Asia Archives - Page 10 of 12

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

January 6, 2023January 12, 2023Asia, 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, 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.

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

December 23, 2022December 23, 2022Asia, 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, 2022December 20, 2022Asia, Coffee & Cafés, 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.

Ink Seafood Bar: Craft Beer, Chips & Guac, & One Hell of a View

December 19, 2022January 5, 2023Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

Find me a better view of Victoria Harbour and the always regal Hong Kong Island skyline, and I’ll show you a liar. At least once a week, I break into an incoherent rant to whoever has unfortunately found themselves within earshot about how there is a disappointing lack of restaurants, cafes, and bars with views of either the Hong Kong or Kowloon cityscape.

But there is one saving grace that keeps me sane (moderately sane). A place that does it all. A Power Rangers Megazord humanoid machine of the food and beverage industry with a view – Ink Seafood Bar. This is my go-to post-work safe haven (and Sunday-hangover haunt) to soak in indisputably the best skyline in the world over an IPA (and espressos), chips and guac, and fish and chips.

Coworking at The Hive Sheung Wan: What I Liked, Loved, & Didn’t Care For

December 14, 2022December 14, 2022Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

As emphasized in my guide to laptop-friendly cafes in Hong Kong, I truly believe anyone who wants to buckle down with work and do so in the most economical way (in Hong Kong) should explore a coworking space. There are more coworking spaces in Hong Kong than you can shake a stick at, they are reasonably priced, great ways to meet others working non-traditionally in a finance-driven city, and (most) offer flexible contracts and working arrangements (ex. Hot desks, dedicated desks, offices, and more).

11 Laptop-Friendly Cafes to Work From in Hong Kong

December 12, 2022July 17, 2024Asia, Coffee & Cafés, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

I wouldn’t call Hong Kong the most laptop-friendly or “digital nomad” friendly city that I’ve ever lived in – mainly due to coffee and food prices which can add up quickly over an extended stay. However, I would say that there is no shortage of options when it comes to posting up at a sound workspace, with strong coffee, and other like-minded individuals.

I would preface that if you are truly looking for a dedicated workspace that is the most economical of all options (and usually comes with free coffee), I would recommend exploring one of Hong Kong’s many coworking spaces. I’ve found that these are typically the best bang-for-your-buck laptop-friendly cafes and coffee shops to truly buckle down with work.

My Search For the Best Avocado Toast in Hong Kong

December 1, 2022December 1, 2022Asia, Food, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

Well, it’s been a while. This one has been in the pipeline since I ventured back to Asia and Hong Kong in December 2020. But I’m back in full force and coming in hot with a completely arbitrary declaration of the best avocado toast in Hong Kong.

The Complete Guide to Craft Beer in Saigon

July 27, 2020December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody 5 Comments

Strap in. In this guide we are talking about all things craft beer in Saigon. Craft beer culture in Saigon is booming. No one will ever go thirsty here. I guarantee it. From a Belgian brewery serving up wheat beers in a 1.5 liter drum, to a slick gastropub with more than 100 craft beers to choose from, all the way to a popular craft beer haunt on the infamous Bui Vien Street, consider this your ultimate guide to craft beer in Saigon!

I consumed far more beer than I’m proud to admit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (although I guess I just admitted it), so that you know where to go next time you are fiending for an IPA, sour, lager, or all of the above.

Delay no more! Below is a list of my favorite bars and breweries for craft beer in Saigon.

9 of the Best Rooftop Bars in Saigon

July 6, 2020December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Saigon, Vietnam is a rooftop bar lover’s dream. Nothing quite beats throwing back a few cocktails while overlooking a city that never sleeps. As you may know from checking out my blog, I’m a big fan of “the booze.” So, during my year-plus living in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City), I made it my goal to find the best rooftop bars in Saigon and see exactly what its nightlife truly has to offer.

I’ve compiled a list of 9 of my favorite rooftop bars in Saigon, Vietnam, so that you aren’t left wondering where to go the next time you want to hit the town and have a few drinks with a view.

Guide to the Best Burger in Saigon

June 29, 2020December 1, 2022Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Meat, meat, meat. If you’ve read any of my other blog posts, you’ll know that Big Body is a BIG fan of meat. Whether it American BBQ, Japanese izakayas, or Vietnamese goat curry, I’m a big fan of a good hunk of beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and most anything else.

One of my go-to meals anywhere in the world is a burger, so I spent a healthy portion of my time in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) searching for the best burger(s). And, I think I found them.

Below is a compiled list of my definitive best burgers in all of Saigon.