Asia and Pacific Rim

The streets of Bali

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No wonder Bali is such a popular holiday spot—it has something for everyone. Here are some of our favorite photos, from street food to wood (and skull!) carvers, traditional dancers to young lovers, and spectacular street processions to haunting masks.

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Street food in Bali

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We were warned against eating street food in Bali, but couldn’t resist, so we tried despite concerns about getting “Bali belly.” Fortunately, we had no problems — and the food was wonderful! The warm meatball soup we got at this little green cart was particularly good.

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Tasty meals at Bedulu in Bali

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Our tiny resort in Bedulu was beautiful, and the family restaurant served us fresh, tasty meals. The care that went into preparing even a simple fruit plate was typically Balinese, and continued to delight us as we visited various parts of the island.

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Semondu restaurant in Sri Lanka

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The name of the restaurant “Semondu” is derived from the word Simoundou, an ancient name for Sri Lanka given by Ptolomy, the famous Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. Semondu’s interior has a modern fusion theme, in keeping with its cuisine, and incorporates “colonial charm” with modern ambiance. We loved with the glass floor, which changed colors across the spectrum.

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King Coconut in Sri Lanka

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Here, a friendly street vendor uses his machete to open a coconut, then shows us how to use a slice of the of the outside shell as a spoon to scoop out the tasty “meat” inside. Both the cool coconut water and the mild-tasting, jelly-like meat are especially refreshing.

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Sri Lanka’s Festival of the August Moon

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From our Sri Lankan correspondent Lakshman Ratnapala, Chairman, Enelar International The 2,000-year-old DALADA  PERAHERA paraded the streets of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last royal citadel for 10 nights, concluding with the August full moon, yesterday, Saturday, August 29th 2015. Held every year in honor of the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the parade features scores […]

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Egg Hopper breakfast in Sri Lanka

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By Jim Shubin. In Sri Lanka, Egg Hoppers make a quick and delicious breakfast: First warm the specially shaped bowl, then pour in just the right amount of the rice flour batter. It may take some practice to get the right amount. Swirl the batter…

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Full Moon Festival in Sri Lanka

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The Esala Perahera  (Festival of the August Full Moon) in Sri Lanka’s last Royal citadel of Kandy is something not to miss in August, says our Sri Lanka correspondent Lakshman Ratnapala. According to ancient Royal customs, the Diya-wadana Nilame (the Custodian of the Dalada Maligawa — the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), Nilanga Dela Bandara, along with the Basnayake Nilames (Chiefs of the surrounding Temples), officially presented […]

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Sri Lanka: See before you go

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Ayubowan—May you have the gift of long life! This is the traditional Sri Lankan greeting, and you’ll need a long life to enjoy all of Sri Lanka’s beauty and heritage. Whether you’re planning a trip or armchair traveling, you’ll enjoy this 150-page full-color travel journal featuring more than 480 photos of seven UNESCO World Heritage […]

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The Faces of Bali

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Destination Insights photographers love the little, often-overlooked objects around town—any town or village. Wandering around Ubud we saw our first strange stone Balinese carvings (some were concrete castings). Unusual, weird, “off-color,” or just plain sexy, they first amused us at the Sayan Terrace Hotel. Soon we were finding these odd statues, most only one meter tall, […]

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