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Best street food in Chicago

Chicago is rightly known as a food city, but street food can be a hard thing to find. Until recently, food trucks were all but outlawed in the city, and strict regulations made even food carts a rare sight. Things are finally changing and the street food culture is thriving again in Chicago. Here are the six best places for a quick and delicious meal on the streets of Chicago.

1. Chicago food trucks around The Loop

Une publication partagée par Firecakes Donuts (@firecakes) le 2 Août 2018 à 6 :10 PDT

Until fairly recently, food trucks were almost nonexistent in Chicago. These days, luckily, there are some really great trucks dishing up tacos, empanadas, doughnuts, grilled cheese, Korean, sandwiches, Cajun, etc. The majority of trucks tend to congregate around the Loop area for lunch during the week. Check out the map tool on Roaming Hunger to find exactly where different food trucks are or are scheduled to be tomorrow.

2. Maxwell Street Polish at Jim’s Original

Une publication partagée par Infatuation Chicago (@infatuation_chi) le 1 Juil. 2017 à 12 :02 PDT

The Maxwell Street Market was a huge open-air flea market where Chicagoans came together to buy and sell just about anything under the sun. The market was the birthplace of the Polish sausage, served Maxwell Street-style on a bun with yellow mustard, grilled onions, and optional sport peppers to add a little heat. In 1994, most of the market closed to make way for an expansion of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today you can get the best Maxwell Street Polish by the original market at Jim’s Original at 1250 S. Union Avenue.

3. Puerto Rican food in Humboldt Park

Une publication partagée par Taste Of Cuba Cafe (@tasteofcubacafe) le 29 Juil. 2018 à 6 :20 PDT

Humboldt Park is a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood that is gentrifying quickly. The huge park in the center of the neighborhood has some of the city’s oldest food trucks. The trucks serve up Puerto Rican specialties, such as morcilla (delicious blood sausage), arroz con gandules (yellow rice with pigeon peas), and lechon (roast pork). Also be sure to try jibaritos, an eccentric sandwich that uses smashed and fried plantains instead of bread.

4. Chicago-style hot dog at Relish

Une publication partagée par Hello (@chosteofm) le 25 Juil. 2018 à 5 :39 PDT

The hot dog is the ubiquitous, on-the-go street food for a lot of places, but Chicago does them better than anywhere else. Unfortunately, because of strict laws, there are no hot dog carts on the street corner. One exception to the licensing laws is city parks where hot dog carts and stands are allowed to serve up their delicious specialty. If you’re around the Millennium Park area and looking for your hot dog fix, head to Relish at 203 S. Michigan Avenue, across from the Art Institute.

5. Elotes in the park

Une publication partagée par Tasting Table (@tastingtable) le 7 Juil. 2018 à 12 :31 PDT

A classic Chicago street food, elotes are Mexican-style corn on the cob. The men who sell them are called eloteros, and you’ll see them pushing their carts around and dishing up their corny goodness. Elotes are usually served with some combination of butter, mayonnaise, cheese (often from a can), salt, and chili powder. If you don’t think that sounds good, think again. It’s amazing. They also serve delicious mangos, cut up and hit with lime juice, a little salt, and chili powder. You’ll generally find eloteros in Latino neighborhoods like Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Pilsen, and along Clark Street in Rogers Park. Within those neighborhoods, parks are usually the best place to look.

6. The Tamale Guy at the bar

Une publication partagée par Des Voigne Cellars & Brewing (@desvoignecellarsbrewing) le 5 Avril 2017 à 12 :52 PDT

The Tamale Guy is a Chicago legend who, every night, makes his way around Chicago’s bars serving up delicious Mexican-style tamales. In reality, there are a few different tamale guys. Some say Claudio is the original, and you can identify him by his red Igloo cooler full of steaming hot tamales. The tamales have a filling of either pork, chicken, or cheese and are packed in with cornmeal and lard, then wrapped in corn husks and steamed. One order is very filling and they come with homemade salsa verde or salsa roja. The best way to find the Tamale Guy is to just sit in one bar and wait for him (although there is a Tamale Tracker) on Twitter. The whole thing is brilliant in an illegal, underground economy sort of way. The Tamale Guys only go to bars that aren’t serving food, and most bars don’t mind since the spicy, salty, and savory tamales can only help beer sales.


More like this: The 6 best outdoor bars in Chicago

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Things Philadelphians do better

Philadelphians have heightened powers. We may not be able to fly or become invisible, but we sure have some unique talents. From being able to party on the cheap to creatively fixing a problem, here are eight superpowers you have if you’re from Philly.

1. Expressiveness

You never have to guess where you stand with a Philadelphian. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. Elation. Disappointment. Everything in between. You’ll see it written across our faces.

2. Honesty

And if you couldn’t tell by the look on our faces, we will shortly follow that up with an airing of our grievances. We aren’t known for booing for nothin’. At first, this might come off as abrasive but trust us, in the long run, you’ll come to appreciate it.

3. Creative problem solving

Necessity is the mother of all invention and man, we have invented a lot in Philly. Can’t find parking in the tight streets of South Philadelphia? Park in the middle of Broad Street. Don’t have access to the pool on hot summer days? Make one out of a garbage dumpster. Can’t make it to the beach? We build our own in the back garden. The solutions may not all be legal, but I challenge you to come up with a problem that Philadelphians can’t solve.

4. Owning Cowboys fans in five seconds flat.

“Oh, you’re a Cowboys fan. When did you live in Texas? I’ll wait. Oh, never? When’s the last time they won a Super Bowl?” End scene. Drop the mic.

5. Hometown pride

Philadelphians are fiercely proud of their city and their neighborhoods. If you can’t answer the question, “Where did you go to high school?” satisfactorily, then you’re not truly from here.

6. Expressing an entire thought using a single word.

That word is “jawn.” It should be included in English books as a an alternative for any object, place, or thing.

7. Getting drunk for cheap.

Two words: Citywide Special. Perhaps it’s a byproduct of our state’s insane liquor laws, but we get bang for our boozing buck. $3 gets you a PBR and a shot of Jim Beam at Philly’s finest establishments. Somehow the pairing works perfectly and goes down smoothly — a little too smoothly.

8. Attitude to friendship in 60 seconds

If you do something we don’t like, we’ll tell you about it. Then it’s over. If you’re real with us, we’re good to you. That’s when you find what an affable lot we truly are. We’re a small town of 1.5 million people and we make friends wherever we go, whether it’s with a neighbor, at a bar, or someone we see on our commute.


More like this: How to piss off a Philadelphian

The post 8 superpowers you have if you’re from Philadelphia appeared first on Matador Network.

Dubai detains British tourist

Ellie Holman, a British dentist traveling to Dubai with her four-year-old daughter, was arrested for accepting a free drink on her Emirates flight. It might sound like entrapment, but it’s actually just the result of Dubai’s incredibly strict laws surrounding alcohol consumption. Upon landing, she was informed that her visa had expired and that she would have to immediately return to England. Reluctant to board yet another long flight with her young daughter, she pushed back against the request, and sensing hostility, the officer asked if she had been drinking. “Yes, I had a glass of wine on the flight,” she said, according to The Sun, “Given to me free by Emirates Airline staff.”

In Dubai, that admission was tantamount to confessing a crime. Since public drunkenness is illegal in the UAE — and the officer apparently believed Holman to be drunk — she was swarmed by police and taken to a cell, her passport confiscated. Holman claims that she and her daughter were not allowed water, food, or even use of a bathroom for two hours. “My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor,” she said. “I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell.” Guards also removed Holman’s earrings and tried to tear out her hair extensions. In conditions reminiscent of an interrogation chamber, lights were left on all night, making it very difficult to sleep.

When Holman’s partner, Gary, heard that they had been detained, he flew to Dubai and bailed them out of jail. The whole ordeal, however, has cost her $38,000 (£30,000) in legal fees, expenses, and missed work. Her passport remains confiscated, and she is stuck in Dubai until her case is settled, which may take up to a year.

“My practice is gone,” she said. “All our savings have gone.”

Bibi, her daughter, has been allowed to fly back to the UK with her father while Holman awaits the outcome of her case.

But don’t let this story scare you away from ever taking a sip of alcohol in Dubai. Drinking is not illegal; it’s simply limited to certain venues, like bars, restaurants, and hotels. What is illegal is possessing alcohol or being drunk in public. However unjustified, that’s where Holman ran into trouble. According to the UK government’s advice for travelers, it’s common for visitors to be arrested under this law, “often in cases where they have come to the attention of the police for a related offense or matter, such as disorderly or offensive behavior.”

So, if you do drink on an Emirates flight, make sure you keep it together on the ground, listen to the officer, and don’t mention the free wine.

H/T: The Sun

More like this: Why Dubai is the best trip to dip your toes in Arab culture

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7 things to do in Arlington, TX

Arlington, Texas, is upping its game so fast it’s not even fair to limit this list to just seven suggestions. This not-so-little patch between Dallas and Forth Worth has done an about-face in the past few decades, no longer playing shadow games with its two big siblings. Even we locals can barely keep up.

But we certainly try. There’s craft beer galore, a whole new district to explore, classes in coffee, and hunts for rare mushrooms. And that’s just right now — read quickly, before even more ideas pop up.

1. Scoping out the Urban Union District

Right now, as we speak, a string of huge former auto shops are being reimagined as Arlington’s newest downtown destination: the Urban Union District. The businesses that have moved into the area, like Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery, Legal Draft Beer Co., and 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge, are all keeping this in mind, and the “repurposed” look is definitely a theme. Who knew used car lots could be so good for craft beer, music, and tacos?

Be sure to visit when the monthly Urban Traders Market is happening, bringing together all kinds of uber-talented local artisans selling whatever they make by hand: clothing, jewelry, home decor, upcycled furniture, stationery, pet gear, leather goods…the whole shebang. Right now it’s all anchored by Legal Draft Beer Co., but Urban Union will ultimately be a three-phase, 100,000-square-foot district of restaurants, shops, and breweries, perhaps the hippest place in an increasingly hip city.

2. Hiking River Legacy (for the elusive hissing mushroom)

Photo: River Legacy

There are city parks, and then there are Arlington city parks. The River Legacy Foundation, for example, protects more than 1,000 acres of forest floodplain that follows the curves and bends of the Trinity River. There are eight miles of paved hiking trails and 10 miles of mountain bike trails that wind through the wildlife-filled forest and greenbelt, plus other essential amenities like picnic areas, a canoe launch, covered pavilions, and playgrounds.

But perhaps River Legacy’s best-kept secret? The mushroom hunting. In fall, you can search for a unique hissing mushroom that’s so rare, it’s only been found in Texas and southern Japan. This three-inch fungi is called the Devil’s Cigar (aka Texas Star) for the smoke-like cloud of spores that rises from its surface, accompanied by an audible hiss. It’s pretty unmistakable.

But whether you find one or not, head to the River Legacy Living Science Center afterward and check out the terrariums and aquariums full of native-to-Arlington creatures. They also put on classes, and inside is the Acorns Gift Shop.

3. Attending a “cupping” at the Texas Coffee School

Photo: Texas Coffee School

If you’re a “but first, coffee” kind of person, get yourself to the next cupping class at the nationally renowned Texas Coffee School in Arlington. (Yeah…now that you know there are coffee schools, you’re gonna have to question your self-ascribed status as coffee guru.)

Coffee cupping, similar to a wine tasting, is an 1.5-hour-long class where you’ll taste the good stuff, learning to evaluate small batch coffees from across the globe. The Texas Coffee School is just like it sounds — a training ground for coffee fans and professionals alike — but it’s also become an entrepreneurial launchpad for those looking to open their own coffee shop. Still, the cupping class is perfect for any coffee fan, no business ambitions necessary.

4. Parking yourself in Section 325 with a Dilly Dog

Photo: Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

Good seats at great prices. State Fair-esque crazy foods. Little men running around throwing balls at 100mph. Whether the Texas Rangers are having a rally year or a rough one is beside the point. Globe Life Park is always jaaaam-packed with fans (and fans of ham fries).

Let’s first tackle the biggest question: Where should you sit? The party crowd will tell you to head for Section 325 or so, where you’ll find a great beer selection and really good food on the upper level. For serious fans, the lower level infield gives you sweet home plate views without Club Level prices. If you’re an out-of-towner catching your local team play the Rangers, check out the low-priced seats in Section 53-54 in front of the visitors’ bullpen.

Wherever you sit, you have to try at least one crazy food while you’re here. Your choices, in order from tamest to weirdest:

Vegan Grande Nachos – a nest of tortilla chips covered with vegetarian chili and cheese, and topped with Beyond Meat “beef” crumbles, a protein-rich vegetarian beef alternative
The Triple B – a brisket sandwich that brought along its crazy friends bacon and bologna, stacked together inside a bun
Ham Fries and Pickle Fries – two different snacks born of the same mad-scientist mentality; basically, they’re ham or pickle spears sliced into long, fry-shaped cuts and deep fried
Cheetos Jalapeño Bacon Dog – a bacon-wrapped frank covered with Cheetos-flavored cheese dip and topped with sliced jalapeños and Cheetos sprinkled on top
The Dilly Dog – a hollowed-out jumbo dill pickle, stuffed with a hot dog and deep fried in batter like a corn dog

Welcome to your new, horizon-broadened life.

5. Planting yourself on the Caves Lounge patio

Photo: Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

Caves Lounge calls itself an unapologetic dive bar, and that’s pretty much spot on. You can often catch a movie on Mondays, play bar trivia on Tuesdays, and hear people wail karaoke on Thursdays. Sit across from the sign that says “DRINK WHAT U LIKE” and do what it says. All this, plus a jukebox (never underestimate the entertainment value of a jukebox).

You’ll just need to choose if you want to hang out in the dim interior that’ll remind you of your favorite college bar, or get out onto the patio, an artsy backyard space that just feels like Texas.

6. Experiencing European racing in the heart of Texas

Photo: K1Speed

Arlington gives racing fans some certifiable hands-on thrills at K1 Speed, an indoor track for all-electric go-kart racing. And no, these aren’t the karts you remember from childhood. K1 Speed’s all-electric European go-karts are capable of reaching a top speed of 45mph in seconds, which you’ll put to the test in head-to-head Arrive and Drive races against up to 11 other (adult) racers.

K1 also has junior karts — for kids between 48 and 58 inches tall — that top out at 20mph. Staff will teach you how to operate the kart and give you all the safety rigmarole you need before you put the pedal to the metal.

7. Getting in on the budding craft brew scene

Photo: Lauren Carter / Legal Draft Beer

It hasn’t been around that long, but Arlington’s craft beer scene is officially legit. The city’s first locally owned and operated brewery, Division Brewing, is lauded for rolling out some of the most unique beers in the Metroplex. There’s also the city’s first high-production brewery, Legal Draft Beer Co. Both opened only in the past three years, so visit now and you can say you knew them when.

Get in on one of Legal’s Donuts & Drafts pairings, or skip straight to the Legal Blonde Lager, the brewery’s most popular (it’s less of a Marilyn, more of a Jackie). Tour the Urban Union District (where Legal is, remember?) and then head over to Division for a Shush ‘n’ Crush on the patio. Just like Arlington as a whole, they’ve been “shushing and crushing” the competition for years. And that’s not set to change anytime soon.

The post 7 awesome things to do in Arlington, TX, that you probably don’t know about appeared first on Matador Network.

7 underrated spots in Southeast Asia

Over the past decade, Southeast Asia has transformed from the off-the-beaten-track gateway for adventure travelers to a tourism hotspot. While destinations like Angkor Wat and Ha Long Bay might attract millions of travelers every year, Southeast Asia still remains home to some of the most underrated and unique spots in the world. From the mythical mountains of Ha Giang in Vietnam to the tropical archipelago of Raja Ampat in Indonesia, here are seven insanely beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia tourists haven’t found out about yet.

1. Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam

Photo: tommyfarling/Shutterstock

A world apart from the crowded streets of Hanoi, the northernmost province of Vietnam, Ha Giang, is commonly referred to as “the last frontier for adventurous travelers in Vietnam.” Unlike most of Southeast Asia, Ha Giang has yet to experience the wrath of mass tourism, but it is slowly beginning to gain popularity among travelers.

Ha Giang shares a border with China and is famous for its conical peaks, extreme cliffs, and valleys that are often shrouded in cloud. The province is also home to many ethnic minority groups, providing travelers with plenty of opportunities to witness Vietnam’s cultural diversity.

Arguably the most impressive scenery in the region is the Ma Pi Leng Pass, which sits at an elevation of 1,500 meters. Another great way to explore Ha Giang is to cover the 320-kilometer-long Ha Giang Loop by motorbike. The tour takes two to four days, and — take note — the roads are narrow and dangerously close to the cliff edges. It is recommended to opt for a bike tour from one of the local companies. You can rent a bike from Mr. Bay Motorbike Rental, Rent a Bike, or Ha Giang Motorbike.

Where to stay: You can start your journey in one of the local hostels, such as Anh Anh Motel or Kiki’s hostel, or you can opt for hotels like the Royal Hotel Ha Giang. Depending on whether or not you book a tour, you may also have the chance to stay in various homestays along the way.

How to get there: There are several direct buses from Hanoi to Ha Giang. The buses leave from the Mi Dinh bus station in Hanoi and take about seven to eight hours, including breaks.

When to go: From early October to late April is the dry season in Ha Giang, which is considered the best time to visit.

2. Baliem Valley, West Papua, Indonesia

Photo: GUDKOV ANDREY/Shutterstock

Baliem Valley is located in West Papua, Indonesia, and home to the Dani tribes. Unlike a lot of Indonesia, the region has remained somewhat isolated from modernity, and hiking to the remote villages provides visitors unique opportunities to witness the lifestyles of the local tribes, not to mention the stunning scenery of Baliem Valley.

Today, there are several tour agencies that offer three- to six-day treks, with food and accommodation around Southern Baliem Valley. But if you don’t want to go deep into the mountains, you can base yourself in the town of Wamena and opt for day trips to close by villages like the Jwinka village.

Where to stay: Finding accommodation here is a challenge unless you opt for a group tour from a travel agency. The best accommodation is the Baliem Valley Resort, which is often booked months in advance, especially during the Baliem Valley Festival in August. The majority of the hotels in the area do not have an online presence, so you may need to contact a local English-speaking guide and request help in booking your accommodation before your arrival.

How to get there: Find flights from Jakarta/Bali — Jayapura — Wamena.

When to go: If you want to witness the Baliem Valley Festival, visit in August and look up the dates beforehand. If you simply want to trek Baliem Valley, anytime between March and September is considered a good time.

3. Pulau Besar, Malaysia

Photo: Dzerkach Viktar/Shutterstock

Hidden off the east coast of Malaysia, the island of Pulau Besar represents what many people would describe as a true paradise — think the Maldives minus the heavy price tag. If you are looking for a secluded beach getaway to recharge, Pulau Besar is the perfect option in Southeast Asia.

One of the best things about the island is that it has only about three to four accommodation options, and they sit right on the beach. Pulau Besar also offers a great range of outdoor sports, such as kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. There are daily snorkeling tours that cost around $22 and take you to three nearby islands. Restaurants have a backdrop of the ocean, and if you are lucky, you can catch a live music show at Aseania Beach Resort.

Where to stay: The three main resorts are the Aseania Beach Resort, D’coconut Resort, and Mirage Island Resort.

How to get there: To reach Pulau Besar, you have to first get to the Mersing jetty. From Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and many other cities, there are direct buses to the jetty. A 30-minute boat ride from the Mersing jetty will get you to the island. There are no regular public boats, and you should discuss with your hotel beforehand to arrange a two-way boat service to the island.

When to go: Anytime except monsoon season is pleasant. The best time is between March and September, and perhaps early October.

4. Kuang Si Waterfall, Laos

Photo: Elena Ermakova/Shutterstock

Set deep in the jungle of Laos, the Kuang Si Falls is a three-tiered waterfall located south of Luang Prabang. It consists of a large cascade of turquoise pools, each one overflowing into the one below it. There are two main spots at Kuang Si, the secret pool, and the main waterfall.

The main waterfall is often referred to as the most beautiful fall of Kuang Si, and it’s hard to miss. To reach the secret pool, you have to hike uphill on slippery terrain and over shaky bridges. But the journey is worth it as you have an elevated view of the falls from there, and you can enjoy a relaxing swim in the pool without the crowd.

Where to stay: If you want to stay near the waterfall, you can check out the guesthouse called Vanvisa at the Fall. Otherwise, you can stay in Luang Prabang, which offers plenty of accommodation options and easy day trips to Kuang Si.

How to get there: Kuang Si is around 23 kilometers outside of Luang Prabang. There are plenty of ways to get here: a shared tuk-tuk ($6 per person), private tuk-tuk ($22-25), public minivan ($7 with a fixed schedule), private minivan ($30), motorbike/scooter ($20 per day), and slow boat down the Mekong. There are currently two main operators that run this option, the Banana Boat Temples, Bears, and Waterfalls day trip and Tiger Trail’s Bike, Swim, and Longtail Boat ride tour.

When to go: The best time to visit Kuang Si falls is from December to April/May when the monsoon season has finished, and the cascading pools have settled again.

5. Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

Photo: Nicky Le/Shutterstock

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam’s famous UNESCO World Heritage site, attracts millions of travelers every year, and as a result, it suffers from mass tourism and the problems that come along with it. So if you want to witness the gigantic limestone karsts blasting out of the perfectly calm emerald ocean but avoid the crowds, then Bai Tu Long Bay should be on your list.

Experiencing the bay at sunset is advised. But if you’d like to do a day trip, you can rent kayaks, explore the local floating village, and climb Titop island for a 360-degree view of the three bays. You can also opt for a tour that starts from Ha Long city and combines Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, or you can base yourself out of Cat Ba and opt for tours that cover Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay, depending on the duration of your trip.

Where to stay: You can choose to stay in Hanoi’s old quarter or Cat Ba and explore Bai Tu Long Bay from either of the areas.

How to get there: Usually, the tour you book for Bai Tu Long Bay will cover pick up from well-known locations in Hanoi.

When to go: The periods from September to November and March to May are ideal for a trip to Bai Tu Long Bay. December and January are acceptable, too.

6. Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia

Photo: Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock

Raja Ampat is a collection of around 1,500 islands and islets located in the Indonesian part of Papua. With its jungle terrain, untouched coral reefs, and white-sand beaches, Raja Ampat is often referred to as the most beautiful tropical archipelagos in Southeast Asia.

Raja Ampat is ideal for travelers who are looking for a low-key island experience. There are no sun loungers and no fancy cocktail bars by the beach. The idyllic landscape here is raw and untouched, but the real magic lies beneath the turquoise water — Raja Ampat is known as one of the best diving locations in the world. About 75 percent of the world’s coral species are found here. From the pygmy seahorse to barracudas, the Raja Ampat islands offer a real treat for divers and snorkelers.

Where to stay: For serious divers, some of the top dive resorts are Kri Eco Resort, Raja Ampat Biodiversity Eco Resort, Papua Explorers Resort, and Misool Eco Resort. You can also opt for a liveaboard, which will allow you to dive in more than 200 dive sites in the region.

How to get there: Sorong is the gateway to the Raja Ampat islands. You can fly to Sorong from Jakarta, Pulau Ambon, Jayapura, Manado, and Makassar. From Sorong, it’s a boat ride to islands. Most top-end dive resorts and liveaboards will pick you up from Sorong.

When to go: For calm waters and good visibility, aim for a visit between November and March. The region receives the heaviest rain from May to October.

7. Mt. Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar

Photo: thanmano/Shutterstock

Shamelessly overlooked by travelers to Myanmar, Mount Kyaiktiyo (Kyite Htee Yoe) is famous for its gold granite boulder, which is perched at its summit. Located a few hours east of Yangon, Mt. Kyaiktiyo is one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar.

Legend has it that the gold rock is supported by a hair from Buddha, which prevents it from plummeting 1100 meters to the ground. The summit also offers panoramic views of the surrounding Mon State mountains. Go at sunset to view the rock shining in the pink light, and if you want to take part in the full religious experience when you get to the summit, you can pay a small fee and place some gold leaf on the rock.

Every year, Myanmar celebrates The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda Festival, also known as the Nine Thousand Lights Festival, which features food offerings at dawn and candle lighting after dark, illuminating the mountaintop. Coinciding your trip with this festival may take some planning, but it is well worth the experience.

Where to stay: There are a few hotels in nearby Kinpun, such as the Bawga Theiddhi Hotel and Golden Rock Hotel. Alternatively, you can also stay in Yangon and take a day trip here.

How to get there: The adventurous way to get there is by pickup truck from Kinpun. The truck is crowded, and the rollercoaster journey through the mountain roads will definitely fulfill any need for an adrenaline rush. Alternatively, you can also opt for private transport. Vehicles stop at a certain point, and from there, it’s a short hike to the summit.

When to go: The best time to travel to Myanmar is between November and February when the climate is mild, and there is less rainfall. However, this is the peak season, and hotels can get full months in advance. Visiting during the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda Festival is a special experience — for exact dates and full Myanmar festival listings, go to the festival calendar.


More like this: This video will make you want to travel to Southeast Asia right now

The post The 7 most overlooked destinations in Southeast Asia you need to visit appeared first on Matador Network.

Vernal, UT, is an adventure capital

It’s no secret that Utah is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Thousands of people come to experience the Big Five national parks, hunkering down in Moab to see the red rocks or outside of Zion to hike Angel’s Landing. In the summer, these parks and their surrounding towns are packed with tourists, who are all paying peak prices for accommodation. If you want to avoid the crowds and experience some of the most underrated land Utah has to offer, though, you need to head to Vernal. Located in the northeastern corner of the state, Vernal has traditionally been associated with dinosaur fossils more than adventure. But the area is emerging as a hotspot for all your favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, paddling, and climbing. It won’t be long before the outdoor community starts mentioning Vernal in the same breath as Moab as a burgeoning adventure capital. Here are seven epic outdoor experiences you can have in Vernal.




1

Hike to Moonshine Arch.

Not far from Vernal is a three-mile hike through huge sandstone domes and slickrock spines stretching off to the horizon. The groovily-named Moonshine Arch is an impressive highlight feature, but the hike along the way is consistently rewarding. Afterward, reward your efforts by stopping by the Vernal Brewing Company beforehand and talking to the owner, Ginger. She owns land up there and has some incredible stories about the history of the place, as well as why it’s called Moonshine Arch. Also, have a pint of the Allosaurus Ale for me.

2

Raft the Green River.

Dinosaur National Monument is probably Vernal’s most famous feature though it’s more often attributed to Colorado than it is to Utah. It gets its name from the old layers of earth that come to the surface here and bring with them fossils of creatures that roamed the earth hundreds of millions of years ago. According to the locals, if you know what you’re looking for you can casually go out and spot dinosaur bones just laying around in the hills just outside of town. But don’t be so consumed looking for bones that you forget to look up at the crazy landscape around you. We chartered a rafting trip with Adrift Rafting on the Green River through one of the canyons here so that we could get an up-close look at the sandstone walls. There isn’t really another way that we could enter this canyon, and rafting offers a cool mist on a hot day, as well as great vantage points.

3

Visit the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs.

The cliff walls of McConkie Ranch are lined with stories that I only wish I knew how to interpret. The Freemont tribe, which created the petroglyphs, didn’t have a written language, and the meanings behind these symbols have largely been lost. Taking a tour with Dinosaur River Expeditions around the ranch will give you context for everything that is known about the art and the people who created it. After seeing the rock art, we started to notice petroglyphs all over the Vernal area on just about every hike where there was rock (so, almost every hike in the area).

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4

Climb the less-traveled route.

There aren’t many super well-known climbs in Vernal, so you don’t have to worry about traffic on the rocks like you might in Moab. We went to one of the densest collections of existing climbs near Vernal called the Western Battleship Formation. There were some really fun, short climbs with new hardware that averaged around 5.8 to 5.10 in climbing terms (pretty easy). The most exciting part for me, though, was that from that vantage point I could look out across the desert and see an infinite number of potentially untapped areas for climbing. I aim to come back here and hike into this area, hopefully to get some first ascents that I can be proud of.

5

Paddleboard or kayak at Red Fleet State Park.

Red Fleet State Park is located fewer than two miles away from Western Battleship Formation. If it’s a scorcher out, you can rent paddleboards or kayaks and paddle off into the canyon with sandstone walls towering overhead. It’s a totally different vibe than the rapids in Dinosaur National Monument: The water was calm and warm, and we got to go nice and slow. As an added bonus, we finished up by following some dinosaur tracks that hardened into the sandstone millions of years ago and can now be found just across the lake from the boat ramp. It’s strangely exhilarating to place a hand in one of these tracks and picture the animal that made it.

6

Hide out in the Outlaw.

Fittingly called the Outlaw, this cave was supposedly used by Butch Cassidy and his gang as a hideout. We’d heard stories from the locals back in Vernal about Butch and his wild on-again-off-again girlfriend Josie Bassett. Josie was one of the few women who hung around the Wild Bunch. She ran a successful ranch, sold moonshine, and married five times before settling in Vernal. She only passed away in the 1960s at age 90. Hearing those stories told by enthusiastic locals makes visiting the cave all the more fascinating.

7

Ditch the itinerary and hike the vast BLM land.

There’s so much protected BLM land in Utah that isn’t given state or national park designations but is just as wildly beautiful as the highly visited big parks. Some of my favorite locations were the ones that weren’t written about in local guides, and that I didn’t find when researching the area online. I found them just by driving around, spotting something, and hiking over. It’s freeing to put down the map, get out of the car, and just explore some truly wild country.

More like this: The ultimate rock climbing trip through Moab, Utah

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Animal-parts smuggler arrested

It was an undercover operation worthy of a Hollywood script. An animal-parts smuggler was finally apprehended by government agents after he tried selling lion and tiger parts to a buyer in Thailand. Government agents started keeping tabs on Arogkron Malaskum in April 2016 when they received intelligence that he was in the market for a tiger skull. Posing as straw buyers — buyers who purchase something on behalf of someone else — undercover cops with the US Fish and Wildlife Service met with Malaskum in a hotel room in Dallas and initiated a faux professional relationship with him.

At an auction the next day, Malasukum arranged for the undercover agent to bid on several items, including body parts from an endangered African lion. Malasukum obtained the animal parts in Queens, New York, where they had been shipped. He then proceeded to remove the teeth from the lion’s skull, sorting them and other parts into separate packages to prevent losing them if the skull itself was confiscated by authorities. Inconspicuously labeling the boxes “dog toys” and “home decorations,” he then shipped them to a buyer in Thailand who makes jewelry trinkets and pendant necklaces.

The agents maintained their undercover personas for the next few years, gathering more evidence against Malasukum until he was finally charged in October 2017 for smuggling 68 packages of lion and tiger parts worth $150,000. Last week, he was sentenced to nine months in prison for trafficking endangered wildlife.

Unfortunately, the Malasukum case is not unique. The heightened spotlight on animal-parts smugglers stems from a more widespread concern regarding illegal trade in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory. Dozens have been convicted of trafficking rhino horns from Africa, incurring over $2.1 million in total fines. The recent increase in demand for these animal parts has led to a spike in poaching incidents, especially for rhinos, elephants, and tigers.

Shennie Patel, a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s environmental crimes section, told National Geographic, “The more rare an animal becomes, the more interest there is for trinkets.” If this trend continues, Patel added, “we’re reaching a point where we are going to lose the tigers in a few years, and lions will be on their way too.”

H/T: National Geographic

More like this: Sustainable alternatives to the most unethical souvenirs

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First ski descent of K2

Many outdoors enthusiasts dream of one day completing a mission beyond the reach of most people. Trekking to Everest Base Camp, for example, or surfing Pipeline on Oahu. An epic adventure that leaves you standing in the footprints of the greats, as proud as you are exhausted. But all of these monumental accomplishments had to once be done by some crazy intrepid adventurer first. Now, you can add skiing down the second tallest mountain in the world to the list of conquered missions.

In late July, Polish extreme skier Andrzej Bargiel became the first person to complete a full ski descent of the world’s second highest peak. Bargiel climbed to the top of a couloir near the summit of Mount Godwin-Austen, better known as K2, and managed to ski a technical line down the couloir and eventually to the base of the mountain thousands of feet below. A hall-of-fame worthy feat in itself, but Bargiel topped it off by completing both the ascent and descent of K2 in what’s known in mountaineering speak as “alpine style” — that is, he didn’t use supplemental oxygen for either the ascent or descent. He climbed the peak, reaching an elevation of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) and skied down unassisted.

“I talked to many experienced high altitude climbers and riders and they all said the same thing,” snowboard mountaineer Jeremy Jones said of Bargiel’s descent via his Instagram account. “You can climb it without oxygen but riding it will require oxygen.” Jones himself has traversed the globe climbing and riding down many of its most daring lines. “My time in the Himalaya confirmed that riding down is way more taxing on the lungs then hiking up and I agreed with the theory that riding the really high peaks requires oxygen for skiing/riding. Fast forward to last week and @andrzejbargiel climbed the peak, alpine style (unsupported, no oxygen) and then skied it without oxygen!”

Bargiel’s oxygen-free descent of the peak wasn’t the only first that took place on the mission. The feat was caught on video by Bargiel’s brother, and this drone video of the expedition broke a world record for filming that high at 29,000 feet. The footage circles above the skier as he picks his way down a mind-numbing ridgeline and eventually drops into a wider expanse of terrain and works his way towards the base — surrounded by death-defying cliffs requiring nothing shy of perfectly executed turns, of course.

To top it all off, the snow conditions look solid — at least if the video is any indication.


More like this: The inner lives of badass travelers: Jeremy Jones

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Where to go while Yosemite is closed

Anyone with late summer plans to visit Yosemite National Park will be disappointed. Due to the Ferguson wildfire that’s been burning since July 13th, and which has already scorched over 90,000 acres, national park officials have decided to keep most areas of the park closed indefinitely. In a statement yesterday, the park service warned that the “fire has impacted all of the roads used to access Yosemite Valley, burning dead and downed trees that can become very explosive and fall without warning.”

But don’t worry. Just because Yosemite is off-limits, it doesn’t mean your vacation can’t be salvaged. If you don’t want to completely scrap your national park vacation, here are some great nearby alternatives.

1. Sequoia National Park

Photo: Jeison Jaramillo/Shutterstock

Sequoia National Park will put you right in the thick of some of the nation’s most impressive trees. Situated in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains, the park is known for its colossal sequoia trees and underground Crystal Cave. With over 8,000 sequoias, the Giant Forest is home to half of the world’s largest, longest-living trees. The centerpiece of the forest is the General Sherman Tree — the largest living tree in the world.

2. Kings Canyon

Photo: Leene/Shutterstock

Adjacent to Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada, Kings Canyon is home to the deepest canyon in the United States. Its valleys, trees, and unique rock formations make the park strikingly similar to Yosemite, and a more-than-acceptable substitute. Many hiking trails lead through the canyon, sequoias, and redwoods, and visitors can also take advantage of opportunities for horseback riding and camping.

3. Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Photo: haveseen/Shutterstock

Just north of Yosemite is Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and true to its name, it’s one of the best places to view towering sequoia trees. While opportunities to hike through the sequoia groves are plentiful, you’ll also be able to trek along the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, or the Lava Bluff and Bradley trails. The park also has two main campgrounds and several picnic areas.

4. Lake Tahoe

Photo: topseller/Shutterstock

Less than three hours north of Yosemite, Lake Tahoe has lots of outdoor activities to keep visitors occupied. On the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and it’s very popular for its beaches and ski resorts. The site is a perfect spot for outdoor sports like kayaking and sailing.

5. Truckee

Photo: Asim Verma/Shutterstock

For a good alternative to Yosemite that will also help you avoid the crowds, Truckee is a historic town at the base of the Sierra Nevada range. Hiking and biking trails allow visitors to traverse the Donner Summit, and once you’re done, you can cool off in the nearby Donner Lake. It offers several piers for boating and fishing, and a beach with picnic areas. You can also go rafting down the Truckee River and experience the rapids. The wide range of rugged outdoor experiences, combined with a Western-style downtown, will make you feel like you’re in the Wild West.


More like this: 5 underrated alternatives to America’s busiest national parks

The post Yosemite is closed indefinitely. Here’s where to go instead appeared first on Matador Network.

Volcano eruption at Chile ski resort

Nothing would make you feel like you’re in an action movie quite like a massive volcanic explosion happening right behind you, as you ski for your life down the slopes. Now, imagine taking the chairlift back to the top, and doing it all over again. And again. And again. That’s exactly what intrepid skiers have been doing in Chile over the past few weeks.

Nevados de Chillán, Chile’s popular ski resort, is located right up against the Chillán Volcano, one of the country’s most active volcanoes. The volcanic explosion in early July has triggered earthquakes and other seismic activity in the area, turning people’s ski vacation into a slightly more harrowing, adrenaline-pumping ordeal. But they don’t seem to mind.

Une publication partagée par Birgit Ertl