9 Qualities that Every Inveterate Traveler Must Have

Exotic Australian Foods You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

Australia may not be the first place people think of as a source of exotic food, but the country boasts a wide variety of exotic delicacies that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else in the world. The country’s cuisine, which is loaded with a mix of Asian, African and Aboriginal influences, features many distinctly Australian dishes, both iconic and relatively unknown. From unexpected sources of meat to fish to native fruits and vegetables, here are some of the most exciting, exotic Australian foods.

Kangaroo

Kangaroos, which are native only to Australia, are used in certain parts of the country to make a wide variety of dishes. Today, Australian cuisine features kangaroo in the form of roo steaks, kangaroo meat stir-fries and kangaroo tail soup. The meat from the animal is low in fat and cholesterol is high in protein, and although it can become chewy when cooked, many chefs cook kangaroo on the rare side (especially for steaks) to keep the meat more tender.

Crocodile

For a long time, crocodile meat and eggs were fixtures of Aboriginal cuisine, but in modern Australia, you can still find crocodile dishes in a variety of forms. Many upscale restaurants serve crocodile sushi or carpaccio. For less adventurous eaters, crocodile fillets can also be grilled or pan-fried, similar to the preparation of alligator fillets in parts of the southern United States.

Quandong

The Quandong fruit is native to Australia and spread primarily through the droppings of emu. Quandong fruit is sweet and similar in taste to a peach, and it packs quite a bit of Vitamin C. The fruit is often eaten on its own, but you can also use Quandong to make jams, preserves or savory Quandong pies.

Flathead Fish

Flatheads are a poisonous fish that can be found in dishes across Australia when in season. Chefs must carefully remove the poisonous spine when preparing flathead, but the meat of the fish is delicious, particularly the belly.

Emu

Emu meat is another exotic Australian staple, as they are commonly raised in the country for their meat. Emu can be prepared in many ways, often in fillets or in the form of jerky, and while the meat can be a bit tough, it’s worth trying if you’re looking to be adventurous.

Witchetty Grubs

If your definition of ‘exotic’ includes especially adventurous eating, perhaps the most adventurous Australian food are Witchetty grubs. These grubs are the larval form of ghost moths, and contain lots of protein like many other insects. Some people will eat the grubs live and raw, and they are also occasionally featured as sushi, but Witchetty grubs can also be barbecued to make them more palatable.

Wattleseed Ice Cream

For a distinctly Australian dessert, there is wattleseed ice cream, which gets its flavor from a spice made from the seeds of the native wattleseed plant. The spice made from the seeds has a pleasant nutty flavor that many people find similar to that of coffee, hazelnut and certain kinds of chocolate. Wattlessed now finds its way into many Australian desserts, but wattleseed ice cream is one of the best.

 

If your definition of ‘exotic’ means adventurous eating, perhaps the most adventurous Australian food is Witchetty grubs. These grubs are the larval form of ghost moths and contain lots of protein like many other insects. Some people will eat the grubs live and raw. They are occasionally featured as sushi, but Witchetty grubs can also be barbecued to make them more palatable. Eaters who feel a little uneasy about consuming insects may want to try dipping them in delicious whole egg mayonnaise or even ketchup. The grubs will still be consumed, even if you have to dip them in a familiar and delicious coating.

History Inspired Costumes That Can Make You Turn Heads at a Party

Have you always dreamed of being the life of the party? You may finally get your chance. Whether your costume falls into the Roman, Arabian Nights, or Egyptian category on Costume Collection, you’ll be sure to impress fellow partygoers with the unique, historic vibe you bring with you to the party. Here are a few one-of-a-kind costume ideas. Any one of these can help in making your dream come true. No matter which one you end up picking, you can’t go wrong.

Roman Characters

Do you want to win over your friends and make them respect you more than they do now? Dressing up like a Roman gladiator can help you achieve this goal. If they’re not too intimidated when they catch a glimpse of you looking like this, you can be sure they’ll run over to you and shower you with compliments. The Roman gladiator costume is an ideal choice for men.

 

As for women, the divine goddess costume is a wonderful option. The dress that you’ll be wearing is a stunning, light blue color, and it has just the right amount of sparkle on it. What’s great about this costume is that it appears to be both comfortable and elegant. This is a combination that’s usually hard to find in women’s clothing. You’ll be able to show off all of your feminine beauty and charm in this costume. As a woman, you’ll want to take advantage of the opportunity to let your inner divine goddess show on the outside, too.

Genie Costume

Let’s not forget the cute, chic genie costume. This one is sure to turn heads at any costume party. It’s equally feminine, beautiful, and sexy. If you look for all of these attributes in a costume, you can be sure the genie costume is the right choice for you. You can give yourself a genie hairstyle to complete the look.

Egyptian Characters

The Egyptian queen costume has a lovely, historic feel to it. When your friends see you dressed this way, you shouldn’t be surprised to see some jealous glares directed at you. Other girls at the party will wish they’d thought of such an alluring costume. That’s when you’ll want to gently remind them that there’s only room for one queen.

 

This Egyptian mummy costume may be simple, but it gets the job done well. You’ll be sure to impress your friends with the mysterious, intriguing mummy look it gives. If this is the type of costume that appeals to you, you should go ahead and give it a try.

A Stone Age Costume

If you want to look tough and masculine, you should consider this costume. When you walk into the party, you can expect all eyes to turn in your direction. Not only will the others enjoy the snacks and drinks you bring along with you, they’ll love that special Stone Age feel you bring to it. Once the party’s over, they’ll go home and remember it for the rest of the night. They might even remember it for the rest of the year.

 

Do you want to be the one that everyone notices the moment they step into the room? You can choose any one of these costumes and be confident that you’ll get to see that happening all night long. After all, you want your memories to show that you were the life of the party and not the loser, who was hiding over there in the corn

How to Relax at Home After a Hard Day

Does it feel like the world is spinning at a thousand miles per hour when you wake up? If not, you can count yourself lucky. One only hopes it stays that way for as long as possible. Most people are completely stressed out non-stop.

 

Maybe it’s because you have to do more than hunt and gather every day. It could be because you’re addicted to electronics. Either way, you’ll have to find a way to truly relax while at home. We’re going to discuss the best ways you can do it.

Hang a Hammock in the Garden

How do you think you would feel if you were hanging in between two coconut trees on a tropical island? If you have a good enough imagination you’ll be able to feel that way when you’re in a hammock at home. You can even hang one inside when it’s cold outside, which means it can be used 365 days per year. If you don’t have any trees in your garden you’ll need to use a solid stand.

Build a Big Yoga Gazebo

If you don’t practice yoga at the moment you’ll need to start soon. It might hurt for a few weeks, but once your body gets used to it you’ll feel great. The setting will have an impact on how you feel too. In other words, you want to work out somewhere a lot nicer than your living room. Try building a yoga gazebo in your garden. When you’re doing yoga and hear rain bouncing off the roof your stress will melt away.

Invest in a Cardio Machine

It’s had to beat the feeling of the legendary runner’s high. When you run enough the chemicals in your brain give you a euphoric experience. Not only can it get rid of stress, but it can help you handle it better in the first place. The high can be experienced when you perform any kind of cardio for long enough. If you have a spare bedroom it’s worth investing in a stair climber or rowing machine.

Install an Infrared Sauna

Do you want to feel like you’re at the strippers in Perth or Vegas? You’ll need to get your wife to take her clothes off, which can be accomplished easily if you install an infrared sauna in your home. But seriously, it’s one of the best ways to unwind after a hard day at work. You can opt for a steam room if you enjoy them more. They’ll both provide you with a large number of health benefits if used regularly.

Make Sure You Don’t Wake Up

Once you fall asleep at night you bounce back and forth between REM and deep sleep. You spend more time in rapid-eye-movement sleep as the night progresses, which means if you keep waking up you won’t get enough of it. Your mind won’t feel rejuvenated when you wake up in the morning. Ensure you have a comfortable mattress and pillow. Also, buy curtains that won’t let any light get through.

Spend Time Under the Stars

There is something magical about looking up at the stars. When you realize how insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things your problems begin to disappear. There are a couple of ways you’ll be able to admire the stars at night. You could build a hot tub in your garden to give you a double dose of relaxation. If you want a cheaper solution set up a fire pit and sit around it with your family eating melted marshmallows.

You Can Try the Simple Things Too

We’ve talked about a few big ideas today, but there are lots of little tricks you can try too. Things like limiting your social media usage and learning to breathe properly work wonders. Give it time and your stress should begin to dissipate.