Best Chifa & Nikkei Restaurants in Lima, Peru

When you think about Peruvian food, what comes to mind?

Off the top of my head, I see a meal that includes ceviche and guinea pig, topped off with a foamy Pisco sour. But that’s a mishmash of the most well-known Peruvian dishes I can think of—and I doubt those three selections would be presented as a single meal anywhere in the country.

The nation is home to other popular dishes like lomo saltado and aji de gallina—but the former isn’t a purely Peruvian invention.

It’s actually one of the cornerstone dishes of Chifa, the fusion between Chinese and Peruvian food. Chifa, along with Nikkei, the fusion between Japanese and Peruvian food, are two of the country’s tastiest exports.

Both slowly evolved in the 20^th century as immigrants from China and Japan arrived in Peru. Ingredients like pork, chicken, corn, cilantro, and chili crossed cultural boundaries, slowly meshing into beloved dishes that you can find in street food stalls and fine dining establishments alike.

Not only have Chifa and Nikkei made Lima one of the most culinarily important destinations in South America, but they’ve also helped put Peru on the map for foodies across the globe.

If you’re heading to Lima, the City of Kings, then you need to know how to eat like one. Don’t miss out on the best Chifa and Nikkei restaurants in Lima.

Best Chifa restaurants in Lima

Interior of Shi-Nua (courtesy of TripAdvisor)

Chifa food can be found around Peru—far beyond the bounds of Lima. You might notice that some Chifa restaurants actually have two menus: one that serves fusion favorites and one that offers mainland Chinese dishes. Don’t miss out on mostrito, a dish that blends fried rice with grilled chicken.

Madam Tusan: Take a closer look at Chifa dim-sum and exotic sauces at this classic restaurant, which is a can’t-miss for foodies.
Shi-Nua: If you’re after a little fanfare with your Chifa meal, head to the bright, exciting dining room at Shi-Nua.
Chung Yion: This no-frills take on Chifa dishes is a master class in fusion food, which has made it a cult hit for locals for years.
Wa Lok: Wa Lok has a hefty (and highly celebrated) menu that lets you try just about every Chifa dish imaginable. At varying price points, too.

Best Nikkei restaurants in Lima

Interior of Maido (courtesy of TripAdvisor)

Similar to Chifa, you can also find Nikkei restaurants around the country. But its Lima’s Nikkei restaurants that take the cake in terms of global notoriety.

Tomo: Intimate, cozy, and homely, this Nikkei restaurant is perfect for families, large groups, and those who want to take their time sampling a Nikkei menu.
Maido: Possibly the most famous Nikkei restaurant in the world and often listed as one of the best, Maido has been described as the pinnacle of Japanese-Peruvian fusion food.
Costanera 700: A famous spot that’s known for pioneering Nikkei cuisine (and drinks), don’t miss out on Costanera 700’s famous seafood saltado.

What Travel Toiletry Products Do You Need to Pack? And What Do You Definitely Not Need?

If you want to know how well-traveled someone is, don’t ask where they’ve been.

Ask what they pack.

The tighter their answer, the more experience they (probably) have under their belt.

They’ve taken lessons from old wives’ tales, adapted tips from veteran travelers, and learned the Hard Way what’s worth packing and not packing.

At least, that’s definitely the case for me. I’ve been traveling frequently since I turned 18, and despite the fact that I’d consider myself a pretty capable packer, I still get it wrong now and then.

Packing the wrong items in your bag is a bad feeling. That’s doubly true when you realize you also left behind an important belonging. That being said, small packing mishaps are rarely a high-stakes game.

That is, unless we’re talking about toiletry products.

I recently got LASIK surgery, which means I don’t need to think about bringing my glasses, lenses, lens case, and contact solution with me everywhere I go. It’s been a huge relief—but it doesn’t mean I can pack my toiletry bag in the blink of an eye (no pun intended).

Want to know which toiletry products you need to pack—and which ones you can absolutely leave behind? I’m glad someone finally asked. Below, I’ve also included a third category with items that you probably won’t need but might want to consider bringing with you anyways.

Toiletry products you should have in your bag

Toothbrush & toothpaste
Deodorant
Moisturizer, sunscreen, and lip balm. Some balms are multi-use, meaning you can use them as moisturizer, too. If you don’t need too much in the way of moisturizers, lotions, and lipsticks, go for a multi-use balm.
Hairbrush/comb. I always use a travel-sized hairbrush to cut down on space.
Makeup. I recommend sticking to the basics. If you’re going to wear a lot of makeup, you’ll also need makeup remover—and thus begins the tale If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
Razor/shaving equipment. I almost always get by with a dermaplaning tool (and buy a razor if I need to), but guys likely need heftier shaving gear. Don’t skimp on that if it’s part of your usual routine.
Kleenex
Medication. Bring along your favorite cold medication (drowsy and non-drowsy) along with your favorite pain reliever. That should do it. If you’re prone to tummy aches, Imodium might be a good idea, too. But remember: you can always find basic medications at your destination.

Toiletry products that you probably won’t need

Will you need them? Probably not, but don’t let me stand in your way. If you feel strongly that you need one of the toiletry products on this list, bring it.

But know that they ended up here because I’ve taken this item with me on trips multiple times and ended up not using them at all.

Wipes. Unless you’re going to spend a lot of time in the outdoors, you can just use a sink to wash up. The same for makeup; unless you’re wearing heavy layers, a face wash will do you just fine.
Hand sanitizer. Again, a sink and soap will get the job done. In fact, some studies show that good old hand-washing is a lot more effective than hand sanitizer.
Hair styling products, including curling irons. If you’re worried about looking like an American abroad, don’t curl or straighten your hair. It’s a dead giveaway. On the other hand, if you feel off without having your hair done up, bring your styling wand along. Just make sure you have the right charging converter for it. You could damage your product.
Nail clippers & tweezers. If I’m in dire straits, I’ll buy one and leave it at my rental. Someone else will use it.
Shampoo and conditioner. The vast majority of hotels and private rentals provide these items. If not, you can buy them for cheap at your destination, then leave them behind for other travelers.
Q-Tips
Tide-to-go pen
Perfume

Toiletry products that will only waste space

First aid kit. Unless you’re traveling to remote areas where basics like gauze and band-aids aren’t available, you do not need a first-aid kit. You can get blister band-aids at your destination. Better yet, bring shoes you know are broken in.
Steamer. Do your best to pack wrinkle-resistant clothes. If you need to iron them, you can ask your concierge for help or take an ultra-hot shower with your clothes hanging in the bathroom. Most private rentals have irons and ironing boards.
Antibiotics. If you’re going to take antibiotics, I highly recommend visiting a doctor first to get the right dosage and type. It’s risky to diagnose yourself while on the road. Also, did you know that taking antibiotics too often can disrupt your gut and your ability to fight illnesses?
Allergy medicine for hay fever. Controversial, I know. But did you know that you should be buying allergy medication at your destination? It’s been designed to specifically manage pollens in that area.
Lint rollers. Dampen a hand towel for a bootleg version.
Nail polish. It’s not just another liquid you need to keep track of—these little bottles are heavy. Plus, manicures and pedicures are cheap and accessible around the world.
Electric flossers. If you absolutely need to floss every day (good for you, your dentist must be proud), then bring old-fashioned floss.

5 Options Around the World for Safaris Outside of Africa

The word safari comes from the Arabic word safar, which means to journey. When the lingo made its way to the Bantu tribes of East Africa, it evolved into the Swahili word safari.

The word conjures the most exotic images of Africa, including the ‘big five’ of the animal kingdom: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo. From South Africa to Zambia to Tanzania, safaris cut through some of the continent’s most flourishing wild lands.

In fact, by most definitions, safaris only occur in Africa.

But if we broaden that meaning a bit, a safari is simply a trip you take in order to observe impressive, rare animals in the wild. And, in some cases, to hunt them. By that definition, you can go on safaris outside of Africa, including in Asia and South America.

If a traditional African safari has never captured your attention, here are five more places you could have a similarly mind-blowing experience with Mother Nature. First, however, let’s cover what makes for a memorable, responsible safari.

Best practices: safari edition

For the purposes of this article, I’m only discussing safaris outside of Africa that let you view wildlife—ideally, from a safe distance. The regions listed below are closed to hunting for sport; in fact, many are fighting poaching threats. Though guides like have firearms with them, those are for last-ditch safety efforts.

That brings me to my next point: you need to be careful about which safari tours you go on.

That’s true in Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, and other African countries, along with the regions I’m listing below. Not only are your guides responsible for your safety, but also that of the environment you’re traversing and the animals you hope to see.

A well-balanced safari does no harm to the plants, animals, and natural systems that you explore. When you cut corners for cheaper options, you degrade the very place and animals you came to see.

Instead, a solid tour uses ethical transportation, prioritizes animal well-being, supports land regeneration through direct funding, and works closely with local communities.

If you’re wondering whether or not a tour is ethical, ask the guides about their practices. They should be affiliated with organizations that you can look up and verify. Usually, official travel boards are the first place to find sustainable, regulated tours.

Now onto the coolest safaris outside of Africa.

5 safaris outside of Africa

Ranthambore & Kanha National Parks in India

An adult Bengal tiger, 11-year-old female named Neelam, on the top of a fallen tree trunk at Kanha National Park, India (Getty)

The Global Tiger Forum estimates that there are around 5,500 tigers in the world—and the vast majority of those are in India.

If you’ve dreamed of spotting the world’s greatest predator (sorry, lions), then head to India. Intense conservation and educational efforts have seen wild tiger numbers boom over the last two decades.

Today, between 3,000 to 4,000 of all global wild tigers reside in India. You can go on safaris in both Ranthambore and Kanha National Parks, where you might even spot Bengal Tigers creeping through the brush.

Other sightings include macaques, leopards, caracals, striped hyenas, and a bevy of other creatures you probably didn’t know live in India.

Yala and Udawalawe National Parks in Sri Lanka

Portrait of Indian elephant with soil on his head, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka (Getty)

There’s one animal you aren’t going to see in the two parks listed above: elephants. Though India is home to a few wild elephant populations, they’re highly fragmented and hard to find.

That’s not the case in Sri Lanka. This gorgeous, lush little island is home to two large national parks where you can glimpse the Asian elephant.

In Udawalawe, you can enjoy bird-watching, as well. Yala, by contrast, is a wildlife sanctuary and national park that’s home to elephants, leopards, crocodiles, monkeys, and a wide range of birds.

Both parks face a range of challenges, from pollution to poaching to overlogging. And it looks like some parts of Yala are dealing with overcrowding; sources say to avoid Block One.

Manu National Park in Peru

Madres de Dios Mountains in Manu National Park (Getty)

One of the most surprising things about travel is coming face-to-face with creatures other people find normal. That’s certainly the case with raccoons and porcupines; I get asked by my European friends if I’ve seen them in the wild before.

For me, the most jaw-dropping encounters have been with a binturong in Thailand and a few Eurasian coots in London.

(The coot takes the cake—I almost called wildlife rescue, assuming someone had released a bunch of exotic waterfowl into the park. Just look at those feet!)

If running into previously-unknown mammals, birds, and reptiles is high on your safari priority list, head to Manu National Park to explore its five tourist-friendly walkways.

There are jaguars, pumas, sloths, and other well-known animals—along with more exotic beasts like tamarins, tayras, jaguarundis, tapirs, mata matas, and something called the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Just bring a camera. No one will believe you otherwise.

Pantanal (Caiman) in Brazil

Jaguar, Panthera onca, along a riverbank in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands (Getty)

Nearby Manu National Park in Peru is Brazil’s Pantanal region. The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland and is rich in rare flora and fauna. If you’re eager to see a jaguar in the wild, look no further.

But please be aware that the Pantanal isn’t protected across the board as a national park or reserve, so you need to be very careful about how you visit.

I recommend heading to Caiman Lodge. It’s a luxury tourist spot and research center where you can take safaris from dedicated naturalists, researchers, and locals who want to preserve and improve the area’s long-term well-being.

Kakadu National Park in Australia

Egrets on a billabong lagoon beneath an ancient rock escarpment in Kakadu National Park (Getty)

Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage Site and protected area. It’s home to thousands of crocodiles and alligators, making it perfect for any fans of ancient reptilian predators. The park is also home to 30% of Australian bird species.

Uniquely, you can camp in this park—though you need to be careful. I’ve camped in Australia and, I can tell you firsthand, you’ll need to rely on those hardier American outdoors skills. I also recommend going on a tour that will showcase Kakadu’s aboriginal cave drawings. Here, it’s not just about the crocs—it’s also about culture.

4 Collapsible Tote Brands for Travel: Discrete, Packable, & Secretly Huge

You never know when you might need more bag in your bag—that’s my perennial travel advice on one of my favorite travel products: tiny totes.

Totes are a deceptively powerful item to bring with you when you travel abroad.

Need a bag to do a bit of grocery shopping? Take the tote.

Accidentally bought more souvenirs than you can bring back for your journey home? Stuff them into the tote and take them on the plane.

Looking for a place to put your dirty laundry instead of the floor? Straight into the tote!

A travel tote is basically your Swiss Army travel knife.

At least, the collapsible, barely-there variety. A bulky, fashion-forward tote is nothing but a heavy liability. My advice pertains to those synthetic-fabric totes that fold up into the size of a Kleenex.

Ready to revolutionize your packing list? A collapsible tote will make a huge impact. Start with one of my top picks, listed below.

Best collapsible tote brands for easy travel packing

SYZY Travel Tote

Billed as the ‘world’s most compact tote bag’, this SYZY travel tote folds up into a tiny bundle that will fit in your palm. Despite its mini size, it packs a solid bunch, offering two straps for dynamic carrying, reinforced stitching that will carry up to 60 pounds in weight, and a quick-twist lock to make sure it doesn’t re-inflate.

On top of that, this travel tote is slightly larger than others, letting you take your packing needs to the next level.

Baggu

Baggu runs on recycled nylon, and nylon will fold up into a compact shape pretty easily. At Baggu, you can pick between a few different sizes and shapes for their nylon bags with the assurance that they’ll fold up nicely.

However, the Standard Baggu is my first pick. It’s a standard tote that comes in a range of gorgeous prints, ready to be balled up and tossed into another bag whenever you please. I have regularly used Baggu for tiny-tote-travel purposes for around a decade; they’re made to last, y’all.

Junes

The Junes Everyday Tote isn’t just a teeny-tiny, travel-ready tote—it’s also made from Bio-Knit, which is a sustainable fabric… unlike other options on this list. That knit makes this ideal for beach trips, as sand is easier to clean out of a semi-porous bag.

Plus, it comes with inner pockets that make storing items a bit easier. The cherry on top? It’s machine washable.

If I wasn’t already deeply entrenched in the World of Baggu, I’d go for one of Junes’ collapsible totes.

Nanobag

Looking for an XL solution? The Nanobag is one of the newest barely-there totes making a splash. Despite its large size, the straps have additional reinforcement, meaning you can actually stuff this XL option to its capacity without worrying about tears.

There’s also a ‘sling’ option for anyone who prefers a cross-body bag; it’s also pretty sleek and fashionable.

6 Tips on How to Deal with Food Poisoning Abroad

I’m ready to add a third controversial travel opinion to my arsenal

(In case you missed out on the first two: American pizza is better than Italian pizza, and plushies are the only travel pillow you need.)

Ready for the third? Drumroll, please…

If you haven’t browned your trousers or come dangerously close while traveling abroad, you’re not really a traveler.

Now that I’m re-reading that sentence out loud, it doesn’t actually sound controversial.

Americans, like many other Westerners, tend to experience gut trouble abroad. We avoid the tap water in many countries, along with street food. Just look at the CDC’s list of advice for travelers—gut health is one of the main health concerns on our radar when we leave the country.

In fact, it’s been a hot topic since I first started traveling.

On my second time out of the United States, I went on a month-long trip to Cambodia. I was traveling in a group of young adults led by a range of tour guides.

Health was, obviously, an important topic of discussion, and our trip leaders wanted direct information on bowel movements every day to make sure no one was struggling on the squat toilets. No one got through the trip unscathed.

So, consider your raging diarrhea a sign that you’ve ascended the ranks from a casual tourist to a bona fide traveler.

More importantly, know that you aren’t alone in dealing with your stomach bug, whether it’s a regular old stomach bug or a more serious case of food poisoning.

Here’s how to cope, as recommended by doctors and travelers.

How to deal with food poisoning and stomach bugs abroad

Tip #1: Supplements are your best friend

I always bring soluble electrolyte packets with me when I travel. These give me a boost when it comes to vitamins and minerals that keep me healthy, along with electrolytes that keep me hydrated. These types of packets are usually pretty easy to find at pharmacies, so if you notice a sudden bout of nausea or diarrhea, start hydrating with supplements.

Tip #2: Don’t you dare leave your hotel room

It’s tempting to head to a nearby attraction when we feel we’re ‘able to’, but you’ll only exhaust yourself and make it harder to recover from food poisoning or a stomach bug.

I know you might want to power through a more minimal case of food poisoning, especially if your trip is short. But the best thing you can do is power down, hydrate, and let your body digest.

Remember: most cases are minor and resolve in 24 hours—assuming you let your body recuperate.

Tip #3: If you’re able to, eat bland

Hydration and rest are your two best friends while you give your gut the chance to recover. But if you’re hungry, don’t shy away from a meal—just make sure you stick to bland foods, like rice, broth, toast, crackers, and plain pasta.

Avoid foods that are spicy, fatty, fried, and high-fiber foods like veggies and rice. They’re a little harder for your system to digest and could cause added inflammation.

Tip #4: Know when it’s time to call a doctor

Like I mentioned above, most cases of food poisoning and stomach bugs resolve within a day (or two). While it’s normal for your symptoms to keep you confined to the bathroom, or nearby, some cases require medical intervention.

When we travel abroad, we’re exposed to new types of bacteria. Some are stronger than others, and these can take you out for a lot longer than day or two. But bacteria isn’t the only threat your gut faces.

Some stomach bugs are actually viral. I had a nasty bout of what I thought was food poisoning in Costa Rica, which worsened over the course of a week. Eventually, I needed to see the doctor. They prescribed antibiotics to deal with what was actually a viral infection—one that might have coincided with minor food poisoning, aka a bacterial infection.

Here’s how you know it’s time to go to the doctor: your stomach cramps prevent you from walking, you’re seeing blood somewhere where there shouldn’t be blood, you have a fever that’s getting worse, and/or you can’t keep down fluids.

Tip #5: If you’re on your own for a few days, make a DIY electrolyte packet

If you’re out in the boonies on a camping trip and don’t have immediate access to electrolyte packets, medical advice, and over-the-counter medications, know that you can bootleg a basic rehydrating drink.

All you need is a heater or a fire, a pot, water, a tablespoon of salt, and a tablespoon of sugar. It’s not going to cure you—but it will hold you over until you can get the help you need.

Bonus tip: how to set yourself up for success

I’m leaving this as a bonus tip for anyone who wants to (hopefully) avoid getting sick abroad. You can set yourself up for success by boosting your immune system with supplements like vitamin C and zinc, along with eating the right foods on your flight.

Aside from giving your body a fighting chance, here’s how to avoid getting sick in the first place.

Focus on eating foods that have been cooked at a high heat, as this minimizes the chances of bacterial growth. That means no fresh fruits and no dairy, in most cases.
Eat where you see others eating—especially locals.
Only go for street food if you can see that it’s being prepared over heat right in front of you.

3 Lesser-Known Attractions in London That You Can’t Miss

Cities like London are top of mind for travelers, but they’re difficult to dig into.

With almost two thousand years of history under its belt, this capital is massive, ancient, and ready to be discovered. It’s also incredibly modern, home to larger-than-life establishments, contemporary gardens, and so much more.

In short, even those who stick around for a full week (or four) might find that they don’t have enough time to really dig into London’s underbelly.

Sure, we all want to wander the halls of the Tate Modern, catch a glimpse of Big Ben and the Tower of London, then go on a spooky little Jack the Ripper tour. We want to catch a ride on the Eye of London, then head to a concert at the O2 Arena.

But one of the best ways to really get to know a city is through its more idiosyncratic sites—those places that locals adore and tourists rarely see.

In a place like London, you won’t be short on those types of destinations… but you need to know where to find them.

I’ve selected three lesser-known attractions in London that showcase the city’s long history, modern sensibilities, and endlessly fascinating rabbit hole-like side streets.

3 lesser-known attractions in London worth your time

Walk into the past at Dennis Severs’ House

Dennis Severs was an English artist born in 1948. He occupied this Georgian home (built in 1724) from 1979 until his death in 1998. During that twenty-year stint, Severs began painstakingly restoring the home room by room into a historically semi-accurate depiction of life in the 18^th century.

Specifically, Severs was creating a dream-like vision of how a family of Huguenot silk weavers would have occupied the home. The result is a ten-room bonanza of ‘swag’ from the 1600s and 1700s, laid out in painstaking fashion.

There’s even a ‘Victorian poverty and squalor’ room in Dennis Severs’ House, which smells appropriately disgusting.

Learn about rock royalty on Eel Pie Island

This island is set in the center of the Thames—and you might recognize the name if you’re a fan of classic rock. During the 1960s, Eel Pie Island was home to a popular venue for jazz and blues.

That, eventually, became one of the first performance venues for some of the world’s top rock acts, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Pink Floyd.

Today, you can explore the remnants of the venue, which is now one of the lesser-known attractions in London because it burned down in the early 1970s.

Just take the newly restored footbridge onto the island, then follow the plaques to learn about its history. I’m not the biggest fan of rock music, so I’d probably spend my time learning about why the island got this name.

Get medicinal at the Chelsea Physic Garden

I don’t usually associate Victorian London with health. In fact, I remember one of my tour guides in London describing a type of Pea Soup Fog that would overtake the city, slowly poisoning its residents with each breath.

But that’s just one side of the story.

Welcome to the Chelsea Physic Garden, which was established back in 1673 by a society of apothecaries in order to grow medicinal herbs. It’s not just a cool historical site, though—it’s one of the country’s oldest botanical gardens.

For centuries, the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries preserved and maintained the gardens. Today, it’s home to over 4,500 medicinal and edible plants. When you take a tour of the gardens, you can learn about the history of medicine and botany in London, along with modern plant-based medical practices.