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Best Cat Destinations Around the World for Cat Lovers
Cats and travel might sound like an unusual combination, but there are cat destinations around the world that travelers like myself flock to. From cute cat cafes in Seoul, South Korea to city parks in Peru. There are unique cat attractions around the world that have become must-visit experiences for animal lovers. Whether you are planning your next international adventure or simply looking for unusual travel ideas, these cat destinations around the world offer memorable experiences, local culture, and plenty of adorable photo opportunities. For cat lovers, these destinations are more then just tourist attractions. They are places where communities care for local cats, and travelers connect over a shared love of animals, every corner seems to come with a furry surprise! ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Best Cat Destinations Around the World Cat tourism has always been popular, but seems to have become increasingly popular thanks to social media, viral travel videos, and a growing interest in animal-friendly experiences. Cat Cafes, cat islands, and cities known for their feline residents seem to offer a slower and more memorable style of travel that appeals to photographers, animal lovers, and cultural travelers alike. I’ve always sought out cat destinations along my travels. I grew up with cats and absolutely love them! Below you can find some of the famous cat attractions and destinations I’ve visited while traveling the world in search for cute kitties. Asia Ojima Island: Okinawa, Japan Connected to Okinawa’s main island by a short bridge, Ojima Island is known as a laid-back fishing village with amazing tempura shops, and a large population of stray cats. You’ll notice cats lounging all over the island and many begging for food. Ojima is not officially one of Japan’s famous cat islands but it’s a hidden gem for cat lovers visiting Okinawa. Visiting Ojima Island is perfect for those that want to try local Okinawan tempura, enjoy the beautiful ocean views, and socialize with the local cat population. Sanagi Island: Kagawa Prefecture, Japan Japan is known for its cat islands and one of my favorites is Sanagi Island. Located in the Seto Inland Sea, Sanagi Island is one of the lesser known cat islands. Sanagi Island, is a small island that is home to a small population of residents along with dozens of cats that roam the quiet fishing villages on Sanagi Island. Sanagi offers a peaceful and authentic atmosphere where visitors can enjoy the slow paced island life, experience rural Japan, and spend time with the local feline residents. Sanagi Island is accessible by ferry from Tadotsu near Marugame. When Jill and I visited Sanagi Island, I felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We didn’t run into any tourists. It was just us, locals, and the dozens of cats that greeted us while walking around. Houtong Cat Village: Taiwan Tucked away in the mountainous region of northern Taiwan, Houtong Cat Village is one of the most famous cat destinations in the world. What was once a quiet coal mining town has transformed into a paradise for cats and cat lovers. In Houtong Cat Village, there are hundreds of friendly cats, cute cafes, shops, and all things cats. It truly is a cat lovers paradise and it’s an easy day trip from Taipei. The village gained international attention when local villagers started caring for abandoned cats in Houtong and sharing photos. I think social media definitely helped the town go viral. Today, visitors can explore Houtong Cat Village by wandering the alleyways, visiting local cat-themed shops, eating at local cafes, and taking photos of the adorable cats throughout Houtong Cat Village. From Taipei Main Station, the journey by train to Houtong is only an hour. You can combine a day trip with popular places like Jiufen. Cat Cafe’s: Seoul, South Korea We really enjoyed our time in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to visiting S. Korea for our first time we were well aware of cat cafe’s. Surprisingly we only ended up going to one, we did go to a puppy cafe as well which was cute, but this is about cats right? Not dogs! We’ve been to other cat cafe’s around the world, but the one in Seoul stood out and it was around the corner from where we stayed. Here is how it works. You come in, take off your shoes and pay, usually drinks are included. Once you enter you can sit there and pet the kitties, play with them, or just take photos with them. It is funny being in a small space with 10-20 cats at one time. Some of them don’t want to be bothered by anyone while others just love to play. Either way, it is great that the cats get attention and used to people before hopefully being adopted! Mikan the Orange Cat: Kaohsiung, Taiwan In the city of Kaohsiung, located in southern Taiwan, there is a local cat celebrity and honorary station master that goes by the name Mikan. Mikan the adorable orange cat, can be found at the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Metro Station in Kaohsiung. The station itself and many other metro stations in the Kaohsiung area have embraced Mikan’s popularity with cat-themed decorations and merchandise, creating a fun and memorable stop for both train enthusiasts and cat lovers. Europe Cats of Dubrovnik There was not really a “cat attraction” in Dubrovnik, but the whole city seemed to be a playground for cats, they were everywhere! Dubrovnik seems to be the best place for cats, inside the walls, there are no cars, small alley ways, and plenty of fun places for kitties to explore. Around every corner we would see a kitty, especially in the evening times, there would be groups of them. All the cats were well taken care of. Apparently the restaurants leave out their leftover food at night for the cats, primarily fish. We would see piles of cat food in random locations. At one of the main bus stops, we saw a rough looking kitty, he’s been through a lot. It was great to see that no one forgot about him as he had food in the mornings. People in Croatia seem to love their cats. Plus the weather is always nice there! Cat Obsession: Kotor, Montenegro . Doing our research prior to visiting Kotor, we read that they are obsessed with cats in this small medieval town. We were very much looking forward to visiting Kotor because of this reason. Apparently, back in the day, during time of plague, the cats would eat the rats that spread the horrible disease. Because of this, it is likely cats saved hundreds if not thousands of people, so they are basically worshiped in Kotor. There were cats everywhere, but not as many as we saw in Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia, not sure why? Smaller town and crowds perhaps. There was a cat museum in Kotor, no way in hell we could pass that up, besides it was only a Euro (Montenegro uses Euro’s). Umm, it was not quite what I was expecting. I was expecting displays of cat toys, or famous cats from the area. In reality it was full of very odd paintings, postcards with cats, and photos of men during war with cats on their laps. I don’t think I would say this is a must do, but for a Euro it was fun. North America Save a Gato: San Juan, Puerto Rico This has got to be one of my favorite cat attractions/rescues to date! Save a Gato is a rescue organization in San Juan that traps, neuters, and releases cats in Old San Juan. I believe they also foster and adopt kitties out. But once the cats are taken care of at Save a Gato, they are released back to their colonies, more places need to do this!! The best thing about the cats of Old San Juan is the location. You can walk outside the walls around the Forts along the coast and you will see cats everywhere along the trail, sunning on the rocks, in bushes, etc..it was quite fantastic! Cats love soaking up the sunshine by the beach just like we do I guess! If you come here, you are guaranteed to see cats. They all looked well taken care of and seemed to be friendly. Once you exit the trail and get back into Old San Juan, don’t worry, there are cats all around town. Hemingway House: Key West, Florida Home of the six-toed cats! That’s right, a visit to the Hemingway House is not only famous to view Ernest Hemingway’s belongings and works as a writer, but also to see the popular polydactyl (six-toed) kitty cats. His home lies within Key West, Florida on Whitehead St and is home to about 50 cats that sleep around both inside and outside the house. The cats even have their own replica of the Hemingway House. Apparently six toed cats were popular among sailors in the early 1900’s, for several reasons. They were considered good luck, the extra toe allowed for better grip while at sea and made them better mousers. Hemingway received a six toed cat from a sailor named Snow White and that is where it all began! Now a days, you can tour the Hemingway House and visit the cats. During the day, you can catch them sleeping on the furniture, under tables, or outside relaxing in the shade. The grounds also includes a cemetery for the cats and there is a vet that takes care of them all. Cashnip Kitty, Tulsa, Ok The story goes, there is a small business downtown and they have an office cat. For a few days, the employees would come to work and see a few dollar bills laying right by the door. This would be almost a daily occurrence and they finally found out that drunk people would walk by the business, see the cat in the window and play with it using a dollar bill. Eventually the dollar would fall into the office and the cat would claim victory over their money!!!! Since this occurred so often, the business made it into a thing and now they donate all the money to the local homeless shelter. South America Kennedy Park (Kitty Park): Lima, Peru Kennedy Park (Kitty Park), is kind of where it all began. We were in Miraflores which is an upscale area in Lima, Peru. We were visiting a Pre-Inca Ruin and the tour guide mentioned something about a cat park. Did we hear that right, “Cat Park?” We quickly asked the guide if he really meant a cat park, and sure enough, it was true. We arrived at Kitty Park and saw cats everywhere, I read that there are about 100 cats here give or take, and they are all cared for by a group that spays, feeds, and takes care of them all. For the most part they were all in good health, a few had bandages and medicine on wounds, but it is good to know they are cared for. We spent close to a week in Lima, I believe we stopped here at least three times. The cats were all friendly and enjoyed pets and belly rubs. It was funny, you could look into the bushes and see 5-10 curled up taking a cat nap. They were literally everywhere, on benches, people’s laps, tree’s, trails, etc.. Conclusion From the famous cat islands of Japan to the historic streets of Montenegro and Peru’s cat-filled parks, these destinations prove that travel can be both unique and wholesome. For cat lovers, visiting these places offers more then just cute photos, it creates memorable experiences, connections, stories, and opportunities to
First Timer’s Travel Guide to Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka, Japan’s 6th largest city and the capital of Fukuoka prefecture is a modern city with a fantastic food scene. Fukuoka is the result of two cities, Hakata and Fukuoka being merged together in 1889. The city of Fukuoka has two main districts, Hakata and Tenjin, each unique with an exciting nightlife. Fukuoka was the first city I visited when traveling to Japan in 2017. Fort first timer’s, Fukuoka is a great introduction to Japan. The subway line here is easy to figure out, it’s walkable, tourist friendly, and has amazing attractions. Since the first time I visited Fukuoka, I’ve been back here a half dozen times at least. This is my travel guide to Fukuoka for first timer’s. I’ve outlined everything you need to know about visiting Fukuoka from eating amazing Hakata style ramen to visiting the Giant Wooden Buddha. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Fukuoka: Fukuoka is one of my favorite cities in Japan. Fukuoka is easy to navigate, has plenty to see and do, and is famous for Hakata Ramen, the best ramen, in my opinion. Top Things to do in Fukuoka: Eat Ramen. Shop at Canal City. Relax and walk around Ohori Park. Consider taking a Private Fukuoka Tour or this Fukuoka Essentials Tour to see the main highlights and learn about Fukuoka along the way. Where is Fukuoka, Japan? Fukuoka is the capital of the prefecture that shares the same name, Fukuoka prefecture. Fukuoka is on the Japanese island of Kyushu just south of the main Japanese island of Honshu. For reference, Fukuoka is about a 5 hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo and about a 1-1.5 hour Shinkansen ride to the city of Hiroshima. Best Time to Visit Fukuoka I’ve been to Fukuoka during all seasons in Japan and practically every month. My favorite time to visit Fukuoka is during either Sakura Season or the season of Fall. Sakura Season in Fukuoka is not to be missed and I feel Fukuoka is one of Japan’s most underrated cities for Sakura Season. We visited Fukuoka this past April, specifically for Sakura and it did not disappoint. To catch Sakura trees in bloom, I recommend starting at Tochoji Temple and then walk to Shofukuji to catch some of the Sakura Trees near the temples. After visiting Tochoji Temple, head toward to Ohori Park and visit the Fukuoka Castle Ruins for some of Japan’s most spectacular views of Sakura Trees. The Fall season in Fukuoka is also a perfect time to visit. Around late September to early December the temperature begins to cool off and the weather is just perfect. You have to head to the surrounding hills to catch some of the autumn colors, but there are trees throughout the city that do change color. But I recommend Fukuoka during this time of year simply because it’s not tourist season and the weather is ideal. Transportation in Fukuoka Fukuoka Airport is conveniently located in the city of Fukuoka. Fukuoka Airport is a major hub in Japan and offers flights both domestically and internationally. It’s worth flying here from places like Tokyo or Osaka. Many international flights fly in and out of Fukuoka as well. From Fukuoka Airport, there is a subway line directly to JR Hakata Station. It’s only two stops from the airport to Hakata Station. Hakata Station is the main station in Fukuoka and is the main station for the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. You can even purchase Regional and JR Passes at Hakata Station. For first time travelers to Japan, Fukuoka is easy to navigate and the subway system is far from difficult. In Fukuoka, there are three subway lines, the Orange, Blue, and Green lines. Tenjin Station is a popular station and puts you in the heart of Fukuoka. For travelers visiting Japan, you can purchase day passes at both Hakata and Tenjin Station. In the subway stations and trains themselves, announcements will be in both Japanese and English. Signs also have English translations. I wrote a post on general train travel in Japan, in case you want to learn more about trains and train travel throughout Japan. Recommended Places to Stay in Fukuoka Since moving to Japan, I’ve now been to Fukuoka several times and have spent many long weekends here. Not only are hotels in Japan cheaper then what I am used to paying in the United States and Europe but they have a lot of character and bathroom supplies, like toothbrushes, combs, shower caps, razors, etc. The hotels listed below in my guide to Fukuoka are hotels that I stayed at in Fukuoka and personally recommend. None of these hotels are anything fancy or expensive. They are comfortable with all the needed amenities. APA Hotels – APA Hotels are always a classic chain in Japan. With APA, you always know what you are getting. Generally, the rooms are smaller but they have all the needed amenities. I always enjoy my stays at APA. APA does have a solid breakfast as well with all your classic Japanese breakfast dishes. There are several APA Hotels spread throughout Fukuoka. My last visit in April 2023, I Stayed at the APA Hotel Hakata-Ekimae near the Hakata Station. Montan Hakata – Because of a few unfortunate events coming back from Taiwan, I missed my Shinkansen train to Iwakuni and had to book a cheap hotel near Hakata Station. Well, Montan Hakata is a great option if you are looking for a hostel near the Hakata Station. This hostel has a great front desk area which includes breakfast, rental bikes, and they have a great selection of international beer. The rooms here are your traditional tatami rooms with floor mats. The rooms are very spacious and clean with a private bathroom. Riverside Inn Hakata – One of the best hotel stays I’ve ever had. Located right by Canal City and walking distance to both train stations. Breakfast was not included with this stay, but the rooms and views make up for it. The room I had was almost an entire apartment, to include a living room and kitchen. The balcony has a great overlook of the Naka River. Randor Residential Hotel – Another modern style Japanese hotel with all the conveniences and fun toiletries. This hotel was near a local food market and within walking distance to Canal City and Tenjin Station. Must See Attractions in Fukuoka Fukuoka is definitely one of Japan’s most underrated cities. In the grand scheme of things, Fukuoka has it all, amazing food, historical sites, modern architecture, and great transportation. Visitors can easily spend upwards to 3 days in Fukuoka, there is that much to see and do. My guide to Fukuoka lists some of the must see attractions for first timers visiting Fukuoka from a building covered in a forest to a very impressive Wooden Buddha statue at Tochoji Temple and everything in between. ACROS Building Talk about going Green! The Acros Building, near Tenjin Station is a futuristic structure where one side of the building is forested. Acros is well worth a visit, mainly just to see the outside. Visitors can take stairs at the front of the building and actually walk through the forested area of Acros. The view from on to of the building is spectacular. Visitors are greeted by 360° views of Fukuoka. You can walk into the building, but there is nothing worthwhile, perhaps just a quick toilet break if anything. More buildings need to adopt what Acros did. The additional plants on the outside of the buildings contributes to cleaner air, limits the urban heat island affect, it keeps temperatures in the building cooler, not to mention it is pleasant to look at. Canal City Canal City is a modern shopping mall with dining, shops, and an intense light/water show. Canal City is a must when visiting Fukuoka and is in every travel guide to Fukuoka. There are several stories here full of unique shops and delicious restaurants. The main attraction at Canal City is definitely the shallow river that flows through Canal City and the light/water show. I’ve seen the light show three times now and each show had a different theme just as exciting and intense as the last light/water show. Fukuoka Castle Ruins After or prior to visiting Ohori Park, it is recommended to visit Fukuoka’s Castle Ruins. Just a short walk from the park lie the ruins of this enormous castle site. Unfortunately, outside from the recreated gates along the moat, there is no structures remaining of the castle. But the foundation is still in place and the city of Fukuoka does a nice job at maintaining the site. Fukuoka Castle was built in the 17th century as a result of Sekigahara Battle. The castle stood for hundreds of years only to be torn down during the Meiji Restoration era. Fukuoka Castle can be visited all year long but it is absolutely beautiful during Sakura Season. Fukuoka Tower At 234 meters, Fukuoka Tower is the tallest structure in the city of Fukuoka and considered to be Japan’s tallest seaside tower. For ¥800 visitors can take the elevator to Fukuoka Tower’s observation deck. You truly can see the entire city of Fukuoka from here and you fantastic vis of Hakata Bay and the surrounding mountains. Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade is an old arcade street in Fukuoka within walking distance from Canal City. There are hundreds of shops varying from selling local souvenirs to antique shops. Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade is 400 meters long and fully covered, which is perfect on a rainy day. Ohori Park A huge city park and just a few stops from Tenjin Station is Ohori Park. with a lake in the middle. Ohori is a beautiful park where there is always something going on. Ohori Park is most notable for the large lake with a trail that cuts through the middle of the lake. There is a running track around the lake, playgrounds, and facilities. You can even rent a swan boat and paddle around the lake. In the area, visitors can also visit the Fukuoka Castle Ruins and Ohori Park Japanese Gardens. Ohori Park Japanese Garden I stated earlier that Fukuoka is the ideal destination for first time visitors to Japan because you get the whole Japanese experience in an easy and manageable city. People around the world are familiar with Japanese Gardens and Fukuoka has a beautiful Japanese Garden right at Ohori Park. Ohori Park Japanese Garden is your traditional garden with ponds, Koi fish, stones crossing rivers, pine trees, and fabulous views. Admission and Hours AdmissionAdult – ¥250Child – ¥120 HoursMay – September: 9:00 – 18:00October – April: 9:00 – 17:00 Closed on Mondays For more information, visit the Ohori Park Japanese Garden Website. Tenjin Underground Mall This was the most fascinating underground shopping network I’ve ever seen. This mall was linked to several subway stations hosting shops and restaurants. What was truly unique about this underground mall was the looks and style of it. It was just beautifully done! Again, if you are looking for things to do in Fukuoka, especially on a rainy day, the Tenjin Underground Mall is the perfect place to stay dry. ⇒ Additional Things to do in and Around Fukuoka Hakata (Tonkotsu) Ramen in Fukuoka – Simply the Best Style of Ramen Fukuoka is known as the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen. Throughout Japan, various cities or regions have some style of Ramen. Tokyo has their shoyu ramen, Sapporo is known for miso ramen, and Fukuoka is famous for Hakata Ramen also know as Tonkotsu Ramen. Ramen in Fukuoka is what Lobster is to Maine, what Beer is to Bavaria, what Paella is to Spain, uh ok we get
Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried
Exploring a cultures culinary traditions has become one of the motivating factors and reasons we travel. Plain and simple, it is fun to try authentic, new, and down-right weird food. I always say, I am willing to try everything at least once! Living by that rule, the two of us have become adventurous when it comes to local cuisine. What may seem bizarre in our culture can be a daily diet in others. I mean here in the United States we eat beef right? While the cow is sacred in some states in India. Did you know that over 80% of the world’s population eats insects, yet the sound of that disgusts most Westerners. Lets face it, they are rich in protein, low in fat, and there is an abundance of them. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried I grew up watching Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and have always shared a fascination with foods from around the world no matter how weird, interesting, or unique the food is. I believe you should try everything once. How else are you going to know if it’s a good dish or not! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the taste of some of the more bizarre foods I’ve tried and have disliked some foods that are standard to so many people. I say it is all part of the experience, and it is fun to say, “I’ve tried that!” Here are some of the most interesting food dishes I’ve had throughout my travels. Asia Cambodia Tarantula: Siem Reap Eating tarantula in Cambodia is a well known and definitely an adventurous dish to try for any traveler. During the Khmer Rouge, when food was scarce, people had to eat what they could to survive and that included tarantulas. Since then, it has kind of stuck around as a delicacy and fun thing for tourists to try, including myself! I found a place that sold tarantula and brought it back to my hotel room, hence the fancy plate! I ate the tarantula starting with the legs as they were the least threatening looking spider part. I then worked my way to the body. Overall, taste wise, it was not great! Tasted a bit like dry cardboard even with the chili lime seasoning. But hey, Tarantula is an excellent source of protein and mierals. Japan Natto Natto is a Japanese dish that consists of fermented soy beans. This is definitely an interesting dish that I’ve had twice, once as an appetizer over rice with a raw egg and the second time at a sushi go round where it was wrapped in seaweed. Honestly, I think I would rather eat Hákarl again then eat Natto. Natto has a distinctive smell and a slimy gooey texture. It is definitely an acquired taste, people here love it! It just wasn’t for me. The benefit of Natto is that it is very healthy to eat, it is said to help against strokes and is great for people on diets and helps manage stress, so that is a plus, it just isn’t for me! Irabu (Sea Snake) Soup: Okinawa Irabu (Sea Snake) soup, probably the most nerve-racking food I’ve had in my life. I’m seen so many sea snakes while diving and snorkeling around Okinawa, I’d never think I’d actually eat one! In a way, I felt bad eating Irabu soup, I’ve grown quite fond of these snakes. Yes, they are deadly. Yes, they can be terrifying to swim with. But at the same time, they are peaceful to watch as they glide through the water. I love watching them swim up to get air and see their tiny heads pop out of the water. At the same time, I love trying local cuisine. Irabu Soup is found in restaurants around Okinawa and it is a local delicacy, especially on Kudaka Island. I found a restaurant on the island that specializes in Irabu Soup, so I had to try it for myself. On Kudaka Island, the sea snakes are caught bare-handed. Keep in mind, these are highly venomous snakes and are deadly. But they are shy and gentle creatures unless harmed. Once caught the snakes are killed, boiled and then smoked before being turned into soup. The soup generally consists of broth, pork, konbu (which is a type of kelp), and a piece of snake. I placed my order, once finished the waiter called me up to pick up my soup. I double checked with him that Irabu was in fact safe to eat. He assured me it was safe. Not only is Irabu safe to eat but it is full of nutrients, protein, and vitamins. The soup was fantastic! I ate the snake, skin and all and it tasted nothing like chicken! It had its own distinct taste, it was a bit chewy but had a nice flavor. If given the opportunity to try Irabu soup again, I would eat it without question. Torisashi (Raw Chicken): Okinawa Usually, I’d never recommend eating raw poultry of any kind. But if I were to eat raw chicken, it would be in Japan, and I did. The dish is called Torisashi and it is thinly sliced raw chicken. It’s basically chicken sashimi and it is often served in Izakaya’s in the Japanese Prefectures of Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Okinawa. I’ve tried Torisashi in Okinawa at several different Izakaya’s and honestly, I like the flavor and texture. Some Izakaya’s will slightly sear the outside, the inside is pink and slightly chewy. Yagi Sashi (Raw Goat): Okinawa Yagi Sashi is the Okinawan word for the raw goat dish that can be found throughout the island of Okinawa. In Okinawa, many Izakaya’s and specialty restaurants serve Yagi Sashi. It’s usually served chilled and thinly sliced with ginger and soy sauce on the side. The raw goat has a gamey feel to it and a very distinct taste. I really enjoy the flavor and texture of it. Philippines Balut: Cebu I’ve been wanting to try Balut for a while now and in July of 2024, I took a trip to Cebu, The Philippines and finally got a chance to try it. Balut is a fertilized duck egg. The embryo of the duck develops for several days usually between 14 and 21 days. Most people are put off by the look of the egg once opened. It’s not your typical hard boiled egg that is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. No, instead, Balut is layered, there is a juice you suck out first, followed by a hardened white piece, yolk, and the unlucky duckling. I found a street vendor selling Balut on the side near Carbon Market. I cracked the egg, sucked out the juices and began to disassemble the egg, biting off one layer at a time. I’ll be honest, it was not easy on the eye, looking down at what I was eating, but taste wise, Balut was actually good and I really enjoyed it! It tasted just like a hard boiled egg with a little more texture to it. I would definitely eat Balut again. South Korea Beondegi: Busan Next stop while trying interesting food around the world is Busan, South Korea. While in Busan, we visited the Haedong Yonggung Temple right outside the city. The temple lies along the coast and is considered to be one of the most well known in all of South Korea. To our surprise, there was a small food market right before the entrance to the temple. Several vendors had huge steaming pans full of something we’ve never seen before. Turns out, these pans were full to the top of a popular snack item known as Beondegi, otherwise known as Silkworm pupae. You get a cup full of them, at a cheap price! In the images below you can see what Jill’s reaction was to eating Beondegi. I found the flavor to be a little nutty and very juicy, almost to juicy. Unfortunately, a cup was a little much, so we decided to share our Beondegi with the local wildlife! Taiwan Stinky Tofu You know how some cities have that bad city smell once in a while? You’ll walk around and smell sewage here and there. In Taiwan you’ll sense that same smell here and there and turn the corner and it’s just someone cooking Stinky Tofu. Stinky Tofu lives up to its name. The smell can be horrid! Rest assured, stinky tofu tastes better then it smells. Locals in Taiwan, love it. You’ll find stinky tofu in restaurants, at night markets, and from people selling it at a food stall. Stinky tofu comes in many different forms. I’ve personally tried it a few times, once as a block with onion and sweet sauce, the second time in Hualien where it was advertised as Stinky Tofu Fries. Trust me, no matter how you try it, it is going to be stinky. So, what makes stinky tofu, stinky? It’s all about the fermentation process! It’s soaked in a brine that is made from a mix of vegetables, meats, milk, and other ingredients. The tofu will ferment anywhere from a couple hours to several months. Europe Iceland Hákarl: Reykjavik Our next interesting food around the world takes us to Iceland. We’ve all heard of Hákarl (Fermented Shark). Based on stories and the media I’ve heard that Hákarl is potent and has a very unique flavor. After trying Hákarl I came to the conclusion that it was not as bad as I was expecting. Not that I’ve ever tasted smelly feet, but I kind of describe the flavor that way, mixed with a little ammonia, still not terrible tasting! It’s not found all over Iceland, but I did my research and saw that Kaffi Loki served it as an appetizer. You get a few cubes served in a small dish with an Icelandic Flag toothpick! Would I try it again? Sure! North America Mexico Ant Larvae, Crickets, and Maguey Worm at Mercado de San Juan: Mexico city Mercado de San Juan in Mexico City is paradise, that is if you are looking for unordinary food to try. This market is full of fresh meat, fish, and produce. I read about this market while researching and came here to explore the unique and interesting foods. There is a vendor here that even sold rare tiger and lion meat along with tarantulas and other creepy critters. You have to start somewhere, my plan was to start small and work my way up. I found a vendor selling a variety of insects that included grasshopper, crickets, and ant larvae. I wanted to try a few of each, there was a slight translation mix-up and I ended up with a mixed sack full. Thankfully there was a bar next to this vendor, I washed the bugs down with a local beer and even shared them with the bartender, he loved them. To be honest, the bugs were dry, salty, and not that great! On a side note, Mercado de San Juan had some other great restaurants and normal eats. We went to a small Italian vendor and ordered a delicious bocadillo. Scorpion: Mexico City At Mercado de San Juan, I wanted to try something I knew would be tough to come by in the states, so I was torn between trying a tarantula or a scorpion. Both choices were very intimidating, I opted for the scorpion. I thought to myself, “how the hell am I going to eat this thing!” For starters, remove the stinger not because it is poisonous, but because it is sharp and can get lodged in your throat! After a