Brazil and Indonesia: Fun Finds in Similarities

Brazil has won my heart twice. I first went there to train Jiu Jitsu because, well… Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Plus, my former coach lives there, on a charming little island called Florianopolis, just an hour’s flight from São Paulo. So, yes, imagine the journey from Bali! But it was totally worth it.

Anyway, Kata Bella not here to write about my Jiu Jitsu trip, but what really fascinated me was how similar Brazil is to Indonesia. Here are a few interesting things I noticed. Can’t wait to go back soon!

The Language

I know it’s obvious – because Brazilians speak Portuguese, and Indonesia was colonised by the Portuguese (among others). So, when I first landed at the airport, many words already felt familiar to me. I could pretty much guess their meanings. As I started learning Portuguese, I found it surprisingly easy to memorise the vocabulary because of the similarities. Some words are even the same in Indonesian, just pronounced differently. Here are a few for fun:

Mesa (Indonesian: Meja) – Table
Manteiga (Indonesian: Mentega) – Butter
Festa (Indonesian: Pesta) – Party
Janela (Indonesian: Jendela) – Window
Sapato (Indonesian: Sepatu) – Shoes
Igreja (Indonesian: Gereja) – Church
Escola (Indonesian: Sekolah) – School

The Snacks

I have this habit of exploring supermarkets when I travel overseas because I love discovering products we don’t have back home. And there was one aisle in Hyperbom that instantly took me back to my childhood days in Java – basically, it was filled with traditional snacks from Java, but in Brazilian versions.

Paçoca vs Enting Enting

(Caramelised peanuts pressed into bite-sized bars)

Flocos de Arroz vs Jipang

(Puffed rice coated in sweet syrup)

Pé de Moleque vs Ampyang

(Roasted peanuts in caramelised sugar)

Cocada com Açúcar Mascavo vs Kembang Gula Kelapa

(Candied shredded coconut)

Geladinho vs Es Lilin

(Ice lollies)

Speaking of childhood snacks, I also found Trakinas, those chocolate sandwich snacks I haven’t seen in Indonesia since the 90s! That was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

Alright, that’s all for now about Brazil! I’ve got more to share from another trip, but I’ll save it maybe for Part 2. Tchau tchau!

DNCRserabutanBJJ

January 6, 2025

Mirip Miriam sama Dutch berarti yaak.. beberapa kosakata nya similar ama Indo 😳
Jajanan jg persis 🤤🤤

Bella

January 8, 2025

Iya, sama seperti Dutch banyak kemiripan 🙂

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12 Mar 2026 by Bella in Asia

Chiang Mai Food Markets: 8 Popular Spots to Eat

Chiang Mai Food Market If I live in Chiang Mai (which I kinda do now), I honestly don’t see why I’d ever need to cook. You’re spoiled with food options here, across all kinds of cuisines and prices. Sure, every few metres you can find a decent Thai restaurant, but while most of them are good, I find eating at the markets much more interesting because you can try a little bit of many different things in one place. Here are some of them that I've been to. Chiang Mai Walking StreetLanna SquareKalare Night BazaarWaroros MarketTon Lam Yai MarketJing Jai MarketOne Nimman Street Food MarketCoconut Market You may also like this article: A Guide to Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai - 4 Things to Know Chiang Mai Walking Street This is probably the biggest market in Chiang Mai, held every Sunday. It stretches from Tha Pae Gate all the way to Wat Phra Singh - if you walk the whole route, it’s around 1 km long. Most vendors sell handcrafted items, clothes, and souvenirs, but you’ll also find buzzing food markets inside the courtyards of two temples along the way. Once your tummy is full, you can browse the street vendors or surrender to the joy of a foot massage which you can find right outside the temples - like....a whole street of pop up foot massage chairs. 🍜 Food and drink highlights: chicken and pork skewers, grilled oyster mushrooms, pad thai, longan juice💵 Prices: 10 - 150 baht⏰ Opening time: Every Sunday, 4pm – late📍 Location: Chiang Mai Old Town – walk from Tha Pae Gate🚽 Toilet: At the temple entrances (bring a 5-baht coin) Chiang Mai Walking Street, image credit: Destino Chiang Mai Lanna Square Still in the Old City area, there’s this outdoor food court - a good starting point for beginners, hehe. Why beginners? Because I feel like it's more geared towards tourists; prices are slightly higher, and the food selection is more international, not just Thai. You’ll find everything from Japanese dishes and Western comfort food like beef brisket and loaded fries, to ice cream. There’s even Burmese cuisine I've never tried before. There’s also live music on the front stage, which adds a nice atmosphere. It’s usually busy, but in a comfortable way - not too hectic and not overly loud. It does get a bit quieter when the Chiang Mai Walking Street market is on. 🍜 Food and drink highlights: prawn pad see ew from Thai Taste, black sesame mochi, chicken satay💵 Prices: 60 - 300 baht⏰ Opening time: Every day, 5pm - midnight📍 Location: Chiang Mai Old Town - 5 Ratvithi Rd , Tambon Si Phum🚽 Toilet: At the entrance of the market (bring a 5-baht coin) A busy night at Lanna Square, Image credit: Lanna Square Facebook page You may also like this article: How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days Kalare Night Bazaar Every time I come here or bring friends along, I have one very important mission: to eat the crispy pork belly from this stall right in the centre of the market. There are plenty of other tasty options too, but from what I’ve observed, many people come here for the seafood feast. It can get quite busy around dinner time and seating is limited, but if you’re patient and keep an eye out, you’ll eventually find a table. 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48 Hours in Amsterdam: A Quick Trip, Big Memories

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From Privet Drive to Gringotts: A Magical Day at Harry Potter Studio Tour London

My journey into the Harry Potter world began 24 years ago, when my uncle gifted me the first book when I was 12. He worked in a bookstore at the time and gave me the first book – it was considered quite a luxury back then, so I was eager not to miss out. After finishing the first one, I was hooked and wanted more. But the only copies available at that time were in English - so as the books got thicker, reading in my second language became more difficult. But luckily they started turning them into films, haha! Fast forward to today, and when I finally landed in London for the first time, I convinced my husband to visit The Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour. I’ll tell you what - I was one lucky Muggle! There was no way we could get tickets during the high season, but two people decided to cancel, and that’s how we got ours. The tickets are not cheap, especially when you convert them to Indonesian rupiah – it was over IDR 1 million each *crying in parseltongue*. But boy, was it worth it! It was a dream come true for me! And in this article, I'll share everything you need to know: ticket tips, costs, and why this magical London attraction is worth every Galleon. You may also like this article: 48 Hours in Amsterdam - A Quick Trip, Big Memories Unfortunately, the expense didn’t stop at the tickets. We also had to take a train out of London, which cost £20 per person. But the tickets did include a bus pick-up from the train station to the studio. On the bus, Draco Malfoy greeted us on screen, which definitely added to the excitement! (Not sure why him though, where’s Harry!). The tickets have time slots, and since we arrived early, we headed to the cafeteria for some soup served in a cauldron! We were also given a passport with interactive tasks, like collecting stamps and finding golden snitches. You can choose to use an audio guide, available in several languages - and I wonder why I didn’t ask for mine in Bahasa Indonesia, just for fun, lol. You make also like this article: A Playful Stay in Copenhagen - My 25hours Hotel Experience So, we started the studio tour in the Great Hall, and then it took us through everything you could possibly imagine from the films! From Harry’s cupboard under the stairs, to Gryffindor’s common room, Hagrid’s hut, Professor Dumbledore’s office, and even the Forbidden Forest! I got to meet Aragog and the Hippogriff (and I wasn’t surprised to see all the nerdy Potterheads bowing to it, haha). There’s also an outdoor area where you can visit Harry’s aunt and uncle’s house on Privet Drive, and the plant room where they grow Mandrakes! It was raining and cold, but that didn’t stop anyone - certainly not me, from exploring. I treated myself to some Butterbeer. You can clean the mug and take it home! Then, I continued my journey through Platform 9¾, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts. No wonder the website says it’s at least a 3-hour tour! You may also like this article: Brazil and Indonesia - Fun Finds in Similarities It was one of the best days ever! It brought back so many wonderful childhood memories. If you're ever in London and are a Harry Potter fan, I can't recommend the studio tour enough. It’s totally worth the splurge. Just be sure to book your tickets well in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly! Harry Potter Studio Tour London Summary Planning Your Visit Ticket Price: More less IDR 1,000,000 each How to Save: Book 3-4 months early – slots sell fast! Getting There: Take a £20 (approx. IDR 400,000) train from London + free shuttle bus Magical Highlights The Great Hall: Walk under floating candles and house banners Privet Drive: Recreate Harry’s iconic cupboard-under-the-stairs moment Butterbeer: Sip the creamy drink and keep the souvenir mug! Diagon Alley & Gringotts: Walk through the dragon-guarded bank and Ollivanders’ wand shop. Is It Worth It? Absolutely! For Potterheads, the Harry Potter Studio Tour London is a nostalgic journey through Hogwarts, Dumbledore’s office, and the Forbidden Forest. Just budget for tickets + train fares. Bella's Tips Skip the audio guide (you will be visually pleased the whole time - and save money) Arrive early for cauldron soup at the cafeteria Wear layers in autumn/ winter – the outdoor Privet Drive area gets chilly! Click here to buy the tickets. Isabella - Hufflepuff