North Korea just opened a beach resort for 20,000 people
Could one of the world's most secretive nations be slowly turning towards more international tourism? CNN's Mike Valerio explains what North Korea's new beach resort could mean for Kim Jong Un and his regime.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Old China Cafe: Charming heritage Nyonya cafe in Chinatown since ‘97 with spicy fried rice & must-try pai tee
Back in the heart of Chinatown once more, I found myself drawn to a quieter corner; this time for a taste of Nyonya fare at Old China Cafe. Tucked along the same road as the ever-popular Ho Kow Hainan Kopitiam (which, true to form, was swarmed with diners yet again), Old China Cafe offered a welcome contrast. As I weaved past the crowd spilling onto the pavement, I was quietly grateful to be heading somewhere a little more serene. Inside, only 3 aunties were seated. Bliss. Stepping through the wooden doors of Old China Cafe felt like slipping into someone's heritage home. Perhaps your Peranakan grandma's, if she had a flair for vintage posters, framed calligraphy, and woodsy tones. The space was snug, softly lit, and thankfully air-conditioned. Seated beside a standing unit, I was nearly lulled into a midday nap. While the menu featured no pork or lard (from what I could see, at least), they did serve alcohol quite openly which was a bit of a curveball. Out of personal beliefs, I enlisted my ever-reliable colleague for the tasting duties— just to be safe! Now, on to the good part: the food. Since Old China Cafe specialises in Nyonya cuisine, expect a colourful blend of Straits Chinese and Malay flavours. We had our eyes on the Nyonya Laksa and Buah Keluak Fried Rice, but with only one of us eating, we kept it simple: one main, one snack. Our choice was a safe but satisfying option: Nyonya Fried Rice with Fried Chicken (RM17.90), served as a lunch combo with a cold drink. The plate arrived with fried rice, turmeric fried chicken, shredded fresh cucumber and carrot, sambal belacan, and a papadom. The warm and inviting aroma greeted me first before anything else, reminiscent of your classic Indonesian nasi goreng. My dining partner took a bite and was immediately caught off-guard by the heat. 'You'd love this,' she said, fanning her mouth. The rice was robustly seasoned with red chilli and onion paste, soy sauce, and probably a bit of oyster sauce. The veggies were fresh, though pickled ones might've added more punch. The sambal belacan was a blend of raw chillies, fermented shrimp paste (likely untoasted), and lime juice. Butter Kaya Kopitiam: Chinatown's must-visit coffee shop for pandan kaya lava toast, buttermilk clam noodles & jumbo rojak rolls The fried chicken, sadly, was on the dry side. It mostly tasted of turmeric and salt despite the visible bits of fried spices. The papadom lacked crunch and leaned softer than what she would have liked. Still, the dish held its own as a hearty, flavourful lunch. I had scanned a few Google reviews beforehand, and one recurring favourite caught my eye: the Pai Tee (RM17.90). The top hat shells were definitely larger than what I was used to, with a unique shape as well. We filled them with the jicama filling, raw minced garlic, Hainanese chicken rice chilli sauce, and cilantro. The jicama mix was mushy but nicely seasoned with green beans and fried shallots. It wasn't oily or soggy, which lent a satisfying bite without overwhelming the palate. The shells were crisp, and each bite packed a balanced medley of flavour and texture. While I didn't sample the dishes myself, I trusted my colleague's verdict. She's far pickier than I am, after all. And although her spice tolerance is on the gentler side, she was confident that fellow spice lovers like me would enjoy the fried rice even more. She'd gladly return, and even declared it far better than Ho Kow Hainan Kopitiam. Taste is, of course, subjective… but perhaps it's time we gave Old China Cafe the appreciation it truly deserves. Expected damage: RM11.90 – RM17.90 per pax Din Sun Kopitiam: Must-try affordable dragon fruit dim sum, salted egg bun & chee cheong fun in Chinatown The post Old China Cafe: Charming heritage Nyonya cafe in Chinatown since '97 with spicy fried rice & must-try pai tee appeared first on
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Entrepreneur
JSW Ventures Leads INR 40 Cr Round in Villa Rental Platform StayVista
The funds will be used to expand operations, strengthen the team, and enhance customer experience. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. JSW Ventures, the venture capital arm of the JSW Group, has led an INR 40 crore investment round in villa rental platform StayVista, with participation from existing backers DSG Consumer Partners and Capri Global Family Office. The funds will be used to expand operations, strengthen the team, and enhance customer experience, according to the company's official statement. Founded in 2019 by Ankita Sheth, Amit Damani, and Pranav Maheshwari, StayVista offers a curated selection of luxury villa rentals, primarily comprising second homes owned by individuals. The company currently operates 1,000 properties across 85 locations, having served over 1 million customers to date. "StayVista is the largest player in the space and is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for alternative accommodations," said Sachin Tagra, Managing Partner, JSW Ventures. "It's a capital-efficient business with significant growth potential." Co-founder Pranav Maheshwari added, "We aspire to make StayVista not just India's largest villa hospitality brand, but also the go-to platform for alternative accommodations." StayVista's model provides a win-win for both homeowners and travelers, allowing property owners to monetise their second homes while offering unique stay experiences. The Indian vacation rental market, currently valued at USD 22.3 billion, is projected to grow at 9% annually, reaching USD 34.1 billion by 2029, driven by rising disposable incomes and flexible work trends. JSW Ventures focuses on early-stage investments in tech-led startups, with a portfolio spanning healthtech, agritech, fintech, and AI-powered enterprise solutions.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Exploring Flores And Corvo Islands, The Azores' Last Wild Frontiers
The houses of Aldeia da Cuada, a tourism village in Flores island Courtesy of Aldeia da Cuada People on Flores island like to talk about how remote they are. They brag that they come from the westernmost point in Europe, and they have a hard-earned frontiersman pride: They live in most far-flung reach of a far-flung archipelago. Their corner of Portugal's Azores archipelago is almost as far from North America as it is from the European continent. (This fun fact helps explain why so many Azorean Portuguese emigrated to the United States and Canada in the 20th century.) It's not particularly close—nearly 1,200 miles—to either one, nor even to the main islands of the group. Getting there takes some doing. Although the regional airline, SATA Air Açores, has regular flights to Flores from the biggest island, São Miguel, many include stops on other islands along the way, and weather-related diversions or delays are common. Unless you sail or fly private, that's the only way you're getting there. Waterfalls in Flores Courtesy of Experience OC But this difficulty is part of their appeal—after all, many of the most amazing places are the ones that are the hardest to reach. This is no longer true of the Azores as a whole; the bigger islands are easily reached via direct flights from North America. Nearly a decade of destination marketing has paid off, landing the islands on so many it lists and making them the fastest-growing destination (by at least one metric) for American tourists. In 2023, some 1.2 million visitors descended on this 'Hawaii of Europe,' most of them concentrated on São Miguel, where some locals are grousing about an excess of traffic around popular sites. Flores does not have too much traffic. In fact, it has very little traffic. Only about 4,000 people live in its 55 square miles. A few villages, in varying states of habitation and disrepair, dot the island, and there appear to be more hiking trails than paved roads. The origin of the name—'flowers' in Portuguese—is self-explanatory. But the island itself, it seems, is sometimes misunderstood. Armando Rodrigues, who founded the local tour company Experience OC seven years ago to bring his native island to life for adventurous visitors (and to show that it's possible to have a great trip without renting a car), says he's puzzled by some of the recent travel content he's seen about his native island. More than one 'expert' praised its beaches and nightlife. Canyoning in Flores Courtesy of Experience OC This is wrong. There are a few rocky deltas where you can watch the waves crash into the shore, and there are some restaurants that serve dinner and might let you hang out for a little while afterward, but no one goes for beaches or nightlife. They go for nature. The entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a kaleidoscope of lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls and serene lagoons. And while the namesake flowers are a specific yellow blossom that pops out in the autumn, there are colorful flowers and a zillion shades of green throughout the year. This untouched landscape was the inspiration for a new weeklong tour from the Portuguese adventure travel company We Love Small Hotels. (Don't let the name confuse you: They specialize in active travel, experiential journeys and sustainable tourism in the rural heart of Portugal, though their programs do feature charming accommodations as well.) The program aims to be an overview of what the founders call, 'without a doubt, one of the most impressive places in Portugal.' It includes hikes and canyoning with personable guides from Experience OC, a day trip to nearby Corvo island (more on that later) and a sweet place to stay. Carlota Silva, the manager of Aldeia da Cuada doesn't refer to her property as a hotel. 'Maybe we can call it a tourism village?' she asks. It's a logical explanation, given that 'aldeia' means 'village' in Portuguese, and the rural tourism project is a collection of standalone stone houses in a formerly abandoned village. A house at Aldeia da Cuada Courtesy of the hotel Silva's parents began the project almost by accident. In the early 2000s, they renovated one house as a simple country getaway, with no water or electricity. They were surprised when some German tourists wanted to rent it, but they said yes, and then they said yes to the next set of would-be visitors. And the ones after that. The project grew into its current incarnation of 16 houses, ranging from one to six bedrooms, that are full of historic charm—volcanic stone walls, braided rugs on the floors, crocheted doilies on the dressers—but now have proper plumbing and electricity (but still, blissfully, no wifi). They share a professional reception staff and a very good restaurant, which offers a handful of local dishes each day. Another Flores native got into the tourism business in a more deliberate way. Carlos Mendes got his first underwater camera in 1995, the same year he became a diving instructor and opened a dive center on the island. Then he traveled the world as a dive professional and photographer before investing more seriously in quality tourism at home. The crater in Corvo Carlos Mendes/Extremo Ocidente He bought the island's first semi-rigid boat and developed his company, Extremo Ocidente, to combine that with diving and island tours of both Flores and the even more remote Corvo, about 13 miles away. Often he serves as the skipper himself, pointing out waterfalls and dramatic caves along the Flores coastline before speeding across the open ocean to the smaller island. The main attraction on Corvo is the fully intact crater of the volcano that formed the island millions of years ago. It's more than two miles in diameter and nearly 1,000 feet deep, its slopes covered in vivid green grass and dotted with remarkably docile cows. It's one of those iconic images of wild nature that people show when they're selling the beauty of the Azores. Corvo is the smallest island in the archipelago, measuring only 6.6 square miles and home to just 435 inhabitants. An afternoon here has a way of putting things into perspective. The Azores are remote. Flores island is really remote. Corvo is even more so. And deep in the crater, beside the water's edge, the feeling is truly that of having reached the end of the earth. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes This Hotel Put The Azores On The Map. Its New Villa Amps Up The Appeal By Ann Abel Forbes Could The Azores Be The New Iceland? This Hotel Entrepreneur Thinks So By Ann Abel Forbes A Pineapple Paradise In Portugal's Azores: Herdade Do Ananás By Ann Abel
