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Long regarded as one of the cornerstones of Japanese culture , the chadō , or tea ceremony, is a quintessential expression of aestheticism and philosophy in perfect harmony. But the story of how it came to be is an epic tale spanning centuries, including political intrigue, murder and suicide along the way. The tea plant was brought to Japan in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk by the name of Eichū on his return from China, where tea had been in widespread use for centuries. Eichū served the drink to an emperor not long after and an imperial decree was issued to start cultivating tea plantations in Japan. It would take another three centuries before tea ceremonies would become a spiritual practice. Initially, tencha , a type of matcha tea, was consumed at religious rituals in Buddhist monasteries. But by the 13th century, tea had become a status symbol and samurai were participating in luxurious tea-tasting parties, where prizes were given out for guessing the corre...

In 2016, Peru was crowned as “ World’s Leading Culinary Destination ” by the World Travel Awards for the fifth year in a row . It was just 10 years ago that Peru’s gastronomic boom began, reinventing dishes that had a long tradition in the kitchens of Peruvian families. While a second gastronomic boom of organic and healthy food seems to be happening nowadays, every Peruvian dish offered in restaurants around the world was based on an earlier and more original one. Learn about the most traditional food to try in Peru: Aji de gallina There are different stories about the origins of the creamy aji de gallina. Historians say that when Peru was a Spanish colony, a dish that came from Europe made with chicken breast and Arab seasoning became a prototype of aji de gallina. Another story claims that poor citizens collected the hen bones that were thrown away by the rich and took the remains to their houses where they added chili and bread to make a bigger meal. The aji ...

Capital of the province by the same name, the seldom explored Argentine city of Santa Fe surprises travellers with its eclectic array of impressive attractions. From intriguing downtown museums to stunning colonial buildings and pristine natural waterways, here is a list of 6 fascinating places to visit in Santa Fe: Santa Fe La Vieja Archaeological Park Source: Google.co.in History buffs will enjoy this important archeological site which was home to the original city of Santa Fe until it relocated some 50 kilometers (30 miles) south in the 1660s. Original constructions such as churches, plazas, city hall, and a myriad of grandiose residences are on display to give visitors an insight into how folks lived during the early days of Spanish colonization. Rosa Galisteo de Rodriguez Museum Source: Google.co.in Art enthusiasts should pay a visit to the Rosa Galisteo de Rodriguez Museum , a fine arts museum endearingly named after the mother of its founder back in 1...

Although part of Spain, the Canary Islands are much closer to Africa than they are to Europe. Fuerteventura is only 160 kilometers from the northwest coast of Morocco, close enough for its beaches to be made of blowing Sahara sand. Spanish is the local language, but tourists may be surprised to find a distinctly Canarian character and culture that is quite different from mainland Spain. In other words, don’t expect bullfights or flamenco. Expect to find plenty of other tourists, especially on the islands of Tenerife and Gran  Canaria, most of whom have come for the fabled beaches. There’s no wrong season to visit the islands, as their placement where the tropical climatic zone joins the sub-tropical zone gives them an almost ideal climate of perpetual springtime, with average temperatures varying only 14 degrees throughout the year. Here is a list of 8 breath-taking places to visit in the Canary Islands: Teide National Park, Tenerife Source: Google.co.in The third...

There’s no better way to pay tribute to your favourite authors or characters than to follow in their footsteps via these entertaining tours. Below, we begin our round-up of literary holidays abroad and shorter tours closer to home. All will enhance your imaginary world and provide a unique shared experience, in the company of expert guides and fellow enthusiasts of the written word. Here are 8 wonderful literary tours to take around the world: Basho walking tour, Japan The 17th-century haiku poet Matsuo Basho was the author of the legendary travelogue The Narrow Road to the Deep North. This nine-day tour visits the most famous sites associated with Basho’s journey, on walks of between five and 15 miles per day along country lanes, forest trails and mountain footpaths linked together by Japan’s super-efficient train system. Highlights include visits to Matsushima, with its bay of 260 pine-covered islands; Mount Haguro, one of the country’s most sacred shrines; and the ...

Argentina is a beautiful country and surely some of the most visited tourist locations in the world. It is the complete package with the highest of Mountains to the greatest beaches that would give travelers what they would enjoy. Although every nook and corner of Argentina is worth exploring, yet there are places to visit in Argentina that cannot be missed. Here are 6 amazing offbeat places to visit in Argentina: El Ateneo Grand Splendid With each incarnation since its inception in 1919 — first as a performing arts theater, then as a cinema, and now a bookstore — the Grand Splendid has proven itself befitting of its majestic title. Having retained its original frescoed ceilings, ornate theater boxes, elegant rounded balconies, detailed trimmings, and plush red stage curtains, the interior of the building remains as stunning today as when it was first envisioned by architects Peró and Torres Armengol. In its glory days, the Teatro Grand Splendid hosted such tango lege...

Blockchain is a piece of technology that was created by a pseudonymous group or individual under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Satoshi arranged blockchain in a manner that was envisioned to facilitate a decentralized and trust less online payments ecosystem in the form of the digital currency Bitcoin . This has deposited the making of other digital currencies and assets which all utilize blockchain technology as a base upon which to build their various platforms. The most common type of blockchains are public, with the most prevalent being Bitcoin and Ethereum . Though, blockchain types such as a consortium blockchain are another thought-provoking application of Satoshi’s initial blockchain execution. Consortium blockchains can best be understood when compared to their more popular counterpart, public blockchains. This type of blockchain is one that possesses no access restriction, meaning that absolutely anyone with an internet connection can become a participant of a public bloc...

Valletta is a distinguished city with a legendary past. The UNESCO -listed capital of Malta stands proudly on one of Europe’s grandest harbours, surrounded by some of the mightiest fortifications in the world. The city’s history is tied to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem , an 11th-century order that provided shelter for pilgrims in the Holy Land and took on a military role to defend Christianity. In 1530, the Spanish King, Charles V , gave Malta to the Knights. Once Valletta became the new military fortress of the Order of Saint John, the knights set out to create a capital city equal to Europe’s finest. The grand Baroque architecture reflects the knights’ stature as aristocrats from the noblest families in England, France, Spain, and other European countries. Valletta is called “ a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen. ” Today, Valletta is a real working city and a fascinating tourist destination packed with cultural attractions. Here are 5 places to visit in Valletta Malta...