Asian foodie travel – what to pack

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Pack lightly and plan to wash and wear, to leave plenty of room to fit in shopping. Metallicus stores have great, quick drying, no iron mix and match pieces  that roll up to almost nothing, often on sale. Join the loyalty club at no cost and get $15 off a shop each month that you spend at least $1. Rinse clothes out each night in the basin, using soap/bath gel/shampoo provided, wringing out well, laying flat in a towel, rolling it up and twisting it. Hang clothes on clothes hangers in air conditioning and they will be dry by morning.

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Women

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Men

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Add sunscreen, insect spray (Bushman’s), alcohol hand rub, camera, phone, iPad/tablet/power plug adapter, toiletries, underwear, makeup, hairdryer, ear plugs, first aid kit (consult your own medical practitioner for your individual specific needs, but ask about medications for treating gastroenteritis and cold and flu (and preventing malaria)) also documents including e-ticket, passport, visa, booking confirmation print outs, insurance details, money, ATM cards if using, small change purses.

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A 70 Litre backpack with wheels and daypack/ small bag is ideal. (Kathmandu has some good options when they are on sale.)

It’s a good idea to pack essential items and a change of clothes in carry-on luggage in case checked-in baggage is delayed.

Also consider packing a light extra bag that packs thinly, to carry-on extra shopping or fragile items on the way home.

Treehouse, Canberra City – a quick look at Wednesday evening ‘Rollers’ special

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The Treehouse on Northbourne Ave, Canberra City offfers a range of great specials.

Particularly wonderful is the Rollers Wednesday night special available 4-10pm.

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$10 includes a glass of beer or cider (5-7pm wine is $5 a glass if you would prefer) as well as a gourmet burger with hand cut chips and aioli.

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Chilli beef meatball, caramelised onion and cheddar (especially good)

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Pulled pork, apple and fennel slaw (also very nice)

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Haloumi, hummus and tomato saffron salsa
Gourmet bread pockets served with a side of
hand cut chips and aioli (also very good)

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Mexican chicken fajita and guacamole (probably not as good as the others)

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It’s especially nice sitting upstairs with the view through the golden leaves to the main bar.
Treehouse on Urbanspoon

Casa Anjuna, Goa – ideal spot to stay in the rainy season

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Casa Anjuna, in quieter , leafier Anjuna, North Goa, is a converted Portuguese mansion, packed with character and charm.

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It is open and full of gorgeous spots to sit, making it ideal in the rainy season for sitting and drinking marsala chai or a gin and tonic and watching rain fall on the lush garden setting.

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Most rooms feature four poster beds and antique furniture and many have sit outs and balconies. There are so many lovely rooms, it’s hard to pick and even the base level rooms are a great choice.

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Staff are friendly and immensely helpful, there’s a lovely pool, the restaurant offers a range of good choices and room prices start at $108 in the low season.

Around Anjuna – Goa

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Anjuna is well known for it’s huge Wednesday flea market (October to April only), its hippy history and it’s parties.   In low season however, it’s green and quiet ( really quiet as lots of places are closed).

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Good places to eat in low season include Curlies that stays open all year round…

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And Villa Anjuna Guest House….

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…and the Burger Factory.

Oxford Arcade is a terrific small supermarket stocking great buys including alcohol.

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$AUS3 for 750ml gin

The new Chong Co in Woden – a great spot for lunch

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Not to be confused with the Chong Co restaurant close by in the Woden Southern Cross Club, the new Chong Co Woden that has opened up on Corina Street in the restaurant strip on the outside edge of the Westfield mall, is excellent.

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It shares the same great dishes as it’s sister restaurants in Kinsgston Foreshore, Belconnen and the Southern Cross Club, and serve sizes are equally generous. The green curry (vegetarian was $14.90) we shared between two was truly delicious and plenty for both of us.

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Vegetarian Green Curry $14.90                                       Two serves rice ($3 per person)
Too lovely to leave, staff are more than happy to bundle up any of the precious flavours to take with you.

The atmosphere is pleasant and staff are lovely. The Chong Co inside the Southern Cross Club is still my all time Woden favourite as the decor, space and ambiance are so special, but if you aren’t with a member, then this Chong Co, open to the public is the next best lunch option in Woden. It is also helpfully slightly cheaper.

Highly recommended. As it’s popular, it pays to make a booking. The phone number can be tricky to find – 0262823001

Chong Co on Urbanspoon

The Forage – A Canberra Spring Foodie Festival

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The Forage last weekend, in it’s new home at Fairbairn, was another wonderful spring Canberra foodie festival opportunity. Coupled with the Hustle and Scout twilight fashion market, it’s a very lovely opportunity to taste and try, admire and enjoy.

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Pulled Pork Roll $10                                                            Smoked Goat Pita $10

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Mix and match muesli                                                       B St Bakery

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Sweet Bones Bakery                                                            Poacher’s Pantry

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Suryagarh Hotel Jaisalmer – absolutely delicious for food

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Suryagarh Hotel, 16km out of Jaisalmer, is beautiful, but isolated in the desert.

While rooms can be quite affordable, especially in the low season,  food and drink is expensive, at Australian prices.

That said, the dining is very, very memorable….and there’s a few ways to stay in budget.

Welcome drinks and snacks are amazing and extremely generous.

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Then, through your stay, little treats and sweets arrive mysteriously in your room.

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Breakfast is included in the room price and is incredible, including a ‘chaat bar’ (make your own snacks) and traditional Indian sweets, as well as Indian breakfast foods and marsala chai served in a variety of traditional ‘tea cups’.

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The setting for breakfast is lovely and peacocks wander around the courtyard.

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Dinner is silver service, glamourous and romantic in the courtyard and very, very good.

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Safed chicken, rice, misi roti $AUS25          Bundi ladoo

If you have enjoyed the arrival snacks and sweets that arrive in your room, then really, one main, bread and rice is enough for two people…and helps to compensate for otherwise steep prices.

The complimentary sweets are very lovely too.

Another tip to stay in budget is to take some pre-dinner drinks and snacks out with you (a welcome tip from a fellow traveller).

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Gin is $AUS3 for 750ml (a bargain)