Asia Archives - Pale Ale Travel

A Beginner’s Guide: How to Buy Bitcoin in Hong Kong

March 12, 2024March 12, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I was inspired to write this article thanks to a guy I sit next to at my coworking space. He’s a smart, capable guy in his mid-40s and came to me one day mentioning that he needed to figure out how to buy Bitcoin so that he could pay for a streaming service to watch one of his favorite football (soccer) teams. He knew that my work involved Bitcoin and the crypto space and asked what the quickest and easiest way to buy Bitcoin in Hong Kong was.

Honestly, I sat there for several minutes unsure of how to answer his question and provide him with the quickest, easiest way to get started. For those who have been transacting with and stacking Bitcoin for the last several years (or more), easily purchasing Bitcoin (or knowing where to buy it) may be second nature.

But that’s also not the reality for the majority of the Bitcoin retail landscape. Buying Bitcoin in Hong Kong isn’t as intuitive or simple as going to a standard HSBC ATM to “withdraw” it and go on your merry way. However, there are more than a handful of ways to buy Bitcoin in Hong Kong and I’m going to break them down for you in simplified terms.

4 of the Best Running Routes in Osaka to Get Your Miles in

February 21, 2024February 22, 2024Asia, Japan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

You might not know this based on my name, ‘Big Body’, however, Big Body has always been a runner at heart. It started back in my sophomore year of high school when I was nicknamed ‘Taco’, thanks to a love for 89-cent tacos from Taco Bell and a portly frame. I think based on my bodacious thighs and round face, “Double Stuffed Burrito” may have been a more fitting nickname. Several soccer teammates of mine started a running club so that I could slim up and ask my high school crush to semi-formal.

The running club’s name? G.T.S. – Get. Taco. Sexy. We would run 5 km, two to three times per week, with the membership swelling from just several of us to over 10 runners at our peak. It worked and I stuffed my slightly less plump frame into an off-the-rack suit from Men’s Wearhouse to boogie the night away with my Catholic school queen. Since then, I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with running, logging anywhere from 0 to 2500 kilometers per year (at one point, going two years without any movement) – after which I resembled the love child of a Bulgarian powerlifter and John Candy.

I moved to Osaka at the height of my runner’s journey and was eager to see what the city had to offer. From my first night run around Osaka Castle to the interweaving, scenic paths along Osaka’s riverside, lush and manicured parks, and historic, vibrant temple runs, I was hooked. Osaka’s sheer number of accessible running routes (in and around the city), geared towards novices, seasoned runners, and everyone in between lays an inclusive foundation for one of the best running communities I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.

This isn’t an article that lays out the route down to every turn and marker. However, I’ll provide as much information as possible (including my Strava maps). Here are four of the best runs in Osaka that were a part of my daily routine while living in ‘Japan’s Kitchen’.

Is There Uber in Japan? What You Need to Know About Ride-Sharing in Japan [2024]

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024Asia, Japan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Japan is a country of unparalleled convenience and affordability when it comes to travel. During my three months living in Japan, I can’t say there was a single moment when I panicked about trying to make my way across the city (I was based in Osaka) or travel from one city to another.

You’ll find bullet trains that can get you from one side of the country to the other in less than 12 hours (ex. You can do the 1600 km journey from Osaka to Sapporo in half a day), reliable and prompt city buses and shuttles that cover most major attractions and neighborhoods, local subway lines that weave through cities and towns that make my home state in the U.S. look like it’s living in the 1700s, and everything in between. In Japan, you’d be hard-pressed to find yourself without transportation options.

However, it’s always important to have a fallback, in case all else fails or public transportation is closed. Or if you have more luggage than is feasibly possible to transport without having a nervous breakdown. In most countries, I keep Uber in my back pocket as a failsafe. But it’s only available in just over 70 countries. What about Japan? Is there Uber in Japan? What about other ride-hailing apps?

Yes, there is Uber in Japan and it is generally an effective method of transportation. However, there are regulatory limits to Uber and its existence in Japan. Furthermore, it’s considerably more expensive than public transportation, and in my humble opinion, only worth using in a select few situations – as Japan’s public transportation network is one of the most affordable and efficient in the world.

Do I Need a VPN in Hong Kong? Advice From an Average Guy “on the Ground” & on the Web

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

Having undergone extreme political turmoil and censorship in the past decade, a common question I receive from travelers and expats moving to Hong Kong is, “Do I need a VPN in Hong Kong to access Google and other specific websites?”

While VPNs may seem like “overkill” and a tool “only for those engaged in seditious or unlawful activities,” that’s far from their complete purpose or reality. There are countless reasons why you might consider using a VPN not only in Hong Kong but anywhere in the world.

Hint hint: you may want to access your favorite streaming service that isn’t available or a specific catalog of shows or movies that is only available in your home country. And that television show may or may not be ‘Love Island’.

8 Date Ideas in Saigon to Ignite the Vietnam Romance Vibes

January 7, 2024January 8, 2024Asia, Travel, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

I don’t think I’ve ever dated as proactively as I did when I moved to Saigon, as I was newly single and hot off a breakup that had me feeling like that one dude with mascara when they wouldn’t stop picking on Britney Spears. Leave Britney alone. That’s not because I’m some total casanova who the ladies swoon for and the men want to be. Au contraire. It was just time to put myself out there in an attempt to mend my (then) broken heart.

It worked. Kind of. I’m not crying. I just have something in my eye and there’s a lot of dust in the air.

Here are 8 certified date ideas in Saigon to spice up your next date night in Vietnam and ensure that you make the most of this vibrant, hectic, and enchanting city.

What is the Legal Drinking Age in Cambodia? [2024]

January 3, 2024January 3, 2024Cambodia, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I had a bit of a whirlwind few weeks in Cambodia when I was living in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and was required to make semi-regular visa trips to Phnom Penh (and sometimes just the Cambodian border) to apply for a new visa and re-enter. Sometimes, I’d make a several-week trip out of it and post up in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, for relaxation, gluttony, and cultural exploration.

What I found was a country with a surprisingly cosmopolitan alcohol and gastronomic landscape, boasting everything from countless live music and billiards bars blasting classic rock hits to throwback colonial lounges and bustling rooftop bars to Shanghainese speakeasies and international craft beer haunts. And that’s just the beginning. Cambodian casinos (well…they are actually owned by the Chinese), beach bars, and cigar bars are also at your fingertips.

As a popular destination for newly minted high school graduates on gap years, backpackers of all ages and creeds, university students from surrounding Asian countries, and other thrill seekers who enjoy a pint or two (or a bucket), a common question that pops up is “What is the legal drinking age in Cambodia?”

Here’s everything you need to know about the legal drinking age in Cambodia, along with other important alcohol laws in Cambodia.

21 Date Ideas in Hong Kong to Avoid Becoming “The Boring Couple”

December 21, 2023April 22, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I’ve been there before. You mindlessly scroll Reddit on your phone next to one another in bed, being intimate hasn’t been on the table since your mother-in-law moved in “just for a few weeks,” you look over at your partner and see them doing the same. Something snaps and you look at them, “Babe, have we become ‘the boring couple?”

“We’re not boring, everyone’s like this.” “Do you remember when we went whitewater rafting in West Virginia? Or snorkeling in The Maldives?” You smirk, “Or the time we did…on top of…while there were people nearby…”. You raise your eyebrows and give them a playful nudge. “This weekend, what say you and I get out and try something different?” Your partner’s eyes widen as they abruptly sit up in bed and begin to visibly shake with excitement.

“How about we ask ‘so and so’ and get a few drinks before?” “I said ‘try something different’ not ‘try someone different’.” “Oh. Alright. Then l know just the list of date ideas to choose from.”

Without further ado, here are 21 certified, tested, fun date ideas in Hong Kong for couples that want to avoid being referred to as “The Boring Couple” and reclaim a bit of spontaneity (without destroying your marriage) – or who just want to get away from their in-laws.

What You Need to Know About Japan’s Legal Drinking Age

December 13, 2023February 22, 2024Asia, Japan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

During my three months based in Osaka, Japan, I drank a lot of alcohol. No, really. I drank a lot. And that is coming from an existence that already sees a non-zero sum of alcohol consumed somewhat regularly. I attribute this increased consumption to the fact that Japanese dining is complemented perfectly with an ice-cold draft beer (nama beeru) or Chuhai (shochu highball), warm or cold sake, or even a dry red or slightly sweet white wine (the ultimate pairing with sushi).

Japan’s drinking culture is unlike anywhere else in the world – for better or worse. It’s not just the varieties of quality alcohol that you can find in Japan, it’s the vibrancy and depth of the venues to drink it at.

From drinking casual beers and Chuhais while sitting under a bridge along the Yodogawa River (one of my personal favorite memories) to raucous, brash, crowded nightclubs in Osaka and Tokyo, all the way to back alley izakayas and yakitori joints, high-end Japanese whiskey bars, and assorted “nomihoudai” (all you can drink) bars scattered across the country (and everything in between), Japan has it all when it comes to drinking culture, nightlife, and alcohol. If you want a draft beer at Yoshinoya, one of Japan’s most popular gyudon fast food restaurants, you can imbibe as well.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on one of the most robust and unique drinking (and dining) cultures in the world, you might be asking yourself, “What is the legal drinking age in Japan?”

Read on to find out how old you need to be to legally drink alcohol in Japan along with other important Japanese alcohol laws to know.

8 Christmas Date Ideas in Hong Kong to Unlock Your Own Winter Rom-Com

December 9, 2023April 2, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

‘Tis the season for requited love. Or unrequited love. Or that unspoken “group love” that your parents partake in every year in their late 60s when they go down to Jamaica for ‘Hedonism 47’ with ‘Aunt Sally’ and ‘Uncle Jim’ – who you only found out when you turned 18 weren’t related by blood. Whatever the case, love, tinsel, gingerbread cookies, and your local middle school’s rendition of ‘The Nutcracker’ are in the air – and it’s time to celebrate.

I have to be honest with you. Up until several years ago when I moved back to Hong Kong, Christmas was one of my least favorite holidays. Something about the shove-it-down-your-throat consumer and brand tribalism, needing to shovel my car out of several feet of snow regularly, and the fact that I literally could (still can’t) never figure out who the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ was in the Nutcracker until post-intermission, all were major factors that fueled this “bah humbug” mentality.

Now, I can’t get enough of it. Not because of the LED flatscreen televisions that sync with your frontal lobe and can be purchased via Amazon with a single click of a button, or the catchy Christmas jingles (found in every major Hong Kong mall) that bury themselves deep into your brain to the point where you end up in a content, infantile stupor like Danny Devito (aka ‘Martini’) in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, or Hong Kong’s weather finally being palatable and not requiring you to take three showers every day.

The Legal Drinking Age in Taiwan Explained

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023Taiwan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Consistently named as one of the best places to live for expats and one of the most underrated travel destinations, Taiwan is a vibrant, convenient, culturally rich, and downright fun island that should definitely be on your radar. Contributing to its unique eclectic soul and draw is a burgeoning (and now thriving) alcohol and nightlife scene that is not only affordable but domestically and internationally driven.

You’ll find everything from quirky craft beer and whiskey bars nestled in back alleys of popular university areas to bass-thumping nightclubs and upscale rooftop lounges, all the way to lively stir-fry restaurants (rechao – 熱炒) with dedicated ‘beer girls’, all-you-can-drink whiskey-green tea karaoke lounges, LGBTQ+ friendly bars (in Ximending), and British pubs for weekly quizzes, pool leagues, and more.

I first took a dawgz trip to Taiwan when I was 21 years old (while living in Hong Kong) and wasn’t sure of what the alcohol restrictions were or if I should even worry at all. It is still one of the most memorable (from what I can remember) trips of my life. I then moved to Taiwan for three-plus years in 2015. Three formative years – rife with love, bian dangs (Taiwanese homestyle food on the go), post-work night market strolls, and of course, booze (of all types, brands, and sizes).

If you’re traveling (or considering moving) to Taiwan and don’t want to miss out on any of it, you may be wondering, “What is the legal drinking age?”

Below, I’ll dive into Taiwan’s legal drinking age along with important drinking laws and tips that you should know before traveling to the island known as ‘Formosa’ (Taiwan’s main island).

What You Need to Know About the Legal Drinking Age in Thailand

December 3, 2023December 3, 2023Asia, Thailand, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Thailand isn’t just renowned as a cultural, spiritual, and gastronomical epicenter of Asia, it’s also one of the premier go-to drinking and nightlife destinations for every type of libation enthusiast out there. Trust me, I’ve tested this out far more than the human body should theoretically be able to handle.

From raucous backpacker streets with free-flowing beer towers (and funky balloons) to sophisticated rooftop bars and cocktail lounges of world-class five-star hotels, to the bustling, salacious walking streets found across every corner of the country, smokey convivial BBQ beer gardens, and creative high-ABV craft beer bars and breweries, “of age” drinkers can pick whatever type of poison tickles their fancy in the ‘Land of Smiles’.

But what exactly is the legal drinking age in Thailand?

While you might think that the drinking age is similar to neighboring Asian countries, you might just be surprised to find that Thailand’s drinking age differs significantly. Read on to find out more about important alcohol laws in Thailand so that you don’t end up on the next season of ‘Locked Up Abroad’.

What’s the Legal Drinking Age in Vietnam? (2024)

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023Asia, Travel, Vietnam BigBody 2 Comments

If you’re traveling to Vietnam, you may be asking yourself, “What’s the legal drinking age in Vietnam?” Maybe you heard how Vietnam is the top country in Asia for beer consumption (fact) and want a taste for yourself. Maybe you heard about the country’s burgeoning craft beer scene to provide depth to an already formidable domestic beer landscape. Or, maybe you just want to purchase a few local brews from your nearest convenience store and drink them on the street without any hassle.

The very first step towards accomplishing all of that (and then some) is understanding Vietnam’s drinking laws.

Having lived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for over one year (with regular month-long stints since), I can emphatically state that this is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to a thriving and communal beer culture, both classy and hectic nightlife, and boozy brunches and other alcohol-related activities (ex. Ax throwing with craft beers).

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about drinking alcohol in Vietnam.