Venomena Alam

Every country has its own food that defines its identity. Using native ingredients to create a unique taste has always been the basis of local foods. But with the world getting smaller and more people travelling abroad and food products being shipped around the world, once indigenous foods are becoming popular outside their homes.

But one fact remain, it never tastes quite like the native recipe when made somewhere else. One of the most commonly loved foods is Chinese. Though known as Chinese, it is actually a combination of food styles from around China ranging from Cantonese to Schezuan.

The home of Cantonese cuisine is Hong Kong, this region of islands in China is home to a vast plethora of restaurants and specialty eateries serving only the finest in Cantonese cuisine.

Setup in the 1970’s by prominent Hong Kong entrepreneur Dr Stanley Ho the Jumbo Kingdom is comprises of two massive floating barges called the Jumbo Floating Restaurant and the Tai Pak Floating Restaurant.

Throughout the years more than 30 million visitors including royalty and prominent personalities have flocked to these restaurants to sample the delicious culinary delights on offer whilst taking in the amazing views of the Hong Kong skyline.

Known for its seafood specialties the Jumbo Kingdoms assorted menu has been a celebrated one since its inception, ever changing to suit the tastes of each generation. Choose from an array of freshly caught seafood cooked to your liking accompanied by over a 100 other delicacies including dim sum.

In recent years to add to its appeal the Jumbo Kingdom has expanded its repertoire to incorporate other attractive features to help enliven the experience aboard these elaborate barges. Enhancements include a Sampan Dining area modelled around an ancient flat bottomed Chinese boat. Diners can experience what it was like in ancient times to share your meal with the open ocean, for those who wish to learn the ways of the master chefs on board, a cooking academy is available with classes daily. On one of the upper decks lies a quiet tea garden where visitors can sit and relax in quiet contemplation while sipping a hot cup of Chinese tea.

Want to enjoy a drink with an excellent view? Then head to the uppermost level to the Topdeck Bar and Restaurant serving western fair along with a wide selection of drinks and cocktails to choose from amid the Hong Kong skyline backdrop.

For travellers wishing to take in the Jumbo Kingdom and the other attractions in the region will find many Hong Kong hotels to choose from. Langham Place Mongkok Hong Kong for example is an elegant, luxurious hotel Hong Kong close to the Kowloon waterfront. With easy access to transport links, Langham Place Mongkok Hong Kong offers a wide choice of rooms and suites along with a variety of exquisite restaurants serving the finest cuisine all wrapped up in signature Langham service.

The state of New York is the third most populated state in the USA. It is home to the famous Empire State Building, at one point the tallest building in the world, the Stock Exchange which drives the financial cogs of America, one of the most iconic monuments in the world: the statue of Liberty. The state of New York is a veritable melting pot of cultures and ethnicities ranging from Italians, Irish and more recently Chinese and Indian. This leads to the mention of another New York attraction known as Ellis Island, originally the main facility where immigrants were received when they arrived in New York. More than 12 million immigrants passed through its doors before its closure and conversion into a national monument to be viewed by the public.

The Staten Island Ferry service is one the most endearing transport services present in New York connecting Staten Island with Manhattan Island. The service has been in operation since the 1700s, the first motorised ferry was brought into operation in 1817. The Staten Island Ferry runs 24 hours a day and is a free service provided by the state. The ferry ride itself is popular with tourists as it offers amazing views of the cityscape and the Statue of Liberty during its 25 minute journey to either island.

The Staten Island Ferry has made several appearances in popular media over the years appearing in many television shows and movies. More recently it has appeared in movies such as “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days”, “American Gangster”, and “Batman The Dark Knight”. In television the ferry service has gotten mentions on Friends, been featured on the hit television show Sex and the City, revolved around the plot of an episode on the popular Law and Order television series and gets regular exposure on the CSI New York series.

The Staten Island Ferry offers a unique perspective on the cityscape of New York allowing visitors to marvel at the beauty of this thriving cosmopolitan city and its rich history and strong personality. The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York is a hotel in midtown New York situated next to the head quarters of the United Nations in Manhattans trendy East Side. This unique New York City hotel is a prominent fixture in the New York skyline offering a variety of spacious and luxurious rooms with exclusive views of the cityscape all around.