A Train Lovers' Guide To Thailand

This article was written by Megan Eileen McDonough, Founder of Bohemian Trails. Despite being Europe's richest city, Hamburg's humble neighborhoods don't show off, but rather, showcase both old and new influences in true style. From alternative Sternschanze and lively St. Pauli to modern HafenCity, these five neighborhoods showcase the many faces of Hamburg. The next time you find yourself in the Baltic Sea Region, head straight to Hamburg and rent a bike for the best city views. SternschanzePerhaps one of Hamburg's best examples of gentrification, Sternschanze, or simply "Schanze," is Hamburg's hippest neighborhood of the moment. The graffiti-covered buildings and walls give the area a charming grungy appeal while the high-end restaurants, trendy cafes and fashion boutiques provide a stark contrast. Due to an increase in rents, many families and couples have flocked to the area but it's still a cultural playground for all residents. HafenCityEven from a distance, HafenCity looks completely different than anywhere else in Hamburg. This brown development project, when completed, will affect a total of ten neighborhoods of different sizes. In a nutshell, the entire area is undergoing a serious revamp, with hotels, offices, shops, buildings and residential spaces replacing old port warehouses. From an architectural standpoint, it's impressive to say the least and easy to get around by bike. St. PauliSt. Pauli might be better known as Hamburg's "red-light district," but there's also a bit of Beatles' history here. The Reeperbahn is the main street and serves as an unofficial divider between day and night attractions. On one side there are galleries and on the other, a slew of nightclubs. Things generally pick up around 11pm and it can get rather crowded, so keep an eye out for traffic. Swing by INDRA, the music venue where the Beatles first performed. KarolinenviertelAlthough technically the northern part of St. Pauli, Karolinenviertel has a distinct look and feel that deserves just as much attention. Park your bike near Marktstraße and and wander in and out of the shops. This area has experienced quite a bit of gentrification as well yet there are still remnants of what it looked liked years before. Fashionistas should head to Maison Suneve and those on the hunt for home goods with a twist will appreciate Lockengeloet. AltonaAn independent city until 1937, Altona is now part of Hamburg and an emerging one at that. The Altona Museum gives a great crash course into the area while Ottensen is the main street for shopping as well as bars, cafes and restaurants. Since Altona is more west than the other neighborhoods on this list, biking is a quick and easy way to experience everything from the architecture to the bohemian atmosphere and multicultural flair. 

This article was written by Sia Ling Xin, who travels and writes about it for Asiarooms.com, a blog and online community focused on travelling in Asia. You can also find her on Twitter. Thailand is famous for many things: her street food, shopping, and sunny islands among others. What many do not realise is the Land of Smiles also has mouth-watering desserts up for offer. Fresh back home from a trip to Thailand, I find myself plagued by insatiable sweet-tooth cravings night after night. I would gladly return to Thailand simply to feast on the wide array of sweet treats available there. If you are lucky enough to be heading there soon, here are five delicious desserts you have to try. Tub Tim Grob (Red Ruby)Crunchy bits of water chestnut, coated with gelatinous tapioca flour and dyed red, resembles the namesake of this dessert. Those sweet, vividly coloured ruby balls are served in a drink of cold coconut milk. The result is a velvety broth and delightfully chewy morsels with every slurp. This dessert feels impossibly decadent and refreshing at the same time. It can be found at most restaurants or food courts. Foi Thong (Golden Egg Yolk String)Egg yolk and sugar are forced into a thin, stringy form, and rapidly boiled in syrup flavoured with rose water or jasmine flower essence. A mix of chicken and duck eggs may be used. It is recognised for its impossibly bright orange-yellow colour, and is commonly served at weddings or other important occasions for luck. The thin strands of yolk, infused with the fragrance of the rose water, tastes striking yet delicate. This classy, intricate item can be found in most restaurants. If you are visiting street food markets, you may even spot a skilled Foi Thong lady making it fresh. Some grocery or convenient stores may stock it in the chilled section. Khao Niaow Ma Muang (Mango sticky rice)Mangoes are aplenty in Thailand, and those travelling to Thailand should be glad, for you are bound to fall in love with this sweet tropical fruit with its silky smooth flesh. Mango sticky rice sees a whole mango fruit, skinned and pitted, cut into bite-sized portions, and served atop chewy glutinous rice. Rice kripsies, peanuts or other crunchy toppings, alongside coconut milk, may be poured over the dessert. The magic that pulls it all together is the impossible sweetness of the normally tart mango—it's impossible to replicate the ripeness and taste of the Thai mango. This dessert can be pretty filling, and is worth saving some stomach space for. Mango sticky rice is the quintessential Thai dessert, and can be found anywhere from street food carts to high-end restaurants. Thai pancakeAnyone who has pounded the streets of Thailand would have passed by a pancake stall. A dozen of them can easily be found along any single tourist street. Crispy, greasy, and highly addictive, this pancake tastes like a cross between a sweet biscuit and a fire-baked uber-thin pizza. The pancake seller usually prepares little lumps of dough, which she will toss and stretch and throw onto a hot grill with sizzling margarine. On its own, it's quite savoury. You can opt for a variety of toppings, from condensed milk to Nutella to tuna. They all taste delicious! Coconut ice creamNot easy to find despite being so popular, so if you stumble upon a vendor who sells coconut ice-cream, go ahead and treat yourself to a cone. The Thais love their coconuts, and nothing is quite as refreshing on a sweltering day in the tropics as this dessert. It is creamy, mild, and tastes so light you may associate it more with sorbet than ice cream. Sometimes served on a hollowed out shell of a young coconut, it may come topped with nuts or sweet corn. This simple, homely ice cream puts complicated, new-fangled flavours to shame. The best thing is, it tastes as good as it looks.

This article was written by Ofer Valencio Akerman, a turnaround expert and lifetime entrepreneur. He is the founder of hivino.travel, a travel site dedicated to helping people discover amazing places in Germany. Not sure where to spend your next weekend adventure? Take a breather from the hustle and bustle of Berlin, and broaden your horizons at one of the national parks just a stone's throw from the city. Discovered by HiVino, these five spots offer all manner of flora, fauna, and fun-filled activities with nary a U-Bahn station in sight. Jasmund National ParkYou know how the saying goes: The best things come in tiny packages, and no place exemplifies that statement quite like Jasmund. This bite-sized National Park may be Germany's smallest, but don't let the size fool you; from soaring chalk cliffs to stunning beech groves, the natural splendor here is beyond breathtaking. Stroll along the hiking trails to search for orchids, eagles, and rare plants, or hop on your bike for a relaxing ride along the Baltic Sea. Traveling with the kids? You're in for a special treat: Jasmund offers an array of family-friendly climbing trees that let little ones channel their inner Tarzans. Nationalpark HarzIf magical forests and fog-drenched vistas dominate your daydreams, Nationalpark Harz is your ticket to paradise. Sprawled across both Niedersachsen and Sachsen-Anhalt, this vast region is filled with the sort of canyons, valleys, and woodland hideaways you see splashed across the silver screen. Spend an afternoon spotting bats and boars on the hiking trails, but make sure to budget enough time for a ride on the Brockenbach. This 19th-century railway takes you on a climb to Brocken Mountain's peak, and it still operates on a nostalgic steam engine. The BasteiMother Nature definitely outdid herself with this one. Uncovered by HiVino's network of travel experts, this Saxon Switzerland rock formation is among the region's most striking landmarks, and its sky-high beauty and untouched surroundings nod to the continent's geological past. History lovers will have a special fondness for the park; the iconic Basteibrucke Bridge leads directly to the 14th-century fortress of Neurathen and its panoramic views of the Elbasandsteine. Hainich National ParkWant to walk on top of the world? Grab your hiking boots, and make a beeline for Thuringia's one and only Hainich National Park. Tucked among the deciduous forests and wildcat habitats, you'll find the Treetop Trail: a tour that lets you climb to the heights of Germany's very own jungle. You can even explore adventure trails that combine playful activities with natural wonders or take your kiddos on a hunt for hidden treasure. Hainich truly has it all. Muritz National Park Welcome to the land of a thousand lakes. Protected by UNESCO, this biosphere reserve all but overflows with waterfront vistas, wetland sights and must-try discovery trails. Get the lay of the land at the observation tower of Kaflingsbergturm, test your exploring skills with a GPS Adventure Tour, or commune with nature on a relaxing stroll around the ponds and bogs. Trust us: When it comes to lakeside wonderlands, Muritz National Park takes the cake. Need a few more ideas? HiVino's insiders' community is the place to be. From cliffs and canyons to riverside retreats, this network of local experts has the inside scoop on Germany's best-kept secrets, and they can't wait to share the finds. Pack those bags, and get ready for an adventure.

If you're going to be in New York City this weekend, don't miss the Duckathlon. Wait, what? Yes, the Duckathlon is a daylong food festival that will take you on an "experiential journey" from farm to table. Presented by D'Artagnan—which produces some of the tastiest poultry and game meats by working with small farms and making sustainability and humane farming practices a priority—Duckathlon will include demonstrations and challenges led by top chefs and farmers. When you're not tasting great food or watching a chef teach kitchen skills, you can interact with farmers and chefs to learn more about responsible farming and local sourcing. And if you're game, you can participate in some of the two dozen interactive challenges, such as identifying cuts of meat with Chef Shane McBride of NYC's Balthazar, taking a quiz on squab husbandry (yes, squab husbandry is a thing that exists), and test your knowledge of swine anatomy using a pig puzzle. Prizes will include wine, kitchen knives, whole hams courtesy of D'Artagnan, restaurant gift certificates, and Duckathlon medals. The Duckathlon is a benefit for Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian agency that feeds malnourished children and helps communities become self-sufficient. The agency's FoodLove initiative connects food enthusiasts and brands to the fight to end world hunger. When: Saturday June 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St., NYC Tickets: Open to adults 21 and older, $60 (groups of four will receive a 10 percent discount).