Europe Archives - Wander-Lust

21 Apr 2019

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These Are The Best Parties On Kingsday 2019!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 21, 2019 With No Comments

If you’re not Dutch and you are visiting our country on the 26th/27th of April, you’re in for a treat..
Kingsday 2019 (previously called Queensday) is a true happening in the Netherlands. First of all, we celebrate the Kings birthday and everybody gets a day off work. Secondly, there are a large number of flea markets all throughout the country but the city Amsterdam is probably the biggest when it comes to selling “stuff” on the streets and organizing parties.

Kingsday in Amsterdam last year

KINGSNIGHT:

Afterwork Kingsnight Edition at Bar Lely
When? 26th of April from 6pm till 3am
Bar Lely serves traditional Dutch Frikandelen and oysters. The in house Bar Lely DJ will play some disco-funky tunes until late..

Friendzone Kingsnight
When? 26th of April from 10pm -4am
Line-Up: Abstract / Lee Millah / Sergio Obergh / Jereno Joël / Alain Kuipers / Godzenzonen. Tickets are €16,- at the door.

Kingsnight at Le Patron
When? 26th of April 6pm – 1am
This year they host a Dutch night with many Dutch sing along numbers. The Line up? Quincy Schellevis, Danilo Kuiters, Robert Leroy Danny Plezier. Entree is free and the beers are cold!

P. King (restaurant) Kingsnight and Kinsgday
When? 26th of April 7pm – 1am / 27th of April 12pm – 8pm
Probably the best Kingsnight & Kingsday street party in Amsterdam if you ask us. For the last 10 years, this is the place to be on the corner of the Vijzelstraat & Herengracht. Deep house and techno makes this a yearly dancing event which attracts a large crowd. Be early or have a bad dancing spot. They also do a free party on Kingsday. for more info check: Facebook This is an outdoor event.

Oranjestad Kingsnight
When? 26th of April 10pm – 5am
With 3 area’s this party is going to be a bang! DJ’s like Geza, Heartbreak, DIO and Yung Internet will perform. Tickets cost €20,- and are still available!

P.King on Kingsday

Best free parties on Kingsday 2019:
» Westerstraat for beer, music and games. Outdoor
» Vijzelstraat, in front of cafe P.King or Le Patron as mentioned above. Outdoor
» Noordermarkt, Rewind & het Partyfeest, outdoor
» King of the Jungle: de Tulp x Super Social, at Heineken Marieplein. In and outdoor
» Koningsdag FISSA at Waterkant, Hip-Hop tunes overlooking the waterfront in the middle is Amsterdam. In & Outdoor
» NDSM Vrijhaven, for a party called These Guys Indoor & Outdoor
» Pllek in North Amsterdam for escaping the mass, live bands and cocktails. Info Inside and Outdoor
» Koning Nieges – Baskèts / Jajem at Meneer Nieges. Enjoy a BBQ, cool drinks and lot’s of DJ’s. Info
» Kingsday Westerpark and in particular at Mossel & Gin where the gin is flowing and the music is free. Outside
» Anywhere alongside the canals of Amsterdam!

Best Kingsday 2019 paid parties:
» Oranjebloesem at Olympish Stadion, is sold out but check ticketswap for last minute tickets. In and Outside
» Nassua Festival
» Loveland van Oranje (Techno) at Meerpark for 25 euro Info Outdoor
» Cartel Kingsday 2019: Indoor, Outdoor, Day & Night with 18hours of non-stop music. Tickets and Info. In and Outdoor

Best Flea markets on Kingsday 2019:

»Vondelpark (large and best flea market for children)
» Jordaan (flea market along the canals for all)
»Beethovenstraat (flea market for all in South Amsterdam)
» Apollolaan is a huge street where you can walk for hours
» IJhallen flea market at the NDSM (for children) Inside
» Erasmus Park, with live music and food, from 10am
» Westerpark, on the grass and anywhere else

Kingsday After Parties

» Audio Ubscura & Adriatique, Temp Amsterdam from 10pm, tickets.
» The Breakfast Club at Bret from 7am till 6pm on the 27th of April. Tickets are €17,-

Have fun and take some pictures!!

Wander-Lust

More Amsterdam in our Amsterdam Guide!

18 Apr 2019

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5 Must Try Non-French restaurants in Paris

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 18, 2019 With No Comments

France is famous for its gastronomy, and Paris, being its capital, no doubt has some of the best French restaurants in town. However, we understand that one might not be in the mood for cheese and wine, or even their delicious garlic escargot all day, every day. And sometimes, we just desperately crave the exotic food that we’re used to having back home or elsewhere. We know what it’s like, so, we’ve compiled a list of top five non-French restaurants in Paris that serve anything but French food to help you satisfy those exotic cravings.

COOK’N SAJ
This family-run restaurant is like your normal family dining room, but better. The place is warm, spacious and homely, no wonder it fills up almost instantly as it opens its door at noon. The smell of fresh Lebanese and Syrian food is inviting and the whole place is filled with a delicious aroma of their homemade bread straight out of the saj, an oven responsible for all the delicious wraps, and the inspiration for the name for the restaurant.

Middle eastern food at its best

The owners are two passionate brothers and the main chef is their mother, which make sense since mothers are the best cooks. Here at COOK’N SAJ, everything is made to order, using the freshest and highest quality produce. Plus, with the supervision and quality control by the head chef, satisfaction is guaranteed. Also, shout out to COOK’N SAJ for using stainless steel straws! We love a good sustainable and responsible kitchen!

Pretty drinks at Cook’n Saj

MIKUNA
This one is for not only Peruvian lovers, but also lovers of fine dining. Realising the majority of Peruvian food are enjoyed almost exclusively in the evening, MIKUNA is committed to making this refreshingly delicious cuisine accessible to all, serving fast but carefully crafted ceviches, alongside a variety of hot dishes, straight out of their South American kitchen both for lunch and dinner. Every bit of the place is inviting and radiates happiness, from the menu to its interior design.

Non-french food cravings?

The owner has clearly planned all of it with such close attention to details. Despite having opened its door three weeks ago, MIKUNA has already gained a steady customer-based. This isn’t a surprise considering how truly wonderful their food is. The menu is refreshingly creative, as the chef adds a Latina twist to the classic French dessert, crafting the most delicious dulce de leche pudding, quinoa au lait. Thanks to MIKUNA, you can enjoy quality Peruvian dishes that one would expect only from fine dining experience without draining your wallet.

Exotic cravings Peruvian style

21G-DUMPLING
Despite the overwhelming collection of Asian restaurants in Paris, not many, I’d say, is indeed authentic. 21g-Dumpling is here to serve you some proper Chinese and Taiwanese food, with a delicate French twist to it (I know, I said no French, but trust me, this is good!) Located in the 11th arrondissement, 21g-Dumpling is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings, because, who doesn’t love a good Chinese meal?

Source: 21G Dumpling

RESTAURANT LE MOSQUEE DE PARIS
You can’t leave Paris without visiting the Grand Mosque, which is conveniently located next to the Natural History Museum and the Jardin des Plantes. Not only is it the biggest mosque in Paris, but it has also a beautifully decorated restaurant serving authentic Moroccan and Middle Eastern food. The setting is absolutely stunning and even if you don’t want to commit to a full meal, make sure you grab one of their sweet pastries at the front and get yourself a glass of their mint tea.

Feel like you are in another world, only in Paris!

DOSANKO LARMEN
The street behind Palais Royale is packed full of Japanese restaurants. The selection is overwhelming but worry not, Dosanko is the only place you need to go to for the perfect bowl of ramen. A small corner restaurant, you will often find a queue outside this little place and for good reason. The portions are big and the quality superb, Dosanko is definitely one of the most authentic Ramen places in Paris.

With these five exotic restaurants on your list, I’m sure navigating the non-French food scene in Paris has just gotten much easier, seeing how many options there are in the city! Let us know what you think if you end up visiting any of them!

Love,

Chantelle

*Chantelle is one of our guest editor from Hong Kong. She has lived in three different countries and have travelled across many continents. Having been in England for the past nine years and graduated with a Law degree, she is now taking a break in Paris for the year as she figures out her next step in life. Always passport ready, she is an expert at traveling light and on a budget, although she still enjoys the occasional indulgence in a luxurious holiday. You can follow her on Instagram.

17 Apr 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam, L U S T, Tasty Hotspots With 3 Comments Permalink

15 x Best Terraces In Amsterdam West

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 17, 2019 With 3 Comments

The sun is out and so are the people. During the week, people run out of their offices when the clock hits five, trying to find the best spots to enjoy the last sun-rays of the day. So where exactly are those places? Well, as Amsterdam West is my hood, I did a little research and came to the conclusion that these are the best places where you can enjoy the sunlight until it goes down.

Hotel Buiten
Hotel Buiten is not just any hotspot, it’s a creative hub, build from raw and used materials, designed by Lenka Dittrichova. It stared with a few neighbours a few years ago, that wanted to do something with lost space full of weeds and grass. After a temporary set up, they managed to get more people involved and eventually 180 people and businesses helped fund the project. This resulted in a wonderful spot to relax in the sunshine whilst enjoying organic lunch and drinks.

Hotel Buiten

De school
Too cool for school? Well, not this one! Not far from Yumler, you will find this hotspot. Besides being an awesome nightclub with some of the biggest underground DJ’s, it’s also the house of a wonderful restaurant, cafe and gym with a large terrace! www.deschoolamsterdam.nl

Bar Kosta
If you live in Amsterdam, and you’ve been around the Overtoom, you must have seen the large terrace on the corner of Surinameplein. It used to be Café Ter Brugge, but it has completely changed it’s look, menu and name. Bar Kosta is just in time for the sunny weather this weekend! For all the pics and the menu details click here.

Plenty of space at Bar Kosta

Cafe Zurich
Probably one of my favorite terraces in Amsterdam West! It’s large and wide with many seats available. The service is good and the drinks are cold. Just what you need when the sun is out. Read more about Zurich here.

Part of Zurich’s large terrace Source

Frits
Across Zurich you will find bar Frits on the same square they call “Mecatorplein”. They serve a large range of beers so it’s always buzzing until the sun goes down and that’s when people go inside the bar. www.frits-amsterdam.nl

Bureau
Opened last year, this is rooftop heaven. You must visit Bureau if you haven’t been! Enjoy the garden, chickens and sunshine. It’s probably one of our favorite terraces in Amsterdam West. For more pictures and impressions, check our article.

Sunset at Bureau

Oslo Beers
Good news because Oslo Beers is open again and right in time for summer! They coped with a big fire 15 months ago but managed to build a brand new and better Oslo which resulted in a wonderful Oslo Beers 3.0. There is a nice outside seating space outside next to the bridge of Surinameplein with sunshine up until about 3pm. On the menu there are speciality beers and simple but tasty breakfast and lunch. www.oslobeers.nl

Corner Bakery
A bit tucked away in between the World Fashion Center and an apartment complex, but it’s the perfect terrace for after work drinks or your afternoon coffee in the sun. The corner Bakery can be quite busy during the weekends so be early if you want to enjoy brunch in the sunshine. More info about this Instagrammable spot here.

The Corner Bakery West

De Bakkerswinkel
Great coffee, and tasty scones! We love this place right at the entrance of Westerpark. Oh, and the outside area at the back of the Bakkerswinkel is pretty good too. Nothing fancy but great for friends and people with babies. www.debakkerswinkel.nl

Mossel & Gin
Oysters and Gin are a great combination and you can get the best over at Mossel & Gin. Drink cocktails and eat until the sun goes down. Right on the Westergas area, this cozy terrace is great for catching up with friends! www.mosselengin.nl

Mossel & Gin Source

Westergasterras
Also on the Westergas, you will find this extremely large terrace that is partly covered and there is an open lounge area where you want to sit for days, looking over the water. They have just restyled so have a look! www.westergasterras.nl

Bar kantoor
The building dates back from 1885, and was used as an office and assistant engineer’s house of the original Westergasfabriek. As an ode to the former destination and to keep it’s authenticity, they named the location “Bar Kantoor” – meaning Office in Dutch. Every detail in Bar Kantoor has been carefully thought of. The menu, the accessories and the cool ceiling painting. (check it out!) When I entered, they were still painting and working on the outside terrace. About that terrace..it’s located at the perfect spot and with Pacific and Westergasterras always full, this new terrace, that has space for 150 people, is more than welcome! More info about Bar kantoor here.

Cedars
Not many people have heard of this restaurant because it’s situated below the A10 highway and the road that leads to Hoofddorpplein. It has some of the best outside seating in Amsterdam West, believe me. It’s overlooking the water and you can order some tasty Lebanese bites. Service can be a bit slow but if you don’t mind that, you will love it! www.cedars.nl

The hidden spot, Cedars. Source

Floor17
On top of the Armada hotel, it’s the highest outdoor terraces in Amsterdam West. Drink cocktails, enjoy tunes and stay for dinner! www.floor17.nl

Brandstof
If you want to enjoy the good looking people of Amsterdam, you should go here for a beer. For the girls, there is a fire station next door (read: cute firemen watching all day!) www.bar-brandstof.nl

Plenty of choice we think! Enjoy the sun y’all!

Love,

Wander-Lust

Looking for the best after work drinks in Amsterdam? Check our selection!

13 Apr 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Permalink

10 x Easter in Amsterdam 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 13, 2019

With Easter coming up, comes the egg hunting for young and old(er)! It’s more popular than ever and some are quite special with great prizes to win! Besides the hunting, there are Easter brunches, and special Easter coffees! Here is a full list of Easter in Amsterdam this weekend.

Easter Brunch at Bar Kantoor
When? 21/22 April, 11am Westerpark
What? Easterbrunch with livemusic
Bar Kantoor belongs to Conscious Hotels so this brunch is vegetarian. There will be live music, cocktails and food is also served out on the large terrace of Bar Kantoor. Facebook

Egg Hunt X Pulitzer Amsterdam
When? 1st of April 2019, 11am – 12.30pm Pulitzer Amsterdam
What? Chocolate Bunny search for adults & kids
A ‘Chocolate Easter Bunny’ escaped from the Pulitzer gardens but left a trace of chocolate Easter eggs. A shout-out to our youngest fans; come and help us find the Easter Bunny and its lost eggs! All children 10 years of age and younger are invited to participate in the Egg Hunt. Before the hunt kicks off, children will have the chance to festively decorate their egg collecting bag, while feasting on some lemonade & cookies. The lucky finder of the Easter Bunny wins a voucher for lunch at Jansz, a Toddler Push Banwood Bike or a Chocolate Easter Bunny for the entire family! Pre-register before the 12th of April by sending an email to marketing@pulitzeramsterdam.com Facebook

Easter Disco at Chin Chin Club
When? 21st of April 2019, 11pm Rozengracht
What? Dancing on Sunday
Enjoy Disco, Hits & Classics, Extravagante live-acts and Confetti all night long. We can’t wait for this one! Facebook.

Easter Egg Hunt at Vondeltuin
When? 21st of April 2019 from 10am – 11am at Vondeltuin
What? Traditional egg hunt for kids
Bring your kids to this traditional Easter egg hunt at the Vondeltuin, located in The Vondelpark. Be on time because the hunt is only on for 1 hour. Dress up your little one and bring your own basket. There is a play garden next door for playtime afterwards, plus kids can get their face painted. Facebook

Easter Brunch at Het Rijk van de Keizer
When? 22nd of April 2019 from 11:30am
One of our favorite spots out of the city! Tucked away in Amsterdam West you will find Het Rijk van de Keizer, a place where food meets art and art meets events. From 12pm adults can feast on a delicious Easter brunch with live music. There will be a special kids lunch with children songs and stories, face painting, egg hunt, crafts and a DJ workshop for the older kids. €37,50 for the adults Easter brunch (including bubbles, fresh juices, barista coffee) and €24,50 for kids including the kids program. Reserve your spot via email or phone. More info on the Facebook Event Page.

Vegan Easter Brunch
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 at Mr. & Mrs. Watson
On Sunday the 21st of March and Monday 22nd of April this Vegan Hotspot will serve a completely vegan sharing buffet! A brunch with scrambled tofu, breadrolls, homemade vegan cheese and enough for those with a sweet tooth! This bunny brunch in Amsterdam will cost you €21,50 p.p. Reserve via www.watson.bar and they will save you a spot!

Bottomless Easter Brunch at INK
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 (yes, on Monday) at INK Hotel
It’s time for INK’s Hotel monthly Bottomless Brunch! This edition will be entirely dedicated to Easter and has 2 days to choose from. What better way to enjoy these days than a delicious brunch with your friends and family? The Bottomless Brunch package (€ 37 p.p) consists of a combination of one savoury and one sweet dish, including a cocktail and unlimited bubbles! Book your table via http://pressroom.amsterdam/reservations/.

Easter Mimosa Brunch
When? 21st & 22nd of April 2019 at Hoed & Krelis
Mimosa’s, Mimosa’s and more Mimosa’s. For those not familiar with Mimosa’s; a Mimosa cocktail is composed of one part champagne and one part chilled citrus juice, usually orange juice unless otherwise specified. Thanks Wikipedia! What else do you need for the weekend?

Eggs and Beer at Ceuvel
When? 21st of April 2019 at Café Ceuvel
For young and old! After the egg hunting there is an Easter beer hunt for adults! Spread out at Ceuvel you can search for the hidden beer bottles from Brouwerij het IJ. If you find one, you can drink it, for free! Now, this is something you can sign us up for!

Thuishaven Easter Weekend
When? 20th & 21st of April 2019, Contactweg 68
If you are not into brunches or you want to dance those extra calories off, you can do it at Thuishaven. Tech-house and more in and outside. The weather is going to be sunny, so get your tickets.

Good luck with finding the eggs and enjoy your Easter in Amsterdam together!

Love,

Wander-Lust

09 Apr 2019

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Shocking! These restaurants in Amsterdam are dirty!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 9, 2019 With No Comments

RTL News channel just released a shocking report that tells you which restaurants in The Netherlands are below the hygiene standard. Find out which restaurants in Amsterdam are well.. read for yourself.

The report that was written in 2017, shows that 450 restaurants and foodbars in The Netherlands are well below the health standard. Normally reports like these remain closed but in January 2018, RTL News asked the Nederlandse Voedsel en Warenautoriteit for the reports that were made during inspections of restaurants that were under stricter supervision in 2017. Under supervision means that those restaurants have received at least three fines in a two-year period because of their poor hygiene. The NVWA recently decided that the news channel could receive these documents. This makes them public and accessible to everyone!

In more than half of the checked kitchens, animal droppings were found

From roaches in the oven to moldy spare ribs: more hospitality outlets under strict supervision

Some names you know
In the article by RTL News you can find out exactly which restaurants near you are bad news when it comes to the kitchen. In some restaurants the NVWA found many cockroaches, mice poo & urine next to the cutting boards and dripping grease from the kitchen ceilings. We were shocked to find favorites such as Thai Bird and Oriental Express on the list. Even healthy foodspot SNCKBR (now closed) is on this list! We must say, that not all reports are as shocking as others. Favorite hotspot Coffee & Coconuts is also on the 2017 list but they had no animal invested problem, but their ice machine was extremely dirty on the inside.

Some are less surprising. Fast food restaurants like Burger King and Vapiano, that have been around for ages are under supervision.The inspection means that food samples are taken and the results weren’t pretty.. Restaurants that are under new ownership have not been added to this list.

Find out if your favourite restaurant is on the list and check the detailed reports per restaurant!

Love,

Wander-Lust

08 Apr 2019

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Eat My Trip is the Instagram foodie dream of Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 8, 2019 With No Comments

Welcome in the wonder world of cotton candy clouds, unicorn smoothie bowls and pink lattes in skull cups. Eat My Trip is the place sweet dreams are made and after reading this article you surely won’t disagree. If somebody knows how a good dream should look, taste and feel like, it’s Genia Sukhacheva, the founder of Eat My Trip. She dreamed big and worked hard to make her dream reality: in the summer of 2018 she opened the doors to this second dimension restaurant in Eixample, Barcelona.

The new unicorn on the block
Eat My Trip literally takes you on a trip to another dimension, but the name has more to it. The menu is inspired by Genia’s trip around the world before she started the restaurant. You can find your favourite classics on the menu levelled-up with an exotic twist. For example, eggs benedict with curry sauce inspired by Thailand, French toast with a cloud of passion fruit infused cotton candy and pancakes Mexican style with guacamole, black beans and corn. Big plus: they only use organic and ecological ingredients and have many vegan options on their menu.

Eat My Trip is a great place for breakfast and brunch

So how does it taste?
The menu offers options for every type of hunger and healthiness level. I love what Genia did with the savoury dishes, offering the classics but with a travel inspired touch. The combinations are great (curry sauce + eggs benefict = winning), unfortunately the exotic touch was fairly modest in the dishes we tried. Because it’s such a great idea, it could be exploited a bit more in my opinion.
On the sweet side of life, Eat My Trip is writing history. Genia managed to create one-of-a-kind sugar rush dishes that are as good for the eye as for the mouth. The presentation forces people passing by to stop and stare and will make you feel bad for even wanting to eat it. Honestly. I had to be stopped taking photo’s of my plate because it was already turning cold.

Everything on the menu is beautifully presented, but for the absolute wow-effect you should at least order the Tostada Francesa (vg). A soft brioche soaked in cream of passion fruit, house made marshmallows and a cloud of peach infused cotton candy. Top it off with a blue Matcha or Barbie latte and a “wow-face” is guaranteed. If you’re not convinced yet, take a look at their Instagram account and start the drooling in 3,2,1…

Feeling the pressure from bikini season around the corner? No worries, Eat My trip offers healthy dishes as well, for example smoothie bowls and veggie dishes. But I have to put out a warning; you probably get seduced by the mouth-watering cakes at the counter anyways.

Who doesn’t want to drink out of a skull cup and eat French toast with a freaking sugar cloud on it?

The atmosphere
The restaurant looks as creative as the dishes, which isn’t a surprise when you realise that Genia also build the whole interior herself (Girl, what can’t you do?!). The restaurant has a homey feeling; blue walls, floral mural prints and surf-hut-like wooden chairs and floor. The chalkboard above the counter exposes all the food goodness and the restaurant is full with “Alice in Wonderland style” accessories to keep you busy while waiting for your order. Although the decorations of the dishes are complex and extraordinary, the overall vibe in the restaurant is super easy going.
We visited on a Saturday and it wasn’t hard to find a table, which is quite unique in Barcelona. However, I have the feeling this is going the change soon once Barcelona’s tourists guides pick up on this little piece of sugar heaven.

My verdict: Definitely a must visit if you either live in Barcelona or just on a city trip. The food is a guaranty for a fun afternoon; taste-wise and because of colour explosions and original combinations. I very much respect what Genia has created and creativity like this should be rewarded (by a visit from you).

P.S.: The blue tables outside are great for soaking up the midday sun and Instagram worthy food pictures (just saying).

Eat My Trip
Carrer del Consell de Cent,378
Website / Instagram

Love,

Eva

*Eva is one of our guest bloggers from Amsterdam. She’s a city girl who only leaves her heels at home when wearing a backpack. Living by the urge to be where she’s not, to explore, experience, fall and get up. You can follow her on Instagram.

07 Apr 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Asia, Europe, South America, Travel Tips With 8 Comments Permalink

Best countries to visit for when you’re on a budget

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 7, 2019 With 8 Comments

If you have the virus wanderlust, you know you feel need to travel as much as possible. Unfortunately your bank account doesn’t always agree. Still want to enjoy the beauty of a long stretched beaches, feel the sun glowing on your skin and taste another culture? Thankfully some countries are cheaper than others. These are our top countries you should visit if you’re on a budget.

1. Cambodia, Asia
Daily budget: 15 euro or less

Cambodia is a very cheap travel destination, even by Southeast Asian standards. If you’re really on a budget and you keep your daily spending to a minimum, you can live on an amount of 10 to 15 euro’s per day. Accommodation can be found for as little as 4-5 euro’s per night (for a simple hut or hostel) and even the alcohol is cheap here. If you eat the local food, you won’t spend more than 4 euros on a 2 course meal. Flights cost about 500 euro’s if you book ahead of time.

One of the cheapest countries for travel

2. Thailand, Asia
Daily budget: 20 euro or less

If you’ve been to Thailand, you know you can live there as a King or a Queen. When I was there I had a massage almost every day and it only cost me about 5 to 10 euro’s. Thailand has one of the finest cuisines in the world but you can dine here for about 5-10 euro’s per person. (this includes your drinks!) It’s the ultimate backpacking country with a lot of cheap accommodation available. Thailand also has many options, you can make it as expensive as you want.

It’s never boring in Thailand

3. Georgia
Daily Budget: 27 euro

This destination is high on demand and made it to many top destination lists for 2019. Why? Travelers have discovered the stunning nature of this country, plus it’s very affordable! Because Georgia isn’t rampaged by tourists, prices remain low, also for accommodations. If you decide to go backpacking for 14 days, you can do it withi a budget of 400 euro per person. This is unheard of in western European countries. Time to out Georgia on your bucketlist?

Stunning Georgia

4. Nicaragua
Daily Budget: 28 euro

We do not understand why we haven’t been here yet, because this place has it all. Untouched beaches, cute towns, rough nature, volcano’s and it’s extremely cheap to travel around. The country is relatively tourist free, which is also a big plus for many travelers amongst us. Hotel rooms are an average of 15 euro per night. On average, a couple can live comfortably in Nicaragua for 1200 euro per month, not bad!

Have another beer in Nicaragua!

5. Greece, Europe
Daily budget: 30 euro or less

I’m speaking out of experience because as you might know, I have been to Greece many times. The food is one of the cheapest in Europe and you can feast on a large main course for only 6-9 euro’s. A beer will cost you about 2 euro’s. You will pay double the price in places like Mykonos and Santorini but if you visit the main land or Islands like : Folegandros, Lefkas or Naxos, you can definitely add Greece to your budget travels.

Lefkas (Lefkada) is great for budget travel

6. Philippines, Asia
Daily budget: 25 euro or less

It’s not the cheapest of the Asian countries we’ve mentioned but it certainly deserves a place in our top 7. The reason it’s at number 6 is because of the long flight. The flight is by far the most expensive part of your trip but if you’re lucky you can get a flight at around 600 euro’s per person. The Philippines is pretty untouched by mass tourism (unlike Thailand) which makes it more difficult to travel sometimes. That’s way you tend to spent more on boats, domestic flights etc. Read more about The Philippines.

Relaxing in the Philippines

7. Bolivia, South America
Daily budget: 25 euro or less

Bolivia is a very popular destination for backpackers, simply because it’s very affordable to travel. There is something for every budget. Even the good hotels offer reasonable prices. (a 4 star hotel is available for as little as 80 USD)

Chill.. cuz your money isn’t going anywhere

Love,

Elke

06 Apr 2019

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Full Moon Garden brings their Dim Sum to Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 6, 2019 With No Comments

If you have Asian roots like me, you know that “Asian” brunch is a thing. Eating with family & friends is very important and the Chinese understand this more than anyone. It’s no surprise that they invented Dim Sum, small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on a small plate, that is served with a hot pot of jasmine tea. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that the traditional dim sum restaurant Full Moon Garden opened in Amsterdam this week.

Full Moon Garden
It all started in Hong Kong back in the 90’s. Mr Kwok opened his first restaurant in the city that is considered to be the birthplace of dim sum. After a few years he and his family decided to start a new life in The Netherlands and in 2011 they opened their first Full Moon Garden restaurant in the city of Den Haag, where Full Moon Garden has become somewhat of a household name. With the success they manage to open 2 more Full Moon Garden restaurants in Den Haag, but it is the first time that they open one in Amsterdam.

Full Moon Garden is located on the Leidsestraat

The Menu
Do you have a couple of hours? There are two menu’s; one dim sum menu, and one dinner menu. On both menu’s you will be able to find all the traditional dishes, as well as some modern style Chinese cuisine. Some of Full Moon’s signature dishes are the Peking Duck, streetfood style Scallion Pancakes, silken tofu, crispy noodles and of course the steamed dumplings.

For desert you must try the Mango Pudding that is served in a koi fish shape, symbolising wealth, harmony and happiness.

The dumplings taste exactly like they are suppose to, and if you like veggies, try the Chinese broccoli or eggplant with peppers. Yum!

The new restaurant is located in the middle of the Leidsestraat, next to the MacDonalds. A long staircase takes you upstairs where there are seats for about 180 people. The view isn’t bad either, if you like some people watching.

I will definitely come back for some Sunday dim sum with my friends!

Love,

Elke

Full Moon Garden Amsterdam
Leidsestraat 94, Amsterdam
Website / Instagram

26 Mar 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam, Spots, Tasty Hotspots With No Comments Permalink

Little Plant Pantry | The new Plant-Based wholefoods store in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On March 26, 2019 With No Comments

New spots in town deserve a moment to shine. Especially when it’s a green newbie lead by Irish do-gooders. Let’s say hi to Little Plant Pantry, a plant-based speciality food store and café in Amsterdam city centre, which absolutely is worth a visit.

The story behind: bye bye plastic
A couple of weeks ago Little Plant Pantry had their soft opening. Without too much fanfare and fuss. Just to warm up, see how the shop operates and what needs to be fine-tuned. A very appealing place with an almost zero plastic policy. Let’s say 99% (having a fully zero-waste business is more of an aspiration than reality, they discovered). Thereby, they try to minimize waste by selling in bulk and finding compostable alternatives to traditional packaging. Six months ago Maria and Winter had the idea to start their own plant-based, minimal waste bulk wholefoods store. A store with full focus on ethical consumerism and sustainability. A mouthful.

We wanted to turn our lifestyle into a job, engage with more people to have a dialogue and together find better ways of living.

Why not open our store in Amsterdam where a green, sustainable lifestyle is a rising star?’ And so the adventure started.

Little Plant Pantry store and café
Bit more about their range of different products. From ingredients for a healthy vegan diet, till handcrafted foods, teas, coffees, fruits, veggies, grains, nuts and even a own 100% natural cosmetics line. Don’t expect an overload of different brand labels. It isn’t their intention to be an advertising Valhalla. Main focus lies on the products and their pure stories. One by one made by Little Plant Pantry and other like-minded local artisan producers. Be prepared: There’s a change you get hungry after watching all the colourful products. Have a seat at the back of the store, and enjoy freshly prepared hot food – your granny would make if she was a vegan -, drinks and desserts to satisfy your cravings.

To be honest, I’m not the most ‘green’ person you can imagine. Not yet. Doing my best to make little baby steps for a more sustainable lifestyle. Little Plant Pantry is there for diehard vegans till do-gooders and everyone who loves to know more about living a healthy lifestyle. The amazingly kind owners are pleased to help you answer all your questions, I noticed it myself.

At present, Little Plant Pantry is a charming ‘work in progress project.’ But not for long. Sunday the 7th of April they’ve their official launch. And you’re invited! So mark your calendar and discover this new green kid in town.

Love,

Sharmaine

Little Plant Pantry
Bosboom Toussaintstraat 45-H, Amsterdam
Facebook / Instagram

Opening hours:
Tuesday till Saturday 10:00 – 19:00
Sunday: 12:00 – 18:00
Monday: closed

Have you heard of these lesser known vegan spots already?

20 Mar 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in L U S T, Scandinavia, Tasty Hotspots With No Comments Permalink

Norway just opened up the largest underwater restaurant, Under.

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On March 20, 2019 With No Comments

The restaurant located at the southern cape of Norway, is submerged halfway into the water, looking like it has tipped over. It will have seats for 100 guests, making Under the largest underwater restaurant to date.

The structure
Under is set 5.50 meter below sea level and designed by Snøhetta, a renowned Norwegian architectural & design firm.“The harsh, rough conditions in Lindesnes, have made it necessary to pay additional attention to the structure itself and the materials used when building it. The structure must be able to withstand enormous natural forces from the sea, changing weather, and powerful winds”,explains Arne Marthinsen.

Source: Under

The Menu
Being located in the North Atlantic in Lindesnes, the restaurant offers locally fresh fish that highlights the wonders of the sea. besides fish and fresh seaweed, they will prepare and serve wild sheep and fresh ingredients that they will get from local farmers. Head chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard says; “My team and I work in close co-operation with local farmers, fishermen, hunters and harvesters to provide the freshest ingredients. In this way, we create flavourful, innovative dishes that reflect our landscape.”

Sneak peak of the menu at Under

The drinks menu is also an experience. UNDER’s Sommelier has created a pairing menu to complete the cuisine of chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard. There is a non-alcoholic pairing menu available.

Marine Biology
At Under, there is more than just the dining experience. You get the chance to learn about marine life to complete your experience.

How to get there
Under is situated between the two cities Kristiansand and Stavanger. Both cities have airports with national and international flights. From there you can travel by car or train, but there are also boat charters available.

Book your table via this link!

Under
Båly, Lindesnes Norway
Website / Instagram

Happy underwater dining,

Wander-Lust

*All photo’s are courtesy of Under