Peonies of Luoyang
Flowers are huge in Chinese culture. The city of Luoyang 洛阳 is famous for peonies (mǔdān, 牡丹). I went there in April a few years ago, when the flowers are in bloom and when many events and expos are held in the city’s numerous botanical …
Checkpoint Hebron
The red X above our heads lighted on as another person passed the full height metal turnstile. The woman with a child in her arms pushed the revolving bars and presented her ID to the soldier. I’m next so I prepare my backpack for the …
Cradle of K-tea
The year is 828. Kim Daeryeom, a royal envoy to the Tang Empire, comes back from China with tea seeds. By a decree of King Heugdeok of Silla, he plants them on the slopes of Hwagae Valley in Jiri Mountains. Nearly twelve centuries pass. Kasper, …
Temple ferments
I’ve been in Korea for one month already, but boy was it a quiet month. The last few weeks were spent on licking wounds and reshuffling all the notes and jpegs amassed during the previous few months of fanatically intense Eurasian travels. I did some …
Bethlehem essentials
A handful of photos from Bethlehem, Palestine. Some with commentary. Have a nice walk. The immortal combo of coffee and cardamom – the smell of the Middle East! Broad beans are another regional favorite. To beer or not to beer? Haram or halal? While the …
Jerusalem essentials
Simply put, Jerusalem is one of the most interesting cities of our planet. The incredibly rich and complex history, the endless number of beautiful buildings and the terrific eclectic cuisine… I will let the photos speak for themselves, just occasionally throwing in a sentence or …
Hainan: foodie reconnaissance
A large island on the South China Sea, just slightly off China’s southern coast ––– Hainan. Not only is this the geographically southernmost part of the Middle Kingdom, it is also culturally tied to other southerly southern areas of South China: historical links to Fujian …
Trogir
I arrived to Trogir with three objectives: seeing the old town, eating pašticada and eating rafioli. Just look at those tender pieces of beef in dark, rich, sweet and sour sauce, served with gnocchi (njoki). Pašticada is a trademark Dalmatian dish – or, better said, …
Korčula
Korčula is a picture-perfect town built on a promontory that shoots off the namesake island on the Adriatic. Narrow stepped streets laid with stone form a monolith with the handsome late medieval buildings, towers and city walls. Rich architectural details attest their history. But just …
Liuzhou 柳州
Every Chinese city boasts with pride about its cuisine. Some go next level and build food museums. Liǔzhōu 柳州 has three. But even aside these establishments, this city has one pivotal magnet for foodies – a dish that single-handedly immortalizes Liuzhou in gourmet minds: snail …
