. Thus prompting new money, new jobs, and new power. At one point, Asheville was so progressive that they even had their own Wall Street filled with stock brokers and lawyers.

Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour Eagle Street

Eagle Street where the city’s largest killing spree
happened

Sadly, the progress was cut short in just a span of 30 years. With the stock market crashing in October 1929, so did the prosperity chain of Asheville. Soon, all the railroad money disappears prompting people to lose their jobs, business, homes — and even lives (so as they say!)

A must do in Asheville NC: Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour

Now it must be the rain that kept our tour size small at 5, when they normally run at 40-50. But it was absolutely perfect! We loved that Tadd was on time, was very knowledgeable about the whole history of Asheville. Making the tour, much more interesting and informative – with or without ghosts.

Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour Church Street

Our guide Tadd story-telling about the ghosts on Church Street

During our two-hour walking tour, Tadd walked us through the streets of Asheville making several stops along the way. As I want to reserve the details for you to discover, one thing I must note is the unique way Haunted Asheville holds their tours. Which both Karla and I appreciate. First few stops, Tadd gave us a brief history of Buncombe county and Asheville itself. Before exploring the stops that gave us the chills the whole night.

Coverage of Haunted Asheville

We took the Classic Walking Tour that covers 1.5 miles across downtown Asheville. According to the Haunted Asheville website, it should cover the following stops:

The Pink Lady who haunts the Grove Park Inn
Chilling apparitions from a suicide at Helen’s Bridge
A young lady brutally murdered in the Battery Park Hotel
Spirits from the madman who executed our city’s largest killing spree

And we did just that and much more (hauntingly so)! While I don’t recall stopping by Helen’s Bridge nor the Grove Park Inn, we did however cover 2 more spots along the way. First was the Jackson Building, the ghost story of which were the most haunting one. As it’s tightly tied up to the economic history we’ve mentioned prior. And second, the 2 apparitions reported in Church street. Classically haunting and mysterious. Our last stop took us back to the basement of the Masonic temple. Where a museum lies, bearing some of the creepy artifacts and actual news clippings of all those stories. 1000% creepy, I must say!

All in all, I would totally recommend the Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour. Whether you’re a supernatural buff or not, the tour is a nice and unique way to see what Asheville is all about. Can’t wait to be back!

Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour Masonic Temple

Photograph of Asheville’s madman, Will Harris. Who killed 5 people in Eagle Street in an obsessive rampage.

For bookings or other inquiries, visit the Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour website. Or send them an e-mail at contact@HauntedAsheville.com. Can’t wait for all the good food that Asheville has to offer? Check out our Downtown Asheville Food Tour.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
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Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

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November 14, 2018 0 comment

Featured Tour Reviews Travel Guides USA

New York City Attraction: The Ride New York

written by HungryTravelDuo

What to do in New York City: The Ride New York

We’ve all heard about Double Deck and Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tours. But have you ever been on an interactive theater bus tour? Say hello to The Ride New York! The Ride is basically a 75-minute New York City attraction that will take you around the streets of midtown Manhattan and Times Square. Making some stops in between for New York’s iconic landmarks. As enhanced by The Ride’s talented ensemble of actors, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Here are the top 3 reasons why you should book a seat at The Ride New York.

One-of-a-kind Interactive Entertainment in New York City

First stop: Times Square (The Ride New York). See that lady in the trench coat, could you have guessed she’s part of the show?!?!?

Want to see New York in a fun and out-of-the-box way? Go for The Ride New York! Established on October 15, 2010, The Ride is a one-of-a-kind interactive entertainment experience where the streets of New York City are the stage. Where guests have front row seats! Boarding on 42nd street, guests are treated to a 4.2 mile live theatrical show, led by award-winning comedic hosts through Midtown Manhattan and Times Square.

It’s so fun that The Ride has already been inducted into the THE TripAdvisor® HALL of FAME. In addition to being in the Top 8 Must-Attend Wild & Wonderful Spectacles in New York City by NewYork.com.

State-of-the-art Coach Buses

Why walk when you can ride? Taking 49 dazzled tourists at a time, The Ride’s original genius was its realization that the streets of Manhattan are a fifty-mile stage exhibiting the most riveting visuals on earth. Picture this: specifically designed theatrical vehicles (the tallest allowed by federal law) fitted with stadium-style seating. Each multi-million coach orients 49 fortunate participants sideways. As if looking through the massive windows like a live fishtank. All the while weaving through the bright, busy streets of Manhattan and Broadway.

To add to the theatrical mix, each coach is equipped with surround sound, 3,000 LED lights and 40 video screens. Enhancing the visual and auditory spectacular of the whole The Ride New York experience. By either flashing trivia tidbits on screen, playing music or sound effects, or just gleaming up and about like how a real party bus does. At one point, we even caught ourselves singing along New York, New York Karaoke-style. From performers to passersby, THE RIDE interacts with everyone and everything it rolls by. Now it that doesn’t sound fun, I don’t know what is! Indeed, the coaches are events on their own!

Live Broadway on Broadway!

What’s better than Broadway? Live Broadway, of course. And that’s exactly what you get from The Ride of New York. What we loved most about the experience are the many surprises we’ve ‘picked up’ along the way.

We’re talking about live theatrical shows by The Ride’s talented ensemble of actors, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. All cleverly dressed up as random strangers on the streets of New York, suddenly turning to the audience for a show. Talk about a doctor in scrubs doing breakdance. Or a street vendor playing the saxaphone. Or how about ballet dancers putting up a show by the park? Pure talent and genius, simply put.

Lastly, we loved how spontaneous and interactive the hosts were. From their funny on-boarding spiels, improv commentaries, to their witty bantering, there definitely won’t be any dull moments during The Ride.

Tip: While all shows are fun, go for the night shows of The Ride New York. So you can experience the lights and crazy excitement that New York has to offer!

About THE RIDE

Re-Launched on April 1, 2014, THE RIDE is currently scouting Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, London, Hong Kong, and Dubai as expansive markets. The Ride New York takes a twisted seasonal turn to celebrate the spirit and enchantment of fall in New York City with THE RIDE in Masquerade. It will run from October 1st, 2018 to October 31st, 2018.

Meetup point of The Ride New York

The Ride: Holiday Edition is also by popular demand. Running from November 15th, 2018 to January 6th, 2019. The Holiday Edition is a holiday-themed experience. Featuring surprise performance and winter sparkly. It’s the season’s most sought-after family event. Limited engagement only, so tickets as set to sell out fast!

For more information or for tickets for The Ride New York, visit their website. Or drop by any of their box offices located on 584 Eighth Avenue and inside Hornblower Cruises & Events on 78 South Street New York.

Need extra tips on New York? Click to read about our Greenwich Village, Nolita Mulberry, and Chelsea Market food tours.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

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November 8, 2018 0 comment

Featured Food Tours Tour Reviews USA

Food Tour in New York: Chelsea Market and Highline

written by HungryTravelDuo

Foods of New York: Chelsea Market & The Highline Food & Culture Tour

When Karla and I booked our US trip, we only had three things in mind: visit family and friends, watch broadway, and FOOD — lots of it! So it only made sense to have New York as our first stop. And one of the neighbourhoods not to be missed is the iconic Meatpacking District. Thanks to Foods of New York, foodies like me can now take a bite of the Big Apple through the Chelsea Market & The Highline Food & Culture Tour. Read on to see our food tour in New York highlights.

About the Chelsea Neighborhood

Built in 1997, the Chelsea Market is an iconic indoor food hall, shopping mall, office space, television production facility, and art gallery all in one. It features more than 35 food vendors. Selling anything from soup to nuts to tahini to pickled horseradish. Sitting on the former Nabisco factory complex, Chelsea Market has transitioned from butchers in meat lockers, to a whole city block of restaurants ran or owned by celebrity chefs.

Want to take a break from all the munching? Come up and walk along the picturesque Highline. Built in the spring of 2009, the Highline is an abandoned, elevated railroad track that’s been converted to an elevated urban oasis. It’s NYC’s only elevated outdoor park, in fact.

Chelsea Market & The Highligine Food and Culture Tour

Meetup Point: The Chelsea Wine Vault

The 3-hour food and culture tour starts at the beautiful Chelsea Wine Vault. This is where we met our fun and trusty guide, Joe. Who in turn happily welcomed us back to New York and gave us a bottle of water for the tour. Once everyone arrived, Joe gathered us in a circle, gave us our tour booklets and a rundown of our 8-stop food tour for the day.

Stop 1: Creamline

No trip to the Chelsea Market is complete without having some Oreos. And New York surely knows how to please with those awesomely-wicked Fried Oreos! Sure we’ve had them back in Manila. But what I loved about Creamline’s version is the dough and the dip. The dough batter was generous and fluffy- almost doughnut-like.

While the pairing dip was cold whipped cream instead of ice cream we’ve grown accustomed to. Light, fluffy, and tasty. Who says you can’t have dessert as appetizer, right?

Trivia: The world-famous Oreo cookie was invented in 1912 at the original Nabisco Factory where the current Chelsea Market stands today.

Stop 2: Dickson’s Farmstand Meats

One of the most iconic food that New York’s known for are hotdogs. They’re fun, savory, and easy to make and eat. But what sets those by Dickson’s Farmstand Meats is the quality and taste. A homegrown brand, Dickson’s Farmstand offers artisanal meats and house-made charcuterie.

The hotdog itself was well-seasoned and meaty, obviously well-made by hand. While the buns were soft and buttery, adding good flavor and texture to the whole bite.

Stop 3: Buon Italia

It’s also no secret that New York City has the largest population of Italian Americans in the United States. In fact, New York is home to third largest population outside of Italy. As such, the New York food scene has a very pronounced influence of Italian flavor. Opened 20 years ago, Buon Italia has almost been around as Chelsea Market has.

The once brick-and-mortar Italian store is now a well-visited specialty shop that both tourists and locals frequent. From pastas, sauces, meats, and cooked food, there’s just so much to love about this Italian grocery store.

And one of which is their famous Zucchini Crostada. Pizza in form, the Zucchini Crostada is a quiche-like dish that’s both tasty and unique.

Stop 4: Saxelby Cheesemongers

Soon as we finished with our crostadas, we headed out to the store next door, Saxelby Cheesemongers. Saxelby first opened shop in 2006 in the historic Essex Street Market. Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Today, Saxelby Cheesemongers is the country’s top purveyor of fine American farmstead and artisan cheese.

Well, to be honest it doesn’t take much to impress us with cheese because we’re cheese monsters ourselves. But we can say for sure that the Cheddar and Cheese Fig combination was nothing short of spectacular. Creamy, sharp, salty, and sweet all at the same time. Will definitely be back!

Stop 5: Sarabeth’s Bakery

They say passion fuels success. And we can say the same thing about Sarabeth’s Bakery. It’s owned by the highly-acclaimed baker and restaurateur Sarabeth Levine and her husband Bill. Together, they run a 15,000 square foot jam manufacturing facility and a 4400 square foot wholesale bakery, café and retail shop in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market.

I’ve always been a fan of biscuits, pairing it with savory chicken or sweet jams. The biscuits we had at Sarabeth’s Bakery were quite good. Golden brown and crusty on the outside, warm and soft in the inside. The orange marmalade and strawberry jam were also fabolous!

Bonus Stop: Chelsea Market Baskets

There’s nothing like seeing local art and craft when travelling. And that’s something that I thoroughly enjoyed in our bonus stop at Chelsea Market Baskets. But not to be missed are their unique Ginger Cookies.

I haven’t had such in the past so I clearly didn’t know what to expect since I normally don’t like ginger. But to my surprise, I did enjoy the cookies. They were soft and buttery with a kick of spice. Perfect with tea or coffee!

Stop 6: Cappone’s

It doesn’t get more Italian than this: Cappone’s Smoked Mozzarella Sandwich. A sandwich filled with a big slice of tomato, a huge chunk of creamy mozzarella cheese, and some basil leaves.

Karla liked it but I found it a little bland to taste. Maybe it’s just me. 🙂

Stop 7: Luzzo’s Pizza

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza. Who doesn’t love pizza? And if you’re looking for an authentic slice in the meatpacking district. Head over to Luzzo’s Pizza. And go for a Margherita, no less. The slice was big and the generous amount of cheese was a definite plus.

At this time, we were so full (and jetlagged) that we literally needed something to keep us awake. Fortunately, Joe led us the Highline. Where we spent a good 10-15 minutes marveling at the whole area, passing by two of the surviving meatpacking factories. Before heading down to our last stop.

Stop 8: Ample Hills Creamery

We toured on hot, sunny day so a trip to the creamery was perfect. To end the Chelsea Market & Highline Food tour, we had the famous Ooey Gooey Butter Cake ice cream from Ample Hills Creamery.

It’s nothing like we’ve tasted before really. It was literally like butter cake that’s been churned up and turned into ice cream. Loved the chunky bits too!

End Notes

All in all, I’d totally recommend doing the Chelsea Market and Highline Food & Culture Tour on your next trip to New York. The tour guides are engaging and knowledgeable. While the food tastings were good representations of what New York tastes like – fun, rich, and yup, TASTY. See you at the next bite!

For bookings, check out Foods of New York’s website or follow their Facebook page. Click here for our Greenwich Village and Mulberry Street Food tour reviews.

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

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November 7, 2018 0 comment

Featured Sri Lanka Tour Reviews Travel Travel Guides

Tuk Tuk Safari South of Galle

written by HungryTravelDuo

Tina had tried Tuk Tuk Safari in Colombo and all she said about it was high praises. She said it would be a tour I would love to do. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time in Colombo anymore. But then fortunately, they also had it in South Of Galle. So Patrick, Tina and I did this instead.

Going to Tuk Tuk Safari Galle

Booking with Tuk Tuk Safari was no-hassle because Kusal replied with our inquiries in no time. (Even a day before we went on the Safari). All we had to do is let them know where we will be fetched. In our case we decided to get picked up in Galle Fort but be dropped of in our hotel, Twenty Two Welligambay at Welligama Bay. They usually bring you back to your hotel but then we had wanted to explore Galle earlier that day hence the logistics.

Captain Pumba, who’s very prompt was our driver and our guide. Upon arrival, he gave us roses and a King Coconut drink which is a widely popular welcoming drink in Sri Lanka. Upon discussing with Captain Pumba our itinerary, he suggested that we include the tea factory. But since we’ve already seen a lot of tea plantations in Munnar and Nuwara Eliya, He agreed to skip it. I think this is a plus point. As it gives makes your itinerary flexible. Yes, they have suggested stops for the tour. But if you want to add some of your own, as long as it’s on the way, they will clearly give way.

Turtle Hatchery

Turtle Hatchery in Sri Lanka

At first, I was hesitant to visit this, I’ve seen one earlier in the trip and they charged high and mostly just let kids play with the turtles which didn’t sit well with me. This hatchery, however, rehabilitates turtles that were injured by fishermen at sea. They are released back into the ocean again once they are well enough. Sadly, upon visiting we found two turtles who lost their back fins which meant they can no longer go back to the ocean again.

Aside from rehabilitation, they also help with turtle eggs for higher chance of survival. They monitor and take care of the eggs. As well as ensure that majority of these will survive to help preserve their kinds instead of letting them hatch on beach. Which may likely lower the chance of survival because of human activities and other animals.

We also found out that the gender of the turtle depends on the heat of temperature they are exposed to! It was both cool and educational for us indeed.

Quick Tip: It will be ideal to give a tip to the person doing the guide for this trip.

Spice Garden

I would have skipped this trip as well because India and Kandy have several of this. But since Tina hasn’t done it yet, we gave it a quick round and wasn’t disappointed with the tour. Loved how the guide made us smell the fresh aroma of the spices in he garden. The lake was extra beautiful to look at as well!

Stilt Fishing

Initially, we weren’t supposed to do this because Patrick found it too mainstream. But I was really eager to give it a shot so we went for it! Unfortunately, upon reaching the destination it felt like people were there just to pose. Although it still shows you how they used to fish, but you can’t actually see anyone fishing in the long stretch of the beach. There are locals who you can pay (or in this case you need to pay) in order to see them fish and it was all for the benefit of taking pictures of the act. But to be there and see something that was part of their culture was enough.

Although we have encountered minor concern while we were there. Yes, Sri Lankans are kind people and you’ll feel safe most of the time. But there’s also a tendency that they over charge tourists or double the price. When we got there, their initial reaction was, “Pay me money” just because we were tourists.

They even refused to take a picture until we’ve paid them. Captain Pumba saw the disappointment in our faces and talked to them and fortunately made a bargain of 500 from the original 1,000. I was about to argue that it wasn’t actually the price. Rather it was the principle that we were dismayed about.

Although I was advised that it would be wobbly up there, I actually enjoyed and even felt relaxed up there. Thankfully I have a good sense of balance so climbing and sitting was a breeze. And I had a comfortable experience looking at the vast ocean.

#Instafamous Palm Tree Rope Swing: Dream Cabana

For our fourth stop, it was supposed to be lunch experience but since we already had an enormous meal from Fortaleza in Galle. So we asked Captain Pumba if we can have the dinner experience instead. This way we can be closer to our hotel in Welligambay. We then drove back to Dalawella Beach near the town of Unawatuna for their famous rope swing. It’s located just in front of Dream Cabana Resort.

Captain Pumba advised that we have to pay to do the swing shot (LKR 400 per person). This one we were prepared for and it was a staple price for all. And not really something that you can haggle or whatnot. The family that owns this is very welcoming so Patrick and I gave it a shot.

Dalawella Beach – Just across Unawatuna Beach

Tina, on the other hand, had fun capturing the sunset which is utterly beautiful and captivating. I guess there’s just something reminiscent with sunset and reflecting with today’s activities.

Authentic Sri Lankan Dinner Experience

For our last stop, since it was already close to night so we can’t really have the chance to get good pictures from Peace Pagoda and Jungle Beach as suggested by Captain Pumba, we have decided to have dinner experience.

I had a funny experience, I had really wanted to see the Peace Pagoda but unfortunately we ran out of time. Captain Pumba quickly sat on the sand and built an image of the Peace Pagoda, seriously I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a good effort though. He kept asking me if he should take us but it wasn’t worth it if it was too dark already.

Tina doing the giant mortar and pestle

The dinner was superb. We even helped in crushing the spices using huge mortar and pestle and even grated the coconut. We also had the chance to watch the cook do the dishes while we help them prepare some of it.

Aside from the good mix of vegetables and meat and the coconut sambal which I really like because it’s spicy, it was good to end the day together with the guides whom we let eat with us since we had the place private for our group only. You can actually feel the vibe or the aura of being in Sri Lanka.

Why take Tuk Tuk Safari?

Here are some of the striking points as to why you shouldn’t miss this tuktuk safari while you’re in South of Sri Lanka:

It comes with beers and drinks;
It is an open chariot so you can indulge yourself with the scenery and the inviting wind brushing on your face;
You’ll certainly have a good guide, just like Captain Pumba, who will help you by haggling and making sure that you only stuff that needs to be paid;
You’ll the chance to see a lot of local insights;
Your safety is guaranteed;
You can have someone take photos for you even if you’re travelling alone;
They’ll give you suggestions on the best places to visit; and
Good local overview on the places.

Tuk Tuk Safari Galle is yet again one of the best activities you’ll definitely want to do over again.

For Tuktuk Safari Bookings:

Website | Whatsapp | Facebook | Instagram

Email Address: cruise@tuktuksafarisrilanka.com

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
Follow us on IG: @hungrytravelduo
Email us at hungrytravelduo@gmail.com

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August 3, 2018 0 comment

Featured Sri Lanka Tour Reviews Travel

Colombo City Tour with Urban Adventures

written by HungryTravelDuo

Our Score

What to Do in Sri Lanka: Colombo by Tuktuk

On the way to my “30 by 30” travel goal, it has always been my biggest delight to visit a new country. Yes, partly to tick off another one in my bucket list. But more so to discover new cultures, see new sights, and meet new people. So when Karla invited me to join her in Sri Lanka recently, I just had to let out a big fat YES! We will write more about our whole Sri Lankan adventure later on. But first stop: Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo. Here’s what to see, do, and expect on a Colombo City Tour with Urban Adventures.

Our Meeting Place: Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

Pre-Tour Tips: Colombo by Tuktuk

Now before I take you around the busy streets of Colombo, here are some helpful pre-tour tips for a fun and enjoyable Colombo City Tour:

1. Do your research.

Google’s my bestfriend so as soon I found out I had solo day in Colombo, I hurriedly search on things to see, do, and eat in the city. I was travelling alone so I figured it might be best to go on a guided tour. And that’s where I bumped into Colombo by Tuktuk by Urban Adventures. Now I know for a fact that Karla has worked with them before so I had complete confidence it was a good tour company to deal with it. And I was right! Just a few hours after my initial e-mail inquiry, I received a reply from Tammy. A few exchanges and further research, I was booked for a Colombo City Tour with Urban Adventures!

2. Bring only the essentials.

I cannot stress this enough. I usually overthink on what to bring when I’m out and about. So I always end up bringing a lot of stuff, including a big bag and a big water bottle. Since everything will be taken cared of, you just need a few essentials. Like a camera, phone, tissue, and some cash. They’ll even throw in a bottle of cold water before the tour starts. Well just in case you end up bringing more than you should, no worries. Because the Colombo by Tuktuk by Urban Adventures had its own designated Tuktuk and trusted driver.

Our handy tuktuk driver who also happens to be Sujith’s brother 🙂

3. Read your tour voucher carefully!

It’s a good thing I checked back on the e-mail from Urban Adventures and found out there was no hotel pick-up, just a set meeting area. Which brings me to my next point….

4. BE ON TIME.

Colombo by Tuktuk by Urban Adventures starts promptly at 8:30 AM. So be sure to arrive a few minutes early or be in the vicinity ahead of time. In my case, I was coming from Negombo so I opted to book at Citybeds- The Regent Colombo (more on this later). The hotel was a mere 5-7 minute walk from the meeting place. My driver was just kind enough to wait for me and bring me by car.

5. Wear something nice yet comfortable.

The tour includes visits to some local temples so be sure to wear something nice and decent but still comfortable. I opted to wear loose pants and a tucked in shirt with sandals to pair. Turned out to my favor as we visited two temples that required shoulders and legs to be covered. While footwear are requested to be taken off inside temple grounds.

Colombo City Tour with Urban Adventures

As mentioned, Colombo by Tuktuk starts promptly at 8:30 AM. Designated meeting area is at the Dutch Hospital Shopping Centre. Considered to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area, the Dutch Hospital Complex should be easy to spot as it sits right across the World Trade Centre Colombo.

It served as a literal hospital during the Dutch Era to look after the health of the officers. As well as the other staff serving under the Dutch East India Company. Currently, it’s a nicely renovated shopping complex filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, and even a spa. A touristy place but must to include in your Colombo City Tour 🙂

Anyway, a few minutes after our tourguide Sujith (an ex-banker) arrived. That day there was only this Aussie guy and I on the tour so we promptly started. Now before we hopped on our Colombo by Tuktuk, Sujith huddled us inside the shopping centre’s courtyard for some tips and quick history about Sri Lanka. Which I honestly appreciated because: 1. I’m a big history fan and 2. I like to know the story behind the places I visit.

Reminds you of some famous building? Town Hall Colombo

Now I don’t want to bore you with all the details. And besides, that’s what the internet is for, right? Only some important historic points about Sri Lanka:

The island nation is made of several ethnic groups, with the Sinhalese making up 74.9% of the population (22.8 Million), mostly Buddhists. Followed by the Tamils at 11.1%, who are confined to only a handful of areas in the north and east of the country.
Their civil war just ended in 2009, after 30 long years.
Sri Lanka was under the rule of three (3) empires: Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Thus the influence in infrastructure, culture, and language.

Entrance of Sri Kailawasanathan Temple

Best Day Ever!!! Colombo by Tuktuk

Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil (1st stop)

Also called Kovil Veediya, this is the oldest and one of the largest Hindu temples in Colombo. Soon as we stepped out the temple, Sujith asked that we take off our footwear and leave them in the designate ‘locker’ area by the temple gate.

Walking towards the main entrance, Sujith gave us a quick history about Hinduism and the temple itself. The temple has been around for over two centuries and is dedicated to the gods Ganesha and Shiva. I loved the fact that everything was hand carved, including the intricate beams located inside.

Which leads me to 2 quick trivias!

Trivia 1: Did you know Kovil Veediya has 6 openings in its main gate? Each representing the Chakras, with enlightenment being the last?

Trivia 2: did you also know that the Hindus have 33-330 Million Gods in their religion?

Just look at all that detail! Can you believe that’s all hand craved?

To pay respect, we had to cleanse our feet with water before entering the temple. Once inside, I couldn’t help but marvel at how mystifying the whole place was. It was dim, sacred, holy. People were praying on all corners, giving thanks and praise, offering prayers and intentions. It was all surreal.

Wolvendaal Church

Wolvendaal Church (2nd Stop)

Next stop on our Colombo city tour was one of the most important Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka, the Wolvendaal Church (Wolvendaalse Kerk). Founded in 1749, it’s one of the oldest Prostestant churches still in use in Sri Lanka today.

One interesting feature of the church is that it’s actually built on top of a cemetery. Creepy yet very interesting at the same time! There are three (3) masses heard in Wolvendaal every Sunday in Wolvendaal. One in Tamil, another in Singhalese, and the last in English.

Walking the busy streets of Pettah Market

Pettah Market (3rd Stop)

Although brief, I highly enjoyed passing through the busy streets of Pettah Market. The place was noisy, sprawling, brimming with fresh produce and unique commodities.

Snacks at Pettah Market

It was all too exciting for me (more on the area soon)! It was a hot, humid day so being served a King Coconut for a drink was so refreshing!

Tip: Be on the lookout for the famous Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque or the Red Mosque just along the main road!

Gangaramaya Temple

Gangaramaya Temple (4th Stop)

Not to miss in your Colombo by Tuktuk tour is Gangaramaya Temple. The Buddhist temple stands as one of the most important landmarks in Sri Lanka.

Precisely because it’s a beautiful mix of modern architecture and religious significance. And second, because it contains a larger collection of Buddhist statues from Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and China.

Trivia 3: Gangaramaya Temple features the smallest Buddhist statue in the world. It measures just 3mm, made of gold, encased glass. Can somebody please pass the magnifying glass?

Independence Hall of Colombo

Independence Memorial Hall (Last Stop)

Completed in 1953, Colombo’s Independence Memorial Hall is a national monument built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule on February 4, 1948. Currently, the Hall serves as a venue for Independence Day celebrations and other national events. Otherwise, the open spaces also cater to the needs of fitness enthusiasts and other relevant activities.

End Notes on Colombo by Tuktuk by Urban Adventures

The Colombo city tour should last for around 3.5 to 4 hours. And should take you to at least 5-6 places for the day. Mostly historic and religious landmarks around Colombo. What I enjoyed most that Sujith was polite, on time, and very knowledgeable. I had a lot of questions along the way. And he happily answered them best way he could.

Should you have a specific itinerary in mind, Colombo Urban Adventures can do that too. They can also create bespoke tours especially made for you. Perfect for a private Colombo city tour with family and friends. (I even read some tours had food infused in them.)

All in all, I think Colombo by Tuktuk by Urban Adventures is a great way to see Sri Lanka’s capital city. It’s quick, fun, and hassle-free! And after all, there’s nothing like seeing a new place through the eyes of a local, right?

CONTACT

Colombo by Tuktuk

For Colombo City Tour Bookings: Website | Facebook | Instagram

HungryTravelDuo

Two hungry bestfriends looking for their next adventure. 🙂 We do travel x food x lifestyle features.
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August 1, 2018 0 comment

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2nd stop: Franny’s Farm

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2nd Stop: Blind Pig, Lexington Ave., Asheville, NC

3rd Stop: Mountain Madre, 13 Walnut St., Asheville, NC

4th Stop: Blue Curry Dream House, 81 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC

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Going to Tuk Tuk Safari Galle

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Why take Tuk Tuk Safari?

For Tuktuk Safari Bookings:

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