Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish that originated in China. While it was once considered a simple and cheap staple in many students' diets, it has today grown into an iconic national dish with almost every locality or prefecture in Japan, having its own variation.

There are two main components of ramen - the noodles and the soup.

Most ramen noodles are made from four basic ingredients: wheat flour, salt, water and kansui (a type of alkaline mineral water). They may be fat, thin, ribbon-like, straight or wrinkled.

The ramen soup is generally made from stock based on chicken or pork and combined with a variety of other ingredients. There are basically four categories which the broth can be divided into: shio (salt), tonokotsu (pork bone), shoyu and miso.

Ramen is also widely available beyond Japan... But when you are in Japan, we would assume you wouldn't want anything short of spectacular; so click on the map to check out some ramen shops in Kyoto and Tokyo worth visiting:

View Best Ramen in Japan (Kyoto & Tokyo only) in a larger map

If you have time, also drop by the ramen museum which opened in Yokohama in 1994!

Gastro-pubs have been on the up in recent years in London. Whilst the standard of food at these pubs is higher than at your run-of-the-mill drinking holes (currently the trend being traditional British food) so are the prices. The menus at the following gastro-pubs have some of the tastiest dishes.

The Hackney Pearl
11 Prince Edward Road, London E9 5LX
44 208 510 3605 www.thehackneypearl.com

The unlikely neighborhood of Hackney Wick is where this little pub/café is located. Bookshelves line one corner of the room, a blackboard with the day’s menu is on the opposite side. Food is freshly prepared and seasonal, the creamy cauliflower and fennel soup and the slow cooked shoulder of lamb being perfect winter grub.

As well as a good selection of wines which can be taken out there is an impressive array of herbal teas such as sage and jasmine. Cake lovers will be delighted with their upside down pear and ginger cake drizzled in caramel. The Hackney Pearl is a cosy, friendly East End gem.

The Pipeline
94 Middlesex Street, London E1 7DA
44 20 7377 6860 www.thepipelinebar.co.uk

Billed as ‘the happiest place in London’ the meals here certainly do leave one feeling satisfied. While many come here for a post-work drink and a game of pool, The Pipeline is a destination restaurant in its own right.

The Swedish menu has traditional Scandinavian fare such as meatballs, rye bread with dill mayonnaise and caviar, and veal burgers with lingonberry jam. The homemade chocolate and cinnamon truffles are particularly special.

Funky Munky
25 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR
44 20 7277 1806

Camberwell may be another area not usually associated with hip bars or restaurants, but Funky Munky is a cool, unpretentious little pub serving up tasty cheap food. Halloumi, mushroom and pepper tortillas and onion and feta tarts are on the menu, staff are chatty and drinks are well priced. Worth popping in if you’re in the area.

The Bedford and Strand
1 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HG
44 20 7836 3033 www.bedford-strand.com

This gastro-pub opts for a mixture of traditional English grub and French cuisine. Duck terrine and Bayonne ham, potted crab, a zesty salad with scallops, capers and sliced apple, and a selection of hearty pies are some of the menu offerings. The prune d’Armagnac ice cream is by far the most interesting dessert.

Food is wholesome here but not cheap, a meal for two with wine comes to around £70.

The Avalon
16 Balham Hill, London SW12 9EB
020 8675 8613  www.theavalonlondon.com

Gastro-pubs are 10 a penny in Clapham, thanks to the affordable house prices attracting young Londoners to the area. The Avalon stands out from the rest with its imposing, elegant dining room complete with modern chandeliers.

Food is of a high standard. The menu offers ambitious courses such as pigeon breast and trout with seaweed tapenade. The chicken cooked in truffle oil, crab and squid ink linguine and the fish pie with succulent prawns and thick chunks of salmon are especially good.

Chicken rice at Chatterbox, Singapore

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a popular dish which has been adapted by the Hainan Chinese migrants in the Nanyang area. The Nanyang area literally means "Southern Ocean" and covers Singapore, the Phillippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. It is pretty much considered the national dish of Singapore and is served in hawker stalls, food courts and franchised outlets all over.

A serving of chicken rice generally consists of an oily but fragrant rice, some beautiful pieces of chicken which has been boiled in a garlic, ginger and pork bone stock, a garnish of fresh slices of cucumber, tomato and lettuce leaves and a bowl of clear chicken broth with a sprinkle of chopped coriander (sometimes also with shallots and fried onion). The secret to this dish is generally the accompanying sauces which are closely guarded recipes.

I love the chilli and pounded ginger vinaigrette, but the there's also the dark soy sauce which is equally as popular with locals. And I of course adore the sweetness and simplicity of the chicken broth which has the flavour of the whole chickens.

If you only have one meal to taste test Singapore's Hainanese Chicken Rice, then I'd suggest going for the very best and slightly pricey... at Chatterbox, at the Meritus Mandarin Hotel on 333 Orchard Road (+65.6831.6291), as pictured above.

On the cheaper end and minus the view, there are also these favourites:

Fook Seng Goldenhill Chicken Rice
Block 37, Jalan Rumah Tinggi #01-429
For more information: http://www.singaporechickenrice.com

The Chicken Rice Shop
VivoCity B2-37
For more information: http://www.thechickenriceshop.com/index.html

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Maxwell Food Centre, 12 Murray Street, #01 - 10, 11am - 8pm (closed Mondays)
How to get there by MRT : Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and Chinatown (NE4)
How to get there by Bus : 2, 12, 61, 80, 143, 145, 166, 197, 608, 851, 961
For more information, check out these food blog reviews: http://lovesingaporefood.blogspot.com/2 ... -rice.html, http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2007/05 ... -tian.html

Have I missed your favourite Chicken Rice stall in Singapore? Let me know by replying with a comment below :)

I wouldn't recommend anyone leaving Singapore without visiting a hawker centre. It is the best way to sample authentic local favourites without forking out too much $$$.

Thanks to Visit Singapore for compiling this very handy hit-list:

Chinatown Complex Food Centre
335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex
How to Get There
By MRT : Chinatown (NE4) and Outram Park (EW16/NE3)
By Bus : 2, 12, 33, 51, 54, 61, 63, 75, 80, 124, 143, 145, 147, 166, 174, 186, 190, 197, 851, 961, 961C, 970

Glutton’s Bay
#01-15 Esplanade Mall, Open 6pm to 3am daily.
How to Get There
MRT: City Hall (EW13/NS25)
Bus: 36, 56, 57, 75, 77, 97, 106, 111, 133, 171, 174E, 195, 700A, 857, 960, 961, NR1, NR2, NR6, NR7, NR8

East Coast Lagoon Food Village
1220 East Coast Parkway
How to Get There
By MRT : Bedok (EW5)
By Bus : 36, 401

Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
How to Get There
By MRT : Lavender (EW11)
By Bus : 2, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 70, 70X, 80, 100, 107, 107X, 133, 145, 196, 197, 961, 961C, 980

Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
18 Raffles Quay
How to Get There
By MRT : Raffles Place (EW14/NS26)
By Bus : 10, 57, 70, 75, 97, 100, 107, 130, 131, 162, 167, 186, 196, 507, 605, 608, 700, 970

Maxwell Food Centre
Along Maxwell Road
How to Get There
By MRT : Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and Chinatown (NE4)
By Bus : 2, 12, 61, 80, 143, 145, 166, 197, 608, 851, 961

Newton Food Centre
Along Clemenceau Ave North
How to Get There
By MRT : Newton (NS21)
By Bus : 54, 66, 67, 124, 143, 162, 162X, 167, 170, 171, 518, 700, 700A, 960

Zion Riverside Food Centre
Zion Road/Zion Close
How to Get There
By MRT : Tiong Bahru (EW17)
By Bus : 14, 16, 32, 51, 54, 64, 65, 75, 123, 139, 186, 195, 970

(Source: Visit Singapore: http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/s ... local.html)

Those that know me personally or through my blog will know that i'm uber organised. I compiled this checklist a few months ago and thought I'd share it. Please note that it is female-skewed but feel free to cross out the items which aren't applicable to you. For short trips, you'll probably only need a third of the list.

Hope this helps :)

General
International adapter(s)
Unlock phone and test using a SIM card from a different carrier
Turn on international roaming
Immunisation shots
Register for travel insurance and bring a copy of docs
Passport and insert photocopies to all luggage and leave one at home (maybe even scan one in and email to self)
Itinerary print outs for self and family
Exchange money
Books/Magazines/Music
Notebook, pen, business cards
Register with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Check Smart Traveller for warnings and list of cautions
Soft and hard copy of all contact details (hotels, banks, local embassy...)

Clothing
Underwear
Swimwear
Shorts
Skirts
Dress
Jeans
Long pants
T-shirts
Something formal for fine dining
Singlets
Belts
Cardigan, jumper or jacket
Sleepwear
Socks / stockings / leggings
Shoes: flats, thongs, joggers, heels
Handbag -day and evening
Beach towel and sarong / kaftan
Jewellery and other accessories
Hat and sunglasses

Technology
Back-up mini external hard drive
Card reader
Laptop and charger
Laptop accessories including wireless mouse
Cameras, chargers, speedlites and lenses
Tripod or gorillapod
Mobile and charger
Receipts for GST Tourist Refund Scheme
Keep a soft and hard copy of all serial numbers
Back-up mobile phone contact list and calender, etc
Email yourself and family details such as passport number, lost credit card number, Australian Embassy contact details, etc

Toiletries and health
Make-up and make-up brushes
Toothbrush and paste
Mouth wash and dental floss
Cleanser, toner and moisturiser
Shower gel and loofa / sponge
Shampoo and conditioner
Elastics / hair clips
Tampons, pads and liners
GHD and hair products
Aloe-gel, bug repellent, Vaseline
Emergency kit and bandaids
Medicine: pain killers, anything for a cough, cold, flu through to diarrhea and nausea
Mini-sewing kit
Wax / razor / epilator
Nail polish and remover
Make-up wipes
Small packet of tissues for the handbag