HowWeEat.Net

I'd like to formally introduce our new sister site, https://howweeat.net. Its primarily focused on food for anyone who appreciates the ritual of eating. Check it out and tell us what you think!

Trip Planning: South Africa

Hey Guys,

We will be traveling to South Africa (SA) soon and are looking for any advice for visiting SA. First we will be in Johannesburg and then Cape Town. 

Any advice on things to do, places to go, especially what and where to eat would be greatly appreciated. Let us know in the comments. Thanks!

Going to Space with the American Museum Of Natural History

Going to outer space just got a while lot easier.

I Travel Not To Go Anywhere...

The City Scale: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. Often referred to as KL. It is filled with a variety of people who are friendly enough to help you with most problems you may have.

1. The People and The Culture (4/5)

The population of KL is very diverse. You will find Christian, Hindu and Islamic influences everywhere and from what I've seen, they have been able to integrate peacefully. Everyone shows off their culture respectful, in ways which breeds tolerance and some lovely art.

2. Things to Do (4/5)

There is no shortage of things to do and sights to see. It is a very lively city where there is always something going on, even late at night. I suggest stepping out of your comfort zone and singing some karaoke. The one draw back is that I didn't experience a whole lot of nature here. Like I was told many times 'KL is a mall city'. They are everywhere. So, if you like shopping make sure to take advantage.

3. Transportation (5/5)

Transport is definitely not a problem in the city. There are taxi's, busses, trains, the works. Most things are fairly close also so walking is also an option. Furthermore they have loads of transportation apps which make getting around even easier.

4. The Food (3/5)

The food is ok. There is some international selection. But most of the cheaper food is mostly local street food. Its pretty standard SEA food with some local variations. Good but again, nothing particularly spectacular

5. Standouts (2/5)

Although I think Kuala Lumpur is a great city and I had a fantastic time, writing this made me realize, there weren't any real standouts. The great thing is the feel of the city. It has a lot of city life but still manages to keep a calm air that is pleasant to be in. However, nothing particularly special standout about the city.

Overall 18/25

The City Scale

Every city is different and unique so it is difficult to judge them against each other. However, we all know that judging is what we do best and with judging there has to be competition. I write about my favorite cities but theres nothing real to back it up. To help me remedy this problem I've come up with some criteria to judge each city. They are:

1. The People and Culture

The people are what make the city. Are they friendly? Are they crazy? Do they take enough showers? The entire Human Resource of a country will be covered in this category. Closely linked to 'The People' is the culture. I've found that in several cities theres a definitely lack of an identity while in some cities thats the only thing going for them. But the real question is, 'Is it a culture which you want to experience?' 

2. Things To Do

The next thing is the attractions. This might not necessarily be just touristy things but really how active can you be. Even better, are the things to do worthwhile. There are loads of places that advertise many things to do, but the reality is they lack excitement and value.

3. Transportation

Getting around is an important factor in any place you go. Accessibility is key. There may be loads of things to do but lets face it, if you can't  get to any of them, then it is a big dud.

4. The Food

Undeniably one of the most important factors for me is access to good food. If cup-o-noodles is constantly on the menu because I simply don't trust anything else. Well then there is an issue.

5. Standouts

Last but not least, we have 'The Standouts'. There are many cities where there are several aspects that don't make sense but there is a unique factor which makes up for everything. This is where we will account for that. Whether, these are negative or positive factors, we will discuss them here.

Every category will get a score out of 5. Then we will tally up the marks and rank the cities accordingly. So what do you think of the scale? Do you think I missed anything? Let me know in the comments below. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Miss Universe 2016

I remember as a kid, watching this show with my family. I would never know when it was coming up but the day of, someone would mention it and everyone would gather around to watch. It was like the whole football season in one night for mom's. Picking a team, debating if they would win and being super critical of every move they make. I love the conversations that would come out of watching this international competition, "she doesn't even look (insert any country here)", "is that really what they wear over there?", "no way she can go home after saying that." Then debating the merits of the final winner.

One of the coolest things for me was seeing the amount of different countries. In the opening ceremony when all of the different contestants would introduce themselves, I was always tuned it completely. It was always a favorite of mine. I'm from a small country and geography was never really my thing, so I was constantly wondering if those were real countries or if someone was pulling our legs, hoping to see if someone would noticed. But it was never a hoax. There really are that many countries. I can only imagine what people think when a gorgeous lady walks across the stage claiming to be from Barbados.

This year, for the first time in many years, Barbados will be sending a candidate to the competition. Miss Shannon Harris is a lovely, 22 year old Barbadian girl, who will be representing the island at the pageant. Based on what I've been seeing, she's going to kill it. She's beautiful, smart and well spoken. The whole package. Which from what I hear, is exactly what the judges are looking for. However, its our job to continually support her. Showing her love, and letting everyone else in the world know we think she's already Miss Universe. To see more of Shannon, check out her Instagram and her Miss Universe profile. And don't forget to tune in on January 29, I bet her opening dress will be on point.