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Travel Thread (meetups, food suggestions, cool stuff to see)
Figured I'd make a generic thread topic that we can use to tell people when we are traveling somewhere and might want to hang out or meet people or get suggestions for good food or times. I've been traveling a lot lately for work and usually I have lots of down time I could be spending hanging with cool geeky people.
First off, heading to Chicago Today through Thursday for work. Should have a few free nights. Any suggestions for food/fun/people :-p
First off, heading to Chicago Today through Thursday for work. Should have a few free nights. Any suggestions for food/fun/people :-p
Post edited by Cremlian on
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My preliminary thoughts include visiting Times Square and Rockefeller Center, hitting up the Museum of Natural History and the New York Public Library (woo Ghostbusters), and at least seeing the big landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, though not likely going out to it.
What am I missing, what am I crazy for putting on my list, and what kind of hidden gems should I seek out?
And I know I say this a lot - Rym, never ever ever ever ever bring back that mustache. Ever.
Skope, you lived there for a while, right?
I've not been, but my old boss Anthony, from when I worked at the Piazza, he raved about White Rabbit on Harding Road.
I'm not sure they meet your standard of expensive, but they're pretty blood good.
Most of the silver service food places seem to serve continental dishes (I personally wanted to try out what regular Singaporeans ate every day plus I was visiting as a student).
Each stall will be classified (for sanitation) A, B, C and so on. It is very hard to achieve an A grade which is why you won't see many. I ate predominantly from A and B grade stalls. However I had no issues eating breakfast at a C grade stall outside of the metro because the old guy made pork buns completely fresh.
Don't be put off by the poor service, it just seems to be the way stuff is done outside of a professional setting. Also places will seem randomly placed but you can tell if they are good by the crowds that they draw. e.g. A Nigerian restaraunt which I looked around for a whole 30 minutes ended up tucked away in a small off road opposite a large tourist store, has plastic tables, chairs, cutlery, bowls and plates yet drew a crowd every evening due to the great taste.
Your location will determine what you should go to, if you're too far away from these places there will be something good close by.
Drinks -
Obviously grab fresh coconut water and sugar cane juice, all the fruit is fresh.
Plenty of good Bubble Tea places.
It is not worthy buying fizzy drinks.
If you are at an Indian restaurant grab Lassi - a drink made from yoghurt. I always recommend the savoury (some places will have sweet as well but it is just the kids version).
I didn't get to go to any cocktail bars or nightclubs since I was working every day but see if you can't find a "Singapore Sling" cocktail made for you.
Tiger Beer is also a light mass produced beer. Can't be compared to carft, Belgian or German beers but it is head and shoulders above any mass brewed stuff that is found in the Australian and American markets.
The easiest way to give you relatively up to date information is by using this page as a key.
Since time is really short I recommend you eat some traditional Kwey Teow.
If time persists seek out a Bone Soup and Fish Head Curry places (there are 2 variants of the latter South Indian and the other is Chinese, I personally prefer the South Indian type but it can be very spicy).
Eateries -
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow at Hong Lim Complex
Proper dry noodles served in the Singapore manner that I have not found outside of Singapore except made by Singaporean students or those that have moved to Australia.
Bone Soup at Golden Mile Food Centre
The name is odd but it was one of the more memorable dishes. It is mutton bone marrow soup in spicy tomato gravy. Even made me moist around the eyes but I couldn't stop eating it, I just had a coconut juice beside me the whole way through.
328 Katong Laksa
Indonesian Laksa stalls, there are a bunch around this place and they all try and win you by price and quality, you can't go wrong.
Ananda Bhavan or Madras New Woodlands
Quick vegetarian south Indian food. It has more than one location now, I'm pretty sure but it was an easy enough place for a quick lunch. Just go for the South Indian menu (dosa, idli, sambar).
Banana Leaf Apolo
Good spot to try "Fish Head Curry". Apparently a south Indian dish (have never seen it served or on a menu on many trips to Mumbai and Goa. However is really popular in Singaporean South Indian restaurants.
Again, it sounds weird but I was amazed at how much meat was on the massive head.
This place isn't that great for north Indian food.
Ah Chew Desserts
Only went for a dessert that wasn't fresh fruit with a few locals I met and they took me here, it has various deserts you don't really see anywhere else.
Lavendar Food Centre
Very popular dim sum place. I would see this guy have non stop customers all day. Only tried him once because I would be in a hurry in the mornings, the Zoo was too far away from the city during lunch and I wanted to try a few different things.
Boon Tat Street Hawker Stalls
Quick great satay place.
Adam Road Food Centre
Another good Kway Teow place, also has some different sea food.
C.L.E.
African food stall that I described at the beginning, initially seems to be out of the way and out of place but the quality of food is great.
Best time is dinner. Don't need to dress up this place is almost overly casual. Sometimes the owner is almost like a bar tender if you come late at night or when no one is around, really friendly.
They will offer 2 different types of meat, one is a dryer cured kind while the other is fresh cooked. I recommend you go for the soft fresh cooked one.
There will be a variety of gravies offered, I tried nearly all of them over multiple visits. My favourite is the the gravy with okra in it. You will be served or offered some "suji" (mashed potato and flour) which I recommend you take. grab as piece and turn it into a scoop to pick up gravy or grab a piece of meat with.
And hey, no worries dude. Anytime.
I keep hearing things about how I should only travel on the streets in groups, but there will be times that I have to go out on my own.
For those who have been to BMore or Otakon, what do you recommend?
I've looked up districts of BMore: http://wikitravel.org/en/Baltimore . I hear that Inner Harbor and Fells Point are ok, but I should still be cautious.
Baltimore is the scariest city I've ever visited, and I was born in Detroit and travel extensively abroad...
I have some lingering anxiety of not wanting to get shot/sliced.