Lifestyle Archives - Pale Ale Travel

Taipei vs. Hong Kong For Expats: Which City is Right For You?

January 4, 2025January 9, 2025Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Hong Kong and Taipei are two popular cities that emerge as top contenders for expats considering moving to Asia thanks to a mix of thriving professional opportunities, personal and social growth, and a plethora of other practical considerations (I’m looking at you low tax rates!).

Having lived in Taipei, Taiwan for over 3 years and Hong Kong for nearly 7 years (hint: I’m currently living in HK) both cities have been incredibly formative both professionally and personally for me, with each providing distinct and unique (and memorable) experiences, vibrant cultures, and unparalleled advantages that have ultimately made my life richer and more fulfilling.

However, they differ significantly in key areas such as cost of living, professional industries, lifestyle, and overall environment. And, in my humble opinion, they cater to two very different types of expats.

Below, I’ll break down the key factors you should consider when asking yourself if Hong Kong or Taipei is the best fit for you.

So, whether you’re drawn to Hong Kong’s solidified and storied reputation as a global financial hub or Taipei’s eclectic blend of modernity, tradition, and island charm, this article will help you evaluate critical aspects that may be most important to you.

So, without further ado – Hong Kong vs. Taipei for expats – which city is best for you, your career, and your family? Let’s find out.

Factors	Hong Kong	Taipei
Cost of Living	One of the most expensive cities in the world.	Affordable across the board, specifically housing and necessities.
Professional Opportunities	A leading global financial hub that’s home to high-demand sectors like banking, law, and insurance, with no cap on professional growth.	A foreign job market underpinned by English teaching and other jobs in education, with a growing tech and entrepreneur scene.
Quality of Life	A high-pressure and demanding city that comes with long hours but surrounding nature and no shortage of activities to mitigate.	A more balanced and relaxed existence where you can clock-in and clock-out to enjoy surrounding nature and cultural events.
Education	World-class competitive international curricula that can cost a pretty penny.	An ideal destination for families seeking Mandarin immersion along with high global standards.
Expat Communities	The most eclectic expat community in Asia (and a top global city).	A small but inclusive expat community that is primarily centered around Anglophones and native English speakers.

9 Picturesque Runs in Europe That Kept Me From Looking Like Grimace

December 30, 2024December 30, 2024Europe, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

This is not going to be a particularly targeted post. It’s somewhat of a hodgepodge collection of runs that I strapped on my ultra-wide New Balances while traveling in Europe for 3 months this past summer to avoid looking like Grimace.

This trip wouldn’t have been as memorable as it was without taking some time to stop and smell the grass (and pavement?) via a handful of scenic runs. Not only did these runs allow me to “burn some cals” before a night out, which inevitably involved slugging 12 ‘light’ European lagers, but they also helped me get to know the city (and country) I was staying in better.

If anything, I hope this post provides a launching point for all the runners (of all skill levels) who find themselves in Europe for their next adventure.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll end up in one (or more) of the cities on this list. In that case, you at least have one run in your back pocket to get out there and experience the area in a completely underrated way.

Here are 9 runs in Europe that not only kept me in shape during my 3 months in the Old Continent but emphatically made my trip the best one of my life and made me feel a part of the social fabric of each country.

It goes without saying BUT all of these scenic running routes also make for great walks too!

Pale Ale Travel Note: For easy scannability and reference, I’ve just grouped the runs by the country that they are in. I’ve also included my personal Strava maps for each run to give you an idea of what the exact route looked like. Finally, to keep things simple, all route lengths are provided for in kilometers.

What Tourists Need to Know About Poland’s Legal Drinking Age

December 27, 2024December 27, 2024Beer & Breweries, Europe, Poland BigBody Leave a Comment

During my three months in Poland, I may or may not have consumed enough alcohol to kill a bull elephant. The only comparable time in my life was when I spent 3 months in Japan and tossed back nama beerus (draft beers) with the best of them…nightly.

To be fair, it was somewhat of Poland’s doing, as it was home to some of the best beer and hard liquors I’ve ever had the pleasure of tossing back. So, a Poland bacchanalian was inevitable. The boozing prophecy had been written well before my brother uttered the words ‘Poland trip’ to me just 5 months prior.

The variety of beer, liquors, wines, and other spirits across Poland is a force to be reckoned with. From the countless innovative (and quirky) craft beer bars that lined the streets of most old towns, to regional smoked beers and ever-so-drinkable lagers, clean and crisp vodkas, and even plum brandies, if you can dream it, you can drink it in Poland.

Poland has garnered particular acclaim and attention (justly so) from tourists over the past decade, becoming a Central European hotspot for living the dolce vita. Frankly, after my 3 month “hot boy summer” in Poland, I still consider it one of the most underrated travel destinations in the world. It’s an absolute gem.

And what better way to experience this vibrant, resilient country (and culture) than by tossing back some local booze over a plate of pierogi, schabowy (schnitzel), steak tartare, or other delicious Polish staples?

To ensure that you don’t miss out on Poland’s highly revered and full-bodied drinking culture, as a tourist it’s important to cross your drinking t’s while dotting your i’s by familiarizing yourself with the legal drinking age in Poland and other laws and/or potential faux pas you should be mindful of.

So, whether you’re a university student making the pilgrimage for a debaucherous weekend, a couple on their honeymoon looking to elegantly sip fine European wines at a rooftop bar, or someone in between (like me), here is everything you need to know about Poland’s drinking age and important alcohol laws everyone should know.

Pale Ale Travel Note: Get your free Poland travel itineraries delivered right to your inbox when you subscribe to my newsletter!

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.

Is Hong Kong Expensive to Visit?

December 4, 2024January 7, 2025Asia, 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.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Hong Kong

November 18, 2024November 18, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

“I wish that I knew what I know now…” Hong Kong is my home. My best friends are here. My company is here. My family is here (my ‘Fahza’). It’s where I feel most at peace, most productive, and most secure. But it has taken quite a long time to even feel marginally like I have my sh!t together here. And I use that phrase loosely.

Moving back at the height of quarantine and lockdowns in 2020 (after 6 years away) wasn’t all peaches and cream for Allen Iverson and me. Coming back as a newly minted 30-year-old came with its own challenges, delusions, and realizations.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew before moving back to Hong Kong in my 30s with some favorite pictures of mine from these last 4 years sprinkled throughout. Granted, it was extremely formative coming to these realizations and having these reflections the hard way and I wouldn’t trade anything for it.

I think there’s something to be said about sometimes needing to touch the stove just to know for yourself that the burner is actually on, so I don’t wish I had known ‘them’ before moving to Hong Kong. I’m glad I touched the burner and my palm ended up like Harry’s from Home Alone after Kevin McCallister heated the doorknob to an estimated 700 degrees Fahrenheit – but I’m also thankful I didn’t take a blowtorch to my already disastrous hairline.

Now, these are my confessions (reflections) – cue Usher’s soothing, sensual voice to take you into things.

9 of the Best Hong Kong Hikes For Intrepid Explorers, Weekend Warriors, & First Timers

October 16, 2024November 18, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you but when it comes to hiking for this Big Body, I’m less of a Nirmal Purja and Tenzing Norgay, and much more of a Preston Blake. You know, that eccentric, pompous billionaire in the Adam Sandler classic Mr. Deeds, who freezes to death while climbing Mount Everest, sans the money, of course.

Roast Goose & Bowl: The Strikin’ Geese Take on the South China Athletic Association

May 27, 2024May 27, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

If you don’t have a South China Athletic Association (SCAA) membership, go get one right now. No, this isn’t like the American Club or Carlyle & Co which requires you to sell plasma or beg your bozo British boss for significantly more than your measly expected 3.5% raise just to afford a membership. And, you don’t have to forcefully mingle with people named ‘Tavis’, ‘Blaire’, and ‘Zac’ (‘‘Z-A-C’ does not spell Zack, what the eff is with all that?’’ – Big D & The Kids Table) while discussing Instagram follower counts, Bali beach club bottle service, and other “wannabe Hi-So expat drivel.”

The SCAA is the most affordable club membership in Hong Kong, starting at just HK$130 per month for ‘visiting members’ or HK$250 per year for ‘ordinary members’. Even better, a lifetime membership will only run you HK$3,000. So, if you’re planning to live more than 12 years, this is an absolute steal. And, your membership allows you to bring 3 people at any given time. Simply walk in, fill out a short form, and you’re now a full-fledged member, all in under 10 minutes.

You now have access to one of the most underrated sports complexes and organizations in Hong Kong.

If you’re not already jazzed up enough on your own personal driving range, billiards room, and of course 60-lane bowling alley (that’s just the beginning), you’re going to scream like Buddy the Elf when he thought the original Santa was making an appearance at the mall when you learn that the SCAA houses a dim sum and Cantonese restaurant, rowdy sports bar with outdoor seating, and one of the city’s best roast goose and fatty char siu (BBQ pork) haunts.

So, grab your crew, lay off the McDonald’s nuggets and McDoubles the night before, and head on over to the SCAA for a day of “goose and bowl”. I recently did, with my newly named bowling team (just a duo) – ‘The Strikin’ Geese’. And no, ‘The Strikin’ Geese’ are not underprivileged inner city waterfowl who come together to form a rag-tag group of underdog bowlers – however, I could see ‘Hardball’ being remade with an all-Anatidae cast (still with Keanu…obviously).

Is American Express Accepted in Hong Kong? Convenience, Tips, & Reality

May 21, 2024January 7, 2025Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

As someone whose first credit card was an American Express, it has sat comfortably at the forefront of the inside of my wallet ever since. The fact that over 99% of merchants in the United States accept Amex, along with the unparalleled travel perks (and points), stellar customer service, and exclusive access to lounges and other experiences definitely contributed to this as well.

However, after moving back to Hong Kong in 2020, I learned that one of the most recognizable credit card brands in the world actually might need to take a back seat in my wallet due to the lack of acceptance at restaurants, cafes, shops, and other establishments.

While American Express has enjoyed a presence in Hong Kong for several decades now, even offering dedicated personal, corporate, and branded Amex cards tailored to Hong Kong residents, I estimate that less than 50% of all merchants in Hong Kong accept American Express.

While most major mid-range and fine-dining restaurants, hotels, department stores, shopping malls, and bars in Hong Kong accept American Express, it still hasn’t achieved credit card ubiquity amongst businesses like Visa and Mastercard.

Below, I’ll provide a breakdown of the common spots that accept American Express in Hong Kong along with where it definitely is not accepted.

Croatia’s Legal Drinking Age as Explained by a Karlovačko-Loving Guy

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024Croatia, Europe, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Moving to Croatia for three months in the dead of winter was completely unexpected for this Big Body. I hadn’t thoroughly thought out my then year in Europe and was, of course, required to leave the Schengen Region after 90 days (this was before Croatia joined the Schengen Area in January 2023). Either way, in the middle of winter in Zagreb and Split, Croatia, one of the only things I could do was drink. And drink I did (Karlovačkos for the win).

From hole-in-the-wall pašticada (a popular braised beef dish) haunts where I’d inevitably get talked into shots of rakija with the bartender, to cozy Zagreb wine bars with the woman I was (then) dating, honey-infused craft beers with cevapis (an absolute must if you travel to Croatia), and shots of slivovitz with one of my best friends when he somehow found himself crashing on my couch, I was more than pleasantly surprised by Croatia’s drinking Rolodex and scene.

Note: Unfortunately, I’m not cool enough to pop champagne bottles on any of those yachts in the Adriatic but I’d be remiss not to mention that is another storied Croatian booze pastime.

With Croatia having become almost the de facto Balkan destination for travelers and a digital nomad’s dream (thanks to the introduction of the digital nomad residence permit launched in 2021), a question that might pop up if you’re planning on doing a gap year there, from a country like me (the U.S.) where the drinking age is still the dreaded ‘21’, or heading over with family, is ‘What is the legal drinking age in Croatia?’.

Here’s a bit about Croatia’s drinking age and culture and what I loved about my time living in Split, Croatia.

3 of the Best VPNs For Hong Kong to Enjoy Uncensored, Uninterrupted Internet Use

May 10, 2024May 15, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

Hong Kong is changing. For better or worse, there’s a palpable shift in Hong Kong’s political, social, and economic landscape that stands to carry significant repercussions (or benefits) for its residents – both local and foreign. One of the most pressing questions that seems to be echoed amongst both travelers and citizens of Hong Kong is, “At what point do I need to worry about internet censorship?”.

Well, I’d argue now – and that answer isn’t even fully driven by the changing political landscape. Virtual proxy networks, aka VPNs, aren’t just an invaluable tool for protecting yourself against unfettered government surveillance and censorship. They are also practical tools that can make everyday life much easier (and electronically safer).

Whether it’s accessing geo-blocked television shows on your favorite streaming service (the American Netflix catalog in Hong Kong), preventing hackers from intercepting sensitive financial data on poorly secured public networks (ex. cafe), using dedicated work servers while on business trips, or otherwise obfuscating your internet browsing activity, VPNs aren’t just an added value tool in today’s digital world, they are a necessity. I’m currently using one while I write this from a Starbucks in Wan Chai as I just wired some “dollhairs” to another account for my upcoming Europe trip.

Here are 3 of the best VPNs for Hong Kong so that you can enjoy uncensored, uninterrupted internet use (or watch whatever trash bag television show you live for) – all three of which I’ve personally used during my six-year-plus tenure in Hong Kong.

4 Simple Ways to Buy Ethereum in Hong Kong

April 30, 2024April 30, 2024Asia, Hong Kong, Travel, Travel Tips, Tricks, & Resources BigBody Leave a Comment

This is part two of an article that I was inspired to write thanks to a nice, gregarious Italian man who sits next to me at the coworking space where I spend most of my days. He was in desperate need of purchasing Bitcoin so that he could pay for a stream of Series A football. It gave me considerable pause as, after 10-plus years of dealing with and/or working in crypto, I still wasn’t even sure the easiest and most affordable way for him to purchase it.

While Bitcoin, like the Brady-era New England Patriots, dominates all others, Ethereum is the next “top dog” when it comes to total cryptocurrency market capitalization. And, like buying Bitcoin in Hong Kong, it is almost identical to the steps, wallets, and available platforms.

The two quickest and least painful ways to buy Ethereum in Hong Kong are by using a crypto ATM or creating an account with a cryptocurrency exchange like Binance and utilizing their peer-to-peer (P2P) portal.

Below, I’ll break down in simplified terms the four key ways to buy Ethereum in Hong Kong. So, whether you want to purchase your first bit of ETH to get started in crypto and simply hold, or you want to use ETH to transact and enter into the wild world of DeFi, or you are somewhere in between, I’ve got you covered.