FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: unusual

  • Dine in Style at Melbourne’s Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

    Melbourne’s trams are the backbone of the Victorian capital, a unique public transport system which ferries locals and travelers to the main streets and tourist sites in Melbourne’s inner city and the suburbs. But these cable cars don’t just move people about; they also provide an unusual dining opportunity at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

    This quirky restaurant delivers a moving meal in more ways than one. It departs several times daily from the #125 tramstop on Normandy Road and travels around the city and suburbs as diners enjoy their meals. From $77 diners can enjoy between three and five courses, depending on the time of day they travel, and beverages from the restaurant’s fully stocked bar.

    A set menu of local gourmet cuisine is offered on each journey, including Tasmanian ocean trout, seared kangaroo loin, and Victorian farmed beef fillets. The delicious food, all-inclusive drinks package, and unique atmosphere help to justify the high costs of an evening on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. It’s certainly not an everyday dining option, but it would be a great way for tourists to see the city, or locals to celebrate a special event.

    A meal on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is a fun way to experience Melbourne’s public transport history while enjoying fine contemporary cuisine.

  • Dangerous Dishes in Asia – Deadly Foods for Brave Travelers

    Forget the fried rice and dim sum in Hong Kong. If you really want to live on the edge while visiting Asia, you’ll need to try some of the continent’s deadly dishes.

    Deadly may be overstating the point a little, but the following meals definitely have an element of danger that entices thrill seeking diners! Fugu, or puffer fish as it is commonly known, is a potentially deadly Japanese delicacy. The seafood contains tetrodotoxin, a poison which is almost 100 times more poisonous than cyanide! If it’s prepared well it'll contain just enough poison to numb your lips and tickle your nerves. If prepared incorrectly, you'll be paralyzed and die from heart failure or asphyxiation within hours. It sounds like a bit of a gamble, but so long as you dine in a restaurant licensed to sell the dish you should escape unscathed! [caption id="attachment_3627" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A puffer fish"]A puffer fish[/caption] Foodies in China willingly risk hepatitis, typhoid, and dysentery for a taste of blood clams. The danger comes from the bacteria the clams harbor which often survives the boiling process. Sadly there's no safe way to go about trying the treats as they're banned in the country, although you can buy them on the black market. If you're brave prepare to pay exorbitant prices and risk serious illness! The South Korean delicacy of sannakji is the tamest dish on this list, but it's certainly not for the faint hearted. It's actually raw baby octopus served up still squirming about on your plate! Seafood doesn't come much fresher than that! The danger comes from the octopus' suction caps, which can latch onto your mouth or throat and cause choking. Make sure you take small bites and chew each one thoroughly to minimize the risks.

    [Image Source: Cliff1066/Flickr]

  • Thailand’s Tiger Temple, the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno Monastery

    Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno monastery is a modest place of worship, unremarkable in many ways.

    In fact, if it were not for its unique residents you wouldn't know about this site in regional Thailand at all. But here tourists travel daily to marvel at the monks who share their lives with tigers. Buddhism is at the heart of the monastery, which is sometimes known as the Tiger Temple. However, it also acts as a wildlife sanctuary for the area's endangered and injured animals. Over time the monks have adopted peacocks, deer, horses, and now tigers. [caption id="attachment_3346" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A monk walks with tigers at Thailand's Tiger Temple"]Monk at Thailand Tiger Temple[/caption] The monastery's first tiger arrived in 1995. The cub was orphaned at the hands of poachers, and the monks quickly stepped in to raise the helpless creature. The numbers have since grown, and today the monastery is home to several adult and juvenile tigers. Visitors to the monastery can see tigers feeding, playing, and spending time with the monks. A highlight for tigers and tourists alike is bath time, which happens every day at 2 pm. It's important to remember that while the tigers have lived with the monks for many years, they are still wild animals. Guests are advised not to wear brightly colored clothes or perfumes, as these may disturb the tigers. You should also refrain from making loud noises, and never turn your back on the animals. Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno monastery is a 30-minute bus or taxi ride from Kanchanaburi, a metropolitan center lying three hours from Bangkok. Tourists with an interest in meditation are invited to stay with the monks in their temple. As is Buddhist custom, there is no charge for this accommodation, although it is polite to offer a donation. These financial gifts help the monks feed their tigers and other animals.