Photo of the Day...

Warwick, England. Photo by:Erica Klics

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Lima, Peru. Photo by: Katy Orchowski

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Addo Elephant Park, South Africa. Photo by: April Spedding

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FREE SH*T!!!

Dirty Hippies is proud to offer our first ever giveaway! Win a FREE night's stay at The Point Hostel, at the location of your choice! The Point Hostel chain has five prime locations to choose from throughout Peru, and one in La Paz, Bolivia. It is with their generous participation that we can offer this to our readers. All you have to do is click GET DIRTY HIPPIES VIA EMAIL, and then become a FAN of The Point Hostel on Facebook. The winner will be announced May 31st, so hurry up and "Get Dirty!!!"

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*This is Dirty Hippies' first giveaway, but it will not be our last! Make sure to become a follower of Dirty Hippies to be eligible for future prizes. Good luck to all who enter!

Destination of the Week

In 1949, Plitvice (PLEET-veet-seh) Lakes National Park became the first National Park in Croatia. This UNESCO World Heritage sight has been the backdrop to feature films, and during Croatia's war with Yugoslavia, the park was occupied by the Serbs. But, the memory of the war is fading and this natural wonderland is an extremely popular tourist destination for people of all ages and backgrounds. It can get quite crowded during peak months (April - October), and the ticket prices increase slightly, but it's well worth battling the hordes of tourists, and paying a little extra if you can't make it in the off season. One of the best back-to-nature experiences in all of Europe, this colossal water garden covers 300 square kilometers (115 square miles), while varying greatly in altitude as well, and has 16 terraced lakes that descend through Europe's most primeval forest; complete with bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species! These crystal-clear waters are strung together by rushing waterfalls, miles of pleasant plank walks, footpaths, and wooden bridges. This system of trails and boardwalks makes it possible to get up close to the park's natural beauty, and in some places, the paths lead right up to the middle of a waterfall. Countless cascades, strangely clear and colorful water, and unassuming caverns make this park an absolute must see. If you take the bus to the upper lakes and walk down, it is possible to see the entire park in one day. Or, if you prefer to take your time and treat the park as its own destination, you can camp out right on the premises! If you prefer to soak up some local culture, you can find a private room in one of the nearby villages (such as Slunj). Plitvice has its own beautiful lodges inside the park, but the bungalow campsites are sure to be more budget-friendly. There are also restaurants and snack shops, so you really don't have to leave the park for anything if you don't want to! Being just a two-hour drive south of the capital city of Zagreb also makes Plitvice easy to get to. Whether you go for a day or stay for a few, you are sure to remember Plitvice Lakes National Park forever!

Click here to vist the park's website!

Click here for official Croatia visitor information!

Dirty Little Secrets...

FOOD FIND
Durmitor Lamb is a delicious dish that is served up regularly in Montenegro. Montenegrin food has been influenced by Italian, Serbian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Montenegrins are proud carnivores and will tell you that meat dishes are their specialty. This one is very traditional and is typically cooked "ispod saca," meaning "under the coals," using a special pot called a "sac." Cooked in milk, and typically served with potatoes and kajmak, a sour cream cheese/yogurt, this is a hearty and flavorful example of simple, satisfying food. Nearly all food in Montenegro is organic and of the highest quality, making the flavors very distinct and rich. The ingredients depend upon what's available locally, and this dish is popular in the Northern region of Montenegro, where the dairy and cattle is especially good in the mountains. The quality of the food in Montenegro is not only some of the healthiest, and unpolluted in the world, but because of this high quality, the flavors of the ingredients are supreme and will be hard to match. If you want to try out this traditional dish with the ingredients you have available, here's a recipe!

Durmitor Lamb:

1.5kg of lamb (filleted loin or shoulder joint)

1 litre of milk

1/2 litre of water

1kg of potatoes

3 carrots/parsnips

2 bay leaves

Seasoning: a little salt, 5-6 black peppercorns, freshly chopped parsley.

Wash the lamb, place in a large saucepan and pour over the diluted milk, add one carrot, bay leaves, pepper and salt. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for two hours until tender. Boil peeled potatoes (for 20 minutes) and remaining vegetables separately. Place the lamb and vegetables together in a larger pot and pour over the strained milk, garnish with parsley and serve. Tip: some recipes suggest using only milk to boil the lamb, we have found that it is easier to prevent the lamb boiling over or boiling dry if water is used as well.

*Photo from durmitorcg.com

*Recipe from montenegroholiday.com

Photo of the Day...

Hong Kong, China. Photo by: Garth Bromley

Photo of the Day...

Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo by: Sian Ivers

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Photo of the Day...

Great Ocean Road, Australia. Photo by: Phillip Hughes

CHARLES HORTON COOLEY is a DIRTY HIPPIE

To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.

~Charles Horton Cooley

Hostel of the Week...

USA HOSTELS LAS VEGAS is the place to be for backpackers and budget travelers looking to live it up in the city of sin! USA Hostels Las Vegas is located on busy Fremont Street, and from there you are just a hop, skip, and a jump to the Strip. When backpackers aren’t partying in the Vegas nightclubs or doubling down in the grandiose casinos, they will find comfort at USA Hostels Las Vegas. This hostel has all the amenities any backpacker could want, and then some. After a long night, enjoy some rest and relaxation at the swimming pool, hot tub, sun deck, and travelers lounge. USA Hostels Vegas keeps its guests busy with weekly events that include a bbq, pub crawl, city tours, and much more. So, if you are headed to Sin City, there is only one place to get your one-hour of sleep: USA HOSTELS LAS VEGAS.

Three reasons to stay at USA HOSTELS LAS VEGAS:

1. The hostel’s all you can eat pancake breakfast.

2. The organized parties. Great place to meet backpackers from all over the world.

3. The swimming pool, hot tub, and sun deck. Necessities for backpackers in Vegas.

www.usahostels.com/lasvegas/

Photo of the Day...

Inca Trail, Peru. Photo by: Sian Ivers

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Photo of the Day...

Sydney, Australia. Photo by: Kristen King

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Beijing, China. Photo by: Katrina Oliver

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Destination of the Week...

Tirana, Albania was once only accessible to the Communist elite, but in recent years has opened its doors and is beckoning for visitors. Situated between the ranges of Dajti Mountain and the beautiful coastal plains, the scenery here is quite lovely and relaxing, but being the capital city and having the largest population in Albania, it's no wonder there is so much to do here. Stroll through some beautifully renovated parks, walk along the Ishëm River or one of the four lakes, choose from one of the many buzzing cafes, bars, clubs, or restaurants. Visit the zoo, Botanical Gardens, Scanderbeg Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the National Museum, etc... The list goes on! There are plenty of sights outside of the city too, like Petrela Castle: a fortress built on a rocky hill, dating back to the fourth century BC. Tirana may have a mellow vibe, but the long evenings seem to stretch into clubs, to the sounds of live local DJs. Tirana is a great place to find some true Albanian culture, and being the second poorest country in Europe not only keeps Albania affordable for those on a budget, especially compared to its expensive neighbors like Italy and Greece, but this also means that they could use the tourism. Although currently in a political deadlock, Albania hopes to one day join the European Union, in which case the price of travel here will surely increase. Housing Albania's international airport makes Tirana well-connected to the rest of the world, and easy to get to, so no matter where you're coming from, you'll likely be able to travel to Tirana!

Click here for official Albania visitor information!

Use our helpful links to plan your trip!

Dirty Little Secrets...

FOOD FIND

Poutine is a delicious indulgence that can be light on the wallet, but certainly not on the calories! It is in the category of foods that I refer to as "heart attack on a plate," but man, is it delicious! First made in Quebec, Canada between the 1950s and 70s, poutine has taken on many forms in many countries, and even has variations in its home of Quebec. Some argue over what type of sauce the original dish was made with but, most commonly, poutine is a bed of crispy french fries (chips) smothered with white cheddar cheese curds and a thick peppery chicken velouté sauce, creating one big sloppy mess of goodness. One man claiming to be the creator, uses a potato sauce, but variations range from barbeque sauce to marinara sauce, for "Poutine Italianne". New York and New Jersey, USA is one of many regions that have taken on their own version poutine. In the 1970s, late night disco crowds in New York City started ordering an off the menu item, which soon became known as "disco fries," and today, still off the menu and still hugely popular, "cheese fries and gravy" are the most popular match to poutine in that region. Poutine is hugely famous, but has been the source of embarrassment as well. French-Canadians are known for their excellent "high-cuisine," so many used to think of poutine as a dish for the lower classes, and would deny ever tasting, much less enjoying it! Poutine is rather hard to refuse, and I consider it budget-friendly because it's so heavy and filling that if you eat a full plate of it, chances are you won't want to eat anything else for a while! These days poutine can be found in both high and low end restaurants, made at home, and poutine sauce is even packaged and sold commercially in grocery stores throughout Canada. It can be made very easily, but keep in mind that it's the sauce and cheese curds that make the dish what it is. To get a taste of this diet-busting dish, follow the directions below. If you want to start from scratch, use the below recipe for poutine sauce!

POUTINE

Prepare approximately 2 cups of french fries, either from a frozen bag or make them yourself (recommended) using Idaho or Prince Edward Island potatoes. Place in a bowl. Drop 1/2 Cup of White Cheddar Cheese Curds (as fresh as possible) on top of fries, then ladle 1 Cup of sauce (of your choice) over the top, while hot. Let sit for 3-5 minutes so the sauce and cheese can work together.

If you'd like poutine sauce where you have a little more control over what comes out, here's a basic sauce which you can use as a base. While you could use it for a poutine sauce as described, you should at least add salt and pepper to taste.

1 quart stock: chicken or veal

2 ounces flour

2 ounces butter or oil

Bring the stock to a boil in a saucepan. Combine the fat and flour, cook over high heat, stirring until you have a pale roux (2-3 minutes). Whip the roux into the stock. Simmer (30-40 min), skimming the surface every 5-10 minutes. Strain the sauce through a chinois or strainer lined with cheesecloth. Salt and pepper to taste.

The above is the recipe for the Velouté sauce, which is the base for a poutine sauce. To make it into a poutine sauce, reduce it by a factor of 2-4 over medium heat. You can also try one of the following modifications:

-Add 2 Tsp of pepper to the roux before adding to the stock, for an extra-peppery sauce. Floor-sweeping pepper (the kind sold pre-ground, in bulk) is preferred by classicists.

-Add 2 Tsp of fresh ground green peppercorns to the stock while reducing.

-Prior to adding the stock, dice 1 small sweet onion into the saucepan, add 2 TBsps of balsamic vinegar, and reduce

*Photo from neatorama.cachefly.net

*Recipe from montrealpoutine.com

Photo of the Day...

Villarrica, Chile. Photo by: Tony Lee Sullivan

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Written for the Road

The Bird Man and the Lap Dancer: Close Encounters with Strangers is a collection of essays written by Eric Hansen. Hansen details his explorations, which span thirty years of his life, and leap from the French Riviera to the South Pacific, India, Manhattan, California, Borneo, and back to California. From smuggling fish in the South Pacific to volunteering at Mother Teresa's "Nirmal Hriday" (Home for Dying Destitutes). This haunting vignette alone makes this magical book worthwhile. Like the retired Ballerina who shelters a homeless woman, the characters he meets along the way will surely anchor themselves in your imagination. His stories demonstrate human generosity, isolation, friendship, and a bevy of emotions that are both inspirational and relatable. Hansen recalls his experiences with beautiful sincerity, and humor. Any traveler knows that the road will lead to experiences which previously seemed impossible, and Hansen's stories are a prime example of this, with delightful, affecting surprises embedded in these narratives of uncommon and daring lives.

Photo of the Day...

Puerto Gallera, Philippines. Photo by: James

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Photo of the Day...

Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by:Yael Marom

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HERMAN MELVILLE is a DIRTY HIPPIE

It is not down in any map; true places never are.

~Herman Melville

Hostel of the Week...

TOKYO HOSTEL is a great place for backpackers and budget travelers who want to be in the center of it all, in Tokyo, Japan. Located close to culture rich hotspots like Asakusa and Ueno, the Tokyo hostel provides its guests with a warm and friendly environment. After a long day of sightseeing, the Tokyo hostel is a great place to come back to. The hostel has the latest DVD movies and Playstation entertainment, as well as digital foreign and local radio stations to listen to. In the lobby, backpackers will find free high-speed Internet, and nearby in their outdoor space, guests can play pool, darts, and a variety of other games. The Tokyo hostel also has great events sure to entertain any traveler. The Japanese Tea Ceremony, World Poker Night, Crazy Night Life Tokyo, and the Super Karaoke Night are events that are sure to make your stay at the Tokyo hostel a memorable one.

Three reasons to stay at Tokyo Hostel:

1. Great location. When you are in a major metropolis like Tokyo, it’s important to be near the action.

2. The events. Most hostels have events to keep backpackers entertained, but at the Tokyo hostel they have a way of merging those events with the city.

3. The environment. The Tokyo Hostel has a relaxed vibe that is sure to please travelers who have spent a busy day checking out the sites.

www.tokyohostels.com

Photo of the Day...

West Bay, Grand Cayman Islands Photo by: Heather Ingrum

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Photo of the Day...

Byron Bay, Australia. Photo by: Lorraine Axon

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Photo of the Day...

Bariloche, Argentina. Photo by: Emma Lloyd-Gore

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Destination of the Week...

In recent years the Chinese government has been trying to turn Sanya into an international resort destination. Once the place where exiles were sent, it still has a long way to go before reaching such acclaim, which is both a good and bad thing. The good being that there is still plenty of uninfluenced local culture, but the bad being the same reason. Sanya is home to an active naval base, so, men in uniform, prostitutes, and fisherman all mingle together at night, making for interesting people watching in the city center. Sanya is located on the Southern tip of Hainan Island, and therefore has stunning natural beauty, like tropical white sand beaches and warm blue waters that offer great snorkeling and scuba diving in the South China Sea. Most budget travelers skip Yalong Bay and head to the cleaner and less expensive Dadonghai Beach for relaxation and water sports. There are plenty of sights to visit, bars, restaurants serving up delicious and exotic seafood, shops, and even a golf course. Many visitors take the short trip to “The End of the Earth” and “The Corner of The Sea”; two enormous natural rock formations that are impressive enough to be featured on the back of some of China’s money. For those looking to purchase fancy gifts for the folks back home, there is even a saltwater Pearl Farm. For gifts with more “character”, shop at the local night market while you soak up its lively atmosphere.

Some people recommend visiting Sanya only with an organized group, and only if you speak the local language, but as with many cities, if you are careful and keep your wits about you, you should be just fine. There are many ways to get to Sanya, including flights from nearly every major city in southern Asia, and buses from Haikou. Regardless of how you get there or how long you stay, as long as you’re careful and pay attention to your surroundings, you’ll have a great, relaxing beach vacation in Sanya!

Click here for info on getting to and around Sanya!

Click here for China visitor information!

Use our helpful link list to help plan your trip to Sanya, China!

Photo of the Day...

Cartagena, Columbia. Photo by: Rachael Trotter

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Dirty Little Secrets...

FOOD FIND
After writing up last week’s Caribbean “Destination of the Week,” I found myself craving Tortuga Rum Cake. This rum cake is the number one export from the Cayman Islands, and after tasting one it becomes clear why! This moist and buttery bundt cake is soaked in Tortuga Rum, which until very recently, could only be bought in the Caribbean. The secret recipe for this delectable dessert combines a family coffee cake recipe that was handed down four generations, and the trademark ingredient is a generous amount of premium five-year old, oak barrel aged Tortuga Gold Rum, which is not available to the public. Since its first tasting in 1987, this little cake, which really weighs 2 lbs (.91 Kgs), has garnered worldwide fame and attention. The rich flavor of the specially blended rum adds to the sweet golden quality of the cake, and imported walnuts give it a perfect bit of crunch. Each cake is hand glazed before being vacuum packed, to maintain freshness. Tortuga Rum Cake is made with high quality ingredients, like New Zealand Anchor butter, and without any preservatives, making every last bite taste as fresh and delicious as the first! There is nothing that quite matches the smell of the Tortuga Rum Cake factory on Grand Cayman Island, and the free samples handed out to visitors, but the below recipe will give you an idea of what all the fuss is about. Or, if you want the real thing, just click the link to order a cake by mail!

Click here to purchase an original Tortuga Rum Cake, straight from the source!

BASIC CAKE MIX:

2 cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, cut into bits

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

FOR THE CAKE:

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix

1/2 cup milk

4 eggs

1/2 cup whaler vanilla rum (Hawaiian-style rum)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

RUM SOAKING GLAZE:

1/2 cup butter (do not substitute)

1/4 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup whaler vanilla rum (Hawaiian-style rum)

DIRECTIONS:

Basic Cake Mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine basic cake mix ingredients.

On low speed combine ingredients until the mix is the consistency of fine gravel, and all particles are about the same size.

This mix may be contained and stored for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.

FOR THE CAKE:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray a large Bundt pan (12 cup) with nonstick cooking spray.

Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on the bottom.

Place Basic Cake Mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, rum, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and combine on medium speed with electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes, scrape down the bowl halfway through.

Batter should be very smooth.

Pour into Bundt pan.

Bake for about 55 minutes- until fully golden and tester comes out clean and cake springs back.

Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack while making the soaking glaze.

RUM SOAKING GLAZE:

Combine butter, water and sugar in a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil carefully as mixture boils over very easily.

Reduce to a simmer and cook until sugar is dissolved and syrup is well combined and a little thicker.

Remove from the heat and add the rum, mix to combine.

While cake is still cooling, pour some of the hot syrup on top of the cake, allowing it time to soak in (this may take a few minutes as there will be a lot of syrup) continue to add syrup until all of the syrup is added.

Allow cake to cool completely in pan before turning out onto serving platter.

This cake is delicate, so once it is turned out, it cannot be moved around easily.

Can be eaten when fully cool, but even better the next day!

SERVES 12

*Photo from coffeecakes.com

*Recipe from recipezaar.com