Asia is one of my favourite places to flashpack and there are certain areas like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that are ridiculously good value for money. Asia is also the continent on which I’ve had the most surreal experiences of my life and I’m finally ready to share some of the crazy and unbelievable happenings that occurred when I meandered off the beaten track.
If you are looking for cheap travel Vietnam is one of your best options-but be careful what you eat! The really do eat dog here and if anyone offers you con chó be aware that you are actually eating Fido. I was nearly caught out at a market as someone offered me a delicious looking stew with “fragrant meat”. Thankfully my buddy was well versed in the local lingo and hastily pointed out to me that fragrant meat was dog, and no matter how euphemistically it was put I wasn’t going to try it.
Macau is one of the most electrifying places in the world and the amount of casinos and entertainment venues rivals Vegas. The Venetian is the islands biggest casino and inspired by my wins at www.iphonecasino.com.au I thought would try my luck. At the roulette table I frantically calculated how broke I would be if I didn’t land Red 16 when a man who looked like he couldn’t afford the price of a drink confidently placed his bet. The man not only won , when he cashed out I saw the biggest money clip in the world come out his baggy pants, and it turns out he is one of the world’s top professional gamblers.
I had been warned about the bathrooms in China but I thought I would be fine, I’m a guy and it’s pretty easy to do what needs to be done standing up. What I hadn’t counted on was personal space and the eye contact factor. It seems that it’s totally acceptable for someone to stare at you whilst you go about your business-regardless what that may be, and with no doors I had some pretty strange moments that I won’t forget in a hurry.
Asia is probably the most diverse and exciting lands I have visited and the many cultures ensure that you too will enjoy some incredibly surreal experiences on your journey, but it will be worthwhile.