Travel Archives - Page 3 of 5

Is Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto Worth It?

October 20, 2023November 8, 2023Asia, Japan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto (or the Kansai Region of Japan), then there’s about a 110% chance you’ve come across the traffic-cone colored, bright orange gates of the popular shrine ‘Fushimi Inari Taisha’. It’s a favorite amongst Instagram, TikTok, and other social media influencers, who especially love showing highly curated (and filtered) shots of them standing in front of a stretch of gates with no one in sight, leading you to believe that you’ll have the place all to yourself.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions that I think throws a lot of people off and leads to disappointment, with a non-zero sum walking away feeling as if Fushimi Inari wasn’t this magical gated portal to the otherworld and back. But is Fushimi Inari actually worth it and should you even bother making a trip if you’re traveling to or through Kyoto?

Yes? No? All the above (sung like Maino in the song ‘All the Above’ with T-Pain)? Here are my thoughts.

10 Pros and Cons of Living in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong

October 10, 2023November 25, 2023Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

When moving to Hong Kong, it can be difficult to know exactly what district or neighborhood will suit your lifestyle requirements before you even arrive. The city comprises countless districts, neighborhoods, and pockets, all of which boast their own benefits and drawbacks (and charm) – some you might not believe exist in the same city due to the stark contrast to one another.

Maybe you are more of a beach bum, looking to start your day off with Vitamin D and a morning surf, then Sai Kung might be your little slice of heaven. Or maybe you want a raucous, vibrant maze of both new and old Hong Kong (with fantastic street food), then Mongkok or Jordan might be right up your alley. Or maybe you’re in need of a quiet, residential neighborhood that is only a stone’s throw away from your office and the hustle and bustle of the city. Well, then Mid-Levels might be your place.

As someone who has lived in Mid-Levels for all six-plus years that I’ve existed in Hong Kong (I’m just a creature of habit), here are 10 pros and cons to paint a better picture of what you can expect should you decide to stop, drop, and open up shop in this surprisingly large area. Keep in mind that most of my observations are coming from someone who has lived in Mid-Levels Central.

36 Pros and Cons of Living in Hong Kong as an Expat

October 9, 2023January 10, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Analyzing the pros and cons of living in Hong Kong can be difficult before you even step foot in the city. Typically, my approach is a bit of a haphazard one where I just show up and hope that it works out. Luckily, that has worked out in almost every single city (and country) that I’ve lived in. It worked out so well in Hong Kong that it is somewhere I’ve called home for the last three years (and six-plus in total) – with no intention of leaving (at least for now).

This isn’t a symmetrical pros and cons of living in Hong Kong type of list, where I list a positive and then counter with a related negative. It’s strictly just a list of pros and cons that have come to the top of my dome, with several thoughts, anecdotes, and tips to accompany each. Each pro and con could be a blog post in itself but for the sake of brevity, I’ll keep it (relatively) digestible.

So, if you’re curious about what I love most about living in the aptly named Orient Pearl and what I’m not as enthusiastic about, then here are 36 pros and cons of living in Hong Kong as an expat.

How to Access ChatGPT in Hong Kong

October 4, 2023May 16, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody 2 Comments

This is a bit of a different article but it seems apropos given that OpenAI just announced the rollout of voice and image support for ChatGPT-4V, an iteration of the AI-powered large language model (LLM.) that has taken the tech world by storm in the last year. From deploying ChatGPT in personal and professional textual applications such as content creation, translation, and even conversational use, to programmatic tasks, data collection and analysis, and other core business operations, such as coding (albeit limited) and customer service support/chatbots, there’s not much that’s off-the-table when it comes to finding a use-case to meet your specific needs.

But for those in Hong Kong (and more than a handful of other countries which some may argue are under totalitarian control – other peoples’ words, not mine), even accessing this free AND paid service can be prohibitive and is not particularly intuitive. That’s why I’m here to break it down into easy-to-understand steps on how to access ChatGPT in Hong Kong (with visuals).

October 2023 Events That Should Be on Your Radar

October 2, 2023October 29, 2023Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I’m a few days late with this as I had a hectic end to the month with client work and then may or may not have found hope at the bottom of a mango cider or seven as I rang in 33. Thanks to a self-prescribed vacation until the 11th, today is the first day the mind, body, and soul have felt unencumbered, (temporarily) unshackled from the banalities of everyday life.

Now that I think of it, isn’t that what Halloween is for once you become an adult? A chance to suspend disbelief and untether from the reality of spreadsheets, water cooler pleasantries, and Tim from HR telling you about how he’s training for his first Hyrox competition.

With a heart full of pumpkin spice and woe, here are some hand-picked events, festivals, restaurants, and things to do this October 2023.

Should You Stay at the Bishop Lei International House?

September 16, 2023May 16, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

If you read any of my other posts on Pale Ale Travel then you know for the first 6 months of 2023, I was located between Saigon, Bangkok, and Osaka (the latter being my new favorite city on earth). Prior to leaving, my apartment lease ended so coming back and getting resituated was a bit of an arduous and overwhelming process.

However, providing refuge in the quest for my reclamation of stability in Hong Kong was the Bishop Lei International House. Located at 4 Robinson Road, in the prestigious Mid-Levels, Bishop Lei is a convenient, affordable, 3-star hotel that is perfect for budget travelers and those wanting to immerse themselves a stone’s throw away from all the action of Hong Kong Island.

Having lived in Hong Kong for six-plus years, all of it on Robinson Road (until recently), I’ve inevitably stayed at the Bishop Lei more than a handful of times – with my most recent stint clocking in at just under one month. While it definitely is not the sexiest or most luxurious hotel by any stretch of the imagination, Bishop Lei does hold its own when it comes to hospitality, amenities (outdoor pool, restaurant, and exercise room), and convenience (I can’t state this enough).

Here’s a little bit about my most recent stay in the Bishop Lei International House and what I particularly enjoyed (and what I didn’t).

P.S. If you couldn’t already tell, the feature image of Hong Kong’s skyline was taken from my room at Bishop Lei.

What’s New in Hong Kong: September 2023 Events You Should Check Out

August 31, 2023September 15, 2023Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

September is hands down my favorite month of the year. Maybe it’s because I’m a Libra and both my old man and I were born in September. Maybe it’s because I have fond memories of peacocking around my home state in my best flannel while sipping apple cider. Or maybe it’s because the killer Hong Kong heat and humidity begin gradually abating (I’m kidding, that’s not until November).

Regardless, I love this month and you should too. Don’t “wake me up when September ends,” because there’s a lot of life to be lived this fall.

Here are some hand-picked events, festivals, restaurants, and spots to check out this September 2023 in Hong Kong.

13 Tips to Choose the Right Gym For You in Hong Kong

August 13, 2023August 13, 2023Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I’m starting to lean into a bit more of the Hong Kong lifestyle content. After all, I’m a Hong Kong resident and have been based here for a combined six-plus years. Life. Check. Style. A work in progress. One particular issue that has plagued me and countless others is finding a gym that matches their fitness needs and budgets in this beleaguered city.

During these tempestuous, formative, and electrifying years, I’ve been a member of three gyms – two of which have gone under and left me out of a sizable amount of Hamiltons (It’s all about the Hamiltons, baby). I’m not angry. Just plotting my long-term revenge like Chan-wook Park in Oldboy. Your day will come, Goji management. Your day will come.

I’d like to quote the sales associate from Goji (who was just a pawn in a chess game bigger than himself), the gym where I paid a lump sum upfront and it went under 6 months later, “Sorry, I can’t guarantee your money back because I haven’t even been paid for three months.” Don’t let this be you.

Frankly, after spending a considerable amount of time working on my laptop in the waiting area of my current gym (referred to as “my gym” from here on out) and listening to the incessant sales pitches (and experiencing them myself) made by associates to prospective members – this landscape is volatile and predatory. There’s a lot of dishonesty at play, all in the name of a quick buck.

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

June 3, 2023May 15, 2024Asia, 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).

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

February 26, 2023February 26, 2023Asia, 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.

What My Perfect Day in Hong Kong Looks Like

January 2, 2023May 15, 2024Asia, 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, 2022December 29, 2022Asia, 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.