So aside from the beauty of meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and seeing the world, these are some of the things Asia has offered me:
- Pad Thai - somewhat greasy and does not agree with me but I eat regardless
- Beauticians –less time worrying about appearances but there's still something pretty cool about fancying a massage or your nails done at 11pm and being to a) get it and b) afford it
- Guesthouses with movie lounges – like regular life at the end of the day but with new people in a new place
- Condensed milk – making fruit and ice the unhealthy choice
- Book stores and Wi-Fi - never alone
- Mosquito nets - never safer
- Spitting – dirty, dirty and dirty
- Different town, different beer, always under a quid - can't go wrong
- Taking your shoes off at the door – people are happiest with bare feet
- 'Hello, I love you!' – You won't find kids in London this friendly
- Local buses – the staring brigade are out in force here!
- Photographs with Asian strangers – feeling somewhere between circus animal and celebrity
- Asian toilets - I won't go into detail but basically, so hygienic!
- Beach bars – just like the ones in the movies
- Yes! – life is good when it's random
- Riding in the back of a truck, bike, cart, etc – if it's got wheels and a driver, it's a taxi
- Getting 'special price' – and still doing the fake walk away over 30p
- Mosquitoes – dangerous, disgusting and present in their millions
- Roosters, cicadas and grasshoppers – a beautiful sunset orchestra every single night
- Clothes – even with a tan and that spicy food weight loss, XL does not feel good
