Your Guide To The Perfect Pigeon Forge Vacation

BY  Abdul Aziz May 1, 2024

Many of the countries in South America are popular for their exquisite and varied cuisine. However, the practices of Paraguay food are not known to many. The Paraguayan Cuisine has been influenced by the local indigenous tribe’s culinary traditions and practices brought by immigrants from Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Being a foodie myself, I love traveling around the world to have a taste of every new variety of food that the world has to offer. Visiting remote areas, meeting with new people, and trying out their traditional dishes is what I have always loved! I was also in your shoes when I first landed in Paraguay, a bit startled and confused. Although, as I began to explore, my first meal at a fancy restaurant in Asuncion changed my entire perception of the state.  Tid-Bits About Paraguay Food Classic Paraguay food includes some of the most exclusive dishes that are bound to beat any of the Peruvian or Argentine preparations. Traditional culinary elements in Paraguay food recipes consist of meat, maize, vegetables, manioc, cheese, fish, milk, and even fruits.  ‘Asado’ is a local term used for barbecue, which is referred to as both a cooking practice and a social event. In Paraguay, barbecuing is the most important mode of cooking their traditional Paraguayan food dishes.  Here in this article, I will elucidate the best dishes and popular foods in Paraguay that you must try in Paraguay this year. The Paraguay famous foods excite your taste buds and have an experience like never before.  1. Kivevé You will be stuck in a dilemma whether to count this as a main course or a dessert. Kieve is the most popular and loved Paraguay food. It is a vegetarian dish that is cooked out of andai (a type of juicy pumpkin), cornmeal, Paraguayan cheese, milk, and sugar. Kieve is a typical food in Paraguay. It has a very creamy and light texture and is orangish in color. This rich-flavored delicacy is served lukewarm and is often consumed as a side dish or even main meal, at breakfasts, and as an evening snack. 2. Chipa Considered a staple Paraguay food, Chipa is a simple bread roll that was invented by the local indigenous people in the 18th century. It is a bun that is made out of manioc or cassava flour, lard, and anise, and beaten eggs and cheese. There are different versions of Chipa available, varying over the regional influences. The bread has a very crunchy crust due to the addition of lard. The crumb is soft and has a unique flavor. It is prepared and consumed by every household in the state.  3. Bori Bori Bori-Bori (Vori-Vori) is a nutritious and flavorful thick soup that is prepared out of vegetables such as carrots, celery, onions. It is filled with meat (chicken or beef) and dumplings of cornmeal plus cheese. The prime flavoring ingredients in this soup are bay leaves, cloves, and parsley. The addition of saffron to this hearty broth makes it even more flavorful and rich golden in color. It must be served piping hot, garnished with some parsley and Paraguayan cheese on the side. It is especially popular during the winters.  4. Sopa Paraguaya This specialty is not what it sounds like. Even though SOPA translates to soup in the local language, it is not at all in the vicinity of any soupy preparations. It is the national dish of Paraguay, which resembles a cakey thick bread.  It is crafted out of cornflour, cheese, milk, and eggs. The flavor is inculcated through the use of onions and pork fat. It is usually baked and is often termed solid soup. It has a soft and crumbly texture and is served on special occasions as a side dish.  5. Mbeju Mbeju, when translated to the local Guarani language, means cake. It is a very simple and staple Paraguay food. It is a kind of starchy pancake that is prepared with cassava flour, salt, oil, milk, eggs, crumbled cheese, and even pork fat.  The dough is kneaded well and rolled out thickly like a pancake. It is then fried in hot oil. It is usually consumed during breakfast, sometimes dinner, alongside a bitter herbal tea or coffee.  6. Soyo This is another popular Paraguay food, which is a thick unpassed soup. It is made with beef grounded in a mortar, rice, and vegetables, including green peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Soyo is another good example of Paraguay’s famous food.  The dish is flavored with garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. The name is derived from the native Guarani phrase so’o josopy, meaning crushed meat. A whole bowl of soyo can be considered as a complete meal and has a high calorific value. Also Read: Unmissable Attractions In Surabaya 7. Tereré Since the climate in Paraguay tends to grow hotter every summer, Terere acts as a relief to many. It is a cold-brewed herbal tea that is bitter in taste and is commonly known as yerba mate.  Terere is one of the essential elements of export, and the natives can be seen carrying around a thermos flask, guampa (a spherical mug), and bombilla (a silver straw) everywhere they go. It is a very healthy and refreshing drink and has high caffeine content. 8. Dulce de Mamon Here comes our most awaited syrupy sweet dessert in the list of top Paraguay food you must try! Dulce de Mamon is one of the oldest and most traditional preparations of Paraguay, which has only two major ingredients. It is cooked by boiling small cut wedges of papaya in sugar syrup. The mixture is simmered for almost 2 hours in order for the papaya to achieve a soft texture. You can even add some cloves, lemon zest, and a little orange juice to enhance the flavors.  Also Read: 3 Intriguing Reasons To Cruise In Alaska 9. Pira Caldo Another most favored Paraguay food includes Pira Caldo. It is basically a light fish stew made with freshwater catches such as surubi, mandi’y, and tare’y. I have never in my life tasted such meaty textured fishes with a tinge of saltiness in them.  Initially, vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, leeks, celery, bell peppers, and carrots are fried in pork or beef fat and are cooked with other spices. It is then combined with milk and soft white cheese to improve the thickness and flavor. 10. Bife Koygua Bife Koygua, or hidden steak as it is known, is another popular Paraguay food that is a must-try.  It is a heavy preparation in which the beef steaks are covered with onions and tomatoes. Hence the name. According to the local language, bife means beef, and koygua means shy or hidden. The recipe calls for the steak to be pounded first with spices, then fried with onions and topped with tomatoes. Towards the end, an egg or two is added at the top, and the dish is garnished with parsley. Puchero Paraguayo Recipe The Paraguayan version of a traditional meat stew is called Puchero paraguayo. This stew has its origins in Spain and is now prepared in several countries throughout South America and the Philippines. The name of the stew, Puchero, comes from the Spanish word meaning "stewpot". Course: Main Course Cuisine: Latin American, Paraguayan Servings: 4 people Author: Nita Ragoonanan Ingredients 1½ lb beef (skirt or flank steak, cut into pieces) 3 cloves garlic, cut in half 1 onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 carrots 10 oz. pumpkin, cubed 2 potatoes, cubed ½ cup rice 6 tablespoons olive oil Salt Pepper Equipment Pressure cooker Instructions To start, get a large pot and fill it with 10 cups (2.5L) of water. Add in some onions, carrots, and bell peppers, and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for 15 minutes and season it with salt and pepper to your liking. Set it aside. Next, heat some olive oil in a pressure cooker and add in some garlic and meat. Saute over high heat while stirring constantly until the meat is browned. Pour in the reserved broth and vegetables and close the pressure cooker. Cook for 45 minutes on medium-low heat. While waiting, rinse the rice. After 45 minutes, open the pressure cooker and add in the rice, potatoes, and pumpkin. Close the pressure cooker again and continue cooking for 15 minutes. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Q1. What Is The Traditional Dessert In Paraguay? Mazamorra also known as Kaguyjy is one of the most popular traditional deserts in Paraguay. it is made of corn and sugar, mixed with honey or milk. Ka'i Ladrillo is a candy made of peanuts and molasses. Q2. What Is Paraguay's National Dish? Sopa Paraguaya is the national dish of Paraguay. it is similar to cornbread and made up of corn flour, pig fat, or butter, with cheese and milk. it is very spongy and is rich in calories and protein. Q3. What Is The National Drink Of Paraguay? Yerba mate tea is prepared with cold water. different variations of terre can be found in Brazil and Argentina. Its birthplace is Paraguay. Final Thoughts These are some of the most exotic preparations from Paraguay that made their way into my Top 10 list. Thanks to those Guarani friends that I had over there who guided me through to the best of their culinary traditions. And if you are hesitating about visiting this place, trust me, the experience is worthwhile. It is not only about their food but also their culture, traditions, and heritage. This beautiful country deserves all the appreciation in the world. You May Also Like:  Top 7 Places To Visit For An Asian Solo Traveler Top 7 Nantucket Beaches For Tourists In Massachusetts 10 Things To Do In Bogota – You Must Know Before Going

BY  Abdul Aziz Dec 7, 2023

Are you attracted to Agoda for its alluring airfare and hotel offers? However, you are a wise traveler and are aware that appealing offers frequently have exorbitant fees. This could put your hard-earned money at risk of being lost. So the question remains: is Agoda legit? Let's investigate! Is Agoda Legit? Since Booking Holdings is the largest online travel company in the world, Agoda is unquestionably legitimate. If something goes wrong or you need to make changes, cancel, or receive a refund, Agoda can make things more difficult. In essence, Agoda serves as a go-between for you and airlines and lodging. As an intermediary, Agoda manages your reservation and takes payment on your behalf. The payment does not go to the hotel or airline you booked with. Because your contract is with Agoda and not the hotels or airlines directly, they will not be responsible for providing you with assistance. You will have to contact Agoda in the event that something goes wrong and you need help. They will then get in touch with the airline or hotel in question on your behalf and give you the information you need. In a similar vein, Agoda is the entity you will need to contact for any modifications, cancellations, or refunds. And because of this—the involvement of a third party, Agoda—things could be challenging. Especially in the event that something goes wrong or you need to cancel, make changes, or get a refund, especially when it comes to flights. Reservation Tips Bear the following in mind before making a reservation on Agoda: It is true that booking through Agoda can save you money compared to making direct reservations. There is a significant risk involved: it can make any mishap more difficult to handle. Additionally, you should be aware of the following three significant risks and disadvantages of using Agoda for reservations: Reservation Issues Your hotel reservation through Agoda or any other online travel agency can be at risk of cancellation. Occasionally, Agoda forgets to let the hotel know about a guest's reservation, which leads to either no reservation at all or an overbooking of the same room. However, occasionally, the hotels will also "bump" the least expensive visitors who booked through an internet travel company like Agoda. They will proceed to resell their room to a more direct buyer. Additionally, they lie to the guest by pretending that their reservation never happened when they got to the hotel. There's no guarantee that this problem will cease to exist. Even though Agoda might try to talk to your hotel about it—especially if it's an urgent one. No Control Over The Standard Of Hotels Since Agoda and other online travel agencies are merely middlemen, they have little control over the quality of the hotels. This is another risk or disadvantage of using them to book a room. Even though Agoda offers hotel listings, it's crucial to remember that the listing and the actual hotel might not always match. Therefore, there is nothing you can do if the hotel you reserved does not match the listing. Having made the booking through Agoda, you have limited powers to question the quality. It's crucial to set reasonable expectations when contacting Agoda about these kinds of problems because there's no assurance that they'll issue a refund, make another reservation at a nearby hotel, or provide any other kind of resolution. Likewise, since the hotel is not directly in charge of your reservation, do not anticipate receiving a refund or any other kind of resolution from them. This kind of scenario raises the possibility that Agoda will push things onto the hotel and that the hotel staff will then push things back onto Agoda, trapping you in the middle. Consequently, you will be forced to accept the hotel as it is. No Refunds For Non-Refundable Bookings It's crucial to know that Agoda normally does not issue refunds for non-refundable reservations. This is regardless of any unforeseen events that might affect your trip arrangements. However, it is definitely a legitimate online travel agency in terms of legitimacy. How? Personally, I've used Agoda to book hotels, and I haven't had any problems. In fact, when I want to book a hotel, I always use it. It is important to note that Agoda is owned by Booking Holdings, the global leader in online travel. Not only does Booking Holdings own Agoda, but it also possesses a wide range of well-known online travel companies, such as Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak, OpenTable, and others. You should always book directly if there is little to no price difference between booking through Agoda and directly. Agoda may be providing you with a far better deal than making a direct reservation with a hotel or airline. It all depends on your level and willingness to accept specific risks. Some of them are: Book Directly Or Through Agoda? You will have to consider the price difference between the two options. If Agoda does offer a cheaper rate, there are certain risks to consider, like: Difficulties and delays in resolving the issues and making changes, cancellations, and getting refunds, particularly in the case of flights. No reservation with the hotel. Accepting the hotel as it is. No refunds (in most cases) for non-refundable reservations, regardless of any circumstances that may arise. I personally strongly advise against using Agoda to book flights. The reason is that using Agoda to book flights makes it very difficult to make any changes. If you're willing to accept the aforementioned risks and drawbacks and the price difference is substantial, I would only suggest using Agoda to book hotels. Wrapping Up While using Agoda to make a reservation complicates, the website is a reputable source for travel arrangements. Agoda is a reliable source for bookings and typically offers lower prices than direct bookings. Does this imply that Agoda is the best place to book? Well, as previously stated, it mostly boils down to personal preferences. But to close out this piece, here are some passing recommendations I have: Avoid using Agoda to book anything, especially flights. The exception would be hotels, and that too only if: You can get a far better deal on Agoda than if you book directly with the hotel. You accept the dangers and disadvantages outlined above. If you adhere to the previously mentioned advice, you can reduce those risks and disadvantages. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Read Also: This Is My Experience With Play Airlines! Here’s What I Found Out About Aha Airlines! Condor Airlines: Is Booking Tickets On Condor Worth It?

BY  Mashum Apr 28, 2017

India is a vast country that is plentifully blessed with tourist destinations with scenic Travel Applications that India lover, cultural, historical and religious importance. It is one of those regions that attract a huge number of visitors every year. People from all over the world visit India to see the beauty that the area has to present to visitors.   It is a gratifying experience to visit these places. Of late, the travel industry is moving fast creating many conveniences by embracing technology. It is one of the leading travel industries all over the world. Indians have integrated technology to the travel industry to a great extent.   Software and mobile applications comprising tour management software, booking engine software, and airline reservation systems have revolutionized the way and pace of this industry. It sees travel agents and service providers delight the traveler with awesome travel experiences.  It is one of the best ways to take the travel industry to the next level. No wonder the Indian tourism industry is among the leading all over the world.   In this article, we will look at five popular mobile apps for the road travel and for the planning of trips. Let’s take a look at some of these useful apps that will help you, as you plan your travel in India:  1. RedBus Arguably, the pioneer of bus ticket booking in India is RedBus.  This app has come a long way since its inception. It has been instrumental in changing the way road travel happens in India. More and more people all over India are using it to make their dreams come true.   In India, there are places not reachable by train and by flight. At this point, buses step in as a major transportation medium. There is a high number of people who use buses when touring India.   The ticket booking for a bus just got easier through the RedBus app. The beauty about this tool is that it is very simple and user-friendly. You will not have a hard time when familiarizing yourself with this app.   The app even provides for discounts and offers from both, the bus operators and RedBus itself. This is one of the best features that you can find in this tool.   This is an important app to have on your mobile even if you are not a very regular bus traveler. The reason is that RedBus can help in those rare situations when you do have the need to use the road.  Therefore, you should not be a tourist to use this app while in India. Everyone will find it useful whenever you want to board a bus from one place to another. It is one of the best inventions in the Indian travel industry.   2. AbhiBus AbhiBus is a later entrant into the bus ticketing space. The tool has come in a big way and is another major bus ticketing company. You will find the tool in immense use among the Indian population. We can only expect the popularity of this tool to increase over time.   The AbhiBus app is similar to its counterpart app. It provides all the required information of bus routes, timings and ticket availability. You will not get lost when you rely on this app during your tour.   AbhiBus does not want to stay behind in the race to gather customers and build loyalty. Thus, ythe app also comes up with some offers and discounts for users.  You can be sure of benefiting in several ways when you begin to use this App. Most people who use it confirm that it is among the leading travel solutions in the region.   3. Ola Cabs Ola Cabs is an online taxi /cab platform that created a revolution of sorts in the taxi market in India. This application has moved ahead in terms of a number of cab owners and customers who are part of these services. This number continues to grow with each passing day.   An easy to use the mobile app, Ola primarily started with cabs in three segments. These include Prime (for the high-end traveller), Mini and Micro (for the budget traveller) and then later moved into Ola share and Luxury. The ‘’share’’ allows for customers to opt for a shared travel thus reducing the cost of the trip.  The difference between Ola and its competitor apps is the – Ola Auto. It adds to the product mix by offering the option to travel by Auto-Rickshaw. It is good to understand these features if you want to use the tool effectively.   Ola has also begun Ola Outstation in order to cater to the traveler looking to move from one city to another. Ola is a very handy mobile app to possess for a great travel convenience within the city.  In case you are planning to travel to India, Ola is one of the must-have apps. You will discover that it comes with several useful features for all travelers. The tool will offer you great assistance especially if you are new to this region.   4. Uber The American disruptor company that created waves on the US West coast is now an active part of the taxi marketplace in India. It is one of the apps that we can confidently say that it dominates the taxi industry globally.   India is one of the countries that have impressed the use of Uber.  As the other major player, Uber has amassed a good number of cab drivers and customers. Most travelers accept the fact that Uber offers some of the most affordable rates in the region.   Uber drivers have been facing stiff competition from the competitors because of the affordability of their services. The app is of great help to travel within the city and has come with different types of services.   These include Uber, UberGO (for the budget traveler) and UberPOOL (for sharing). It is good to understand how each of them works to get the maximum use of the App.   Uber also has the UberHIRE for people wanting to hire a taxi for a few hours and move to different places. The hiring service is just one of the applications that the App has to offer to the users.   5. Trip Planner Trip Planner is another useful app to plan your trip across destination spots in India. We cannot look at the most popular travel apps that Indians and leave out this one. It is among the industry leaders when you examine the travel and tour industry of India.   Trip Planner helps the users to find information on the popular tourist destinations in India. The unique thing about the app is that it even helps find information on some lesser-known travel destinations in the country.   Therefore, most people who want a better understanding of India prefer to use this application. It is a reliable App for anyone who knows how to use it well.   The app also helps get information on hotels and restaurants to take care of the user’s accommodation and gastronomic needs. Trip Planner is among the few apps that offer these unique features to the user.   It also provides an idea of‘’ things to do’’ while at some certain destination spots in India. Which another app will give you such reliable information? This app is useful for both Overseas and Indian travelers who plan to move from place to place within the city.  It is good to have this app is your phone if you want real help while touring India. It has an easy to use interface and hence you will not have a hard time using this solution.   Conclusion   Travel is an important part of our lives. First, it gives us a chance to move away from the hectic professional lives. Travelling also provides people an opportunity to ‘’refresh’’ and ‘’reboot.’’ Therefore, let no one cheat you that traveling is a waste of your valuable time and resources.   It can assist you to improve your health and even become more productive in life. You can make your tour more successful by making good use of the available travel aps. India is one of the regions that have a long list of these apps that travelers can use.   While we load our smartphones with several other apps it makes sense to have some of the travel technology platform. The best innovation creates convenience through the travel planning process. It flows all the way from Ticket booking to Tour planning to Stay and Food.   So, feel free to download these apps on your smartphone from the respective mobile platforms. If you have not been using these Apps. It is time that you begin making them part of your travel lifestyle. Look at the features that each of them has to offer and use the one that will give you the best support while touring India.   Read also:  The Easy Way to Travel in India. Top Most Expensive Hotels Of India To Enjoy And Stay Your Holidays Top 7 Places To Visit For An Asian Solo Traveler 15 Interesting Facts about India That Every Traveller Should Know