A visit to Singapore will not be complete without trying all the local food. The Lion City is aptly titled the food paradise of Asia, if not the world. There are countless dishes that serve to tickle anyone’s tastebuds.

The main reason the country has so many different types of food on a small island is because Singapore has a multi-cultural and multi-racial society. With four main races of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian, it is no surprise that Singapore has become known as the Asian food mecca.

Chicken rice is a very common dish yet is hugely popular with people of all ages. The best chicken rice in Singapore is often sold in hawker stalls and not in expensive restaurants. It is a delicacy that came from the grassroots and not the concoction of a famous chef.

Singapore has a large Malay community, thus their dishes are a fixture with many locals. Nasi lemak is a meal that has an assortment of side dishes with white rice. The side dishes are a mixture of egg, chili, chicken, fried anchovies and otak otak. The latter is actually fish paste mixed with different local spices.

Nasi lemak might sound like nothing special. However, it can be taken as a meal in any situation and thus its popularity. It has all the benefits of being convenient, healthy and as the dish is cheap, it helps many locals save money.

Dishes from other foreign cultures have also seen a growing presence in Singapore. As Singapore pushes to grow its economy, it has accepted many people from other parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States into its community. These foreigners have also brought along their own food culture onto her shore.

There is a huge Japanese community who have made Singapore their working home. This has resulted in hundreds of Japanese eateries and restaurants sprouting up across the island and introducing East Asian cuisine to the locals. It might be difficult to find the best authentic Japanese ramen in Singapore due to the sheer number of shops available.

With the introduction of the Korean Wave, this other East Asian country has seen a huge increase of its culture being exported. Singapore has naturally been influenced by them. There is also a sizable local Korean community that serve their delicacies and the best Korean restaurant in Singapore can often be found in their midst.

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There are many people who want to visit Germany but are reluctant to do so, as most of the tours being offered online are just variations of the same themes – visit landmarks, tour the countryside, take in the culture by watching arranged presentations- the works. Many travelers avoid these formula tours, and instead make their own research about the country they intend to visit, plan the places they would see, then make the necessary arrangements themselves. This is a much better way, as one avoids being forced to endure tiring and boring forays, the time and money for which could be better spent on more productive pursuits. In Germany, as elsewhere, there a lot of things one can do, aside from the activities being aggressively promoted by the tour operators. One can try the dark-themed underground tours, or a tech tour where the object is to visit the plants of world-renowned German companies, such as Adidas and Volkswagen. Or if you want something really fun and productive, a Christmas Market tour.

You might have heard about the German Christmas Market, a centuries-old tradition which was believed to have started in the 1620s and which continue to be observed by the Germans today. What you should do is schedule your trip to Germany around December, when the Christmas Markets are open. To make your vacation a real and unique treat, you should plan a trip that will cover as many Christmas Markets as you can during your stay. This means that you’ll plan your trip not just around one or two cities, but all the major ones that has great Christmas Markets, from Berlin all the way to Munich, Cologne and Hamburg, including towns in between. Your vacation will thus become a huge shopping trip.

Doing your Christmas shopping for gifts on your trip to Germany is an excellent way to steer clear of the usual presents you give your loved ones yearly. The Christmas markets that start to emerge around the end of November offer wide selection of products that are uniquely German, such as marionettes, lambskin shoes, crib figurines, glass artworks, nutcrackers, toys and many more. Each market offers produce distinct to each region, and with Christmas bazaars in all corners of the country, that means endless possibilities for really adventurous shoppers. Whatever plans you may make, be sure to include in your itinerary the Berlin Christmas market. It is the most popular one with nearly a million visitors attending it every year, but despite the flood of shoppers, you’ll surely appreciate spending some time in this place, as you get to feel the festive atmosphere of the markets as well as find new products that are just being introduced by manufacturers.

Amid your shopping, don’t forget to take in the authentic German traditions and celebrations that are being held to make each German Christmas Market more memorable and unique. Relive the Pied Piper’s path in Hamelin, where the old fashioned Christmas market is held in ancient streets filled with half-timbered buildings, much like as it were in the popular legend. The nativity scene (creche) here is unique, too, as it is actually a petting zoo, which will surely bring much fun for kids. More fun for the kids awaits you in Heidelberg, as activities like baking cookies and making candles are held especially for them. You may find it tiring going to the different Christkindlsmarkt locations, but the rare opportunity to experience something really unique  is quite worth it.

Marice Willard is a travel writer who writes for Zencarhire.com  -  Zen car hire offer cheap car hire in 17,000 location worldwide. Why not make the most of your time in Germany and book your car hire Germany today!

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