My love for Asian food goes way back, but moving to London and having Chinatown with authentic Asian cuisine right on my doorstep has made my heart grow even fonder. Dumplings, sticky rice, buns... I could eat them every day! Unfortunately, I haven't managed to sample all Chinatown offerings just yet (although I'm trying), but I've been around frequently enough to already have some favourites.

Azijska hrana mi je bila že od nekdaj všeč, odkar živim v Londonu, kjer imam avtentično azijsko kulinariko v londonski kitajski četrti takorekoč za vogalom, pa jo naravnost obožujem. Kitajski 'žlikrofi', polnjen lotosov list z rižem in mesnim nadevom, topli kruhki, rezanci... samo pišem pa se mi že cedijo sline! Na žalost mi vseh restavracij in trgovinic še ni uspelo obiskati (delam na tem), vendar sem jih preizkusila dovolj, da imam že nekaj svojih najljubših kotičkov. 



Dumplings' Legend is where my love for dumplings was first born, so I might be a bit biased, but that doesn't mean their food isn't tasty - I've been to the restaurant countless of times and have never had a bad meal. Their menu is extensive, including meat, seafood, rice and noodle dishes, but the stars of the show are definitely their soup dumplings (xiao long bau), which are prepared from scratch in-house - you can even watch them being made. The feel of the restaurant is quite touristy I have to say,  with tables almost too close together and a rather rushed service, but if you're looking for a good all-rounder food-wise, it's a good place to go for a quick lunch. Dumplings, of course, are a must-try!

V Dumplings' Legend sem se prvič zaljubila v kitajske žlikrofe, zato sem mogoče malo pristranska, to pa niti slučajno ne pomeni, da njihova hrana ni okusna. Restavracijo sem obiskala res že neštetokrat in niti enkrat nisem odšla razočarana. Na jedilnem listu se najde vse možno, od mesnih, morskih in riževih jedi do klasičnih rezancev, izstopajo pa njihovi sveže pripravljeni jušni žlikrofi (soup dumplings/xiao long bau). Res so božanski, pa še opazuješ lahko, kako jih delajo - v živo. Restavracija sama je precej turistično naravana, z mizami skoraj pretesno skupaj in na trenutke malce 'sunkovito' postrežbo (na splošno je postrežba v tukajšnjih kitajskih restavracijah bolj na horuk), vendar dobra izbira za hitro kosilo z vidika raznovrstne ponudbe.


Orient London is my latest discovery, but one I'll definitely be visiting regularly. The modern decor and a classier vibe make it the perfect place to go for what you'd call a nicer meal, and their dim sum is on another level. In-cre-di-ble. Some of my favourite dishes from the menu include baked mini roast pork buns, caviar shanghai dumplings, thai style squid cakes and glutinous rice in lotus leaves. Their dim sum is unfortunately only available during lunch time, but if you're stopping by for dinner, fear not, they have plenty of other things on the menu that didn't look half bad either. Yes, guilty as charged - I was totally checking out other people's plates.

Orient London je moje najnovejše odkritje, ampak imam občutek, da bo restavracija kmalu postala moja stalnica. Prepričali so me modernejši dizajn, bolj sproščeno vzdušje in njihov dim sum - najboljši kar sem jih jedla. Moje najljubše poslastice z menija so pečene štručke s svinjinskim nadevom (baked mini roast pork buns), šanghajski žlikrofi s kaviarjem (caviar shanghai dumplings), ocvrte tajske lignjeve tortice (thai style squid cakes) in lepljiv riž v lotosovem listu (glutinous rice in lotus leaves). Njihov dim sum je na žalost na voljo samo za kosilo, ampak mislim, da vas tudi pestra večerna ponudba ne bi smela razočarati. Ko sem vrgla uč na ostale krožnike, je vse zgledalo zelo vabljivo. 

Next are bakeries, where I go for my proper carb fix. Asian savoury buns and sweet treats are, believe it or not, a lot more similar to the Slovenian soft, buttery pastry and moist cakes than the British counterparts, which I often find too dry and covered in yucky icing sugar rather than delicious cream. I normally stop at either Chinatown Bakery or Bake - they're both oozing with mouth-watering goodies! One thing that sets Bake apart, though, is the Japanese Taiyaki ice-cream - that vanilla or green tea flavoured swirl in the cutest fish cone you can see all over Instagram. Tried and tested, I have to say it isn't just a pretty face, but a taste bud pleaser too; however, a note of caution - it melts like no other. Make sure you have a pack of wet tissues in your bag!

Obiska vredne so tudi njihove valilnice pregrešnih ogljikovih hidratov - pekarne. Raj (pa tudi pekel, če pomislim na kalorije) za kruhovce kot sem jaz! Azijsko slano pecivo in slaščice so, verjamete ali ne, veliko bolj podobne našim slovenskim kot pa njihove angleške verzije, ki so meni ponavadi presuhe in preveč obložene s sladkorno glazuro. Jaz še vedno prisegam na 'žonftne' tortice s sladko smetano. No, nima veze. Pekarni, v katerih se ponavadi ustavim, sta Chinatown Bakery in Bake. Obe se ponašata z bombetkami, ki se kar topijo v tvojih ustih, medtem ko ima Bake na voljo še en dodaten slasten prigrizek - sladoled z okusom vanilije ali zelenega čaja v japonskem Taiyaki kornetu v obliki ribe. Brez skrbi, okusa po ribi na srečo nima. Sladoled in kornet nista samo fotogenična ampak tudi zelo okusna, edino paket vlažilnih robčkov moraš imeti nujno s sabo, ker se topi s svetlobno hitrostjo. 

Entering an Asian supermarket in Chinatown is like entering another world - it always makes me feel like I've teleported myself to Southeast Asia. Frozen dumplings and cute-looking desserts is what I personally normally stock up on, but they sell everything from tropical fruits, veggies I've never even heard of, a hundred types of noodles, Asian sauces, frozen everything... the sky is the limit! I have to admit I'm not an expert on Asian supermarkets, but my flatmate says SeeWoo is the best on the block.

Vedno ko vstopim v azijski supermarket, se mi zdi, kot da sem se znašla v nekem drugem svetu, sredi tržnice na jugovzhodu Azije. Zmrznjeni kitajski oziroma korejski žlikrofi in lušne slaščice v obliki medvedkov in ne vem še česa vse se največkrat znajdejo v moji nakupovalni košarici, prodajajo pa drugače vse od tropskega sadja in meni neznane zelenjave do milijon vrst rezancev, azijskih omak... kar hočeš, res. Moram priznati, da nisem nek hud ekspert kar se tiče azijskih proizvodov, ker si azijsko hrano redko pripravljam sama doma, moja cimra, ki se na te zadeve res spozna, pa najbolj priporoča supermarket SeeWoo. 

I also have to mention the touristy 'all you can eat' buffet restaurants. Sure, most people frown upon them, but sometimes you just want to stuff your belly with cheap, greasy Chinese, am I right? Especially if you're visiting London on a budget. The one I always end up in (because it seems to have the biggest selection of dishes for £10.95) is MW Buffet on Shaftesbury Avenue, but there's also a cheaper, £7.95 option on Wardour Street.

Čeprav se veliko ljudi nad njimi zmrduje, moram omeniti tudi samopostrežne 'all you can eat' azisjke restavracije. Včasih si pač zaželiš mastne hrane na kubik, pa še dokaj poceni prideš skozi, če obiskuješ London z bolj praznimi žepi. Sama grem vedno v MW Buffet na Shaftesbury Avenue, ker se mi zdi, da imajo za £10.95 največjo ponudbo, obstaja pa tudi cenejša opcija za £7.95 na Wardour Street.

To finish of the list, here's some honorary mentions of places I personally haven't tested out (yet), but come highly recommended by my friends. For fans of matcha latte, Tsujiri Matcha House apparently makes the best one; Chatime make great bubble tea; the shop called P2bus is the place to be for lovers of Korean and Japanese cosmetics; and Bubblewrap Waffle is where you can find the instagrammable bubble waffles.

Za zaključek bi omenila še nekaj kotičkov, ki jih sicer sama še nisem preizkusila, vendar so mi jih priporočili lokalni prijatelji. Za ljubitelje matcha latte je Tsujiri Matcha House baje najboljša izbira; Chatime pripravljajo okusen bubble tea (čaj s tapioka kroglicami); trgovina P2bus je raj za ljubitelje japonske in korejske kozmetike (ki jo, mimogrede, dobiš tudi v tule v Sloveniji); Bubblewrap Waffle pa je najnovejša vroča točka, saj tam prodajajo bubble vaflje, ki so preplavili Instagram.

I don't often return to places I've already visited, no matter how much I love them and wish to go back. I want to see as much of our beautiful planet and experience as many cultures as possible, so revisiting the same spots over and over again is something I generally try to avoid. But every now and again, I stumble upon a place that sweeps me off my feet and a great love affair is unavoidable. Before I moved here, London used to be that place for me - Australia would be up there too if the distance wasn't such a hurdle - but now Amsterdam has taken the number one spot. My favourite thing about it is how small but diverse it is. There's far more to it than just the famous canals and the notorious Red Light District. One of the lesser-known areas worth checking out is definitely Amsterdam-Noord, a hip uptown district on the other side of the river. What used to be an industrial part of the city is now a super cool creative hub, so if you have a day to spare, hop on a free 5-minute ferry from the central station and get exploring!

Ponavadi se redko odločim za ponoven obisk mest, ki sem jih že obiskala, tudi če so mi neizmerno všeč. Veliko raje raziskujem meni še nepoznane kotičke sveta, vsake toliko časa pa vendarle naletim na kraj, ki me kar kliče, da ga spet obiščem. Preden sem se sem preselila, je bil to London (mimogrede, tudi Avstralija bi bila na seznamu, če ne bi bila tako daleč), pred kratkim pa se je na prvo mesto zavihtel Amsterdam. To razmeroma majhno ampak raznoliko mesto je popolnoma osvojilo moje srce. Letos sem se tja odpravila že dvakrat, nazadnje pred mesecem dni, in že načrtujem ponoven pobeg. Amsterdam namreč ponuja veliko več kot le slikovite ulice ob kanalih in pestro nočno življenje z razvpito rdečo četrtjo. Eden izmed manj poznanih predelov na drugi strani reke je Amsterdam-Noord, ki je bil v preteklosti prežet z industrijo, danes pa predstavlja super kul središče kreative in trajnostnih  projektov. Do tja se lahko zastonj zapelješ s pet minutnim trajektkom izpred centralne postaje in si ga s pomočjo mojih nasvetov spodaj do potankoma ogledaš v enem dnevu. 

First head over to the A'DAM Tower for an amazing 360 view of the city. A ticket to the A'DAM Lookout will cost you €12,50 and give you access to the two-level observation deck - the bottom floor is an indoor restaurant and the upper a super cool open sky deck with bean bags you can chill out on as well as a 'death swing' that lets you swing over the edge of the building for extra €5. Oh, and the elevator ride to the top is quite an experience too. In a good way! Click here to see what I'm taking about.

Začni z obiskom A'DAM Tower, ene izmed višjih stavb, ki ponuja čudovit razgled nad mestom. Vstopnica za €12,50 ti ponuja vstop na panoramsko ploščad v dveh nivojih - v spodnjem zastekljenem nadstropju lahko tudi nekaj poješ in popiješ, v zgornjem odprtem delu pa lahko uživaš v razgledu medtem ko počivaš na vreči za sedenje, ali pa se za dodatnih €5 podaš na 'gugalnico smrti', ki te ponese čez rob stavbe. Mogoče ne najboljša izbira za akrofobike, ampak prisežem, da ni tako grozno, kot se sliši. Zanimiva (ampak čisto nič strašna) pa je tudi sama vožna z dvigalom do vrha. O čem govorim, si lahko ogledaš tule. 

Then, once you're full of adrenaline rush, it's time to relax. A boat tour of the canals with Pure Boats, a sustainable boutique tour company, is the perfect way to unwind - I couldn't recommend them enough. Joining James and Geertje for a tailored 90-minute ride to get to know Amsterdam from another perspective was by far my favourite part of my day in Amsterdam Noord. It was so different from the usual tourist offerings where they sit you on a big boat and tell you historical facts you can read in every guidebook over the speaker. It was more like having your local friends show you around while having a good old chat, and we all know that's the best way to explore a new place. Not to mention the boat is super nice and you can even try out some beverages and snacks from local suppliers on board too! I may or may not have had gin at 10 o'clock in the morning... To rent a whole boat (captain included), which sits 12 people, it will cost you €250, but you can obviously go with friends or pair up with other explorers, in which case it works out €20 for each. Not bad, not bad at all!

Po adrenalinski izkušnji pa prija malo sprostitve... Na primer ogled mesta in njegovih kanalov z ladjico! Namesto tipično turističnega ogleda, kjer se ti iz zvočnikov predvaja vnaprej posneta kaseta (no, verjetno kakšna mp3 datoteka v današnjih časih) z zgodovinskimi dejstvi, ki si jih lahko prebereš v vsakem potovalnem vodiču, preveri ponudbo Pure Boats, butičnega podjetja s trajnostno vizijo in persionaliziranim pristopom za katerim stojita simpatična James in Geertje. Sama sem bila z njima na njuni 90 minutni vožnji in uživala na polno. Počutila sem se, kot da se družim z lokalnima prijateljema in s prve roke izvedela veliko zanimivosti o življenju v Amsterdamu, kar je meni osebno najboljši način spoznavanja kultur in odkrivanja novih mest. Električni čoln, ki sta ga zasnovala sama, je izredno lep in udoben, da se počutiš še bolj dobrodošlo pa poskrbita s ponudbo lokalnih prigrizkov in pijače. Kako zelo sem se sprostila ti lahko pove informacija, da sem prvič (in verjetno tudi zadnjič) v življenju pila gin - ob desetih zjutraj, haha. Najem celotne ladjice s kapitanom vred stane €250 oziroma €20 na glavo, če se ti priduži še 11 sopotnikov (ladjica sprejme 12 ljudi).

Next you can stretch your legs and hop on a bike to continue exploring Amsterdam like a proper local! You can rent one at TIP Noord - I of course picked up a mint one - and have a ride around the area, admiring the cute little houses, checking out De Krijtmolen d'Admiraal windmill, and stopping at De Ceuvel Cafe for a delicious, organic vegan lunch. De Ceuvel is actually more than just a place to stop for lunch. It's an urban development built on a former shipyard with spaces for creative entrepreneurs to work at, organise workshops and help build a more sustainable community, which is a movement I definitely stand behind.

Da si po vožnji z ladjico pretegneš noge, si lahko pri TIP Noord sposodiš kolo - jaz sem si ga izbrala v mint barvi, kaj pa drugega - in se odpraviš na 'kopenski' ogled mesta v stilu lokalcev. Ogledaš si lahko soseske s prisrčno nizozemsko arhitekturo, zapelješ do mlina De Krijtmolen d'Admiraal in se ustaviš na kosilu v De Ceuvel Cafe s pestro in zelo okusno izbiro organskih veganskih prigrizkov. De Ceuvel drugače ni samo restavracija, ampak urbani prostor na območju bivše ladjedelnice, kjer kreativni podjetniki organizirajo različne dogodke za spodbujanje trajnostnega razvoja skupnosti. Super zadeva!

While in Amsterdam Noord, you also have to swing by a former ship wharf called NDSM, which is now a hipster, creative hub with Berlin kind of vibes. There's empty warehouses, amazing street art every way you look, a crane that was transformed an exclusive hotel and another sustainable cafe to check out - Pllek. It's a really cool spot I already visited on my first trip to Amsterdam, with its own beach on the waterfront and amazing views of the city.

NDSM, bivše pristanišče, je še en predel, ki ga je vredno obiskati. Mene z ulično umetnostjo na vsakem vogalu zelo spominja na Berlin, tam pa najdeš tudi ogromna prazna skladišča; žerjav, ki so ga preuredili v ekskluziven hotel; ter še eno super restavracijo - Pllek, ki sem jo obiskala že med svojim prvim obiskom Amsterdama. Prav tako je trajnostno usmerjena z odlično ponudbo vegetarijasnkih jedi, poleg tega pa ima še čisto pravo peščeno plažo s pogledom na mesto. 

To finish off the day, you can dance the night away in one of the many nightclubs, but since I'm a bit of a granny myself and tend to avoid them, I made another trip to the A'DAM Tower for the amazing night views (just look at that moon) and then spent the rest of the night at Clink NOORD, the best place to stay on this side of the river. They have their own bar with music as well as fun activities planned every night of the week, so you won't be missing out on any fun! To find out more about the hostel, check out my full review over here.

Zaključek dneva si lahko popestriš z obiskom enega izmed nočnih lokalov, ker pa sem sama bolj nežurerske sorte, sem se namesto žuranja odločila za ponoven obisk A'DAM Tower in naredila še nekaj nočnih posnetkov, preden sem se odpravila nazaj v Clink NOORD, najboljši hostel v Amsterdamu, kjer mi ni bilo prav nič dolgčas. Imajo namreč svoj bar z (živo) glasbo, poleg tega pa vsak večer organizirajo tudi zabavne aktivnosti, od karaok in filmskih večerov do kvizev in beer ponga. Več o samem hostlu na tej povezavi, kjer te čaka moja celostna ocena.

Sri Lanka may not be the world's number one shopping destination, but there's definitely a few items you need to stock up on while visiting this Indian Ocean paradise. Typical souvenirs and scarves they try to sell you on every single corner aside, the island is just bursting with natural treasures waiting for you to buy and enjoy.

TEA

Let's start with the most obvious one - tea. In case you didn't know, Sri Lanka is one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of tea. Its Ceylon Tea is supposed to be the best in the world, and while I can't say I'm a tea expert, I can assure you it really is something else. I normally drink only herbal or fruit tea - which shouldn't even be called tea, as I have learned - but when I tried 'the real one' in Sri Lanka, I was sold immediately and even took some silver tips (white tea) home with me. Silver tips, along with golden tips, is unblended tea of the best quality, but does come with a hefty price tag. If you're not prepared to splurge, I suggest you to look out for cheaper options instead. Green tea and the tea marked as BOP are your best bets in this case. Others are either blended or not of the best quality, and end up in teabags we normally buy in grocery stores across the world. BOP can be found neatly packaged even in regular and souvenir shops, unlike the other three, which are easier to come by in tea factories. I bought mine at the Geragama Tea Factory.

SPICES & OILS

Sri Lanka is also a home to many plants that spices and oils are made from. The most popular produce include coconut, pepper, cardamom, vanilla and cinnamon. The Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is considered 'true cinnamon', unlike Cinnamomum cassia, which is usually sold in our stores. Are you noticing a pattern here? So yes, cinnamon is the one to stock up on for sure. We didn't buy any, as we still have some left from Bali, but we did buy quite a few 100% natural products. All of them are an integral part of Ayurveda, their holistic medicine. I went for Sandalwood oil and cream to sort out my skin, while my mom went a bit crazy and bought the whole store. Jokes aside, I don't remember all the things she bought, but can recall her buying pepper toothpaste and cinnamon oil, which is supposed to be good for circulation. 

PRECIOUS JEWELLERY

If you like sparkly jewellery, then Sri Lanka is the place to be. And shop. If you have the big bucks. They have an abundance of precious stones, from topaz and moonstones to rubies and the blue sapphire, the king of Sri Lankan gems. Just make sure you do tons of research on where it's safe to buy them, otherwise you might be tricked into buying fakes. Oh, and don't forget to bargain. It's totally acceptable even in proper shops.

P.S. In case you're interested in what I brought home from Sri Lanka myself, you're more than welcome to give this haul of mine I posted on my YouTube channel a watch. And don't forget to follow me here on Instagram for some amazing shots from Sri Lanka if I can say so myself.