Articles Written By: JB & Renée Macatulad

This author has written 494 articles

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Ella, Sri Lanka (2019)

Badulla / SRI LANKA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Oct 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Located about 200 km east of Colombo, Ella is a small mountain town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Due to its higher elevation, it's known for its cooler climate and landscape characterized by cloud-covered hills, waterfalls, and tea plantations.

Porto Food Guide: 15 Must-Eat Restaurants in Porto, Portugal

FOOD GUIDES / Porto / PORTUGAL / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Before arriving in Porto, we had little experience with Portuguese food except for what we'd seen in travel food shows. I knew the Portuguese ate a lot of seafood, especially bacalhau or salted cod, and were the inventors of those delicious eggy custard tarts known as pastel de nata.

Granada Food Guide: 13 Must-Eat Tapas Bars & Restaurants in Granada, Spain

Andalusia / FOOD GUIDES / SPAIN / WHEN WE WANDER Oct 8, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Aside from being delicious, there's really nothing special or unique about the tapas in Granada. What makes it different, is the culture. Unless you want to, you never have to order a la carte from a bar because a small plate of tapas comes free with every drink order. Order a small glass of beer, and you'll get a small plate of tapas. Every time.

Saigon Food Tour: Eat Your Way Through Ho Chi Minh City in a Vintage Citroen 2CV!

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 9, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

I went on a few organized tours in Vietnam, including a motorbike tour in Saigon which I thought was pretty different from anything I had done to that point, until this shiny red Citroen 2CV pulled up in front of our hotel.

Hanoi Coffee Guide: 13 Instagrammable Cafes in Hanoi, Vietnam

FOOD GUIDES / Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 5, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

You can have great coffee anywhere in the country, but for me, the most enjoyable was in Hanoi, largely because of its plethora of interesting and quirky cafes. If you're planning a trip to Vietnam's capital, then here are thirteen coffeehouses to perk up your palate and your Instagram feed.

Hanoi Food Tour: Explore Hanoi’s Best Markets with A Chef’s Tour

Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Most of the time, we visit wet markets during the day but thanks to A Chef's Tour, I got to experience one of Hanoi's biggest markets at the crack of dawn, when it's at its liveliest. The difference in market activity between 5AM and 11AM is literally like night and day.

Time Out Market: 6 Stalls to Visit at Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon, Portugal

FOOD GUIDES / Lisbon / PORTUGAL / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 12, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Time Out Market is a food hall located inside the historic Mercado da Ribeira, a traditional market hall built in the 1890s in Lisbon's now trendy Cais do Sodre waterfront district.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Delhi, India (2019)

Delhi / INDIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Aug 25, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Delhi is one of the most important cities in India, having served as a vital political, commercial, and cultural hub throughout its long history. It's one of the oldest cities in the world and is believed to have been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BCE.

UNITED KINGDOM: What is the True Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala? (Recipe)

Europe / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Last Updated: Aug 25, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Chicken tikka masala is a heavenly dish made with boneless chunks of roasted marinated chicken swimming in a delicious creamy curry. Though it's clearly an Indian-influenced dish, its exact origins are unknown.

Agra Day Tour: Visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri on a Private Tour from Delhi

Agra / INDIA / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 25, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

The word "breathtaking" is often used to describe picturesque places and scenery, but rarely is it meant in a literal sense. At the Taj Mahal, I literally felt my breath leave my body when I walked through the south gate and laid eyes on this majestically beautiful building for the very first time.

HONG KONG: Dim Sum, Evolve or Die?

Asia / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Aug 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine. It can be found in different forms throughout the country, though it's most closely associated with Hong Kong and Guangdong Province – ie Cantonese cuisine.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kolkata (Calcutta), India (2019)

INDIA / Kolkata / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 25, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kolkata is a city of revolutionaries and intellectuals. It's regarded as the cultural capital of India, having spawned generations of artists, poets, writers, film producers, and Nobel Prize winners.

HONG KONG: The Best Char Siu in the Universe

Asia / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Aug 11, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Char siu refers to barbecued pork and is the most popular type of siu mei in Cantonese cuisine. The term char siu literally means "fork roasted" and refers to the traditional method of skewering seasoned boneless pork with long forks and cooking it over an open fire.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hong Kong (2019)

HONG KONG / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Whether you're into shopping, food, fashion, or nightlife, I hope our Hong Kong travel guide can help you plan your trip. As you'll quickly learn when you step foot in this city, Hong Kong has it all.

Hong Kong Food Guide: 19 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Hong Kong

FOOD GUIDES / HONG KONG / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Sep 29, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hong Kong is a gastronomic city in every way, offering a range of experiences from fine dining to street food, a lot of it at a very high level.

Hong Kong Food Tour: Eat Your Way Through Kowloon with A Chef’s Tour

HONG KONG / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

This Hong Kong food tour takes you to key spots in Kowloon like Mongkok and Sham Shui Po to give you the most authentic examples of Cantonese cuisine. There are no touristy stops on this tour. Each place has a long history and many of them are known only to locals.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Phuket, Thailand (2019)

Phuket / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Aug 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Phuket refers to both the province and the island in southern Thailand. It's the country's second smallest province but it's biggest island, home to beautiful white sand beaches along its southern and western coast and a spattering of smaller islands just off the mainland.

Phuket Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Phuket, Thailand

FOOD GUIDES / Phuket / THAILAND / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Phuket was once a port of call, routinely seeing traders from China, India, Malaysia, Persia, Arabia, Indonesia, and Portugal. Each of these traders brought with them spices, recipes, and cooking techniques that helped shape Phuket's cuisine.