Lately, it would seem, I’ve been into lists. Last week I divulged 7 things that you probably shouldn’t know about me. This week, I figured I would share 9 things that one should know before travelling to Asia.
I’ve lived in Asia for nearly two years now. I knew little about the region before coming here, so some things I saw in Hong Kong or elsewhere in the region really shocked me or left me scratching my head. So without any further ado, and in no particular order, here are the 9 things you should know about Asia before you get here.
1. The major cities in Asia are very densely populated, so if you don’t like/ aren’t used to crowds, you better get over it. There are tons of people EVERYWHERE. ALL THE TIME. Hong Kong, in particular, is a fast-paced city, so these zillions of people have places to go. So if you are dawdling/loitering in a public area, you better move and get out the way before you get steamrolled!
2. Many of the major cities in the region are VERY polluted. Don’t believe me? The World Bank did a study in 2007 and found that 19 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in Asia. If you have respiratory issues you will probably have a hard time here. My first week in Hong Kong, I had a terrible sore throat that I thought was due to a cold or flu. I was told that it was because of the pollution in the air. Yikes. Many many days in Hong Kong are hazy and grey, not because of cloud cover, but because of the pollution from factories that has blown down here from mainland China.
3. Labour is cheap. You probably knew this already. Why do you think your favourite clothing brands have their big manufacturing plants in Asia? Why are all of your housewares made in China? But you are not a huge company like Nike. So what does cheap labour mean for the “little guy”? Well, everybody in Hong Kong has a cleaning lady. You don’t need to be rich to have one. I am FAR from rich, but I have one(though they are referred to as “helpers” in Hong Kong) that comes to to tidy at my place once a week. 90% of my friends do as well. People here have nannies and drivers. It is normal. Back home, only rich people have these things. It took a while to get used to the idea.
4. They use bamboo for scaffolding. It is apparently pretty strong and flexible. Don’t know what I mean? Here’s a few pics:
6. Scared of critters? Get over it. The roaches are HUGE here. Actually, I haven’t taken my own advice. I am still afraid of the huge roaches here. When it is humid and damp outside there are tons of them. The species that they have here is the “American cockroach” (don’t click the link if you’re squeamish!), which is bizarre as this is Asia. Even weirder, I’ve never seen an Asian species cockroach here. The things that make you go “hmm”…
7. If you are different and travelling in rural part of Asia, be prepared to get stared at. This really goes for many rural areas in the world. But if you are a person of a darker hue like myself, or fair, or blonde, or red-headed, be prepared to get a LOT of attention. In Cambodia and Thailand people shouted out Obama. In Korea and China, people have touched me or pulled my hair without asking. I think it’s hilarious, but some people do not.
8. You will get fat here if you’re not careful. Food in Asia is goooood. And greasy. And fattening. And filled with MSG and preservatives. I don’t really fancy Chinese but am a sucker for Thai and Japanese and Korean barbecue. I have put on weight without paying attention. Watch your calories (if you care). Eat in moderation to avoid blocked arteries and the like.
9. Don’t come during rainy/typhoon/monsoon season. I think that’s pretty self-explanatory. Different countries in the region have different times when they have icky weather. Having lived through a couple of Typhoon 8s in Hong Kong, and having narrowly escaped the Super Typhoon Megi in the Philippines when I was there in October of 2010, I offer these words of wisdom: Don’t do it!
83 Comments
oh wow. this post was right on time. i just accepted a job in asia. i hate smoke, pollution and bugs!! oh no! thanks for the heads up!
@single Pap- No problem!!! Glad I could be of service 🙂
Hey girl! I love posts like these! So interesting and since I've never been to asia, it's great future travel advice. Based on your points, I'm not sure I could ever live over there. I have a hard enough time with all the people and pollution in Paris, which I am sure is nothing compared to Hong Kong.
Thanks for the tidbits of info…très intéressant!!
#2 and #3 are the same in Chile! And #5 has only begun to change in the past 5 years I'd say. #7 is also similar in Chile though not to the same extent. Only once did someone come up and touch my hair. It was weird. I was kind of creeped out by it.
Great post. Just stumbled upon your blog, and as frequent traveler myself I couldn't agree more.
I would add (and I find this to apply everywhere in the East) that lines, when it some to queuing, isn't common. You really just have to push to the front to get what you need.
I laughed at a friend who said she stood in a place for an hour until she learned she needed to push her way to the front.
I want to go to Asia at least once just to see it and experience the different culture, but I'm afraid all of these cons will make me miserable while I'm there… Oh well, I'm sure it's still worth it!
hey great blog… I am really surprised by the food one… I've always thought Asian food was the healthiest cuisine out there… Do you mean the food in the restaurants?
Thanks so much for the heads up. When in Japan I experienced the "looks" and the wanting to take pics with me like I was a celebrity. I found it amusing and in no way offensive. I also experienced the cigarette in every guy's mouth. Not so much women. What boggled my mind though was the apparent lack of cigarette butts. They were no where to be found. I plan on visiting S. Korea sometime this year and am wondering what the atmospere is there.
Good tips! About those roaches….hopefully you stayed in accommodations that were bug-free?
@Crystal- I totally understand! I love the travel opportunities and learning about the culture but I know that I couldn't live out here long-term for the reasons I mentioned!
@Mamacita- Wow, I had no idea that Santiago was polluted! Is it an industrial city? When I think of Chile, I always think of peaceful and pristine vineyards… And re: #7, it's so funny that something that is normal to you (i.e. blonde hair or black skin) can be so totally foreign to someone else!
@Rene- Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I agree about the pushing thing! Soooo many time people have cut the queue in front of me… Luckily, I am very "vocal".. LOL
@Jennie- Please visit Asia! It's a great place and there are SOOOO many cool things to see. I didn't want to make the post seem like a rant, but I just wanted to present some things that people should consider, especially if they are coming to live here. But honestly, all the beautiful temples and beaches more than make up for some of the inconveniences… 🙂
@gazelledusahara- Cool user name! Thanks for reading! You know, I was totally under the impression before coming here that Chinese/Asian food was super healthy as well… When you go out to eat there are TONS of vegetable dishes but they are all fried or cooked/steamed in a ridiculous amount of oil, butter, and salt!!
@Lei- No worries!! I really liked Seoul, SK, I went last October for a week. I found the city to be VERY clean, and people are super nice even though the majority don't speak English. The food was FANTASTIC as well!
@BlackGirl- Thanks! The roaches (fortunately) mostly live outside. It's rare to see them inside, actually, but every once in a while you'll see one (usually dead) in a building somewhere. Especially in the summer we have to be pretty vigilant about keeping the windows and doors closed because they will fly right in!! I've only had one baby roach in my flat, thank goodness, I would have expected more since I live on the 1st floor!
Going to India was very eye opening for me. I got stared at A LOT. I didn't have anyone touch me (except little kids who harassed me all the time for money).
I was really overwhelmed with how many people were there and was so relieved when I landed in unpopulated Australia.
I really want to go vietnam and cambodia – I am under the impression that those cuisines are healthier? True? Not true?
I just came from a trip to Indonesia and everything you said is true. The traffic is a nightmare and Jakarta was ridiculously populated.
The countryside was green and lush.
I was referred to as Michelle and Obama here as well. Let's not even talk about the number of pictures I took with "fans!" LOL.
As I'm red-headed, don't like smoke, roaches or sore throats, I might have to pass on Asia for a while. You're certainly brave to have lived there two years!
I have given thought to moving to Hong Kong. This gives me a little pause. Especially the cockroaches and pollution. My colleague in HK always talks about the huge critters he has–I thought it was him. LOL
@Deidre- Never been to India, but Liebling has been with his red-headed sister. He said that people followed his sister around ALL THE TIME as they were enthralled by her hair and freckles and that they had to pretend they were husband and wife and link arms (because when people thought she was single she got groped/fondled on a few occasions). Yikes!
@D.- I have heard about the horrendous traffic in Jakarta! I think that's one of worse places in Asia for congestion. Funny about the Obama thing, eh? My picture is scattered throughout Asia by now… So many requests :-)…
@Mil- I've really enjoyed my experience here, but I couldn't live here long term, because these minor annoyances would soon become major. There are, however, expats who loooooove it here, so maybe you could learn to love it after visiting? 😉
@Monica- Hong Kong is a cool place- just not my idea of utopia. The bugs are gross but luckily you mostly see them outside. I guess you do get used to them after a while, but I have a roach phobia so I can't handle it! As for the pollution, I get headaches and sore throats from it, but the worse thing about it is that the sky is always grey. Blue sky days are really rare, and I am a sun-lover so that makes me really sad!
"I found the city to be VERY clean, and people are super nice even though the majority don't speak English. The food was FANTASTIC as well!"
Thanks for that! I was a little worried how I would be perceived over there. I have friends of friends over there that I would be with but was a little worried I might get stared at in a totally opposite way of Japan.
Also, I just re-read this post and I don't read it as "hating," at all. I think it's simply observational!
@Lei- no worries!! I found it fun being a celebrity lol. I imagine that in Japan it would be the same!
@Mamacita- Thanks for that!! I was afraid that someone from the Asian tourism board would come after me lol!
I have been to Asia so many times and have yet to see a roach thank goodness. They are even more giant than in the States? NO THANK YOU!
@Andi- you lucky lucky girl!! But sorry to burst your bubble- you will see a bunch FOR SURE when you come to visit your bro in HK… Especially if you come during the hot, sticky season…. ICK!
Really though? No roaches in China or India?!? How did you manage?!
Fun post! I lived in Japan for 2 1/2 years and can verify all of your points. Number 7 was the hardest for me to get used to, as a strawberry blond I attracted lots of attention, of all kinds. Painful at first because I had been a very self-conscious person up till then, but I soon got over it, so that’s positive! 🙂
Great post Oneika…Crazy to think that if I lived in Asia I could have a maid and a driver!
And thirteen of the 20 most polluted cities are in China O_O
I laughed at #5, ironically enough I just quit smoking so I’d be able to afford my trip to Asia. Ohh this will be tough!
Oh boy!
Great list, and after living in Taiwan for nearly two years, I can definitely agree with all of them! Luckily for us though a lot of people tend to lose weight while here…I think because they mostly don’t like the food 🙂
Funnily enough I ended up losing weight toward the end of my two years in Asia! But in the beginning I definitely packed on the pounds! Where in Taiwan are you?
I’m almost 6 ft tall and my Mom is over 6 ft.
We got a lot of stares, and some people called us “Sir”.
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