Popular Remote Jobs for Digital Nomads to Work from Anywhere

October 4, 2020

The digital nomad lifestyle is not all glamour as sometimes portrayed. Yet, the idea of traveling around the world remains an attractive appeal to many. Backed by remote jobs or careers, digital nomads enjoy greater geographical flexibility which allows them to travel more freely.

This lifestyle has piqued the interest of many travel enthusiasts as they seek a way to extend their adventure indefinitely.

The common yet generic question of “How do I become a Digital Nomad?”, often stems deeper down to financial considerations, such as “How do I sustain my adventures financially?”, “What skills can I learn to make it work?”.

Every digital nomad does it differently based on their lifestyle and you can hear some of their stories and lifestyle/business tips here.

Digital Nomads and Remote Work

Digital Nomadism itself is not an occupation. It is simply a lifestyle made possible by some level of geographical or temporal flexibility at work. This level of flexibility can vary from nomad to nomad, depending on what they do.

Some can have total autonomy, while others might have to follow certain working hours. There are nomads who limit themselves to specific locations to fulfill time zone or job requirements. There are also others who are moving regularly as part of their business/career.

Since it is a lifestyle, there is no one size that fits all. Only what suits you best, depending on your living needs, life goals, traveling preferences, career goals, etc.

Captivating images working by the beach or pool paint an idealistic image of the lifestyle. But, make no mistake! A sustainable nomad lifestyle is built upon practical business/career decisions and constant hustle.

Remote work can generally be achieved through three options:

Get employed by a company that allows employees to work remotely
Become a freelancer in a service that is possible to deliver remotely
Run your own business that operates online

Having met a fair share of digital nomads, these are some of the common businesses or remote jobs that I’ve seen digital nomads engage in. These allow them to support themselves while also having a good level of flexibility.

The good news is that most of the skills needed to take up these popular jobs for digital nomads can be learnt through online materials.

Freelancing/Jobs for Digital Nomads

If you are considering freelancing, here is an article on things to know for freelancing beginners.

Programmer/Developer

The IT industry is one of the areas that are most receptive to remote working culture. Companies see the cost savings in not having to run large physical spaces while also opening them up to a greater pool of talents worldwide. Technology is also a core enabler in making remote work possible and easier in today’s world. It is not surprising that a good bunch of digital nomads are developers.

I know many programmers are also used to working weird hours, coding late into the night when they get “into the zone”. They can be freelancing or working for a company that allows them to work from anywhere or anytime. There is also a high market demand for many IT skills, such as cloud computing, blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence in recent years.

By planning ahead, nomadic coders can code locally without having to have internet connectivity all the time. It creates more flexibility in location selection.

You can also use travel VPN to hook up to necessary resources while on the road.

Digital Marketing

With the world getting more engaged in the digital space, this area will continue to have demand in the foreseeable future.

Some key digital marketing areas will include Social Media Management, Search Engine Optimization, and Search Engine Marketing.

Management tools such as Hootsuite, Sprout, etc are often used to set up automated execution of planned strategies, which means more time flexibility. If you can generate Return on Investment with marketing spendings, you can be sure clients will come your way.

Some excellent and free resources to get started on learning digital marketing includes:

Hubspot Inbound Marketing

Facebook Blueprint Courses

Ahref’s Blog and Academy

Graphic Designers

The world is a visual place; aesthetically attractive design is always appreciated in print and digital space. Graphic Design spans a broad scope, and there will always be demand for it.

A good place to start will be to get familiar with the Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe is the most dominant player in the graphics creation tool space. There are also many new tools in the industry, such as Sketch, Affinity, Invision, Figma.

One of the downsides is the regular need for fast internet bandwidth when working with large graphic files. Plan ahead to avoid working with slow internet connectivity. This can be a limiting factor in your selection of travel locations or activities.

For just learning the knicks and knacks of these design tools, Udemy is a good and cheap way to start digging into it. Skillshare is another affordable platform with a bunch of courses. Adobe also has their own tutorial series.

Language Teachers

Online language learning has grown in popularity in recent years, especially since COVID-19 started. With so many languages is the world, this is one of the most popular jobs for digital nomads.

The improvement of video conferencing technology and internet infrastructure has paved the way for online learning.

For students preferring teachers from native speaking countries, online learning also provides a channel to bridge that geographical distance.

You can market your services individually. Alternatively, a good place to start will be platforms that match students and teachers. These include Preply, Teachaway, Cambly, and a whole bunch more.

English is evidently in demand, but the platforms require certain certifications like the CELTA or TEFL most of the time. Some platforms also have nationality requirements, preferring teachers from native speaking countries.

English is not the only choice! If you happen to have the advantage of knowing other languages, you might also do well in that space. You need a stable internet connection with high uptime, that is also fast enough for streaming.

Virtual Assistant

The straightforward title says it all. Virtual assistants are remote workers that help with a range of administrative and data organizational work. The idea is that clients already expect a Virtual Assistant to be working remotely, so you have flexibility in choosing your place of work.

The job scope of virtual assistants today has spread wide and far; some even touch the realm of social media management or writing at times, depending on their clients’ needs.

Market demands are diverse and varying, but if you have a knack at organizing information and doing various administrative tasks, this can be a comfortable area to start. It is one of the jobs for digital nomads that is easy to start.

Writers

If you are good with the pen (or keyboard in this digital world), then writing might be where you can start! I find that seeing the world increases your perspective, and can trigger thought-provoking ideas.

Content writing is applicable almost everywhere, and not only in mainstream publishing mediums where content takes the central role.

There is also a lucrative careers in writing for businesses. These include copywriting of sales and marketing materials and writing SEO-friendly articles.

An advantage of writing is that you don’t always need very fast internet speed. You can plan and structure the story even in more remote parts of the world. It does, however, demand much greater focus and an uninterrupted me-time to collate the thoughts.

Here is a paid resource from successful freelance writer Alexandra Fasulo, who started on Fiverr and has made over a million dollars. Hear more on our podcast interview here. It involves tons of hard work but definitely shows freelancing is a viable remote career path.

Freelancing and Job Seeking Platforms

So, where can you start finding projects, clients, or employers? Here are some job seeking and freelancing platforms that can get you started. You can also build up your network of contacts and start spreading by word of mouth.

General Freelancing Platforms:

Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, Peopleperhour, Toptal

Job Type Specific:

Design: 99Designs, DesignCrowd, Designhill

Writing: Writer Access, iWriter

Programming: Gun.io, Hired

Job Seeking Platforms:

Remote.work, remoteok.io, weworkremotely.com, remote.co, remotive.io, flexjobs.com

I am collating an extended list of websites that is too long to list here. If you like to get access, just drop your email below.

Get List of 70+ Freelancing/Remote Job Boards and Nomad Tips!

Businesses

Online Trading

Online trading is another popular option for those who have the appetite to tide the market’s highs and lows. In contrast to mid-long term investments, day traders look to get in and out of the market within the day or in a much shorter term.

Trading gives you a lot of freedom because you don’t have a client to satisfy. If you want to take the day off, it is totally up to you. However, when you do work, you might need to match your schedule with the opening hours of the markets you choose to dabble in.

It is crucial to acquire the necessary knowledge and temperament in doing online trading, such as pattern and data analysis. These skills do take practice and time to hone. While it is increasingly easy to open a brokerage account, it is essential not to go into it with a gambling mindset.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping has grown in popularity with its low startup cost model. However, it has also garnered some negative reputation, partly due to self-proclaimed gurus selling dreams of overnight successes.

Without going into that deep hole, the dropshipping model is indeed logical and suitable for digital nomads.

A simple way to see this is like a typical reseller e-commerce business, but with the product manufacturers handling the logistics of product fulfillment direct to end consumers.

Without handling the shipping or storage of goods, this gives you geographical freedom to run the business from anywhere. However, not having control over the supply chain comes with its fair share of challenges.

A practical tip is to avoid getting sucked in by claims of easy or overnight successes. Treat it with the same commitment and difficulty of building an e-commerce business or brand, and you will at least be starting with the right mindset for success.

Bloggers

Blogging in itself is a huge industry where there are multiple ways to generate revenue. These include ad placements, affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, sponsored reviews, etc.

Simply put, if you can build a blog with a significant readership, you can monetize it through various creative means.

Travel blogging is one of the most popular themes in the digital nomad space because it ties in with the whole nature of a nomad. It also portrays the more glamorous side of the lifestyle as everyone usually sees the fun but not the hustle.

This is also a very competitive space since barriers to entry are low. While there are many travel blogs, there are very few successful ones. Building a successful blog business today is more business than simply passion, demanding a combination of skills mentioned above.

Sell your own Digital Products

Online courses and ebooks are popular choices in this area.

Consumption of digital content is increasingly growing and it is not surprising that e-learning and knowledge consumption has also gone online.

Technologies and platforms these days have made it easy for one to publish their content.

One massive advantage of these products is their potential to become a passive income stream; a financial goal for most digital nomads, if not everyone.

Digital products just need to be created once; and when paired with the right marketing/sales funnel, they can generate revenue continuously without much further intervention.

As with many other options, you can start selling from your website, or it can be through other platforms that generally works on a revenue-sharing model. For courses, this can be Udemy, teachable, while for ebooks, there is Amazon, Lulu, Payhip, blurb, etc.

Remember that digital products don’t just mean courses and ebooks, there are also…

Photographers licensing photos and selling presets,
Graphic designers selling design templates,
Videographers selling stock videos…,

so anything is possible as long as it is digital and has a demand! Get creative!

Get Thinking And Get Moving

While these are common businesses/jobs for digital nomads, they serve more as a starting point for exploration rather than a strict guide.

The list is non-exhaustive; The goal is to have a sustainable income source without being permanently grounded to a specific location.

You will find that even among nomads in similar industries, the method of operations and goals can differ, depending on the lifestyle each individual pursues.

Start looking into what you are interested in and see how you can make it location independent! The world is huge, and opportunities are aplenty; you just need to find what suits you.

It is important to remember that a sustainable income is not the only thing to consider when transiting to a remote lifestyle. Here are other tips to becoming a digital nomad.

Once you are ready to get started on your adventure, consider these popular digital nomad hubs around the world. Don’t forget to check out a list of platforms and resources that will help your nomadic adventure!

Traditional Food In Serbia That You Have To Try

nomadsunveiled

October 3, 2020

Serbia has a central position in the Balkan peninsula, it is a sort of a crossroad. Over time many people settled here, bringing their own culture, customs, and food. That’s why food in Serbia is a great mix of Balkan food flavors. This country is also one of the most ethnically diverse states in the region, with over 25% of the population belonging to ethnic minorities.

Serbians view three things in high status: Novak Djokovic, Food, and Drinks.

Since Djokovic wasn’t available for an interview, and the chances of you running into him in Serbia are pretty slim (he lives in Monaco); we are going to talk about something you will definitely get to experience: The best food in Serbia.

What Is Special About Serbian Food?

Serbian Food is all about slow cooking and slow eating

And both processes take hours.

Despite having fast food stalls on every corner, Serbian food culture involves a lot of slow cooking. Most of the best Serbian dishes are cooked for hours in terracotta pots. Chefs start preparing them early in the morning so they would be ready for lunch.

Minced meat for the street food barbeque dishes takes even longer to prepare. The preparations start two days before the actual cooking, so even fast food in Serbia is not fast.

Serbians also values slow eating

Eating is more of a social experience rather than just filling the stomach.

This is also where “Meze” comes in. Meze is a common ritual in all the Balkan countries and has the same name. It’s a form of appetizer or hors d’oeuvre, usually served on a big platter. The platter consists of many different kinds of Serbian food – white and yellow cheeses, various smoked and air-dried meats, spreads, even salads. It’s served both in homes and restaurants.

At home, people eat it before lunch while drinking traditional rakija. This ritual takes up to one hour. Sometimes, it is served for the guests that just pop by in the evening. When served at home, it symbolizes respect, closeness, and the desire to make your guest feel welcome and spend more time with you.

It’s not important what goes into meze – It’s usually things that the host has in his fridge. What is important is the sentiment and spending time in good company.

What Are The Best Food In Serbia?

There are so many tasty food in Serbia, here are some of the signature dishes that you should definitely not miss on your trip to Serbia:

Burek

As a pastry lover, this is not just a personal favorite but, by far, the most popular breakfast food in Serbia.

Thin dough sheets stuffed with cheese, minced meat, or spinach, forms a perfect burek. The most popular is the burek with cheese, and it is also lightest on the stomach. Beware of overeating as I sometimes end up stuffing myself with too much of it after wanting to try all the flavors available.

The burek is all about the thin dough sheets. It takes years to master the art of making them as thin as possible, and the process involves using a lot of fat. That’s why burek goes extremely well with Serbian yogurt to reduce the feeling of fattiness when eating it. The dough makes a big part of a good burek.

Tip: If you don’t eat pork products, you should go for a Sarajevski Burek; it is usually made with oil or beef lard.

Cevapi And Pljeskavica

These are the most popular street food in Serbia. Cevapi is essentially stick-shaped minced meat grilled on charcoal barbeque. Pljeskavica uses the same meat, but comes in the form like a burger patty. Every region in Serbia and Balkans has its version and, of course, each country claims theirs is the best one. The ingredients vary depending on the region.

Leskovacki cevap. This is the most common type in Serbia. The original recipe involves only veal and beef meat, but sometimes the producers also use some percentage of pork meat.
Sarajevski and Pazarski cevap. If you don’t eat pork, this is the safest version of cevap. They consist of veal and lamb meat.

You can easily get them in restaurants, but the ones in corner street shops usually taste just as great and cost much less. These stores are also where most locals get their meal fixes, so mingle in!

Komplet lepinja

It translates as “the complete bun,” and it’s one of the best dishes in the Universe. Komplet Lepinja is a common breakfast option, but can certainly also be a good lunch. It is very filling and packed with calories.

The complete bun is a thin round bread, cut in the middle, then filled with kajmak and raw eggs. It’s all nicely mixed up inside the bread and then spiked with mocha (fat and juices left behind after pork and lamb roasting). It is all placed in the oven again, and after 10 minutes, you get one step closer to nirvana. Or a heart attack. But it’s worth it…

Sach Roasted Meat

Sach is a way of roasting food in Serbia. It’s the name of a big clay or cast iron roasting plate. The meat is placed in this dish, positioned near an open fire, and covered with burning charcoal. It’s cooked for hours, and the product is incredibly moist and soft meat. This cooking process can be used for any meat, but the most popular are lamb and veal in Serbia.

Gibanica

This is a Serbian cheese pie, and uses thin pre-baked dough sheets. The filling includes cheese, eggs, and milk cream mix. It goes great with Serbian yogurt, and this is a typical breakfast or dinner food in Serbia.

Gibanica can also come with meat, spinach, or pickled cabbage fillings. There’s even a vegetarian version with leek.

Svadbarski Kupus

Cabbage is all present in Serbian food culture – raw or pickled. This dish is made from raw cabbage, veal, lamb, and pork meat. They are then nicely layered into tall (2-3 ft) terracotta pots and slowly cooked on an open fire. It’s a traditional food in Serbia that is usually for wedding celebrations. However, it became so popular due to its taste, and you can now find it in many traditional restaurants.

Podvarak

Podvarak is another great meal with pickled cabbage. Sliced cabbage is cooked with smoked fatty pieces of pork meat, most commonly ribs, bacon, or shoulder. Serbian pickled cabbage differs a lot from the German Sauerkraut. It has fewer spices and many visitors who tried both prefer the Serbian version.

Sarma

This is one of the most popular Serbian lunch dishes. A mix of rice, minced veal and pork meat are rolled into pickled cabbage leaves. They are then slowly cooked in a clay pot for several hours. It’s a great mix of tastes. Sometimes the chef adds smoked meat for extra flavor, and it creates an excellent mix of tastes.

You can also find vegetarian Sarma in some restaurants. They usually have the “Posno” makreting, and have a vegetables and rice filling mix.

Jagnjeca Sarma

It is a dish made from lamb liver, lungs, and heart, all nicely cut down to small pieces, fried and wrapped with caul fat (lace fat). It is slowly baked in a clay pot. Since it is quite a fatty dish, it goes very well with yogurt.

Kajmak

This is a type of salty milk cream and traditional Balkan food. Freshly boiled milk is skimmed, salted, layered up, and fermented. The process of making it is long, but the result is very impressive. Locals use it as a spread that goes great with fresh warm bread. It contains mainly milk fat, and thus a high calories count. Be careful not to succumb to the delicious goodness and overdo it.

Ajvar

This is a Serbian homemade spread, but not really a dish on its own. The best way to eat it is with bread and white cheese. This special red peppers spread takes an enormous amount of time and effort to prepare. Every family is incredibly proud of their Ajvar. Do not miss out on a chance to try it when you visit a local’s place. You can also find Ajvar in supermarkets, and the more expensive ones taste like the homemade stuff.

Slatko

For something sweet, Slatko, which translates directly as “sweet,” is a good option to satisfy your dessert cravings. Slatko is a traditional food in Serbia and a way of preserving fruits for the winter by cooking them in sugar syrup.

Various kinds of fruits can be used for this dessert; berries, plums, and cherries are common. The ones available in supermarkets can be as good as the homemade ones.

Traditional Serbian Drinks

It’s impossible to talk about food in Serbia, and not mention traditional Serbian drinks:

Rakija

This alcohol drink is made by distilling different fruits. The plum rakija is the most common and easiest to find; but the most valued is rakija from quince. Many Serbians make this drink, it’s like a badge of honor to be able to make the best one.

If you visit a Serbian home, it’s one of the first things that’s offered to you. Your host will say it with a sense of pride and a smile in the corner of his lips, saying its homemade, from his friends, father, grandfather… and so on.

The origin of the rakija is very important – the closer the relationship with the producer is, the better.

Tip: Many foreigners want to buy rakija to take home with them. You can get high quality, traditionally made rakija in supermarkets as well, but they are expensive – in line with the finest cognacs and whiskeys.

Most Serbians who don’t produce rakija, buy it from trusted friends or relatives, and the prices are much lower. If you want to buy, you can ask your hosts or Serbian friends if they have a good producer in mind.

Serbian Wines

Serbia is not particularly well known for wine production. However, for wine lovers, there are some wines made from domestic grape types that will be hard to find anywhere else:

Red wines:

Prokupac
Vranac

They are dry and go very well with red, strong meats.

White wines:

Tamjanika
Grasevina.

These are autochthonous wines with a strong aroma.

FLAVORS AROUND THE WORLD AFGHAN FOOD IN AFGHANISTAN ALBANIAN FOODS IN ALBANIA ALGERIAN FOODS IN ALGERIA ANGOLAN FOODS IN ANGOLA ARGENTINE FOOD IN ARGENTINA ARMENIAN FOOD AND CUISINE ARUBAN FOOD AUSTRIAN FOOD IN AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN FOOD BELIZEAN FOODS IN BELIZE BENIN FOOD BHUTANESE FOODS IN BHUTAN BOSNIAN FOODS IN BOSNIA BOTSWANA FOODS BULGARIAN FOOD AND CUISINE BRAZILIAN FOOD CANADIAN FOOD IN CANADA CHADIAN FOOD IN CHAD COLOMBIAN FOOD IN COLOMBIA CONGOLESE FOODS IN CONGO CROATIAN FOODS IN CROATIA CYPRIOT FOODS IN CYPRUS CZECH FOOD AND CUISINE DUTCH FOOD AND CUISINE EGYPTIAN FOOD IN EGYPT ENGLISH FOOD IN LONDON ERITREAN FOOD IN ERITREA ESTONIAN FOODS IN ESTONIA ETHIOPIAN FOOD IN ETHIOPIA FIJIAN FOOD IN FIJI FILIPINO FOOD IN PHILIPPINES FINNISH FOOD IN FINLAND FRENCH FOOD IN FRANCE GAMBIAN FOOD IN THE GAMBIA GABONESE FOOD GERMAN FOOD IN GERMANY GHANAIAN FOOD IN GHANA GREEK FOOD IN GREECE GUATEMALAN FOOD IN GUATEMALA HONDURAN FOOD IN HONDURAS HUNGARIAN FOOD IN HUNGARY ICELANDIC FOOD IN ICELAND INDONESIAN FOOD IN INDONESIA IRAQI FOOD IRISH FOOD IN IRELAND ITALIAN FOOD IN ITALY IVORY COAST FOOD JORDANIAN FOOD	KAZAKH FOOD IN KAZAKHSTAN KYRGYZ FOOD IN KYRGYZSTAN LATVIAN FOODS IN LATVIA LEBANESE FOOD AND CUISINE LITHUANIAN FOODS IN LITHUANIA MACEDONIAN FOOD IN MACEDONIA MADAGASCAR FOOD MALAWIAN FOODS IN MALAWI MALIAN FOOD IN MALI MALTESE FOOD IN MALTA MAURITIUS FOOD MONACO FOOD MONGOLIAN FOOD MONTENEGRIN FOOD IN MONTENEGRO MOROCCAN FOOD IN MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE FOOD NEPALESE FOOD IN NEPAL NIGERIAN FOOD IN NIGERIA NICARAGUAN FOOD IN NICARAGUA NORWEGIAN FOOD IN NORWAY PAKISTANI FOOD IN PAKISTAN PANAMANIAN FOOD IN PANAMA PERSIAN FOOD IN IRAN PERUVIAN FOOD IN PERU POLISH FOOD IN POLAND PORTUGUESE FOOD IN PORTUGAL QATARI FOODS ROMANIAN FOOD IN ROMANIA RUSSIAN FOOD IN RUSSIA SCOTTISH FOOD IN SCOTLAND SENEGALESE FOOD IN SENEGAL SERBIAN FOOD IN SERBIA SEYCHELLES FOOD SIERRA LEONE FOOD SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SOMALI FOODS SPANISH FOODS AND CUISINE SWEDISH FOOD IN SWEDEN SWISS FOOD IN SWITZERLAND TANZANIAN FOOD IN TANZANIA THAI FOODS IN THAILAND TUNIASIAN FOODS IN TUNISIA TURKISH FOODS IN TURKEY TURKMENISTAN FOODS UGANDAN FOODS IN UGANDA UZBEK FOOD IN UZBEKISTAN VENEZUELAN FOOD WELSH FOOD IN WALES ZAMBIAN FOOD IN ZAMBIA ZIMBABWEAN FOOD IN ZIMBABWE

Where To Eat In Serbia?

It depends if whether you want a quick but hearty bite or a full course meal. In Serbia, you can get food in three types of establishments:

Fast Food Shops And Bakeries

You can find them in every corner. They offer a wide variety of foods, barbeque, crepes, pastry…. Traditional bakeries in Serbia offer a limited number of products, mostly burek. More modern ones have a large variety of pastries, even cakes. An important thing to note is that you can usually find the best burek in the old, small specialized bakeries.

Kafana

Kafanas are traditional Serbian restaurants. Apart from a charming, old-school atmosphere, they also offer rakija, smoked meats, and other different products they produce independently. Every kafana has its specialty and is famous for it. It is not uncommon to see 90% of the guests eating the same dish.

Kafana has a special place in Serbian food culture. They are not only a place to eat, but also to spend time with your friends, conduct business talks, and enjoy traditional music.

Restaurants

delicious-serbian-foods — Mix grill at a Belgrade Restaurant

Serbian restaurants are not that different from their foreign counterparts. They offer international cuisine, often combined with traditional Serbian food. If a restaurant looks expensive, it usually is.

Where Can A Vegetarian Eat In Serbia?

Although Serbian cuisine is mainly meat-based, vegetarians and vegans do have some options here.

In bakeries, shops, and restaurants, just look for the “Posno” sign or international Vegetarian and Vegan signs. While most international restaurants have vegetarian dishes on their menu, it is harder to find them in fast food stores.

Luckily, fast food in Serbia always comes with a variety of salads and spreads. You can ask for a burger bun with all kinds of vegetables, spreads, and salads, but without the meat patty.

What Are The Prices Of Food In Serbia?

Street food in Serbia is, like almost anywhere in the world, the cheapest way to go.

It is not surprising that some of them serve better tasting food than those you find in restaurants and kafana. The prices of food in Serbia vary, depending on the region. Belgrade is the capital, and prices are higher than the rest of Serbia.

The cheapest food is in South Serbia, where the street food sandwich or burek will cost you from $1 to $2, a meal in kafana with a salad and a drink will cost around $10, and a restaurant will be slightly more expensive.

The prices of food in Serbian supermarkets are comparable to the ones in the European Union.

Dolina Gladi (aka the Valley of Hunger)

If you do visit Belgrade, you may hear of this street. It’s an interesting name for one of the Belgrade’s best food spots. The entire street is packed with fast food stores, and this is the place to stop for a quick bite after a night out. The food selection is enormous with many international dishes there.

No matter what dish you choose, you are in for a treat with food in Serbia. To burn off your calories, here are some of the best things to do in Belgrade!

30 Best Things To Do In Amsterdam, Netherlands In 2023

nomadsunveiled

September 27, 2020

Amsterdam, the sin city of Europe. I prefer to call it the city of canals because of its charming canal ring. This touristic destination is one where the challenge doesn’t lie in finding stuff to do; but rather, in deciding what are the best things to do in Amsterdam within your limited time there.

Here are some of the top things to do in Amsterdam for first-time visitors! I have thrown in some alternative or complementing activities that might appeal to similar interests.

Amsterdam City Passes

Before you start buying tickets for anything, one important point to know is that there are multiple discount passes available for your selection. We all want to get our bang for the buck when we travel, don’t we!

Tip: Here are some tourist and city passes available in popular European cities. These can be great time and cost savers so always check out if there are worthwhile city passes for what you want to do when visiting Europe.

These passes generally offer discounted prices for entry into several main attractions and provide an express lane entry for some. Some provide all-inclusive access to attractions, and discounts on transportation, while others allow you to mix and match to your liking.

There is a good variety of selection/plans to fit different durations, interests, and budgets. It will likely generate some cost and time savings if you already plan to hit up some of these tourist attractions, so I definitely encourage you to check them out before your trip!

The common ones to look into are iAmsterdam City Pass, Holland Pass, and Amsterdam City Pass. There is also a Museumkaart, which is perfect for museum nuts, and an Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket for the party crowd. I went with the Holland Pass, which had more flexibility to select between a list of different attractions. It also has 3 different tier categories to choose from to fit your needs.

Now here are some of the top things to do in Amsterdam!

Most Popular Thing to Do In Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum

Being the national museum of the Netherlands, Rijksmuseum is one of the most famous museums in Amsterdam. This is a place that you certainly want to visit, just to check out some world-famous pieces, even if you’re not a museum nut. The neo-gothic palace houses an impressive collection of Dutch art and historical artifacts stretching back to the Middle Ages. There are usually around 8,000 pieces of art displayed at any one time. Factor in at least 4-5 hours if you plan to see everything in this museum.

It is best to get the tickets in advance to save time as it is very popular. You also need to reserve a ticket online with a starting time even if you are using one of the city passes.

Popular Things to Do In Amsterdam

Discover Art Mastery At Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum showcases the largest collection of arts and works of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The museum is one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands after receiving 2.3 million visitors in 2017. Need I say more?

I will leave the rest for your self-discovery. What you do need to know now though is that the museum no longer sells tickets on the spot and you should definitely get your ticket online in advance.

All visitors need a ticket with a start time to have access to the museum.

If you want to learn more about the life of Van Gogh and have someone bring you through the famous art pieces, a guided tour is the way to go. Get one with the tickets included to save you the hassle.

If you are also into modern and contemporary art and design, the Stedelijk Museum near Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum will probably form your golden trio.

Follow A Personal Story At Anne Frank House

From Art, let’s come to History. Anne Frank House is where you discover the story of Anne Frank, one of the more well-known victims of the holocaust due to her publication of Het Achterhuis (the diary of Anne Frank). One of the best-known books in the world, Het Achterhuis documents Ann Frank’s experience during the German occupation of the Netherlands from 1942 to 1944.

Anne Frank House also requires a ticket bought online for a specific time slot, so remember to book in advance!

Complementary/Alternative: If you are interested in getting a more detailed picture of this story, the Anne Frank and WWII Walking Tour is a good activity to go along.

Tip: The Museumplein, which is a beautiful ‘plaza’ surrounded by some of the more famous museums, is an extremely great place to sit and chill when the weather is nice. Plan to spend some time there for photo taking and, even to sit and watch life go by as you take a break from your museum tour! You can also pack lunch and have a small picnic break there (Another tip to save some time and money!)

One of the most exciting facts about Amsterdam is that the city is home to more than 50 museums catering to different interests. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that museum hopping is one of the main things to do in Amsterdam. For all you museum fans, there are over 50 museums in Amsterdam; you can find a longer list of museums in this handy checklist.

rijksmuseum-in-amsterdam — Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Indoor Things To Do In Amsterdam

Mix Art And History At Rembrandt House

Amsterdam is not only about art but also about the people behind it. And what better way to know more about one of the world-renowned painters than visiting his former home?

The Rembrandt House Museum used to be the house of Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn from 1639 to 1656. It was turned into a museum in 1911 and since then, has been one of the must-see attractions in Amsterdam.

The museum offers an intimate look into Rembrandt’s life as well as his artistic process. There are also different temporary exhibitions held throughout the year. See the restored 17th-century house interior in this central Amsterdam museum.

Discover More Masterpieces At Stedelijk Museum

Fancy modern and contemporary art? Stedelijk Museum should definitely be on your list of things to do in Amsterdam!

The museum holds an impressive collection of modern art, with artists such as Mondrian, Kandinsky, Picasso, and Warhol represented. There are also changing exhibitions throughout the year, so you can expect to see something new each time you visit.

With a stunning building located right in the Museumplein, be sure to also take some time to admire the architecture of the museum. Get a fast-track ticket to avoid the lines and dive right into the artistic world. And when you’re done with the art inside, don’t forget to explore the surrounding museums too!

Meet Famous Personalities At Madame Tussauds

Experience what it’s like to meet, greet and get up close with your favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds. The famous waxwork museum showcases models of globally known personalities.

From George Clooney to Madonna, Lady Gaga, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Einstein; there are a total of 4 different theme zones for you to explore and interact with your favorite celebrity.

Take photos, shake hands or simply give them a hug, it’s all up to you. Get fun, get creative! It is a popular attraction among both adults and kids. Get your ticket online in advance to save time when visiting.

Be Fascinated In The Moco Museum

Moco Museum is a relatively new museum (opened in 2016) that focuses on contemporary culture and street art. The museum is located in the Museumplein, just minutes away from Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum.

Some of the most famous artworks featured in Moco are by Banksy, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, and more. With a large focus on Banksy’s work, the museum showcases more than 10 of his original works and continues to grow its collection.

If you are a fan of street art or modern art, this is definitely a place to go! Grab a ticket to see the best works from some of the modern artists today.

Immerse In Interactive Learning At NEMO Science Museum

NEMO is a science museum that is designed like a huge ship on the Oosterdok wharf. The building architecture itself is already an attraction, and it only gets better when you go inside. This is the largest science center in the Netherlands.

The museum is designed for all ages and has over 19,000 different artifacts for you to explore. It covers topics such as climate change, the human body, and energy. With interactive exhibits and games, it is a great place to learn while having fun at the same time.

Do note that NEMO is extremely popular among families with young children so it can get quite crowded during weekends and holidays. Buy your tickets online in advance to avoid the queues!

Experience Luxury At Amsterdam Royal Palace

Amsterdam Royal Palace (also known as Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam) is one of the three palaces in the Netherlands that are still used for royal events and official functions. It was built in the 17th century as City Hall but became a palace during the French occupation in the early 19th century.

The grand interiors will definitely leave you in awe as you tour the different rooms and halls. From the stunning Gallery of Honor to the Royal Kitchen, every room is more beautiful than the last.

The Amsterdam Royal Palace is open to the public all year round (with the exception of some holidays) and is worth a visit! You can grab your ticket online and explore the palace with an audio guide.

Weird Out At Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a museum that celebrates the weird, wacky and bizarre. From shrunken heads to a piece of the Berlin Wall, there are over 500 exhibits on display for you to see. Crawl into a piece of cheese, or

This museum is perfect if you are looking for something different and unique. With its oddities and curiosities, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a one-of-a-kind experience at all sorts of random, yet interesting stuff. The bonus is that you can get a nice view of Dam square from the museum as well.

Buy your fast-track tickets online to skip the line and enjoy a hassle-free visit to the museum.

Dive Into Anatomy At Body Worlds Amsterdam

Speaking of weird, this might seem scary for some, yet also really educational for others.

If you like learning about human anatomy and our mindsets, thoughts etc, then you will enjoy a trip to Body Worlds Amsterdam! This museum is filled with over 200 real human specimens, all preserved through a process called plastination.

You will get to see different parts of the human body, and how they work together. There are also interactive exhibits where you can learn more about how your body works. This is an eye-opening place to visit if you are interested in science and want to learn more about the human body.

Drink Some Pints At The Heineken Experience

For all you beer lovers, the Heineken Experience is a must-go while you are in Amsterdam. This former brewery has been transformed into a museum to show the history of one of the most popular beers around the world.

The self-guided tour takes approximately 1.5 hours and at the end of it, you get to enjoy 2 glasses (or pints) of Heineken in the bar. You can even learn how to pour the perfect draft pint.

This experience is extremely popular among tourists and it requires the booking of a timeslot in advance for the experience. You can buy your tickets online in advance. There are also options get a bundle ticket with Canal Cruise which brings us to our next point.

Outdoor Things to do in Amsterdam

Discover The Sights With A Canal Cruise

When we talk about Amsterdam, we cannot miss out on the waterway. Experiencing Amsterdam from the water is one of the most relaxing things to do in Amsterdam.

Yes, this is like a typical cliché tourist activity but it is also one worth doing. The view of Amsterdam from the water offers a different perspective. There are many boat cruises available covering differing routes.

The typical canal cruise will be 1 – 2 hours long in a small boat that goes through the city’s canals. I highly recommend grabbing a window seat during the cruise. Choose one with some form of audio explanation that will give you more knowledge of prominent areas as the boat passes by.

If you like to get a more in-depth experience or pamper yourself, other more premium cruises are available that can include dinner or drinks, etc. There is never a lack of options during both day and night.

Connect with Animals At The Royal Zoo

Founded in 1838, Amsterdam Royal Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands. The zoo is home to over 1,200 animals from all around the world and it covers an area of almost 10 hectares.

One of the things that set this zoo apart is its focus on giving animals a more natural habitat which makes for a more enriching experience for both the animals and visitors. Some of the popular sections in the zoo are Penguin Garden, Savage Garden, and Elephants of Asia.

There is also a petting zoo for the little ones! If you have some time, you can even spend a full day here discovering not just the fauna but also the flora. Get your ticket to the ARTIS Royal Zoo online to save time.

Get Behind The Scenes At Johan Cruyff Arena Tour

Do you love sports? Or are you a fan of AFC Ajax? If you answered yes to either, then this activity is something you cannot miss out on while in Amsterdam. The Johan Cruyff Arena is home to AFC Ajax and the Dutch national football team.

The stadium tour will bring you behind the scenes of one of the most popular football clubs in Europe. You will get to see the player’s changing room, the press room, dugout, and even the pitch! Essentially places that you usually don’t get access to as a spectator.

The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours and it is available in multiple languages. You can buy your tickets online in advance and even get discounts for the fan shop.

Cheap And Free Things To Do In Amsterdam

Great news for the budget travelers out there! One of the best things about Amsterdam is that there are many interesting districts to visit at no cost! The city constructs offer a great setting for just walking and checking stuff out.

street-in-amsterdam — Streets of Amsterdam

Take Photos At Beautiful Canals

amsterdam-beautiful-canal — Evening in Amsterdam

One of the most charming parts of Amsterdam is no doubt the bridges and canals. There are many photogenic spots for your Instagram profile.

Prominent locations with great backdrops that are definitely worth a visit will be Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Singel. Allocate some time to walk around these areas as the buildings along the canals are also interesting and filled with history. One of the best cost-free activities to do in Amsterdam!

As much as I love a casual walk around the city; one of the easiest and most fun ways to discover the city’s sights is via a canal cruise that brings you through various prominent spots.

Get Trendy at Jordaan District

Jordaan is one of the most popular and vibrant areas in Amsterdam. It used to be a working-class district but has since been taken over by hipsters and artists.

This is reflected in the many art galleries, trendy cafes, and boutique stores that you can find here. Walking around Jordaan is a great way to get a feel of the creative atmosphere in Amsterdam.

Some popular streets that are worth checking out are Haarlemmerdijk, Elandsgracht, and Brouwersgracht. If you get hungry, there are also many great restaurants and cafes in the area.

Feel The City Pulse At Leidseplein

Leidseplein is essentially that lively go-to square where you find bars, restaurants, cafés, clubs, theatres, and shopping options. It is very lively and also where street performers come to showcase their skills. Unsurprisingly, it is also well known for its nightlife.

Due to its central location, you will almost certainly pass by here. This is an excellent place to find a bar/pub to catch soccer matches on game days.

Tips: Rembrandtplein is another major square where you will find clubs, restaurants, and bars in its surrounding. For beer and football fans, the Heineken Experience and Johan Cruyff Arena Tour might be interesting to you.

Marvel At History At The Dam

The town square of Amsterdam is another area that you will definitely pass by. The Dam lies in the historical center of Amsterdam.

Apart from being the location of various historical/national events, the Dam is surrounded by many notable icons as well. This includes the Centraal Station, the 15th century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk, the National Monument which was erected in 1956 as a memorial to the victims of WWII, and the Royal Palace which can be visited.

Find Local Produces At Albert Cuyp Markt

I am a big fan of visiting local markets because you get to see locals engaging in their daily hustle and bustle. The Albert Cuyp Street Market is one such place! This is the biggest daily market in the Netherlands and it has been around since 1905.

You can find all sorts of things here including fresh produce, flowers, clothes, and even electronics. This is a great place to browse and do some people-watching. The market is open from Monday to Saturday. If you love food markets, it is a great place to just walk and indulge.

Browse The Waterlooplein Flea Market

Featuring over 300 stalls, the Waterlooplein Flea Market is one of the biggest and most popular markets in Amsterdam. It is held every day except Sundays and public holidays.

The market sells a wide variety of things including clothes, books, souvenirs, and vintage items. If you are looking for something particular, it is best to come here with an open mind as there are many interesting items and knick-knacks that might amaze you.

Bargaining is also common practice here so don’t be afraid to try your hand at it. You might just find a gem in the pile at a good price.

Soak Up The Sun In Vondel Park

Vondel Park is one of the most popular parks in the Netherlands, receiving around 10 million visitors each year. It is also Amsterdam’s largest park. The park has lots of greenery and is a good place to get away from the city hustle. However, it can also get crowded with both locals and tourists, partly due to its proximity to the Museumplein, making it really accessible.

Tip: If you want somewhere less crowded, I find Amstel Park to be a better option to enjoy some nice landscape and greenery. Amstel Park, located along the Amstel River, is in Amsterdam-Zuid but further from the touristic zone of Amsterdam.

Things To Do At Night In Amsterdam

Check Out De Wallen (Red Light District)

De Wallen is Amsterdam’s most famous red-light district. It is an interesting area that expresses the Dutch’s more liberal approach toward certain controversial topics. Here you can find things from legal prostitution to coffee shops (as in weed joints, not the usual café) to strip clubs and adult theatres.

It is during the nighttime that the character of this district really comes to life. If you visit at night, please take more care as some of the streets here are narrow and can get crowded.

If you want to learn more about the red-light district and the coffee shop culture, you can take a guided walking tour for a deeper dive.

Important: Taking photos or videos of sex workers is extremely rude and not tolerated, so remember to be respectful.

Get Cozy In The Amsterdam Icebar

The Amsterdam Icebar is one of the coolest things to do, especially during winter. The bar is made entirely out of ice, including the furniture and glasses! This makes for a really unique experience as you drink in negative zero temperatures, from glasses made of ice.

The bar is built from over 30 tons of ice and the impressive place provides plenty of photo opportunities. Warm clothes are also provided if you don’t have yours or need more.

You get a complimentary drink with your entrance ticket with selections of cocktails, as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The Ice Bar is a time-limited experience in order for others to also get a turn at it. You can stay up to 20 minutes in the ice bar but hang out at the lounge for more drinking after. Grab a ticket and book a time slot for an experience.

Romantic Evening Cruise (with Food)

There are various evening cruises to cater to those who prefer the night scene or a more relaxed vibe. The boats have large glass windows so you can still fully enjoy the views of the city during sunset or nighttime. Some cruises also offer food like pizza or BBQ which is great for a group of friends.

For a more special experience, how about a dinner cruise that will take you through the canals of Amsterdam as you enjoy a 3-course meal. The menu comes with a few options as well as drinks.

This is a great option if you want to do something special and romantic while in Amsterdam, particularly with your date or significant other. Booking in advance is recommended as the dinner cruises can fill up quickly, especially during peak season.

Admire The Views From Awe-inspiring Rooftop Bars

For some of the best views in Amsterdam, make your way to one of the city’s many rooftop bars. There are a few to choose from, each with its own vibe and views.

Popular ones include Sky Lounge Amsterdam, Floor 17 to GAPP, and Skybar 747, each offering amazing views but different vibes decoration. Many of them such as Living Kitchen at Zoku Amsterdam and Canvas also serve as restaurants with food items.

popular-amstel-river — Amstel River Amsterdam

Things To Do Outside Amsterdam Central

Get Medevial At Muiderslot Castle

Muiderslot is a medieval castle located about 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam. The castle has a long and rich history, having been built in 1280 and serving as a key strategic location for various wars. It also was the setting for many important events such as the signing of the Union of Utrecht.

Nowadays, the castle is open to the public as a museum where you can learn more about its history. Simply get a ticket and explore the medieval ages. There is also various greenery surrounding the castle that you can explore. This is just one of the many castles in the Netherlands you can visit.

Taste Delicious Dutch Cheese At A Local Cheese Farm

If you are a fan of cheese, this is something you cannot miss when in Amsterdam! There are a few cheese farms located just outside the city and it makes for a great day trip.

During the tour, you will learn all about how Dutch cheese is made before indulging in some delicious samples. You can even purchase some to bring home as souvenirs. Most of the farms offer other products such as honey, jams, and fresh eggs so make sure to stock up while you’re there!

These countryside tours often tie in with visiting other quaint villages or windmills around the region.

If you want to remain in central Amsterdam, there are also plenty of cheese and wine tasting experiences. You can both sample while learning how to best appreciate these delicious Dutch products

Discover Windmills At The Charming Village Of Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is a picturesque village located about 45 minutes outside of the city. The village is home to traditional Dutch windmills and quaint houses that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

You can explore the different windmills, each with its own unique history. There are also a few museums, such as the Zaanse Time Museum, where you can learn more about the village and its people. In addition, there are plenty of shops selling Dutch products such as cheese, clogs, and chocolate. Make sure to pick up some souvenirs for friends and family back home!

Take A Day Trip To Keukenhof

Keukenhof is a flower park located in South Holland, about an hour outside of Amsterdam. The park covers 32 hectares and is open for only 8 weeks each year.

During this time, over 7 million tulips of 800 different varieties are in bloom, making for a spectacular sight. If you’re visiting Amsterdam during the springtime, I highly recommend adding Keukenhof to your itinerary. Note that this time-sensitive exhibition always draws a crowd, with both local visitors and international travelers.

For easy planning, you can get there by booking a skip-the-line ticket together with transportation from Amsterdam.

Getting Around Attractions In Amsterdam

Now that we’ve gone over some of the things you can do in Amsterdam, let’s briefly talk about getting around the city.

Walking is the best way to explore Amsterdam as many of the attractions are located in the city center and easily accessible on foot. If you don’t mind getting a little exercise, cycling is one of the most popular activities the Netherlands is famous for. You can rent a bike for the day as it’s a great way to see even more of the city. There are also bike tours available to visit major sites around Amsterdam.

There are also plenty of public transportation options. The city has an extensive tram network that covers most of Amsterdam, as well as the bus or metro if you’re looking to go further out of the city center. You can get a GVB Transport Ticket for unlimited rides on these for a specific number of days. This is a convenient and popular option for travelers.

As with many touristic cities, you can also take the hop-on-hop-off bus that brings you to all the major attractions around the city. Finally, there are also boat tours available if you want to explore Amsterdam from the water.

Amsterdam Airport Transfer

When traveling between the city center and Schipol Airport, the national railway is a common and direct option. From the airport, it takes around 15-20 minutes and brings you to the central station. Another popular option is via airport shuttles, with stops or picks up at some major plazas and sites such as Museumplein and Leidseplein.

For the most convenience, you can always get a private airport transfer, taking you to your accommodation directly. Uber is an option too!

Discovering Things to Do in Amsterdam, Netherlands

These are only a few of the best things to do in Amsterdam but I hope this gives you a good starting point for planning your trip. Amsterdam is a beautiful and historic city with plenty of activities to keep you busy during your visit. From exploring the canals to learning about the city’s rich history, the city can even command multiple visits.

For more things to do in the country, you can check out some of the famous landmarks in the Netherlands.

10 Best Things to Do in Belgrade, Serbia

nomadsunveiled

September 26, 2020

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a small country in the Balkan peninsula. It is also the nightlife capital of that region. As exciting as nightlife in Belgrade sounds, let’s not forget that this city also has some interesting history and great sights.

The first thing you should know about Belgrade Serbia is that it is divided into three parts by two rivers – Danube and Sava. They are incredibly important for its history, and the reason why it was so often attacked, burnt to the ground, and rebuilt again. Legend says Belgrade was restored 38 times.

The Celts and Romans called it Singidunum, and Slavs gave it the current name Belgrade, which translates to “White City.” It might not be so white anymore, but it is still an interesting city for travelers (not conquerors thankfully).

If this is your first time visiting, here is a recommendation of 10 great things to do in Belgrade.

The Belgrade Fortress – Kalemegdan

The Belgrade Fortress is one place that you will most definitely not overlook. Kalemegdan Fortress was first built by the Celts and then reinforced by the Roman Empire. The fortress as it is today was last occupied by the Turk conquerors in the 19th Century.

It was used to demonstrate the power of the Ottoman empire and deter uprisings of the domicile population and attacks from the hostile Austro-Hungarian Empire across the Danube and Sava rivers.

In the fortress, there is a big and beautiful park. Here you can find a great viewpoint of the confluence where the Sava flows into the Danube. There is also an interesting open military museum.

The Belgrade Fortress is within walking distance from the city center and adjacent to main Knez Mihajlova street. This is a convenient and great place to catch the sunset. Despite the crowd, it is still a romantic location for couples to hang out.

Skadarlija

Every city has this hipster, famous street. For Belgrade, that is Skadarlija. Skadarlija is a popular bohemian street, full of wonderful restaurants with great food and live music from unique guitar bands (tamburasi).

Here you can witness a genuine Balkan custom – loosely translated as “struck by the song.” People in Serbia (and generally in the Balkans) love getting their emotion evoked from music, even if that emotion is sadness.

Bands are sure to earn extra tips if they can trigger some memories in the hearts of their audience.

Skadarlija district is located in the city center. The restaurants here are one of the most memorable parts of nightlife in Belgrade and here are some famous ones:

Sesir Moj
Tri Sesira
Dva Jelena
Mali Vrabac

Nikola Tesla Museum

Nikola Tesla is the most famous scientist in Serbia (And no, we are not talking about the Tesla Car company founded by Elon Musk)

He was born in Croatia, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire back then, but in a Serbian family (his father was an orthodox priest). Serbia and Croatia are both claiming Nikola Tesla (surprisingly – Austria is not).

Nikola Tesla invented AC, designed the Niagara Falls Power Plant, invented the radio… pretty much everything the modern world is based on. In the museum, you can see some of his drawings (the FBI seized most of them after his death), models of his inventions, and learn more about his life.

There are free guided tours running in the museum at specific times in English or Serbian (timings might change so check them on the museum website). I highly recommend planning your visit based on that.

It is way more interesting when you hear the guides explain and show working models of Telsa’s machines. The highlight is seeing the Tesla Coil at work! You get to participate in holding the rods (if you volunteer) and feel the electricity pass through you.

Visit the Restaurant Barges on the Sava River

Belgrade nightlife is famous mainly because of the barges. You can choose from a variety of these floating restaurants. From traditional, with appropriate food and music, to all modern and fancy western-style barges.

It would be best if you visited several barges to find your jam. One thing is certain, no matter what kind of music they are playing there – the atmosphere is excellent, and people are dancing and having fun.

Enjoy the Architectural Differences

Belgrade has been heavily bombarded, both in WWI and WWII, even in 1999. A lot of buildings were destroyed, and due to the lack of planning, the new buildings did not follow the style of the existing houses.

It is common to see an ultra-modern building next to the grey-cement socialist structure, which is right next to a neoclassical building.

Here are some buildings you can look out for during your walk.

Socialist buildings:

Genex Tower, the first smart building in Serbia built in 1977
The “Long Building,” which is almost 1000 meters (over 1000 yards long)
“East Gate” – three matching skyscrapers.

Older buildings:

Hotel Moskva
The Old Train Station
Kapetan Misino Zdanje
Palata Albania
Serbian Congress Building
National Bank of Serbia Building
National Theater of Serbia

St Sava Orthodox Temple

belgrade-orthodox-temple — St Sava Temple Serbia

This is the largest orthodox temple in the Balkans, and one of the largest in the world. Construction started in 1903, in the place where the Turks burnt the bones of this Serbian born saint.

He created the Serbian Orthodox Church and is largely responsible for the shaping of the Serbian nation and the language. The park in front of the Template is a great place to hang out and stop for a quick break.

St Sava Temple is slighter higher than St Mark’s Church, the second largest church in Belgrade. This church located in Tašmajdan park is also a great place to visit.

You find will find the parliament there, and other remanents of the bombing such as a monument to children that died during the NATO bombing. A portion of the RTS broadcasting building still stands in its original condition post bombing.

House of Flowers

This is the burial place of famous Yugoslavian communist dictator Tito. He was a person of controversies, and people remember his rule with different emotions (thanks to his “soft” approach to communism).

Many Serbians believe that Yugoslavia was a much better place to live with good salaries, low crime, and good status in the world. You can still find some of the elder generation talking about the good times during the Yugoslavian period. This is a common trend that can be recognized in the Balkan states especially since most of their economies are not faring very well now.

For things to do near Belgrade:

Ada Ciganlija and Great War Island (River Islands)

fortress-river-in-belgrade — Overlooking the river from Belgrade Fortress

Belgrade has several river islands and these two are the most popular. I wasn’t able to visit them, since I was there during winter. However, these river islands are popular destinations recommended and visited by locals in better weather.

Ada Ciganlija is a favorite summer picnic destination for people from Belgrade. Besides the beaches, it has many sports activities, even a golf course.

How to get to Ada Ciganlija

By bus: Lines 23, 37, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 56Л, 58, 85, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 511, 551, 553, 860, 860E, 861A

By boat: Boats start from Block 45 and Block 70 in New Belgrade.

Great War Island is a wild animal sanctuary and simply fantastic because it is a green oasis in the center of the Belgrade city. When the Sava water lever is suitable, wild boars can swim right into the city, so it’s not that uncommon to see them right in front of the fancy shops or restaurants in the city center.

How to get to Great War Island

You can only get to the Great War Island by boats that start from Zemun Port. In the summer season, there is a pontoon bridge available to get there on foot. The bridge is also located in the Zemun Port. Bus lines 15, 706, and 82 will get you to the bridge and boat port base.

Zemun and Gardosh

gardosh-in-belgrade — Panoramic view from the Gardosh Viewpoint

Before the WWI, Sava river was the border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia, and before that – the Ottoman Empire. Once you cross the Sava and go into Gardos and Zemun, with their Hapsburg architecture, it is like crossing to a whole different world. From a busy city to a peaceful neoclassical town in just a few minutes.

This is a good reference for landmarks to visit if you want to walk around the area yourself. Key things to see include, the historical Gardos tower which offers a good view of the area, the Zemun Old Town, and Zemun Quay. If you want to learn more about the landmarks and save yourself the trouble of navigating around, consider going for a Zemun Walking Tour.

From Zeleni Venac Square, you can find several buses 15, 17, 84, 701, and 704 to Zemun. You can buy a BusPlus transport card and top it up at kiosks or get limited days BusPlus passes for tourists. This is cheaper if you plan to use buses a lot. Otherwise, you can also buy tickets from the driver that is good for 90 minutes.

Avala Tower

Avala is a mountain 10 miles from the city center. It makes for a nice trip out of the city if you have time. It has a beautiful park and two magnificent buildings.

Avala Tower, the tallest tower in Serbia and one of the highest buildings in the Balkans (600ft), with a magnificent viewpoint from which you can see almost half of Serbia.
Monument of the Unknown Hero, a magnificent marble mausoleum dedicated to the victims of the WWI

Five bus lines will get you to Avala: 403, 405, 407, 468, 491.

Hear from Locals

If you find the opportunity, it is always good to sit down for coffee with the locals and talk. Serbians are welcoming to foreigners and most of the younger generation also speak English.

Another good way to hear more about the city’s history is via walking tours. They are a good first touchpoint to know a city and hear a local’s perspective of their city.

The Belgrade Underground Tour brought us through some curious tunnels and intriguing underground locations. These included the military bunker, old gunpowder warehouse and Roman well.

Each place come with their share of interesting war and spy stories across different periods. It ended with a nice and generous wine sampling in a cozy underground winery.

To say that Belgrade city is just about nightlife is like saying Prague is just about beer, or Munich is just about BMW. There is so much more to see, feel, and taste in Belgrade Serbia. Here are some finger licking good food in Serbia that you have to try!

Where to stay in Belgrade

There are a good variety of accommodations catering to different budget ranges in the capital city. If you are visiting as a tourist, it is generally most convenient to stay in the city center as that gets you everywhere easily. Here are some well-rated accommodations you can consider.

Budget

Hostel El Diablo: If you are looking for a hostel, El Diablo is known for having a great atmosphere and friendly staff. It also has a great location in the city center.

NapPARK Hostel: For a funky design and cozy feel home, NapPark Hostel is a well facilitated and comfortable hostel in the city center.

Hostel Karavan Inn: If modern design is your vibe, then Karavan Inn should fit the clean and minimal vibe. It is outside the city center but nothing too far or inconvenient.

Midrange

City Apartments Belgrade: Situated just outside the city center, this is a good bang for buck if you are looking for private accommodations at affordable prices and great location.

Kings Palace Suites: Located in an old but beautiful house. There are multiple room options with classic, luxury design.

Belgrade Sky Apartment: Not too far from the city center. You get a well-equipped apartment with city views. This is good for groups or friends with 2 bedrooms.

Luxury

Viktor Luxury Suites: For a splurge, a luxury suite right in the city center should make it worthwhile. An entire apartment fitted with large wardrobe space and spacious layout.

Beograd na vodi – Belgrade Waterfront Riverside: When we speak luxury in Belgrade, the waterfront has to come to mind. Here you can get huge apartments with a direct river view.

Apartments Royal – Belgrade Waterfront: Modern, spacious apartments in high rise building featuring views of the river on the terrace. Good for the warm seasons.

Skydiving in Dubai The Palm

nomadsunveiled

September 15, 2020

Did you see all those cool skydiving in Dubai Instagram photos over the Palm Jumeriah and are interested to get your own taste of it? Or did you just stumble upon it while in Dubai now?

Regardless, here is what you need to know if you are looking to skydive in Dubai, including some personal tips I have from my experience.

I did my first tandem skydive ever in Dubai and it definitely qualifies as a bucket list experience for me. I am not a super adrenaline junkie, so if it is your first time and are nervous about it, I feel your pain!

Skydiving in Dubai over the palm is hands down one of the best ways to see the famous Palm Jumeriah.

Why? Because there is nothing really special about the Palm when you see it on land. I have driven through it and it is basically a rich people estate. The whole idea of the palm is to see the shape from above.

Another option is to do a private gyrocopter flight.

When is the best time to do skydiving in Dubai?

Skydiving is very weather dependent. Fortunately, Dubai doesn’t experience much rainfall and one of your biggest considerations might be the heat. The best time to do it is during the winter season, between April to October, where the weather is not too hot.

In terms of timing of the day to do it, I personally prefer to do it in the morning for the following reasons:

The temperature is usually cooler in the morning
You don’t have to be thinking about it throughout the day. Tip: Especially if you have fears about it. Rather than worrying for half a day, do it early and spend half the day feeling proud of yourself instead!
If things get delayed due to weather, you have the time buffer to wait for the weather to clear

Which company should I go with?

Unlike many skydiving locations where you might have to ponder over the choices of operators, there is only 1 operator that is licensed to skydive over the Palm and that is Skydive Dubai!

Skydive Dubai also has another dropzone that is over the desert, located about 35km outside the city, if you are interested in getting a bird’s eye view of the desert. The price of the tandem dive is cheaper in this dropzone.

But really, why would you want to jump over the desert when you have the option of jumping over the iconic scenery of Dubai.

What is the price of skydiving in Dubai?

As of 2020, the price for a tandem skydive at the Palm Jumeirah is AED1899 (approx. USD$518), and AED2199 with photos and video included. There is also now an Instagram video option for an additional AED100.

You can pay with UAE Dirhams, Debit cards, Visa and MasterCard credit cards, or UnionPay cards.

Is it worth getting the video and photos?

The photos and videos are captured by a videographer who will jump with you IN ADDITION to the instructor, so it is not simply done by some GoPro attached to you sort of stuff. I would highly recommend this because this is not just skydiving over some random landscape, it is skydiving over Dubai, Palm Jumeriah so the shots are awesome!

I did not have the Instagram option when I skydived but you can see examples of them on Instagram to determine if it is worth your money.

The photos and videos will be given to you on a USB, which is available for collection approx. 45 minutes after your jump. You might want to plan for something to do there while you wait. There is a nice viewing area outside where you can see the skydivers land. There is also a café where you can get food and drinks.

What height will I be jumping from?

You will jump at an altitude of 13,000ft and freefall at 120miles an hour.

The freefall will last around 1 min and then you will cruise (basically paraglide) for around 5-6 mins where you can enjoy the view at a slower pace. I also got some time to steer the parachute for a bit before preparing for landing.

skydiving-dubai — Tandem and solo divers preparing to get their dose of adrenaline rush

How long is the skydiving experience in Dubai?

The time you book is the arrival time and not the skydiving time. You should plan to spend around 3-4 hours there for the whole process/experience including waiting for the USB collection. This might change if the schedule is affected by weather conditions.

The process is quite efficient and would go something like this:

You will register at the counter and do all the admin stuff (they will collect your wavier and declaration form and check your BMI).
You will then meet your instructor who will fit you into your gear and give you a briefing.
The videographer will do the first interview with you, which will be on your video! (If you ordered it).
You will then head to the boarding area, where they will do another check on your gear before the takeoff.
After that, you will board the helicopter, scale to the altitude, and jump off with your instructor!
You will then return your gears. If you paid to capture your memories of skydiving in Dubai, you can wait to collect your USB.

What should I wear?

I went in t-shirt, jeans, and sports shoes. Athletic, comfortable clothes are advised; t-shirts and tops must have sleeves. I also didn’t wear any accessories. There are some personal lockers where you can keep your stuff but I won’t advise bringing any big luggage with you.

Is Skydiving in Dubai scary?

This varies from person to person, so I can only share my personal experience.

There were some nerves while waiting but nothing insane. I guess the most nervous for me was when I was signing the waiver form. It kind of felt like signing your life away.

The most intense instant was the short 2-3 seconds between falling out of the plane and reaching freefall velocity (I could see my expression change for a few seconds from the video). It is like that same feeling when you “fall” in your sleep/dream and wakes up; if you know what I mean. Once you get into freefall, it is pure thrill and fun.

skydiving-in-dubai-the-palm — One of my funniest photo of Skydiving in Dubai. My instructor is such a clown.

Do I need to have prior experience to Tandem Skydive?

For tandem skydive, you don’t need any prior experience. You will get a briefing before the dive on what you need to take note of. During the dive, you are basically strapped to a certified instructor who will jump with you.

However, there are certain requirements such as your age, BMI index, and medical conditions, which are general ones for skydiving anywhere. You can refer to them at Skydive Dubai Tandem Jump Requirements.

Other Personal tips

Before Skydiving:

Avoid watching “Skydiving fails” videos the night before. Seriously, don’t mindf**k yourself with that, those videos can give you a sleepless night.

It is normal to be nervous, but once you see others who are doing it at the centre, it is kind of comforting. You aren’t technically jumping during tandem. The instructor is jumping and you just need to go along for the ride and enjoy. It is probably more dangerous if you freak out on him/her during the jump.

Day Of Skydiving:

I did mine in the morning and had a light breakfast before heading there. You should definitely avoid eating too heavily but don’t go on an empty stomach either. It is after all going to be quite a while until you finish the jump.

During Skydiving:

You might have read that some people complained about not being able to breathe during the freefall. I took the opportunity to ask my tandem instructor, Cupcake Tim (the guy who holds my life in his hands for the next few minutes) while waiting for the helicopter.

The explanation was that because most people get nervous during the fall, so they kept trying to gasp for more oxygen. However, during the fall, the air is flying into your face/mouth so you are already stuffed with it; trying to breathe in more results in feeling like you might be choking.

(Take a very big breath now and just keep trying to breathe in more without breathing out, you will know what I mean)

Instead, you should scream to let the air out and breath normally. You won’t actually hear yourself scream but you will feel the air coming out.

During Skydiving:

Lastly, remember to take note of the videographer. If you are not a natural in front of the camera (like me #foreverawkard), it is probably good to have some thought about what you are going to do in the air! What kind of poses are you going to put up?

Hey, after all, you paid extra for the photos and videos. I actually ran out of poses! Apparently, 1 minute lasts quite long when you don’t have a good arsenal of ideas at your disposal.

Don’t get overwhelmed, remember to look good for the camera!

I’m going to throw some cliché ones here to help out the not-so-creative souls: Superman / Thumbs up / Thousand variations of Heart signs / two-finger yay. Feel free to check out videos of others to grab some ideas.

skydiving-in-dubai-landing — Landing after a memorable experience

This is a once in a lifetime experience (mainly because it’s actually one of the more expensive skydiving locations worldwide), so go enjoy and make a memory out of it! However, visiting Dubai doesn’t always have to break the bank. There are some cheap and free things to do in Dubai as well.

Solo vs Couple Travel – Brooke Johnson

nomadsunveiled

September 12, 2020

Hi Brooke! Please give us an overview of your background (who are you traveling with, how long have you traveled, what made you want to go the digital nomad lifestyle etc.) so we can put a persona to the content that follows 🙂

Every time I travel I tend to go anywhere from 1 month to 8 months, so definitely extended travel. This past summer, my husband and I went to Europe and it was my 6th extended trip. However, I would not call it a trip but a brief digital nomad lifestyle. Some people I know can be on the road for years on end, but I like coming back to my country and being at a home base for a while in between. And it’s a lot easier to chill in your own country where you don’t have to worry about a visa running out, so that’s the other factor for coming home in between.

I am freelancing now. Before that, I worked at YouTube and then Maker Studios and DanceOn in Hollywood. I was working my way up that corporate ladder but knew that my soul wanted something more meaningful, something I could call my own. Since quitting my 9-5 job, minimizing my life expenses, and getting used to a smaller paycheck, I started venturing into being a digital nomad and enjoy the fact that I can blend adventure with making a living at the same time.

You and Dru seem to have found a good balance in splitting the workload from both the business and travel plans. Could you elaborate more about how it works and how you guys came up with this system?

My company is Flowstate11, a Micro Digital Video Marketing Agency. We help small businesses and personal brands build their name and story on YouTube and other social media platforms that accept video. We run point on pre-production, video coaching, post-production so that it is optimized for the web, and marketing the video once it’s launched. I love it because my #1 passion is editing, so I get to create stories for brands on all sorts of topics. The arts, medical, psychology, you name it, we’ve probably created content for it. When things are super busy I have a team of other freelancers where we divide and conquer. However, when traveling I tend to tone the workload down to whatever I can take on so that I’m not trying to manage others, myself, and clients while traveling.

When traveling there are more things to consider then one would think. Finding flights, booking flights, getting from point A to point B and which forms of transportation are we going to use? There’s getting to know the city or place you land in even if you are only going to be there for 5 days. There’s finding the best wifi around, currency exchange, learning new languages. There’s booking a place to stay, normal bill stuff, then finding the fun stuff and adventures in between, so traveling is a full-time job! That’s why it’s great to have a partner. While I am working at a wifi cafe, Dru is booking our next flights, Airbnbs, discovering what things we should check out. We are both good at working independently and getting things done so I think that’s why it works out so well.

One common issue among digital nomads is the difficulty in building meaningful or lasting relationships because we are constantly moving around. Would you like to share about how you and Dru met and came together?

Dru and I met at the Eclipse Festival in Oregon in 2017! Apart from traveling, I absolutely love transformational music festivals and find myself involved in so way or another. I had worked with the festival for about a week in pre-event stuff. Then I finally had a day off when the event started.

Dru and I had met before but we finally ran into each other that day and decided to hang out. We were both involved in festivals so we had that in common, and we both had a strong sense of adventure. We decided that we’d love to be travel buddies. One thing led to another and after going to Burning Man together a week after and getting ‘playa married’, we decided to get an actual marriage in Nebraska a month after that with family. We just kind of knew that it felt right and this was it. He’s a nomad in his own right so our adventures weaved together, and in this 1st year, we’ve been to over 50 different places.

To answer the question about building meaningful and lasting relationships. First off, be open. Don’t close off to people even if you know you might only get to hang with them for a day or a few days. A connection is a connection and you never know when your paths will cross again.

This is very true in our case. When Dru and I went to Europe and visited 15 countries, part of it was because we had so many friends to see! Our friends that we knew from Festivals in California were in Sweden, so we went to help them through a techno event. Then we had to see some of my closest friends in Denmark whom I had met in Bali 2 years prior. Then we met up with our Austrian friends that we had met previously in Mexico and so on and so on. I believe during this summer we had seen and met up with 17 of our friends. We made a few new friends along the way which was nice too.

Just be grateful for getting the chance to meet people and connect and the rest will work itself out. If you feel sad that it’s so fleeting, it’s just a sign that you care and you are human with a heart. It is better to have loved than to have never loved at all.

You have experienced the nomadic lifestyle both as an individual and a couple. How different are the two lifestyles? Do considerations and priorities change?

As an individual, it’s more work because it’s just you doing everything. The work, travel logistics. I would most likely stay in hostels because it was cheaper and it was a great way to meet other travelers. I spent a lot more time on the computer actually as a solo digital nomad, which is good but not so good if you want to go experience a lot of where you are at. It was more of an introspective journey and eye-opening to the world. I go and do and see whatever I wanted, no one was there to have a different perspective.

As a couple, it’s like a dance of two travelers. You get to learn so much about each other and what you like or don’t like. You work together so there’s not so much to worry about which is nice. We rented Airbnbs instead because it’s actually more cost-effective than two people at a hostel. We didn’t meet as many people and we were in our own little bubble a lot of times, but there was a sort of comfort in that during travel that I had not had before. The Con is that we don’t meet as many people, and we have to compromise on what we want to do. I want to eat local food but Dru doesn’t want to eat local food, so we work together and find something we both like. Or I do my own thing and he does his own thing. Instead of it being an eye-opener to the world, it was an eye-opener to what the world is like to see within a couple dynamic.

What are tips or advice that you have for maintaining a healthy couple relation while traveling together all the time?

This is something I wish we had known at the beginning of our journey – Every couple of days, take a day off from each other. Take time to yourself, do what you want to do, and see it through just your own eyes. At 8 am go off and do your own thing, and they do their own thing and journey. Then when you meet back up later in the night you have stories to tell each other and you had that time. We didn’t do that really but this was advice a couple gave me that had been on the road with each other for over 3 years. Even the happiest of people can drive each other crazy if together 24/7.

Are there any other key challenges that you face as a digital nomad traveling either individually or as a couple.

Yes! Timezone is a bitch, so you must be very flexible. I was transparent with my clients that I was traveling and that I was on a different timezone than them. Always make it extremely easy for communication so that they won’t decide to let you go because of inconsistency. Luckily, I have never lost a client because of this but it’s smart to just be careful.

I would also say, ALWAYS keep looking for work, whether traveling or at home base. You never know how long or short a client work will go for and so it’s best as a business owner to keep that wheel of opportunities turning. I learned that the hard way. I laid back for a few months because everything was smooth sailing then things changed with clients within a week and I lost 1/2 my income. Nothing personal, but the startup I was working with, cut their budget drastically and I didn’t know until I got the notice. It happened 2 days before flying to Europe as well, so never take your clients for granted and always keep looking for clients. Best advise.

Wifi can be frustrating at times when certain countries are behind the times. Clear communication and reasonable deadlines are important, AND understand that sometimes you can just get stuck and there’s not much you can do about it. Breathe, let go, and know that the sun will come up tomorrow, you will be back online in no time.

Don’t overpack! You can always buy things that you need.

Couple advice – Have compassion and patience for each other. Travel will test your relationship. It’s a huge growing experience. Know that it’s not always sunshine and roses and that sometimes you are going to feel icky and no fun. But that’s ok! You are traveling all over the world, something most people would only dream of doing and it takes a toll. Therefore, have compassion for yourself and just go with the flow, and that will make it that much easier for your partner as well.

What advice do you have for couples who wish to go nomadic? What preparations should they make or are important?

Have a savings account! I have traveled so much without a savings account but this last trip with my husband, I’m really glad we had savings. It gave us peace of mind in case of anything.

Never go to bed upset. Find a way to communicate and work it out. We would have arguments every once and while but we would figure it out and we were never mad at each other for more than a few hours. Communication is key.

If you’re independent like me, let go, and let your partner lead the way. Controlling everything is stressful and overwhelming. The sooner you guys share the aspects of travel and business, the better you will be in sync.

Figure out what’s important to both of you during travel. Is it food? Is it weird and cool art places? Is it adventures like swimming, biking, hiking? Find out what each other likes beforehand so you can better prepare to do all the things you want to do so that no one feels like it was one person’s idea. Share what are your favorite aspects of travel and honor them.

Have compassion and patience for each other. Travel will test your relationship. It’s a huge growing experience.

10 Must-Try Food in Argentina

nomadsunveiled

September 9, 2020

Food has always been a big part of my travels. I love sticking my fork into local cuisines and, stuffing myself with tasty eats that could be from other places. The Food in Argentina is definitely one of the defining characteristic of the country.

This list will mainly be traditional food in Argentina or popular ones typical for locals. It will also include drinks because some of them are just so representative of the Argentine culture that you simply cannot miss.

If you are a frequent traveler, you would know that countries in the same region usually similar cuisines or similar variations of the same dish.

Keep in mind that this list comes after having traveled through most of South America. If you haven’t been to other parts of South America, there are bound to be a lot more stuff that catches your eye (or tongue). It was challenging to pick 10 out from so many awesome contenders.

Asado/Parrilla

This list is not in any order of ranking but if it is, Asado or Parrilla has to be on the top of the list. Both terms are used interchangeably but if you have to know, my understanding is that Asado refers to the grilled meat, while Parrilla is like the method of grilling.

There is another method of grilling meat that is more “wild style”, where the meat is crucified to a cross and stuck next to an open fire for grilling. I saw more of this in Patagonia. (Can’t be bothered about terminology when your mind is getting blown off by juicy meat.)

Asado is the BBQ in Argentina where succulent meat is grilled to perfect goodness. Having tried grilled meat in Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, Argentina is still my pick in terms of quality and price ratio.

Traditional Argentina Food - Asado — Photo by a friend in one of our Asado Gatherings

Asado is not just a popular food in Argentina, it is also one of the most popular activities. It is best done with friends because then it evolves from just gastronomy into a whole ~~get-fat-together~~ social experience.

However, you can also easily find this in Parrillas. A Parrilla set from traditional restaurants will typically include an Asado meat, morcilla or chorizo, chuchurins, rinons, bread, and a side dish of potato or salad.

Tip: You can stuff your Choizo in bread, spread some Criolla and Chimichurri to make your own Choripan (Chorizo + Pan (bread) = Choripan), which is also another common dish or street food in South America.

Popular Places for Parrillas

For a more premium experience of this, there are Parrillas that are similar to steakhouses. Popular ones in Buenos Aires include Parrilla Don Julio and La Cabrera where you might even have to book months in advance for peak hours.

Alternatively, you can go early during opening hours and hopefully get a quick seat which is what I did for Don Julio. Really lucky that my gym was just two doors away and I went straight for it after seeing a short queue when leaving the gym (Bye all my gym effort).

La Cabrera also offers a happy hour (30% off the bill, entry until 7:15 pm) between 6:30 – 8 pm. I recommend going slightly earlier to queue before they start dinner service.

Provoleta

In a meat-based food culture of South America, vegetarians will be happy to know of this great option. Provoleta is a flavored cheese grilled like in an Asado and does typically appear when we do Asados ourselves. You can easily find them in Parrillas or buy them in the supermarket. They are extremely flavorful and can be pretty filling when you eat it with bread.

Locro

This hearty stew dish is more commonly found in the North, but it is a traditional Argentina food widely eaten countrywide on the 25th of May (1810 Revolution, the event that set Argentina on the path to liberation) and 9th of July (Day of Independence).

Locros are served with meat, beans, corn, etc, and have slightly different variations from store to store. You will find many restaurants selling homemade or their own version of Locro even when it is not usually on their typical menu. Some even get creative like this Ramen Locro from a Japanese Ramen place.

If you like stews, similar dishes include Guiso de Lentejas (Lentils stew) and Mondongo (Tripe Stew). For vegetarians, you might have some luck finding a vegetarian version of Locro or Guiso de Lentejas (definitely not Mondongo). Otherwise, another option is Humita stew, which is a corn stew.

Traditional Argentina Food - Locro — Typical Locro and Empanada Set during 25th May Celebration

Empanadas

Another food commonly eaten with Locro on the days of celebration is Empanada. It is weird to specify this because, unlike Locro which shoots up in popularity during those celebratory days, Empanadas are eaten all day, every day.

Empanadas is a very popular food in Argentina, they can be eaten as snacks or even as a meal. Pastries wrapped with all sorts of filling, the variety of empanadas are endless. You can find typical flavors and cheap ones along the street, or there are also restaurants selling them with more premium ingredients.

The texture of the pastry can vary, the fillings can vary, so much can go right or wrong. My suggestion here will be to try and sample around different places as and when you feel like it.

Here are some other places where I like their empanadas.

EL Hornero in the San Telmo Market is extremely popular.
The Stand (The empanadas here are of more unique flavors, like Cheeseburger, Philiy steak, etc)
Amores Tintos
Santa Evita

Milanesa

Another typical food in Argentina, Milanesa is basically your breaded cutlet. Compared to the thick juicy meat in Parrillas, I am not as big a fan of Milanesas, which are made of a thin but usually big piece of meat.

Don’t get me wrong though, this is still an awesome option for a meal. Milanesa can be of chicken, pork, or beef. They are a common food in Argentina and you can find it in many restaurants. They usually come with options of toppings like Napolitana (ham, cheese, tomato). Milanesa tends to be a pretty economical dish in my opinion. They are not expensive and can be filling.

Alfajores

The perfect treat for people with a sweet tooth! This is another typical food of Argentina, suitable for breakfast or tea. Generally, Alfrajores are filled or sandwiched with Dulce de Leche, which is one of the main reasons I would recommend trying it.

Dulce de Leche is this sweet condensed milk filling that some people absolutely love, while others crin at its sweetness. Regardless, you will find it very commonly in cakes and desserts.

I would recommend having an alfrajor with your hot coffee or tea. You can find many variations of it, from artisanal ones to factory-made ones in supermarkets. Some are coated in chocolate, almonds, or filled with other fillings.

This is one food that people can get creative with, so much so that there are even subscription box services for people to try different ones every month.

FLAVORS AROUND THE WORLD AFGHAN FOOD IN AFGHANISTAN ALBANIAN FOODS IN ALBANIA ALGERIAN FOODS IN ALGERIA ANGOLAN FOODS IN ANGOLA ARGENTINE FOOD IN ARGENTINA ARMENIAN FOOD AND CUISINE ARUBAN FOOD AUSTRIAN FOOD IN AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN FOOD BELIZEAN FOODS IN BELIZE BENIN FOOD BHUTANESE FOODS IN BHUTAN BOSNIAN FOODS IN BOSNIA BOTSWANA FOODS BULGARIAN FOOD AND CUISINE BRAZILIAN FOOD CANADIAN FOOD IN CANADA CHADIAN FOOD IN CHAD COLOMBIAN FOOD IN COLOMBIA CONGOLESE FOODS IN CONGO CROATIAN FOODS IN CROATIA CYPRIOT FOODS IN CYPRUS CZECH FOOD AND CUISINE DUTCH FOOD AND CUISINE EGYPTIAN FOOD IN EGYPT ENGLISH FOOD IN LONDON ERITREAN FOOD IN ERITREA ESTONIAN FOODS IN ESTONIA ETHIOPIAN FOOD IN ETHIOPIA FIJIAN FOOD IN FIJI FILIPINO FOOD IN PHILIPPINES FINNISH FOOD IN FINLAND FRENCH FOOD IN FRANCE GAMBIAN FOOD IN THE GAMBIA GABONESE FOOD GERMAN FOOD IN GERMANY GHANAIAN FOOD IN GHANA GREEK FOOD IN GREECE GUATEMALAN FOOD IN GUATEMALA HONDURAN FOOD IN HONDURAS HUNGARIAN FOOD IN HUNGARY ICELANDIC FOOD IN ICELAND INDONESIAN FOOD IN INDONESIA IRAQI FOOD IRISH FOOD IN IRELAND ITALIAN FOOD IN ITALY IVORY COAST FOOD JORDANIAN FOOD	KAZAKH FOOD IN KAZAKHSTAN KYRGYZ FOOD IN KYRGYZSTAN LATVIAN FOODS IN LATVIA LEBANESE FOOD AND CUISINE LITHUANIAN FOODS IN LITHUANIA MACEDONIAN FOOD IN MACEDONIA MADAGASCAR FOOD MALAWIAN FOODS IN MALAWI MALIAN FOOD IN MALI MALTESE FOOD IN MALTA MAURITIUS FOOD MONACO FOOD MONGOLIAN FOOD MONTENEGRIN FOOD IN MONTENEGRO MOROCCAN FOOD IN MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE FOOD NEPALESE FOOD IN NEPAL NIGERIAN FOOD IN NIGERIA NICARAGUAN FOOD IN NICARAGUA NORWEGIAN FOOD IN NORWAY PAKISTANI FOOD IN PAKISTAN PANAMANIAN FOOD IN PANAMA PERSIAN FOOD IN IRAN PERUVIAN FOOD IN PERU POLISH FOOD IN POLAND PORTUGUESE FOOD IN PORTUGAL QATARI FOODS ROMANIAN FOOD IN ROMANIA RUSSIAN FOOD IN RUSSIA SCOTTISH FOOD IN SCOTLAND SENEGALESE FOOD IN SENEGAL SERBIAN FOOD IN SERBIA SEYCHELLES FOOD SIERRA LEONE FOOD SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SOMALI FOODS SPANISH FOODS AND CUISINE SWEDISH FOOD IN SWEDEN SWISS FOOD IN SWITZERLAND TANZANIAN FOOD IN TANZANIA THAI FOODS IN THAILAND TUNIASIAN FOODS IN TUNISIA TURKISH FOODS IN TURKEY TURKMENISTAN FOODS UGANDAN FOODS IN UGANDA UZBEK FOOD IN UZBEKISTAN VENEZUELAN FOOD WELSH FOOD IN WALES ZAMBIAN FOOD IN ZAMBIA ZIMBABWEAN FOOD IN ZIMBABWE

Pizza

Wtf isn’t Pizza Italian?

Indeed! However, many Argentines actually have some degree of Italian ancestry. This is also why I met many Argentines during my trip to Rome. Consequently, we can find strong Italian influence in the Argentine food culture.

I like to break the options down into 2 categories of pizza.

First being the “modern” pizza, which caters to the international, trendy food scene. There are thin crusts and a multitude of flavors, similar to what you might find in many international cities. The pizzas here are good by international standards in my opinion. Some place I would recommend are:

The other category which is what I recommend trying is the traditional Argentine pizza. These come with a thick crust and stuffed with an insane amount of cheese. As a big fan of cheese, I enjoyed it, but they are so hearty and filling that I wouldn’t be able to eat this regularly. It is not that I prefer this over the “modern” style pizza, they are almost different to me. I definitely recommend trying it because you are after all in Argentina!

The place I recommend would be La Muzzetta Pizzeria which appeared on the Netflix Street Food: Latin America series. This long-standing pizzeria has been running since the 1930s and is very popular among locals. Fuzzgatte is their signature dish.

Another great option that I have tried, is Pizzeria Guerrin. They are located in the city center and frequently patronized by locals. Despite having a large store, they are always crowded.

Traditional Argentina Pizza from La Mezzetta — Cheesy Fugazzette Pizza from La Mezzetta Pizzeria

Mate by the river — Having Mate and Snacks by the River in Carlos Paz

Yerba Mate

Moving on to drinks! You cannot miss the national drink here, Yerba Mate. Yerba is the leaves and Mate is the cup (The straw is called Bombilla), locals usually just refer to the whole thing as Mate. There is a procedure for preparing the drink, from shaking up the leaves, the water temperature, and the way it is poured it into the Mate.

It’s like an art (ok, maybe not as artsy as Japanese tea but still), it takes technique to shake the Yerba properly so you don’t suck in small loose pieces when you drink.

Locals always have a mate with them and can drink it anywhere, anytime. There is also a cold version called Terere which is more commonly drank during summer to cool down. The same Yerba is used but cold juice is used instead of water.

When people take the trouble to lug around a hot water flask and a cup, you know how much it means to them. Mate is also commonly consumed in surrounding countries like Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil.

The reason for recommending Mate is not because of the taste of it (it doesn’t taste particularly good or bad in my opinion) but really because of the culture behind it. It is common for people to share a mate when hanging out together. Some of my best memories in Argentina are definitely sharing mate with friends while chilling in a river stream or park.

Torrontes

This is by far my favorite white wine, and I don’t think it can be found easily outside of Argentina. I haven’t seen it regularly in the surrounding countries, and certainly not at the price point you get in Argentina. I first tried it in the wine county of Cafayate and instantly fell in love with it.

Torrontes is usually sweet and has a fruity aroma. I love spicy food and Torrontes goes well with them. This is my choice of white wine in Argentine.

Winery in Cafayate — One of the first wineries we visited in Cafayate

Dinner with Torrontes Wine Argentina — Having Torrontes with Home Cooked Dinner in Tucuman

Fernet Cola

While Torrontes is a personal favorite, Fernet Cola is without a doubt the local favorite, arguably even a national icon. Fernet Cola, sometimes known as Fernande, is simply a cocktail of Fernet mixed with Cola. Argentines simply love that mix. I have seen traveling friends helping to deliver gifts of Fernet to Argentines in other countries.

I found it weird for my taste but I am not a Fernet or hard liquor person. Nonetheless, do give it a shot simply because it is what most Argentines swears by. It is all about trying the local flavors, ain’t it!

Yes, I know, I sneakily threw in some extra food recommendations in my list of 10, but now you have my list of food and drinks to go fooding in Argentina!

The Nomadic Taylor Family

nomadsunveiled

September 5, 2020

Hi Bianca! Can you give us an overview of your background (who are you traveling with, how long have you traveled, what made you want to go the digital nomad lifestyle etc.) so we can put a persona to the content that follows 🙂

Myself, my husband Robert, and our then 3-year-old son left South Africa in March 2017. We decided on this lifestyle for a few reasons. Firstly we did not see a future for ourselves and our son in South Africa, being on a slippery slope downhill plus it was just not a safe country anymore. We lived on high alert all the time without realizing it and the cost of living was very high in comparison to the quality of life. We were also not fans of the conventional 9-5 separate lifestyle. We wanted to explore the world and basically be “ free “

We have always been entrepreneurs, involved in marketing in one form or another and then later my creative husband became a self-taught screen-printer. Combining his marketing and graphic design background he helped launch a few clothing and other screen printing based businesses. He also gave classes on how to screenprint from home on a budget and had some major clients he printed for. He loved it and we worked very hard. After my son was born, we decided we did not want to swap hours for money any longer, we wanted to explore this world together as a family.

Honestly, we had no idea how we were going to do this but we were determined. So we researched like crazy for 3 years on how to move our skills online and become location independent. Through our research, we found other individuals and then families living this world schooling lifestyle, they inspired us and kept us going when we thought this may be an impossible dream.

nomad-volunteer-teaching — Volunteer Teaching in Vietnam

release-turtles-malaysia — Releasing Turtles in Malaysia

One important pillar of a sustainable nomad lifestyle is the financial aspect. Tell us more about what you do and how do you keep the business going while working remotely.

We do lead generation for clients while offering skills training online through our online courses.

We are starting to scale down client work while we focus on our own products and services.

Since we are nomadic, we try and automate as much of our online business as possible via custom conversational chatbots. Our online screen printing course runs on complete autopilot and I have not had to answer questions for over 6 months, the chatbot handles support.

We are about to embark on an exciting new venture that will also be automated via chatbots and custom scripts.

www.thedigitalcode.com

www.thecreativeacademy.co

With so many things going on, how do you balance family time, work, travel, and child education?

We have our little routine. In the mornings, we all get to work after breakfast. Our son will either watch something he is interested in or play games such as Minecraft or anything creative, (building with Lego, do art or play with his toys).

When we are done indoors, I will take him outside for some outdoor playtime and look for other kids. We often have local friends we connect with as we travel slowly and meet up with them. That is about as routine as we get.

We go with how we feel. We work when we have to and when we don’t, we explore! We enjoy walking down the local street in a foreign country, trying their food, or speaking to some locals. It’s all spontaneous.

It took some time to set it up but we are definitely working towards automating all our income in the future so we can spend more time exploring and less time working.

As for my son’s education, the world schooling method is to follow the child and expose them to new things to see if they are interested in them; to learn from the world around them as they experience the day. It’s very organic and happens naturally throughout the day. We often find ourselves exploring new things late into the night because an interesting question or topic has been brought up and has caught my son’s interest.

He is 5 years old and we take him to places he would be interested in like the Dinosaur museums, play parks, or aquariums. We do interesting activities like releasing turtles in Malaysia or going on swamp and firefly tours. As he gets older he will join classes like gymnastics, robotics, dance, karate, art, or whatever is available that might interest him.

worldschooling-meetup — Worldschool Meetuo in Thailand

As a family, what factors do you find are most important for you when selecting a location to base it, and why?

We always need a good internet connection and we like to base ourselves near some body of water. If not an ocean, at least a river/lake, or even just a swimming pool.

We always make friends wherever we go and most places are safe in comparison to where we came from. If we know of another traveling family in an area we are interested in going to, we will make an effort to try and meet up or stay near them.

We have met up with so many traveling families along the way, including a nice group of them in Chiang Mai. Quite a few families came and met up with us for weeks at a time in Malaysia and Vietnam.

I also connect with alternative schools or free schools and communities, we will go past them if possible. We also look at what there is to explore in the area. We are still so new at this that every place is cool and we can’t wait to explore whatever it has to offer.

We look for learning or volunteering opportunities like English teaching in Vietnam for a month. We might go to Siberia Russia, stay in a yurt and experience Siberian life while teaching English to the kids.

What do you find are the pros and cons/challenges of schooling your kid using the world as a classroom, rather than a structured education system?

Honestly, we can’t see any pro’s for regular schooling over world-schooling. Our son is a confident and happy kid. He is able to communicate with kids and adults from all over the world without understanding their language.

At first, I was concerned that being an only child and not in school, he would struggle to play with kids and make friends, but my primary role as his mother is to “ find kids” for him.

He has made so many special friendships with local and traveling kids; I suppose the hard part is when we part ways and he misses them.

However, thanks to technology, we can video call and make plans to meet up again somewhere else in the world. I was also not sure if this child-led learning of education would work, but human nature proved we have enquiring minds and learning is natural and fun.

He has taught himself about colors, numbers, even all the dinosaurs and their habits. He knows all their scientific names and so much information that he is happy to share. This applies not just to dinosaurs but anything he finds interesting.

dinosaur-park-bangkok — Learning from Travels – Dinosaur Park Bangkok

Coming from South Africa where the passport is not as strong, how do you work with/around the passport limitations for traveling.

We travel within our parameters and apply for e-visas where necessary. It’s always a game to see where we can go visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or e-visa and for how long. It was quite challenging to find cheap flights from Bangkok to Georgia (the country in Eastern Europe). We could not enter the EU without a Schengen visa and for that, we could only apply in our home country, so that was not an option.

Luckily we saw that we had 90 visa-on-arrival days for Russia. We took that route which turned out fantastic, as it allowed us to tick off a bucket list experience of riding on the trans-Siberian train.

Are there any other key challenges that you face as a digital nomad?

Our lives as Digital Nomads are much easier, much cheaper and way more fun than our lives in South Africa. Although I had to convince my husband to do this at first, he admits that we will never go back. All I can say is that we do plan on “ Planting flags “ which means to set up a few bases and eventually get new passports to allow easier travels to more areas.

We have agreed that if and when our son says he wants to settle, we will find a place close to the sea that we are all happy to settle in and can easily travel from.

In summary, our challenges are so minuscule they are just “life”. We just need internet and accommodation, the rest falls into place when we are there as we are not shy to make friends and speak to people.

What advice do you have for families who wish to go nomadic? What preparations should they make or are important?

Research is key. I virtual-traveled for three years before we left, meaning I literally planned out and worked out a budget on everything.

I would pick a destination and start with visas. I would play around on the airline booking sites and plan routes and costs. I would search for information on accommodations, the food we could eat, sites we would see, how we would get around.

I would look up the local language, learn the basic words to get by, and check if there are other communities, digital nomads in the area, or traveling family hotspots.

Transportation, safety, vaccinations, dangers, areas where we would like to stay in the cities, absolutely everything I could think of.

By the time I was done researching I could probably write a tourist guide on the destination.

The other thing is Mindset, it is so important.

I remember a South African Expat saying to us before we left. “ It’s not that easy out there, it’s different “.

I responded with “ Good, we are looking for different “

My point is – don’t leave and expect things to be as they are back home, enjoy it being different even if it can be frustrating. Enjoy the experience and adventure. That’s the fun of it.

We are also not looking for a home so we don’t enter a country with a critical eye and complain about the slow service or the lack of this or that.

Our motto is that we don’t ever get too local, when we start getting too into the politics or the people politics and complaints, we move on. Although we do prefer to stay in very local and non-touristy areas.

Enjoy the experiences, enjoy being together, and enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

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NomadsUnveiledTravel . Business . Freedom

NOMADSUNVEILED TRAVEL . BUSINESS . FREEDOM

Digital Nomads and Remote Work

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Freelancing/Jobs for Digital Nomads

Programmer/Developer

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Get Thinking And Get Moving

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Podvarak

Sarma

Jagnjeca Sarma

Kajmak

Ajvar

Slatko

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Rakija

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Red wines:

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Dolina Gladi (aka the Valley of Hunger)

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Rijksmuseum

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Mix Art And History At Rembrandt House

Discover More Masterpieces At Stedelijk Museum

Meet Famous Personalities At Madame Tussauds

Be Fascinated In The Moco Museum

Immerse In Interactive Learning At NEMO Science Museum

Experience Luxury At Amsterdam Royal Palace

Weird Out At Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Dive Into Anatomy At Body Worlds Amsterdam

Drink Some Pints At The Heineken Experience

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Discover The Sights With A Canal Cruise

Connect with Animals At The Royal Zoo

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Take Photos At Beautiful Canals

Get Trendy at Jordaan District

Feel The City Pulse At Leidseplein

Marvel At History At The Dam

Find Local Produces At Albert Cuyp Markt

Browse The Waterlooplein Flea Market

Soak Up The Sun In Vondel Park

Things To Do At Night In Amsterdam

Check Out De Wallen (Red Light District)

Get Cozy In The Amsterdam Icebar