The Best Fish Amok in Siem Reap

Probably the best fish amok in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The fish is very fresh and delicious. The spices used make this traditional Khmer dish taste very refreshing and different from those you could find at "top rated" restaurants near the Old Market and Pub Street area which cost twice as much.

The owner of the restaurant is ethnic Chinese and being a Teochew , he really knows how fish should be cooked.

Father's Restaurant at the Center Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Opening hours: 9am to 9pm.

Website: www.fathersrestaurant.com

**The Father's Restaurant has moved to near the Old Market at 239 Street 9 and less than 5 minutes walk from Pub Street. View map: //goo.gl/maps/UR37Y

Asia's Tourism Double-digit Growth

It wasn't surprising to read about "Asia's Tourism Boom" in The Straits Times, the original article by Adrian Addison (AFP). In fact we expected it. The question was: "Increase by how much?"

In a nutshell, more Asians are traveling within Asia. The Chinese and the Indians were among the largest groups of traveller and holiday makers in the region.

"Over 70 million people went to Southeast Asia, 12 percent up on 2009, with Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines all ratcheting up record growth."

Asia's Tourism Growth in 2010

What was surprising is the who's who in the top positions. Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Taiwan in the top 3 position was a surprise to me. I expected Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

Here's a chart taken from The Straits Times article:

It was interesting to note that:

"Indian travellers to Singapore, for example, travel in an average group size of four against an overall average of 2.9 people and spend on average 5.8 days there against a total average of 4.0 days."

Now, we know why Mustafa Singapore is making good business.

Oshino Hakkai Dragon Spring Water

Oshino Hakkai is one of the National Treasure of Japan, and 100 best water of Japan. Nestled in the rural village in Yamanashi prefecture Japan, Oshino is renowned for the subterranean spring water of Mount Fuji. This cold spring water is used to brew beer and make the delicious Oshino buckwheat noodles.

Mount Fuji viewed from Oshino Hakkai

We were walking from our ryokan, Inn Fujitomita to Oshino Hakkai when the cloud cleared and revealed the snow capped summit of Mount Fuji.

Oshino Hakkai is made up of eight spring water ponds of ice cold water from the sacred Mt Fuji, and have long been revered as Springs of the Gods.