Tag - History

Okonomiyaki in Osaka

Japan’s “soul food”: a simple guide to Osaka street food

Osaka is widely regarded to have some of the best food in Japan. Quick, tasty bites are in Osaka’s DNA. And best of all, they are all super cheap! History of the yatai Yatai street food carts or “shop stands”, as they are translated, date back to at least the 17th century, with some sources saying they were around in the 5th and 6th centuries! Yatai...

Shigetsu restaurant in Kyoto

An introduction to shojin ryori: Japanese vegan monastery cuisine

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan and have never visited Japan before, don’t despair. You might have a picture of porky ramen, wagyu beef, and raw sushi in your head when you think of Japanese cuisine, but I’d like to introduce you to another style of cooking that is authentic, wonderful, and uniquely Japanese. Even if you are an omnivore like myself...

Tiny towns in Istria, Croatia straight out of fairy tales

Sure, everyone is talking about Croatia these days, especially in the wake of the tremendously successful and picturesque Game of Thrones filmings. Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb. All ubiquitous and all completely crowded. Interested in Croatia but not crowds and trends? Have you heard of Istria? Croatia is generally regarded to be composed of four regions: the famous...

Landscape of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan

Where to camp with Bedouins in Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan

Welcome back to Wondrous Paths! Thanks for everyone still reading and here’s my latest in a post series on Jordan. My favorite part of my trip was the Jordanian famous red sand desert, Wadi Rum. This otherworldly desert is definitely something every visitor to Jordan should make a top priority to see. I know many people just come for Petra and leave, but it’s worth...

Blue Mosque view in Istanbul

How to explore Istanbul’s Old City, Sultanahmet

If you’re new to Istanbul, chances are you are going to be spending time in the Old City, a.k.a. the Sultanahmet neighborhood. Sultanahmet is located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, on the southeast coast of the European side.  Sultanahmet is the oldest part of Istanbul, and was historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium.  Sightseeing in...