Okay, I bought some manioc a couple of days ago and am wondering what is the best way to prepare it. Some people say that manioc fries are "better than potatoes" and I can already contest that statement, but I will qualify it with the admission that I grew up in a potato culture, so "better" is completely subjective. They fry just fine, but they do not have enough interior moisture to my taste, so they become just dry sticks. People who think that McDonald's fries are wonderful might like them. Also they don't taste like potatoes, but there's nothing that can be done about that.

Right now I am boiling manioc chunks but also carrots and potatoes to make a mash out of it all. I am well aware that this is cheating, since I am really hoping that the potatoes and carrots dominate in flavour, but I didn't cheat excessively because manioc is still the principal ingredient by far.

Friends have said that roasted or boiled manioc chunks are lovely with just salt, pepper and butter but I don't really trust them because I have had meals at their place and they clearly don't know much about what food is good or not.

I'm willing to accept more suggestions, but boy, those things are a bitch to peel.

Hi, I am looking to go travelling next year with my friend. We are both 21 years old and are looking to see new cultures and explore new places. We aim to explore some of the more touristy areas as well as try to see some of the less touristy areas on our travels. We will be trying to stay in hostels most nights and eating street food as much as possible to try and experience as much as we can and keep costs down! However, I can see us splashing out on a few nights out and on big excursions.

We are just looking for any general advice people have on travelling and whether the plan that we currently have is a good one? Thanks for any replies :)

We are aiming to leave March 2019 and go to China for 4 weeks before going to SE Asia for approx 10 weeks and then on to Australia for 6 weeks.

In china our plan is to fly into Shanghai (~5 days), then travel up to Beijing(~5 days), down to Xi'an(~3 days), Chengdu (~4 days) and Guillin (~3 days), whilst visiting lots of smaller places on the way. We also want to leave spare time in between so that we aren't rushed anywhere and we can find time to fit other places in as well if we want to! Is it then best to fly from somewhere like Guillin to Bangkok or is it better to first head back to somewhere like Beijing/Shanghai and fly to Bangkok from there?

In SE Asia the plan is to land in Bangkok, (~4 days), then travel up to Chiang Mai (~4 days), Chiang Rai (~ 2 days). Then travel into Laos and spend ~ 7-10 days here. Then go into Vietnam for ~ 25 days and see Hanoi, Halong Bay, and then travel South to Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. From here we want to go to Cambodia for ~ 7-10 days. Then back to Bangkok before travelling down to the South Thailand islands for ~ 10 days. Again, is it best to travel back up to Bangkok to fly to Australia?

In Australia we're thinking of starting in Melbourne and working our way up around the East coast to the great barrier reef. Visiting, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and then Townsville on the way. Again, is it best to travel back down to somewhere like Sydney to fly back to the UK?

We're planning on budgeting around £10,000 for the whole trip. With ~£2000 for China, ~£3000 for SE Asia and ~£3000 for Australia, then ~£2000 for flights and other miscellaneous costs. Does this seem reasonable or are we under/overbudgeting?

We aren't leaving for about a year so have plenty of time to adjust our plan if required. Again thanks for any replies :) (This is my first post sorry if I've done something wrong....)

Mexico News Daily on line has a new article, "Security costing more for Cancun businesses." It seems that because of increased violence in Cancun and area, with the murder rate doubling in just a year, hoteliers are very worried. Bookings for conventions are in decline with all the bad press and tourist advisories. Plans are afoot to bring in many more marines for patrolling. It is starting to look like Acapulco.

No one has mentioned hotels refusing to take foreigners. If this becomes widespread then it could have a major impact on travellers.

I ride a bicycle and usually move on each day. I am white English.

During the first 5 weeks or so riding down the East coast from Danang to Saigon I had no problems. However things seem to be changing since that incoming flight where some Brits were infected.

I'm in the Delta at the moment and first day (11/3/20) in Go Cong I was told a hotel was full, but it didn't look it. I checked into 2nd one OK. Yesterday I was refused from 3 hotels in My Tho. I did find 2 that accepted foreigners.

Two of those hotel's were Govt ones and were under orders not to accept us. The friendly and apologetic guy at one of them showed me the letter they had received. The 3rd hotel was a budget one in the market area. I got a definite NO, even though I showed my passport with entry to Vn nearly 6 weeks ago.

Today in Ben Tre checked into first one OK.

As I was about to post this I got a knock on the door. I had to go to reception to fill in a health declaration. I also had my temperature checked. I passed OK. The form was designed for people arriving in the country. My arrival and departure were somewhat more local as I ride bicycle.

Any other reports, preferably first hand, of being refused hotel accommodation welcome.