BigBody, Author at Pale Ale Travel

Review: Solitaire Hotel on Sukhumvit 11, Bangkok – a Luxurious Urban Retreat to Unwind in Style

June 3, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Thailand, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

During my self-imposed Hong Kong moratorium I decided to spend one month-plus in Bangkok, Thailand. And, the stay would not have been complete if I didn’t stay at one of my favorite hotels in all of Asia – the Solitaire Bangkok Hotel on Sukhumvit 11. This 4-star hotel, located a stone’s throw away from the nightlife and action of one of Bangkok’s most notorious nightlife districts, is always my go-to stay in Bangkok.

I spent the entire month posted up in this gem of a hotel, working, battling strep throat, and recovering after extensive ‘eating days’ in one of the best cities for food in the world. Here’s an honest review of what I loved and liked (there isn’t much I really took issue with).

The Chicken or the Egg? A Hidden Crispy Fried Noodle Gem in Bangkok

May 21, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Thailand BigBody Leave a Comment

Tucked away in a quiet back street of the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district of Bangkok (the district with the highest population density and home to the ‘Golden Mount’), Kuay Tiew Kua Kai Keng Jae Ngim – now that’s a mouthful – is a no-fuss, fried noodle shop serving up a textural mammoth of flavor. This restaurant was also recommended to me by my Bangkok eating guru (another big thank you once again) and didn’t disappoint.

I was a bit of a hot mess when I stumbled into Kuay Tiew Kua Kai Keng Jae Ngim. I had already walked about 15 miles for the day (just under 25 km), was in a slight rush to catch a Thai kickboxing match at Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium, and was making a case for being the sweatiest man in Bangkok. It calmed me down. Settled my mind, stomach, and heart.

Wattana Panich: Tucking Into a 50-Year-Old Bowl of Beef Noodle Soup in Bangkok

March 31, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Thailand BigBody Leave a Comment

I am declaring this now for all to hear…errr…read. From this day forward, I am only consuming beef broth that has been aged more than 50 years. Fleetwood Mac and I are both never going back again to day-old beef broth. We demand 50 years. Wattana Panich Beef Broth, located on Ekkamai Road in Bangkok, is to thank or curse for that.

Passed down for three generations, Wattana Panich has set the bar for what beef broth and beef noodle soup restaurants should aspire to be – simple, unapologetic, and filled to the brim with savory, herbaceous, salty flavor. This article definitely will not do it justice and will be one of the few where I attempt to let the pictures speak for themselves.

Custard Nakamura Bangkok: Katsu Sandos, Custard Buns, & Baked Goods Galore

March 30, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Thailand BigBody Leave a Comment

Situated off the bustling Sukhumvit Road (on Soi Sukhumvit 33/1) and easily missed next to due to its positioning next to one of the ubiquitous 7-11s of Asia, Custard Nakamura is a quaint, quirky Japanese bakery serving up a smorgasbord of sweet, savory, and traditional Japanese pastry (and sandwich) classics.

I was recommended Custard Nakamura by my Thailand eating guru (shoutout to her), who texted me a comprehensive list of must-go spots in Bangkok (feel free to message me if you’d like a list of the places). After having one of the worst starts to a morning I can remember in a while, I knew I needed some TLC – tender-loving custard.

Fran’s Brunch & Greens: a Bangkok Brunch on Steroids

March 19, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Thailand BigBody Leave a Comment

I think I may have found my absolute favorite brunch spot in all of Asia – Fran’s Brunch and Greens. Located a stone’s throw away from Lumphini Park (a spot that has become a daily staple for my walks) in the Northeast corner of Sathon, Fran’s is a brunch powerhouse serving up elevated takes on breakfast classics, creative and fresh Acai and fruit bowls, and open-faced sandwiches that will make your momma blush.

In my ten-plus years in Asia, I am declaring Bangkok as the “top dog” gastronomically for affordable, high-quality, Western and local cuisine. In this past month that I’ve given myself in Bangkok, the city has kicked through the doors of my “Cuisine Constitution” and torn down the walls of what I thought I knew about food in Asia.

Fran’s is the icing on the cake, the dot at the bottom of an exclamation point, the final stab by the orchestra to cap off the night (or start the day). Here’s why…

Quick & Easy Process to Get a 30-Day Vietnam E-Visa Explained

February 26, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Travel, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

As you may know by now, I’m heading to Vietnam in several days (mid-January, 2022). It has been nearly 3 years since I left Ho Chi Minh to embark on a journey to Europe for a six-month stint and move back to Hong Kong (my current base). I can’t wait to be back.

A part of me was stressed about obtaining a visa for Vietnam as I barely remembered doing so when I first moved there in July 2018. However, then I remembered that it was an absolute breeze and that’s why it wasn’t even registering in my memory.

If you are looking to apply for a 30-day Vietnam E-visa, I’ve got you covered. Below, I will walk through exactly what you can expect when applying, how long a 30-day Vietnam E-visa takes to be processed (and how long mine actually took), and additional considerations to keep in mind when traveling to Vietnam.

3:10 to Zuma: The Neverending, Free-Flow Brunch of the Century

January 12, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

If you are looking for the holy grail of all brunches in Hong Kong, look no further than ‘Zuma’s Weekend Brunch’.

This is the brunch mecca to go on pilgrimage to, where you cast the ring into Mount Doom to prevent Sauron from destroying brunches across Middle Earth, your final resting place as you kick up your feet and hum R.E.M.’s ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It’ while digging into free-flow champagnes and wines, neverending gyoza and sashimi bowls, and other Japanese izakaya-inspired fare.

… “And I feel fine.”

Shugetsu’s Tsukemen: My Number One Meal in All of Hong Kong

January 6, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

Shugetsu’s tsukemen would unquestionably be my last meal on earth if I was ever on death row. This might sound absurd but it isn’t a lie. Shugetu’s tsukemen was (and still is) my number one meal when I was training for a powerlifting competition – unfortunately, I kept eating like I was training for a powerlifting competition once I ended and I developed a crippling tsukemen addiction.

There have been worse things in life.

This Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a ramen hybrid consisting of a salty broth, 300 grams of al-dente elastic noodles, and fatty pork belly cubes is everything that is right in the world. Pair it with an ice-cold, crisp Suntory Premium draft beer, crunchy fried chicken cartilage “bar snacks”, and half-moon pork-filled gyoza pillows, and your last days won’t be for nothing.

What My Perfect Day in Hong Kong Looks Like

January 2, 2023February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I was inspired to write this post after declaring ‘Big Body’s Sacred Day’ on July 5th, 2021. I’m not sure why that date in particular but everything lined up that day and I did almost everything I could have wanted (almost) in Hong Kong in just one day. I repeated this day again on July 5th, 2022, and plan to do some sort of variation of this in 2023 (and beyond).

The beauty of Hong Kong is that you are a stone’s throw away from a challenging hike with a view, a hop skip, and a jump from a serene and secluded beach, and always within eyeshot of a cold beer, strong coffee, or bite to eat. That’s why days like ‘Big Body’s Sacred Day’ are possible in Hong Kong. While there are countless other restaurants, hikes, and things that I love in this city, I tried to remain true to exactly what I’ve done on both sacred days.

Here’s what my perfect day in Hong Kong would look like (and has looked like) should I have my druthers. Keep in mind that I am combining two of my sacred days (July 5th, 2021, and July 5th, 2022) so everything may not be achievable in just one day. Or maybe it is.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent an Apartment in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong?

December 29, 2022February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Simply put, the cost to rent an apartment in Mid-Levels, let alone Hong Kong, can vary drastically. While Hong Kong is consistently ranked (and often tied for first) as one of the most expensive cities to live in, there are some reasonable rent deals you can find – it just depends on what you are willing to compromise on (ex. Location, walk-up vs. lift, furnished vs. unfurnished).

While this was by no means my favorite apartment I have ever rented or lived in, it has felt the most like home. Hong Kong has always felt like home and is the city I am planning to continue to base myself. And for me, that’s the most important.

Dacha: Cabbage Rolls, Pelmeni, & Eastern European Home Comfort Cuisine

December 23, 2022February 19, 2025Asia, Destinations, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

Maybe it’s because I am constantly mistaken for Russian (and Bulgarian), or maybe it’s because I grew up eating a steady diet of Eastern European-inspired stews and other comfort foods, but this is exactly the type of fare that I revert to when I want to feel at home. It may also be because I drank about 5 liters of vodka with a Ukrainian babushka and Russian busboy on my 29th birthday at a restaurant in Vienna.

Cue Dacha, an Eastern European restaurant and bar, offering up a variety of traditional Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, Polish, and Romanian cuisines, such as mouthwatering pork-stuffed cabbage rolls (golubtsi), cheesy buttery khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread), spicy smoked kielbasa, and hearty half-moon shaped vareniki (dumplings). And, I can’t forget the Baltic herring with homemade bread to start things off.

The Best Rooftop Shisha Lounge in Hong Kong: Mono Lab

December 20, 2022February 19, 2025Asia, Coffee & Cafés, Destinations, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

I can’t lie. I’m a sucker for the occasional shisha (or as I grew up calling it, hookah). If my father is reading this, so be it. For someone who has significantly cut back on drinking, shisha has provided a fantastic sober, social alternative that is a semi-regular occasion (not THAT often though) with some of my best friends here in Hong Kong.

And, there is one place that I can thank that has been a major driver behind it – Mono Lab. In a city where rooftop bars, cafes, and shisha lounges are few and far between, Mono Lab reigns supreme. This is my go-to rooftop shisha lounge in Hong Kong.