BigBody, Author at Pale Ale Travel

Sometimes You Just Have to Crush a Narita Airport Ramen

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024Asia, Food, Japan BigBody Leave a Comment

If you’re reading this, I’m already in the U.S., home for the holidays to see family, drive the icy backroads that saw me intrepidly eat Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches while on the way to Catholic school homeroom, and catch up with old friends.

All of this is great. However, there’s one glaring gastronomic problem in my small New England state – an egregious lack of authentic and quality Japanese cuisine.

So, on my route back from Hong Kong, stopping in Tokyo Japan at Narita International Airport for a 4-hour layover, you know I had to get one final Asian cuisine fix before touching down in the land of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken tenders, and lite beer.

And, with my stomach bloated and gurgling from the previous night’s undigested gyros, I knew I had to go with old faithful – ramen.

Sometimes, you just have to crush a Narita Airport ramen – especially when that ramen is by Ginza Kagari.

Seoul Noodles: a Dish Best Served Cold at Park Chan-wook’s House

December 19, 2024December 20, 2024Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

The Koreans are taking over Hong Kong and you know what? I ain’t even mad.

Everywhere you turn, it’s a Korean BBQ spot this, a pocha haunt that, a gaggle of suave-looking men rocking a two-block haircut with bangs and clean, minimalist semiotic getup that makes you realize just how much of a slob you are in comparison.

And now, a traditional Korean noodle and rice soup shop.

Even as I sit perched at the Nood Kinwick countertop overlooking the escalators, deep in reflective thought on what exactly the previous weekend’s 5 AM credit card charges at Bar 42 were for (hint: terrible things), I see a group of 40+ Korean tourists being shuffled through SoHo by a stern yet informative guide.

Recently, a top dawg and I, both donning our finest suits and craving sustenance before a legendary bacchanalian Zuma night brunch, stopped by the 2024-inaugurated Seoul Noodles on Stanley Street (Central) to confirm whether Korean gastronomic excellence only extended to the meat and booze realm in Hong Kong or if noodles were done justice as well.

Well, I’m here to confirm that the Koreanization of Hong Kong is fully underway and it’s goddamn delicious. So, where you gonna be when the sun falls, brother (or sister)? Hopefully slurping down a hearty bowl of soul-warming (Seoul-warming? Zing) Korean noodles with your ride-or-dies. You can bet I’ll be doing the same.

Here is why ‘Seoul Noodles’ in Hong Kong absolutely needs to be on your eating radar.

9 Practical, No Upfront Cost Hong Kong Side Hustles to Stack More HKD

December 9, 2024December 9, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

Hey. It’s me. Big Body. Your friendly neighborhood blogger who just so happens to live in one of the most prohibitively expensive cities in the world – Hong Kong.

I get it. This is a tough city to be impecunious in.

Rent is exorbitantly priced, cocktails cost an arm and a leg, and the overall value of what you’re able to purchase seems to be dropping off quicker than your freshman-year GPA after you discovered Popov vodka, Swisher Sweets, and long-cut Grizzly Mint pouches.

Note: I’m American so you’ll just have to picture whatever the Hong Kong university experience equivalent of that is. Also, Tai Lopez is a huge bozo so don’t think that me including him in the feature image is an endorsement of this grifter.

Either way, you need to make some extra skrilla and you need to make it now. You know, dough, doll-hairs, cheddar, clams, shekels, Versace lettuce, Hong Kong pesos. As the Wu-Tang Clan so famously rapped, ‘Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M. get the money, dolla dolla bill y’all.’

Here are 9 Hong Kong side hustles you can do to earn some extra skrilla so that you have some breathing room when the financial stress of this city inevitably feels like it is getting to be ‘too much’.

Pale Ale Travel Note: My goal is to provide you with practical side hustles that you can theoretically do with minimal setup. I’ve read other Hong Kong side hustle and passive income articles that were, frankly, offering up dangerous advice – like investing in cryptocurrency (note: I’m a huge Bitcoin/crypto proponent but there’s still an inherent gamble/risk in doing so). Further, many of the side hustles suggested require you to already have a significant amount of money to get started. This is from the ground up.

The Best Paella in Hong Kong is on Lamma Island – Say What!?

December 6, 2024December 6, 2024Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

As ‘Asia’s World City’, one where roughly 10% of its population is classified as ‘non-Chinese’, you’d be hard-pressed to ever encounter a Spaniard in your daily routine. If one of my OG friends in Hong Kong weren’t a Mallorca native, I wouldn’t even believe they exist, mentally classifying them in the same category as the Chupacabra and Abominable Snowman.

This means that there is a glaring lack of Spanish restaurants in the city, the few and proud that exist primarily being concentrated in the Sheung Wan/Central biodome of personally and professionally underachieving expats – myself included.

I’m not entirely sure how it took me so long to write a post about this Spanish restaurant and gem out on the most Bohemian of all Outlying Islands in Hong Kong.

Mea culpa. Well, it’s here now.

In the not-too-distant past, several top dawgz and I had a day out on Hong Kong’s third largest yet most-spirited island – one filled with a brisk walk from the Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier and swim down by that one power station which now makes me glow in the dark at night, capped off with an unsuspectingly authentic and bangin’ paella that would have a Spanish abuela howling in delight.

Here’s your new go-to spot in Hong Kong to snag you a bite of this vibrant, flavor-packed Spanish staple and why it emphatically puts the ‘yay’ in ‘paella’.

Is Hong Kong Expensive to Visit?

December 4, 2024December 4, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

“Is Hong Kong Expensive?” is a common question I receive from readers, specifically those contemplating and/or planning a trip to ‘Asia’s World City’. Without sounding too much like a clickbait YouTube thumbnail (and failing), the answer might actually shock you, as Hong Kong may be more affordable than you initially might think.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of the weeds as several key expenses can ‘break the bank’ (so to speak).

Below, I’ll walk you through the cost of travel in Hong Kong, using anecdotes and personal experiences from my nearly seven years living here. You’ll walk away with a sound understanding of prices in terms of specific items but also experiences, things, and other categories of travel essentials.

You’ll also get a rough feel of exactly how much your trip to Hong Kong may cost. So, without further ado, how expensive is Hong Kong?

Pale Ale Travel Note: As people from all over the world are reading this post, I’ve decided to use Hong Kong Dollars (HKD/HK$) as the main currency for all costs – just to keep things simple.

My Go-To Spot to Exchange Money in Hong Kong

December 3, 2024December 3, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

If you’re traveling to Hong Kong, heading out on your next adventure, or are in the city and looking to convert some of your extra foreign currency for Hong Kong Dollars (HKD), making sure you have the right currency is essential for not only a smooth trip but basic survival.

That’s coming from someone who has shown up to a country (or two), realizing that he had completely forgotten to (responsibly) exchange for the local currency before departing or even learn what the actual currency of said country was, resulting in a hectic scramble to find the nearest ATM followed by my bank rejecting a withdrawal because I forgot to inform them of my upcoming travel plans.

The point is that it’s always a good idea to have a reputable and efficient currency exchange in your back pocket should you need to convert foreign currency to HKD or vice versa.

The reality of currency exchanges is that there are both official (and honest) and black market money exchanges, which will give you a fair exchange rate or milk you for all your worth. A reasonable and fair exchange rate can make or break a budget, especially in a city like Hong Kong where every dollar counts.

No one wants to get taken advantage of by unfavorable currency exchange rates or hidden fees. However, finding a trustworthy currency exchange in a city you’ve never been to, or don’t know that well, can feel like an insurmountable task.

Here is my go-to currency exchange in Hong Kong that has proven itself to offer fair and competitive exchange rates along with efficient, consistent service so that you don’t get ripped off and/or have to settle for less-than-ideal conversion rates.

Craving a British Pie in Hong Kong? I Got You Fam

December 2, 2024December 3, 2024Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

For being a former British colony, it can be damn near impossible to find a quality British pie in Hong Kong, innit? Did I use ‘innit’ correctly? I have no idea.

However, there is one longstanding British gastropub that reigns supreme when it comes to nailing the quintessential buttery, flaky, meat-filled British pie, including mandatory mash, beans, mushy peas, and an extra side of nostalgia, that Brits (and non-Brits as well) wistfully long for while looking out the window of their middle-office hellhole – The Globe.

So, if you’re craving a taste of home, here is what I consider to be the best British pie in Hong Kong.

Pale Ale Travel Note: While there are about one million reasons that I absolutely adore The Globe and consider it to be one of my favorite beer haunts (and one of the most underrated restaurants in the city), this post is strictly about British pies, so let’s get to the good stuff.

My Third Month’s Earnings on Mediavine Journey [November 2024]

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

Damn, Big Body! Back at it again with the white vans and another Mediavine Journey income report.

First, if you’re curious about my first two months on Mediavine’s newest ad management solution/product (Mediavine Journey), make sure to read Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 breaks down all of the important terms that are used to understand ad network earnings along with some key features of the Mediavine Journey dashboard. Make sure to reference that post if anything doesn’t make sense below.

Once again, to keep things concise – here is exactly how much my travel blog made for the month of November on Mediavine Journey.

Hint: I’m still eating canned beans and most of my socks have holes in them.

Beehiiv vs. WordPress.org For Blogging: an Honest Review

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

In June 2024, after roughly five years of blogging on a traditional WordPress website – the one you’re reading right now – I decided to hedge my bets and branch out by launching a Beehiiv newsletter. This wasn’t because I was particularly passionate about newsletter creation, rather, I applied to Mediavine’s ad management network ‘Journey’ several months prior and still hadn’t heard back.

Frankly, I was a bit burnt out and frustrated with ‘traditional blogging’ and wanted to decouple from it. Google had also rolled out a handful of algorithm updates over the years that saw bloggers completely wiped off the face of search result pages and I knew it was time to stop putting all my eggs in one basket. A major professional shift in my life also meant that I could take content creation more seriously, in a more ‘full-time’ role. So, it seemed like a win-win to launch a new venture and continue with the old.

Since then, I’ve hit the ground running, blogging heavily on WordPress and publishing a weekly newsletter with Beehiiv. And it sure has been a blast. There have been countless learning curves for both but that has ultimately led to a somewhat sound understanding of each platform and how they fit into my content creation process and output.

I’ll be honest. I wrote roughly 1/3rd of this article in a way that was just too excessively complex – too complex for myself. I spent several hours just sitting and trying to make sense of what I wrote and if it was actually cohesive or not. Hint: it wasn’t.

While this may not be the most in-depth review of both WordPress and Beehiiv, it reflects my understanding of both and analyzes the features, strengths and weaknesses, and other bits that have been particularly relevant in my blogging (and newsletter) publishing tenure.

Consider this a launching point for novices unsure of what platform to use when beginning their upcoming blogging journey.

Pale Ale Travel Note: This post is comparing Beehiiv to WordPress.org NOT WordPress.com. The core difference between the two boils down to who is hosting your website. WordPress.com handles all hosting, while WordPress.org requires you to self-host/host your own website (ex. This is typically done through Bluehost, GoDaddy, and other third-party hosting platforms).

7 of the Best Craft Beer Bars in Warsaw For T-Pain to Buy U a Drank

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024Beer & Breweries, Europe, Poland BigBody Leave a Comment

If you had told me that Poland just so happened to be home to over 300 breweries before I embarked on my 3-month stint in the country, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

As a country geographically and inwardly between Eastern Europe and Central Europe (the latter if you ask a Pole), the stereotype of vodka flowing freely and cheap, canned lagers comparable to the water we’ve come to expect in the U.S. was unfortunately what I anticipated.

I’m sorry Poland–mea culpa.

Consider this my letter of contrition and a celebration of the 300-plus formidable breweries that make up the country’s robust ethanol ecosystem. It truly is one of the best countries in the world for everything beer (I’m even a fan of ice-cold Żywiec).

And, no better place represents the strength and variation of this burgeoning booze landscape than the capital – Warsaw.

Here are 7 of the best craft beer bars in Warsaw that solidified in my rapidly aging mind and body that Warsaw is a true craft beer lover’s paradise.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Several beers that remained constant and always on rotation for me during my time in Warsaw were those by Warsaw-based (and surrounding) breweries like (a) Funky Fluid, (b) Magic Road, and (c) Browar Monsters, the former being potentially my most consumed beer while there. So, if you see a beer by either brewery on tap, I implore you to order it!

Before I begin, I filmed two videos (Part 1, Part 2) which cover 6 of the 7 Warsaw craft beer bars on this list – so give these a watch if you’re more of a visual person!

Ganso Tsukemen’s Lobster & BBQ Pork Tsukemen is What Dreams Are Made Of

November 23, 2024November 23, 2024Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

If you know this Big Body, then you know that gun to his head, he is choosing tsukemen, the pungent, savory dipping ramen, over traditional ramen, noodles served in a piping hot broth, any day of the week.

This is not a slight to the glory that is everything ramen. In fact, tsukemen is classified as ramen so it’s actually a celebration – a celebration of ramen in a lesser consumed form.

Look at me acting like Gary from 6th grade in his JNCO jeans and Bathing Ape hoodie when he obnoxiously always made sure to differentiate himself by proclaiming to everyone how he only listens to alternative music because mainstream radio edits are for “unoriginal posers.”

The point is, I’m #TeamTsukemen.

I must have latched onto tsukemen as my default ramen amalgam because I’m secretly a masochist who loves fumbling to pick up room temperature noodles with chopsticks followed by splashing its dark shoyu (soy sauce) broth all over the only nice button-down I own. The struggle is real. But that also makes it taste that much sweeter (saltier?).

Well, in my pursuit of finding the best tsukemen (and ramen) in Hong Kong, this Big Body was pleasantly surprised after stumbling on an unassuming ramen joint in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui for a coveted Thursday night hang with one of his top dawgs. Better yet, it was a spot serving up a noodle dish that appealed to both his gustatorily high-brow and prurient interests – that’s right, a lobster and BBQ pork tsukemen.

Here is why Ganso Tsukemen’s lobster and BBQ pork tsukemen should absolutely be on your ‘Hong Kong ramen radar’.

The Best Way to Get From Hong Kong Airport to the City Center

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Look, I know it was a long flight to Hong Kong. You didn’t sleep well. They only had 3 random episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm teed up on the TV. You sat next to that one dude with a long mole hair protruding from his face and would awkwardly lean on your shoulder whenever he fell asleep. And you had some questionable jellied meat and petrified eggs that may or may not put a damper on your first day in the city.

How do I know this? I’ve been there before. Got the T-shirt. Thrown out my underpants. Embarrassingly called the hotel front desk to ask if they could send up a plunger. Hid my face as I awkwardly grasped said plunger from the hands of hotel staff. Experienced the unabating headache. Started the trip out already feeling like it wasn’t on my terms.

There are a lot of variables when it comes to traveling, some of them well within your grasp, others far outside.

While you can’t control whether or not the plane hits a stretch of turbulence on your way to Hong Kong, turbulence so devastating that it has you typing out “love you” messages to everyone you can think of, including your high school sweetheart Maria, who is married and happy now and still thinks you’re a loser because you lived at home with your mother for an extended period while you were figuring things out – fortunately, you can control how you get into the city center.

No dilly-dallying. No pitstops along the way. No B.S..

Here is the best way to get from Hong Kong Airport to the city center so that you can start your trip off in ‘Asia’s World City’ on sound footing.