Backpacker Buzz Issue 85– From Hikes to Hostels, HI’s Favourites 5 on the Road Picks!

By: Ceri Jones & Lydia Simpson

Do you need some travel inspiration for the year ahead? We have put our ‘favourite fives’ together, which are sure to get you reaching for your backpack!

It was hard enough to choose our favourites, let alone pick a number one, so they are listed in no particular order!

The Philippine Favourite Balut (Source: Flickr User Marsall Astor - Food Fetishist)

Foods to Try That are a Little Different

•Balut – Philippines
Balut is a hard-boiled, fertilized duck embryo. A common street food in the Philippines, most people tend to season their duck fetus with a salt, chilli and vinegar dressing.

•Hakarl – Iceland
Hakarl is fermented shark, which smells strongly of ammonia. Adventurous eater Anthony Bourdain said it was the single most disgusting thing he’s ever eaten.

•Casu Marzu – Italy
You know how people usually throw out food that has bugs in it? In Sardinia, people encourage bugs to grow in this cheese. Simply put, casu marzu is a Pecorino-like cheese with live maggots living in it.

•Sheep’s Head – various countries
This dish is enjoyed in countries all over the world, particularly Scandinavian and Mediterranean ones such as Morocco. The diner is served an entire sheep’s head…eyeballs, tongue and all.

•Bird’s Nest Soup – China
It’s not just a clever name. This soup is actually made from birds’ nests, which in turn are made of birds’ hardened saliva. The texture is apparently reminiscent of mucus.

BC's West Coast Trail (source:Tourism British Columbia)

5 Places to Lace Up Your Hiking Boots

•West Coast Trail – British Columbia, Canada
This is a rugged, challenging but extremely rewarding trail. The 75-kilometre path takes you through old growth forest to deserted beaches and headlands in this totally stunning part of the world.

•Inca Trail – Peru
This is a trek for those who love history and culture. Learn about the ancient Inca empire as you follow in their footsteps to magical Machu Picchu.

•Zion Narrows – Utah, USA
Hike through the waters of this canyon, which twists and turns to reveal carved alcoves, hanging gardens and ‘Wall Street’ – a 3.2 kilometre stretch where the canyon narrows to 7.2 metres wide and 455 metres high.

•Hadrian’s Wall – U.K.
Hadrian’s Wall was built as a defense fortification in AD 122, and ran across the width of Northern Britain. A significant part of the wall still remains along this 120 kilometre hike from coast to coast.

•Routeburn Track – New Zealand
The Routeburn Track is just one of the many amazing hikes in NZ. Taking three days, you hike through the superb scenery of the  Southern Alps in the South Island.