As many of you may know, I am a huge animal lover. My visit to Komodo National Park for example, was exclusively to view the Komodo dragon in its natural habitat. There is a growing consciousness for the humane treatment of animals in western countries, but this regard seems to be thrown out the window as soon as one steps on a plane. “I am just doing it for the experience” is an excuse travelers use too often to fulfill their curiosity and exempt themselves from the ethics. If you care about animals and the environment around you, here are five ‘attractions’ that you are better off avoiding.
1) Eating Shark Fin Soup (Chinese Restaurants Worldwide)
America is enormous and there is no better way to experience it than with a road trip. Having some experience in this delightful All-American experience, I’d like to share some tips I learned along the way. In addition, if you are looking to be inspired to go on a trip yourself, here is a photo recap of my most recent 2,200 mile solo trip across the western US. I digress:
1) Bring a Map
I am well aware of how good Google Maps is these days. Trust me, it fails. In Utah, it insisted that I ‘go straight’ into a private airfield with a gate blocking my path. When I rerouted to go around, it further insisted I ‘turn left’ where there was clearly no more road left. While I am not insinuating that a map is superior to our technological counterparts, it is definitely complimentary.
Pro Tip: Get the app OsmAnd (droid only) – It is like an offline Google Maps where you can download entire countries. It can also give you directions using your GPS signal, which requires no data usage at all. The free version allows for 5 countries to get you started, but personally, I found the paid version worth every penny.
The spring of 2007 marked my 21st birthday and of course, I celebrated with a memorable trip to Las Vegas. The weekend (which landed on spring break no less) is still fresh on my mind, not because I did something crazy. It also marks the day my mother bought me my first point and shoot camera, a Panasonic Lumix.
Fast forward to 2010 when I purchased my first DSLR. It was $900 total with extra batteries and carrying case. Maybe a little steep, but it was then that I realized something very important. Even a ‘professional camera’ was now affordable to a guy like me. I rejoiced at the thought that the layman would soon fill our internets with wonderful pictures from around the world.
Unfortunately, the cheap camera revolution has caused as much harm as good. While we do have stunning pictures by otherwise amateurs, contrary to popular belief, a camera doesn’t make a douchebag into an ‘artsy’ person. It just creates a ‘douche photographer.’ If you want to catch on this trend, check out these tips on how to be one too!
TL;DR: Cheap cameras lead to idiots with cameras.
1) Take a Group Picture in a Crowded Area
Looks like a good spot for a group pic guys.
Visiting one of the most popular places in the world? No problem. Who cares is there is barely any room to move around, YOU have a camera and THEY don’t. Your group will never remember this moment unless you take 10 minutes getting into the right pose. Just make sure you wave your hands frantically to get everyone else out of the way. Done, but it wasn’t perfect? Take another, no one will mind.
Myanmar has been visited by westerners since Marco Polo entered the ancient temple city of Bagan in the 13th century. Since then, the wonderful Burmese culture has received trickles of tourists here and there to see the famed city and other fabulous sites around the country wherever the government allowed. All that is about to change.
Burma has been dominated by a military junta for decades. Political suppression, however cautious, had been the norm until 2012 when, in a surprise move, the military started easing up their control and started allowing more liberties for locals and foreigners alike. Tourism was HIGHLY discouraged until then as it was considered irresponsible to go and feed the machine of that government.
Myanmar, interchangeably called ‘Burma,’ is a wonderful country, but due to its historically limited accessibility, getting reliable tips and information has been difficult. Publications like the Lonely Planet are just loaded with inaccuracies which shouldn’t be a surprise when you try to summarize a country that is changing so quickly in a yearly book. Here are some tips I wanted to pass on from my three weeks (Aug-Sept, 2014) in this wonderful country.
1) Money Money Money!
Getting such a nice 200 kyat bill was rare. This one goes to my brother’s collection.
As I tried to write tips in general, I realized there were just too many about money. I will summarize them in this single entry.
a) Bring Brand-Spankin’ New US Dollars
If you are like me and like to have a good amount of cash before entering a foreign country, bring crispy new bills. You have never seen scrutiny of currency like this before. Every single note is carefully examined and bills that aren’t perfect or with older serial numbers are rejected. We spent way too much time in the airport as the money changer clerks looked like they were disarming a bomb with how delicately they handled our money.
b) Bring $100 USD Notes
This is true in most places in SE Asia, but $100 notes get a better exchange rate. The difference can be quite large in Thailand and Myanmar. $50 notes often get the same rate, but $100 is safer.
c) Singapore Dollars and Euros are Accepted Too
Europeans I met were often scared by the Lonely Planet and felt the need to change to USD before coming to Myanmar. While the dollar does get a better rate, Euros and Singapore dollars were also accepted at the airport and most banks. While not every money changer accepted non-USD, I would personally risk it if I were European given what a scam money changing is in some European countries. It that doesn’t work…
d) There are ATMs Everywhere
This sounds like a silly tip, but many people came into Myanmar thinking that if they didn’t bring cash, they would be totally screwed. Again this is ancient information as there are ATMs everywhere. Sid and I had no problem withdrawing money and neither did anyone else we talked to. Be advised that some ATMs do shut down at night (as they do in many Asian countries).
e) Feel free to reject any ripped Kyat
The local currency does not have coins in use. This causes the smaller notes to become very crumpled and sometimes ripped as they exchange hands often. Notes of 1000 kyat and above should have no rips at all. Examine every bill you get for change and feel free to reject any that is ripped. The locals know the routine and will gladly exchange them. I got a pretty beaten 1000 kyat note from the airport bank and couldn’t get rid of it until the last day despite trying at least 20 times. They were a lot more lenient for bills under 1000 kyat.
f) Pay with USD if You Can
Entrances to Bagan and Inle, as well as hotels allow you to pay with USD or Kyat (Euro accepted at entrances, but not sure about hotels). They take 1USD = 1 Euro = 1000 kyat. Since the Euro is worth the most and the dollar the least, you save a little money by paying in dollars (3%) instead of kyat. If you pay in Euro, you are wasting around 30%.
g) Exchanging at the Airport is Okay
In Mandalay and Yangon Airports (domestic terminal for Yangon), the exchange rate was 973/969 buy/sell of USD. This is not a large spread and is a profit margin of less than 1/4%. You will not find any better rate and since the money changers are not exactly everywhere, don’t waste your time. Just exchange at the airport.
Now that money is out of the way, here are some other tips!
2) GO NOW!
I mistakenly spent my first few days in Thailand near infamous Khao San Road (I feel shame saying that, but that is a whole other story). One good thing that did come from that was meeting Oong, the Burmese guy working in the hostel I stayed. He talked highly of his own country and convinced me that the time to go was NOW! Read more →
Now that I got my venting out of the way, it is time to focus on the things that make Korea, a great place to live, or visit. This is the second list (here is the first) showing the things I love about the RoK that will hopefully encourage some people on the fence to come on over (not talking about North Koreans, you guys probably don’t want to jump that fence… go around).
5) Safety
Credit: youthedesigner.com
This one seems like a very simple thing, but there is something pretty amazing about being in one of the safest countries in the world. Per capita, there are less murders in South Korea than New Zealand. Wrap your head around that one. Even theft and other petty crimes are rather uncommon. Men and women can walk in pretty much any neighborhood, even late at night, without fearing for their lives (although the occasional exhibitionist / pervert does exist). While in the US, just as a precaution, I used to always watch my back at ATMs and was very careful not to show how much money I was carrying. In Korea, I have no fear of carrying a grand or even counting it right after withdrawing to make sure it is all there.
4) Fashion
While it is unlikely you’ll find a good deal buying clothes in Korea, you will probably look fabulous anyways. Koreans are incredibly fashionable (except for those couple dressy people) and look dressed to kill all day, everyday. The women are always seen in high heels with skirts and a nice blouse, even if it is -20 Celsius outside. The men are just as fashionable with crisp pants, nice shirts and in the winter, fantastic jackets. Ladies and gentlemen of Korea, I noticed… and appreciated it :).
3) Clubbing and Partying
Photo Credit: blog.loveazia.com
I have never been a big partier or had a need to get trashed every weekend due to a rare disorder I’ve had since an early age. It is called “NotCoolEnough Syndrome.” However, when I do party, I have a two expectations:
It Shouldn’t be Too Expensive – Clubbing is fun, but not $200 worth of fun.
The Party Should be over When I’m Tired – If the lights come on and people are forced to go home, that is a shitty party city. Clubbing pretty much anywhere in LA sucks.
Korea partying can be done cheaply and you can be out pretty much as late as you want.
2) Trust of Teachers
With one of my favorite students.
This one is going to take some explaining.
For the last four years, I worked as an English teacher in South Korea. To be more specific, I taught kindergarten, pre-kinder, pre-school, and elementary. The first year, I normally would post pictures of myself with my students playing, learning, or just carrying them around on Facebook and didn’t think much of it. Imagine an uncle or aunt picking up your children, and that is the kind of interaction teachers have, and are expected to have with their students in South Korea. Then the jokes and ‘serious concerns’ started coming in.
“Aren’t you afraid of being accused ‘of something'” and “that looks so wrong” were just some of the comments that came from friends in the US which highlights an incredible problem. The US is so absolutely terrified of pedophilia, and feel that their fear is the norm, not the exception. This makes working as a kindergarten teacher uncomfortable unbearable.
When I tutored in the US, parents were sure to put me in a public place, even if I was teaching a male high school student. In Korea, teachers are given so much trust, and I think for the most part, the teachers appreciate it and do not violate that trust as they are… wait for it… professionals!
Even to this day, I cannot explain to a group of people in the states that I taught pre-school abroad and show them pictures of myself with any sort of physical contact (such as a hug) without some wise-ass making a pedophilic remark. So for those of you who asked why I don’t make a career of it in the US, this is why.
1) The Music Industry
Korean pop, for the most part is a product of one of the three major record labels: SM, JYP, or YG. The groups are pre-packaged, their personas are given, their music is rarely “deep” or “inspirational” and the stardom that comes with it all, is temporary. I adore that.
There are so many things I hate about the American music industry, starting with the worshiping of a ‘genius’ in music. No matter how good you are, you don’t deserve to be a millionaire and far too many ‘artists’ stick around for way too long (looking at you Kanye).
Many k-pop performers are well aware that their fame is temporary and seek out other more conventional careers in anticipation of the end. In fact, many of the young performers’ careers finish as soon as they enter college because an education is many times considered more important than superstardom (as it SHOULD be). While some do make quite a bit of money and an equally large ego follows, at least we know that in a few years, they will be forgotten.
Next, I strongly dislike how music NEEDS to be meaningful to be considered good. Music elitists of the west: I don’t care to be ‘moved’ or ‘inspired’ with every song. Just because I like pop, doesn’t mean it is ‘bad music.’
As an analogy, I like to compare music with movies. Comedies usually have absolutely no meaning, but they are entertaining. That is why people watch them. The tunes I mostly enjoy is kind of the comedic genre of music and I’m fine with that.
Korean pop is generally catchy and offers me exactly what I am looking for. I don’t think anyone can see Orange Caramel’s song Lipstick (above) and think ‘wow, that was so deep,’ but you know what? It doesn’t matter, that song is still awesome.
