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Known by the locals as the go-to hang out after university classes, this little hole-in-the wall specialises in Bánh Tráng – also known as Vietnamese pizza. A light meal ideal for sharing, Bánh Tráng consists of crispy rice paper covered in a variety of toppings, like meat, egg, garlic and herbs – depending on what you choose – or unintentionally order.
Each pizza is fried in a hefty dollop of oil, so while not the healthiest meal, eating is a delight to the senses and Bánh Tráng is the perfect snack to end your day on. The restaurant inside is basic, with cracks lining the pastel coloured walls, and the seating is rudimentary – but within this small restaurant lies the heart and soul of Vietnam; good food and good company.
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São Francisco: Church of Bling
Whether you believe in god or not, a visit to this magnificent place of worship in Salvador’s colonial quarter is a religious experience in its own right. The elaborate Franciscan church dates back to 1686 and took decades to complete due to the intricate, gilded design of its facade and interior.
Pay a visit during Sunday morning mass and prepare to be dazzled by the ornately painted ceilings and woodwork, plated with nearly a tonne of gold leaf, or come on a weekday evening to bask in quiet contemplation amid the glow of prayer candles.
Watch lightning lash the earth at the Catatumbo Delta
If you don’t believe in ancient Greek gods, let alone their hold over the South American continent, prepare to have your convictions rattled.
In the Catatumbo Delta you will be gobsmacked as Zeus – the god of sky and thunder – slices a fiery incision across the heavens with his infamous lightning rod.
The mouth of the Catatumbo, where the river empties into Maracaibo Lake, is an electrical hot spot, where lightning strikes up to 280 times an hour, on about 150 nights a year.
Start your journey by boat, cruising through Juan Manuel National Park, where you’ll spot howler monkeys, iguanas and exotic butterflies, before moving onto Maracaibo Lake, home to freshwater dolphins, pelicans and more than 130 different types of fish.
As the sun sets, cruise into the stilt village of Ologa, settle in to camp and prepare for a spectacular show as the night sky blazes.
Follow the footsteps of drug lord Pablo Escobar
It’s impossible to visit Colombia without encountering vivid reminders of the country’s fraught history of drug cartels and the world’s wealthiest, most infamous criminal: Pablo Escobar. A larger-than-life cocaine kingpin estimated to have been worth US$30 billion, Escobar was also something of a hometown hero, who gave back to Medellín’s poor by investing millions in schools, hospitals, churches and sports stadiums.
On this thrilling, in-depth historical tour of the city where Escobar grew up, built his criminal empire and died in a hail of bullets in 1993, you will get a candid, colourful account of his life and enduring legacy in Medellín. Visit the Monaco building, the site of an attempt on Escobar’s life, as well as the house where he was eventually killed, as bilingual tour guides regale you with juicy details of his extensive criminal operations.
La Maison du Banian Tree house
Robinson Crusoe eat your heart out. This enchanting tree house, 10 kilometres from Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, is an architectural wonder that seamlessly blends island living with the natural environment. The house is built in and around a giant banyan tree and is furnished with home comforts made exclusively from natural materials and fibre.
Take a swing in a hanging bamboo chair and climb a ladder to the loft bedroom, where you’ll wake to birdsong under a canopy of natangora leaves. Feast on a breakfast smorgasbord of fruit and freshly laid eggs, courtesy of the rainforest garden and its resident chickens.
Yellowstone Under Canvas
Some say it’s one of the most beautiful places in the States, and with good reason. Yellowstone National Park consists of almost 900,000 hectares of lakes, canyons, rivers, ranges and some pretty wild geothermal action with a generous side of grizzlies, wolves, bison and other creatures. On its eastern edge, where Montana borders Wyoming and about 50 kilometres from Old Faithful Geyser, you’ll find this glorious campsite.
You can choose from a variety of tents; take the suite option and enjoy your own indoor bathroom with freestanding tub, timber deck and wood-burning stove all in a secluded location with uninterrupted views of the landscape. During the day you can choose from a range of activities, from horse-riding to hiking, fly-fishing to mountain-biking, all of which can be organised by the hosts.
Orca Island Cabins
Perched above the waters of Humpy Cove on a private island near Anchorage in Alaska is a string of cool yurts. Each has its own timber deck overhanging the bay and, even if you never venture further than here, you’ll still be stunned by the surroundings. Harbour seals frolic in the cove and porpoises feed here, otters and Steller sea lions are frequent guests to the area and, during spawning season, black bears can be spotted fishing for salmon.
Each of the yurts is fully kitted out with a kitchen (although you need to bring all your food for your visit), private shower and a barbecue out on the deck. During the day, jump in a kayak and watch out for Willy, as killer whales frequent the waters year-round. You can also take out skiffs and stand-up paddleboards. Take a walk through the forests, bait a line to try and catch your dinner, go tide-pooling on the shore or take in the breathtaking scenes on a cruise.
California’s kooky Madonna Inn
If you’re driving up the famous 101 freeway along the central Californian coast, the landmark Madonna Inn is hard to miss, and downright impossible to pass up.
A bizarre mix of Wild West bordello, Fred Flintstone’s cave and the Playboy mansion, Madonna Inn features rooms fitted out with unique themes, including kitsch details such as mounted buffalo heads, old prairie wagons, bold animal prints and showers (and urinals) carved out of rock. Try one of the trio of merry-go-round themed rooms for a whimsical slumber that’s sure to induce sweet dreams.
Heart attack on a plate
Where else but Las Vegas – city of sin and excess – would you find an eating den that is such an unashamed peddler of super-sized fast food? The Heart Attack Grill is the baron of big-bastard burgers: obscenely humongous grease towers, dripping with almost 10,000 calories. You are considered a patient here, not a customer, and the wait staff (nurses) will take you through a menu that defies all sense of dietary restraint.
Choose between the Quadruple Bypass Burger and, because you’re a serious glutton, the Octuple Bypass Burger, and see if you can stomach up to 1.8 kilograms of beef. Grab a side of Flatliner Fries (cooked in pure lard) and wash it all down with a Butterfat Milkshake. Diners who weigh more than 350 pounds (159 kilograms) get unlimited free food. Finish the Quadruple Bypass Burger and you’ll receive a free ride to your car in a wheelchair, which is handy because heart attacks aren’t uncommon here.
Base jump for two
Who says you need to be a professional parachutist to dabble in an extreme sport outlawed in many jurisdictions? In Twin Falls, Idaho, Tandem Base lets you fling yourself off the 150-metre Perrine Bridge, the Snake River sliding by below, while strapped to a trained accomplice. (Did someone say murder–suicide?) This is one heart-stopping rush and a unique opportunity to experience skydiving sans aeroplane, without the risk of being arrested.
On its website Tandem Base warns that the activity is “not safe but… can be performed safely”. If you are thinking of chickening out, know this: a 102-year-old granny took the plunge on her birthday.
