7 THINGS YOU CAN ONLY DO IN ASIA
Essentials
From tattoos that protect you from evil spirits, walls that never end, to casting spells on your enemies (or exes), or sexy japanese babes fighting monsters alongside robots....it's all here.
1. Ajarn Noo (Sak Yant Tattoo) | Bangkok
Hand needle tattooing have played a primary part in Thailand’s culture for thousands of years, and practitioners of this long-standing tradition are usually Buddhist monks, because their tattoos all have spiritual significance and the intricate designs vary depending on an individual’s aura. Ajarn Noo, once a Buddhist monk, now a famous Thai tattoo master, have been visited by likes of Angelina Jolie and David Beckham. If you wish to have him ink you, you must have Ajarn Noo give you a spiritual evaluation first. If you pass, you will leave with a gorgeous customized tattoo representation of your spirit.
2. Great Wall | Beijing
Although every travel website on the face of the planet has at one point or another recommended going to the Great Wall, and by now you’re probably even a little sick of hearing about it, or just feeling a little negative towards the word ‘wall’ in general, but trust us, when you’re actually standing on the Great Wall of China, you’ll suddenly understand what all those people were talking about. In fact, unbeknownst to many, most people only see the part of the wall that has been renovated to accommodate tourists, but for those who would like to see the “untouched” parts, there are ways one can get to the “Wild Wall”. Bring cash for local entrance fees, and be careful when exploring the road less taken.
3. Villain Hitting | Hong Kong
For a little taste of magic from the East, try villain-hitting under the bridges of Hong Kong. Villain hitting is a folk sorcery that’s used to curse one’s enemy, and the ceremony is often performed by older ladies. It’s an 8-step process, and by the end of it, we can almost guarantee that you’d have gotten things off your chest. So the next time you’re feeling troubled and in need of a stress reliever, you know where to go.
4. Common Ground | Seoul
For a shopping experience unlike any other, head over to Common Ground in Seoul, Korea. Located near Konkuk University, the shopping area is constructed from 200 blue shipping containers, and is a sight to behold. Delicious food trucks that are lined up around the perimeter give the place a lively, fun vibe. The offerings here are also different from your usual as well, with vendors selling lifestyle products, independent street brands, items created by new and upcoming designers, etc. The whole sha-bang looks and feels more like festival more than mall, and it transforms into a weekend market to boot.
5. Wuzhen | Shanghai
Located South of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen is one of the many gorgeous ancient water towns in China. With it’s traditional architecture and clean canals that date back 6,000 years, Wuzhen offers a view that’s unique only to Asia, a living fossil of ancient Chinese civilization. It is especially beautiful from March to May and during the fall season, but try to avoid the midday crowds nonetheless. Your Instagram will thank you for it.
6. Ningxia Night Market | Taipei
Although some countries do indeed have their own versions of night markets, but let’s be honest, no one does it quite like the Taiwanese. Ningxia Night Market is all about food, from restaurants to street stalls, you can find all kinds of Taiwanese fare here, howbow dah. Ningxia night market was the first in all of Taiwan to separate pedestrian traffic and car traffic, due to the crazy amount of visitors craving oyster and egg omelets, Liu’s yam balls, barbequed squid, rice cakes, fish rolls, pig kidney, cheesy scallops, feel free to stop me any time cause I can go on forever...
7. Robot Restaurant | Tokyo
Trust us when we say that you will not find anything akin to the Robot Restaurant, anywhere else in the world. If you want a sneak peak into the interesting, eclectic and stunning culture that is Japan, book a table at the Robot Restaurant and enjoy the show. We won’t try to tell you what the show is about, because no words can describe it, and nothing can prepare you for what’s to come. Just order yourself a beer, and expect a sensory overload, don’t say we didn’t warn you.