Intoxicated Abroad - Travel, Drinking and Nightlife

Cheap and Easy Souvenirs

2012-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Looking for cheap, lightweight souvenirs that fit in your wallet?

When I went on my first back-packing trip, nearly six years ago, I ran into a problem of what to do with all the knickknacks and beer mugs I collected throughout my journey. I ran out of space in my pack quickly and even more quickly realized that this method of souvenir collection was simply not feasible.

That was when I began collecting beer-labels. The often delightful mini pieces of art make for great collectibles and an awesome record of lands travelled and beers tasted. I recently undertook the task of framing my labels from Asia, Europe and Australia and I personally think it looks great.

Still so many places left to visit and beers left to try.

Cheers!

Sannakji: The Meal that Fights Back

2012-02-06T14:44:00.000-08:00

Of all the exotic food I've tasted during my travels only one had enough nerve remaining to seemingly resist being consumed. I had heard stories of the squirming octopus tentacle dish known as San Nak Ji long before I visited Korea for the first time last summer.

I knew that this extremely fresh delicacy was something I would have to try for myself. Tales of choking deaths and squirming stomachs were not enough to deter me from seeking out a nice little seafood restaurant and placing my order.

A party in my mouth but unfortunately not everyone was invited.....just one ill fated little Octopus.

I found the dish to be quite enjoyable on the whole. Served with a side of sesame oil for dipping the slippery suckers, Sannaki provided one of the most interesting sensory eating experienced I have every had. Every mouthful clings to your teeth as if out of desperation to survive (it is, of course, only nerve reactions and the octopus is long deceased). I would recommend Sannakji to every visitor o Korea that is looking for a unique culinary experience.

International Beer: Red Horse Beer

2012-01-31T22:27:00.000-08:00

San Miguel is world renowned and a source of national pride for Filipino's and with good cause. It is a standout among Asian beers and it rightly monopolizes the beer market of the Philippines. Finding a beer not brewed by San Miguel in the Philippines is near impossible so in order to find any variety among beers one must turn to the alternative beers that San Mig' has on offer. The "extra strong" Red Horse Beer a great choice from San Miguel's diversified product line.
San Miguel Brewery, the largest beer producer in the Philippines, with a market share of over 95% and five breweries spread across the country producing eight beer brands. Red Horse Beer, the Philippines’ first extra-strong beer, is a full-flavored beer is marketed as having "the right kick and taste for the action-oriented individual."

Before trying a bottle of Red Horse on the paradise island of Boracay I had to ask myself, "am I an 'Action Oriented Individual'?" While still not entirely certain what or who that may be I decided to give Red Horse a try regardless of whether I was the intended recipient,.

Red Horse tastes smooth and crisp with very little hop character. Lots of sweet malt flavour likely stems from the use of corn and rice adjuncts. Not particularly flavorful, but not bad either. The 7% alcohol by volume is surprisingly well hidden in what otherwise tastes similar to an American malt liquor. In summary, you may as well grab one of the big 40oz bottles and pour a little out for your Filipino homies or otherwise just enjoy a Red Horse beer as a welcome change to the monotony of standard San Miguel.
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Mabuhay! (Cheers!)

2012 World's Biggest Party Events Calendar

2012-01-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

The best party and nightlife events Worldwide in 2012, mark these dates on your travel itinerary.

Plan your travels and trips around the biggest and best parties in the World.....

February

Feb 7th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
Feb 18th-21st: Carnival Where: Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil
Feb 18th-21st: Karneval Köln Where: Cologne, Germany
Feb 21st: Mardi Gras Where: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

March

March 8th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
March 15th: Hōnen Matsuri Where: Nagoya, Japan
March 16th - 19th: St. Patrick's Day Festival Where: Dublin, Ireland
March 15th - 19th: Las Falles Where: Valencia, Spain
March 20th: Holi Where: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

April

April 6th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
April 13th-15th Songkran Where: Thailand (Bangkok for the biggest party)
April 13th-15th Coachella (weekend 1) Where: Indio, California, USA
April 20th-22nd Coachella (weekend 2) Where: Indio, California, USA
April 30th: Queens Day Where: The Netherlands (biggest party is in Amsterdam)

May

May 5th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand; Vientiane, Laos
May 11th - 15th: Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival Where: Yasothon, Thailand
May 4th: Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Where: Gloucester, England

June

June 5th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
June 8th - July 1: UEFA Euro 2012 Where: Poland and Ukraine
June 29th: Batalla de Vino Where: Haro, La Rioja, Spain
June 30th - July 8th Roskilde Festival Where: Roskilde, Denmark

July

June 30th - July 8th Roskilde Festival Where: Roskilde, Denmark
July 1st: Canada Day Where: Anywhere in Canada
July 2nd: Palio di Siena Where: Sienna, Italy
July 3rd: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
July 6th - 14th: San Fermín (running of the bulls) Where: Pamplona, Spain
July 6th - 15th: Calgary Stampede Where: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
July 12th - 15th: Exit Festival Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
July 14th: Bastille Day Where: France (best party in Paris)
July 14 - 22nd: Boryeong Mud Festival Where: Boryeong, Korea
July 17th - 22nd: Paleo Festival Where: Nyon, Switzerland
July 27th - 29th: Fuji Rock Where: Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa-machi, Nigata, Japan
July 27th - Aug 12th: 2012 Summer Olympics Where: London, UK

August

July 20th - Aug 26th: kaZantip Festival Where: Popovka, Southern Ukraine
July 27th - Aug 12th: 2012 Summer Olympics Where: London, UK
Aug 4th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
Aug 7th - 11th: Great British Beer Festival Where: Olympia, London
Aug 6th - Aug 13th: Sziget Festival Where: Budapest, Hungary
Aug 11th: Street Parade Zürich Where: Zürich, Switzerland
Aug 16th: Palio di Siena Where: Sienna, Italy
Aug 27th - Sept 3rd: Burning Man Where: Black Rock Desert, Nevada, United States
Aug 29th: La Tomatina Where: Buñol, Valencia, Spain

September

Sept 1st: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
Sept 22th - Oct 7th: Oktoberfest Where: Munich, Germany
Sept 30th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand

October

Sept 22th - Oct 7th: Oktoberfest Where: Munich, Germany
Sept 9th - Oct 23rd: Rugby World Cup Where: New Zealand
Oct 30th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
Oct 31st: Halloween Where: Canada and USA

November

Nov 2nd: Day of the Dead Where: Mexico
Nov 28th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand

December

Dec 8th: ZoukOut Where: Singapore
Dec 28th: Full Moon Party Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
Dec 31st: New Years Eve Where: Worldwide

Did I leave out your favourite event or festival? Leave a comment and I will add it!

Aquavit: Water of Life?

2012-01-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

An essential part of Scandinavian culture and a regular inspiration for shouts of "Skol!" worldwide, Aquavit is a a boozy staple that is a must try for any visitor to Scandinavia.

Aquavit or aqvavit is a traditional spirit that is produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Traditionally aquavit contains 40% alcohol by volume and it's distinctive flavor from spices and herbs, and the main spice should be caraway or dill. Akvavit, like vodka, is distilled from either grain or potatoes is flavoured after distillation with herbs, spices, or fruit oil. Aquavit usually has a yellowish hue, but this can vary from clear to light brown, depending on how long it has been aged or the amount of colorant used. The word "aquavit" is derived from Latin aqua vītae, "water of life" which some may argue is an ironic name for an alcoholic drink.

Aquavit often consumed with no mixer in shot or "snap" form. "Snap" is the Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal, a ritual that is associated with holidays such as Midsummer, Christmas and Easter.

Many Scandinavians claim that aquavit has a variety of medicinal properties and consumption of the drink eases the digestion of rich foods while others claim that drinking any such medicinal properties could be attributed to being drunk enough to forget one's ailments.

So whatever your ailment may be (soberness included) aquavit is sure to solve the problem!

Skol!

Warm Booze: The Best of German Christmas Market Drinks

2011-12-04T10:47:00.001-08:00

The best way to brave the cold of a German winter is, naturally, with a bit of warm spiced booze. That's probably why the majority of vendors to be found an a traditional German "Weihnachtsmarkt" serve up various steaming spiced alcoholic drinks.

Glühwein is the most commonly consumed drink by visitors of German Christmas markets. It is usually prepared from red wine (and sometimes white), heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. Fruit wines such as blueberry (heidelbeer) wine and cherry (kirsch) wine are used instead of grape wine in Germany. Glühwein is drunk on its own or "mit Schuss" (with a shot), which means there is some extra liqueur, usually rum, added. Those looking for a bit of extra excitement opt for the variation described below.

Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German alcoholic drink for which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine. The name translates literally to fire-tongs punch. Feuerzangenbowle is prepared in a bowl, the bowl is filled with glühwein. A sugar-cube or the more traditional Zuckerhut (sugarloaf or literally "sugar hat") is placed in a position above the drink, suspended on tongs, or more commonly at Christmas markets, on a specially designed platform in the bowl. The sugar is soaked with rum and set alight, melting and caramelizing. More rum is poured with a ladle until all the sugar has melted and mixed with the wine.

Warmer Apfelkuchen is delicious and realively contemporary addition to the Christmas market's expanding drink selection; Warmer Apfelkuchen translates to "warm apple pie". It consists of mostly Mulled Cider, which is essentially spiced and heated apple juice, a traditional and tasty seasonal drink that is usually non-alcoholic. With the addition of a liberal amount of Zubrovka bison-grass vodka (a sweet Polish vodka with a flavour similar to apple) the beverage becomes a Warmer Apfelkuchen.

Warmer Met ("warm mead" in English), is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water. Mead is similar in taste and alcohol content to White wine. During the Christmas season mulled mead, flavored with spices (and sometimes various fruits) and warmed, is available at a Christmas markets across Germany.

Gojingamrae (고진감래): Revolutionary Drinking System from Korea

2011-11-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

If you've every visited Korea or have any Korean friends then you are probably already very familiar with a drink called "Soju".

If you've been unfortunate enough to have never encountered Soju in the past then here is a brief summation:

Soju is clear in colour and typically varies in alcohol content from about 16.7% to about 45% alcohol.
It is traditionally made from rice although many modern producers supplement or even replace rice with other starches, such as potatoes, wheat, barley, sweet potatoes, or tapioca.
Its taste is comparable to vodka, though often slightly sweeter
It is widely consumed, in part, because of its relatively low price in Korea (a 300mL bottle of soju costs 1,000 to 3,000 South Korean Won in South Korea (roughly $1 to $3 USD).
It is estimated that the average adult Korean (older than 20) consumes 90 bottles of soju per year.

Soju is most often drank neat but it is not always consumed in unmixed form (and this is where the fun begins). Soju and beer are commonly mixed to form a drink called somaek, a portmanteau of the words soju and maekju (맥주 beer).

Gojingamrae (고진감래) is a different breed of drink. It combines Beer, Soju and Cola in a delicious, Soju-purist's nightmare.

The drink is constructed using 2 shot glasses and one small (33cl) beer glass. The first shot glass is filled about 2/3rd's the way with cola ad placed in the bottom of the beer glass. Next, the second shot glass is placed on-top-of/in the first shooter and filled to the top with soju. Finally the remaining space in the beer glass is filled with beer to just below the rim of the top shooter.

The drink is consumed all at once creating a mixture of beer and soju in the consumers mouth followed by a blast of refreshing cola.

This is a great drink to have while in Korea but why should the fun end with this classic combination.

Why not try a Tequila sunrise gojingamrae (grenedine in the bottom, tequila in the top shooter and orange juice surroundins) or maybe an Irish Car-bomb Gojingamrae (Bailey's on the bottom, Jameson Whiskey on the top and Guiness surrounding). The possibilities are endless!

Ganbei! (cheers!)

Dice and Drinks: China's Most Popular Drinking Game

2011-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

In nearly every bar in China dice games delegate who drinks and when. The game is an easy and deal way to meet Chinese locals and break down the language barrier but travellers to China face the difficult task of learning the games tricky rules. So here it is, the step-by-step guide to the infamous Chinese dice drinking game.

Each player has a cup and five dice which is places upside down on the table with all dice inside and hidden. All players shake their cup to "roll" the dice then the, discretely, look at the dice they have.
Winner of the previous round goes first and calls out 2 numbers. Or if it's too loud to hear, makes two successive hand signals. For example 4 - 5. That means they believe there are 4 or more fives in total beneath all cups. 3 - 6, that means you think there are 3 or more sixes in both cups.
Next the other player calls out two more numbers. The first number must be larger than the first number the first player called out. The second number is anything from 2 to 6. So if the first player called with 4 - 5 the other could say 5 - 5. They could not say 3 - 6. The stakes must be raised with each turn.
Also, to make it more interesting, ones are wild. So all ones, in every players cup can be anything a player wants it to be. If any player chooses to call the number of ones (ex . 4 - 1) then ones are no longer wild for the rest of that round.
At some point, one of you will have to call out something that the other player assumes cannot be possible and calls them on it.
When either player calls a bluff - both cups are lifted to reveal all dice. If in fact there are 4 fives, or whatever was claimed, the claiming player wins the round. Otherwise the player was bluffing, so the player who called the bluff wins the round.
At this point, the losing player must drink 1/3rd of a small Chinese beer glass.
In order to be understood over the loud music and noise in the club, hand signals are often used.

The game can be played with multiple players which of course means calling higher numbers.

Good luck meeting new friends in China, or try the game out with friends at home!

International Beer: Taiwan Beer

2011-10-26T03:45:00.000-07:00

Refreshing beverage and cultural icon; Taiwan Beer (台灣啤酒, Táiwān Píjǐu, or 台啤, TáiPí) is perhaps the most iconic brand of the island nation for which it is named. A great looking can and strong branding are great but can the beer behind the brand live up to the hype?
Brewed by the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation began as a monopoly product but has remained the best-selling beer on the island in the era of free trade. one of the Taiwan's most recognized brands.

Taiwan Beer is an adjunct lager, which means it is diverges from the traditional ingredients of beer (barley malt, hops and water) to include rice as a supplement to the barley. Adjuncts are very common in Asian countries where rice is far cheaper than barley. Taiwan beer has a distinct flavour which is produced by the addition of locally grown ponlai rice during the fermentation process.

Taiwan Beer comes in three varieties. The original brew is sold in brown bottles with a cream-coloured label and in beautifully designed white cans bearing a recognizable blue and green design.
The Gold Medal brew, introduced in 2003, is sold in green bottles and cans with a white, red and green label. Both brews are 4.5% alcohol by volume and are regularly seen in Taiwan's convenience and grocery stores.

The newest Taiwan Beer, which is only found in bars and restaurants, Taiwan Beer Draft, is packaged in a solid green bottle with no paper label. Designed to be sold fresh, is rarely seen in stores due to its early expiration date.

Adjunct lagers are frowned upon by beer purists who see the addition of cheaper ingredients as an unnecessary concession. Adjunct lagers, however, are commonplace in the Asian beer industry and should be appreciated on their own merits.

The Oringinal Lager Pours a fizzy pale yellow with a little bit of a head. The taste is similar to American macros (Budweiser, Coors etc.) but it has sweet malts and the uniqueness that produces a sweet & tart graininess The beer has a light flavour and body which goes great with the local cuisine in Taiwan.
The Gold Medal brew is similar in flavour but somewhat smoother with more bitterness.

While nothing worth searching out in your home country, Taiwan beer's are thirst quenching and provide refreshment in Taiwan's constant humidity or confidence in the midst of Taipei's insomniac nightlife.

Magnificent Makgeolli: Korea's Lesser Known Booze

2011-10-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Magkeolli (also known as Makkoli or Makuly) is a Korean rice beer that resembles milk in appearence but it is fizzy, sweet like apple cider, around 7 % alcohol and altogether delightful!

Traditionally drank from bowls, Makgeolli could be mistaken milk left out for cats or leftover from cereal, however, despite it's appearance it is quite tasty and cheap hence its popularity with homeless Koreans, commonly seen drinking from the not-so-traditional plastic bottle.

It is made by fermenting a mixture of boiled rice, wheat and water and is traditionally known as a drink of rural farmers. As with anything once obscure it has now becoming trendy among rich city-kids who may drink it with a sarcastic "hey look at me, I'm rural...".

Whether you choose Makgeolli for the taste, price or novelty you will not be disappointed. Be sure to accompany your drink with traditional Korean drinking food, savory pancakes!

Manila, Boracay, Makati: My Philippines Adventure

2011-09-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

I had always thought the Philippines was very westernized and I thought the years of Spanish and American colonialism would've made the the country realatively easy in terms of culture shock. Manila's sights, sounds and smells quickly had me realizing that the the Philippines has a culture all its own.

I suppose anywhere you go to after Singapore will seem a bit dirty but Manila's mass poverty and in-your-face sex-industry came as a bit of a shock. I spent a a day and a half wandering the streets of central Manila and the old walled city of Intramuros before taking an overnight van ride to Boracay. I came across the Van company via a phone number I found online and they told me they would pick me up the next evening. As I stood on the street being harassed by transvestite hookers and waiting for the van I questioned whether getting in a van with strangers was a good idea. Turns out it was. A van ride and 3 boat rides later I was on the white sand beach in Boracay.

Boracay is postcard perfect beautiful with palm trees lining the white sand beach which in the evening is the stage for some of the best sunsets I have seen. To top it off, the beers only cost 60 cents at bars on the beach. I mostly spent my days walking along the 3 mile long beach and enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear ocean. The nightlife on Boracay was great as well and I met lots of other travellers to hang out with, most of whom were English teachers in Korea. Most of the tourists in Boracay were from Korea actually; it is apparently summer vacation time in Korea now and the Philippines is in many ways the Mexico of Asia.

One of my nights out on Boracay was cut short due to my own stupidity. I managed to break a filling off of my front tooth by biting something inedible. I was actually in a bar staffed entirely by midgets (called "the Hobbit House") when it happened so it kinda ruined what should've been pretty much the greatest time ever.

Not wanting to look like a hillbilly for too long I was anxious to find a dentist the next day. Turns out there are plenty on the island filling the demands of dental-tourism. I price shopped around a little bit and before lunch time I had a shiny new tooth for about $23.

3 nights on Boracay and I was in a van with strangers again headed back to Manila just in time for the Sunday at the Cockpit.

The Cockpit is where one of the Philippines' most popular sports takes place: cockfighting. The cockfights were awesome and gruesome but the intensity of the packed-house crowd made it all the better. The whole experience was a lot of fun and well worth the $4 it cost.

After watching meat fight for a while I was feeling hungry so I decided to try the culinary delight that is the balut egg. Balut is a semi-developed chicken or duck egg that is widely enjoyed here. Despite the egg's terrifying appearance it wasn't all that bad to eat. Mostly tasted like an egg but with some different textures.

I had planned to go north from Manila for a few days but I was exhausted from the overnight travel and travelling anywhere in the Philippines, without paying the high-cost of flying, takes a lot of time. So I ended up spending the rest of my time in the Philippines in Manila. I decided to move to a hostel in the posh part of town known as Makati.

Makati seems like it is miles away from the rest of Manila. As the cities central financial and business center and home to the rich it is an oasis in the middle of chaos. My hostel in Makati, located on the 18th floor of an upscale apartment/hotel complex, provided access to a pool and gym. It was great to go to the gym for the first time in nearly 5 months.

I met a couple of English guys at the hostel and went out for a drink with them. The plan of the night was to go to a midget boxing match at a bar in Makati's redlight district. Disappointingly the midgets only fight when there is a big enough crowd and apparently Tuesday nights aren't a big night out here. The night was a lot of fun and at the end of the night I found myself sharing beers with a few local guys in the back of a Jeepney (jeep/bus public transit here).

Manila grew on me as I gave it more of a chance, and not just Makati but central Manila as well. I ventured back into the walled city Intramuros one day to check out Manila's most famous tourist site, Fort Santiago. The fort and the history was pretty cool although it seems that pretty much everything in the old-town section has been destroyed at sometime or another and rebuilt.

All in all, I had a great time in the Philippines

International Beers: Myanmar Beer

2011-08-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

You might be hard-pressed to find a bottle Myanmar beer anywhere but in the nation for which it's named but it just may be worth trying.
"Myanmar's Favourite Beer", according to their own advertising slogan, truly is a great beer.
As with many companies operating in a totalitarian dictatorship Myanmar Brewery is owned in-part by the government. Tourists are encouraged to avoid any business or product in Myanmar that directly supports the ruthless government regime but sampling a cold draft beer or two in the extreme humidity can be excused especially when the beer is of such quality.

Despite international sanctions preventing Myanmar Brewery from exporting abroad, it has won the Gold Medal (Packaged Lager) and Gold Medal (Draught Lager) in the 2005 Brewing Industry International Awards, the Silver Medal in the 2004 World Beer Cup as well as several other awards. As one of the world's most isolated countries such an accomplished beer is quite impressive.

One of many pleasant surprises to be found in "The Golden Land," Myanmar Lager is a full-mouthed yet refreshing beer that complements the steamy climate. "Myanmar's Favourite Beer", according to their own advertising slogan, truly is a great beer. The draught variety pours with a nice white head and a typical Asian-lager-pale-yellow. The taste is smooth and packs more bitterness and overall flavour than most Southeast Asian beers. There is a mixture of hops and yeast that combine to create a flavour that leaves a pleasant aftertaste. The beer is a standard 5% abv.

Kota Kinabalu: Borneo's Best Nightlife

2011-08-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Plenty to do in Kota Kinabalu when the sun goes down.

Easily the most happening city on Malaysian Borneo (sorry Kuching), Kota Kinabalu has more than enough nightlife options to satisfy any thirsty mountaineer, beach-goer or traveller.  The largest congregation of nightlife is located at the waterfront promenade but bar options are spread all over town. Liquor prices in K.K., as in all of Malaysia, are high.  The cheapest way to have a night out is to predrink with cheap hard liquor purchased from a corner store.  If you are lucky enough to be arriving in Kota Kinabalu via Labuan, the duty free Island, be sure to pick up some booze there.

Australian Place:

BB cafe: Closest bar to the backpacker haunt of Australia Place. Live keyboard band everynight playing mostly oldies and Malay hits (they take requests too). Great place to meet other travellers. Happy hour specials until 9.

Waterfront Promenade:

Bed: The waterfront promenade's largest party venue is a laser filled party palace.  Live performances warm up for late night DJ sets.  Locals warn of dodgy liquor used in the cocktails.

Hito: Modern, stylish karaoke bar by the waterfront promenade.  Sing to your heart's content.

Shamrock: The choice of Irish and British expats is styled exactly as one would expect from an Irish pub. 2 rules are listed on the wall: #1 the barman is always right. 2 if the barman is wrong, refer to rule 1. A great place for a pint of Guiness.

Loft Party club: A bit of and uninspired name but two levels of lounge on the waterfront can draw a crowd on the weekend.

Other Areas:

Cocoon:
Lasers, disco balls and trees? This long-time popular club has a bit of an oudated feel to it but as long as the crowds continue to show up it will be a great place to party.  Located at the waterfront across from the Marlin statue.

Shenanigans: Rod Farva's (excuse the obscure reference) favourite Malaysian bar is attached to the Hyatt Regency hotel, Oppisite cocoon. Expensive (expect Hyatt Regency prices).

Cock and Bull: An old ex-pat favourite located next to Jesselton Pier. Features a live band, 2 projector screens and an American pool table.

Ice bar: A bit of a journey from KK centre, located at the 1Borneo hypermall, ice bar is an exciting venue if your accommodation is nearby. Stylish lounge bar with pool table and music played just a little too loud to maintain a conversation. With the great new Filipino cover band, who needs conversation anyways.

Kathmandu: Backpacker Nightlife Haven

2011-08-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu, a long time hippie traveller mecca is well set up to accomodate the needs of western backpackers. with more irish pubs than irish people kathmandu's pub scene is vibrant and, well, intoxicating. the traveller oriented bar scene dominates the Thamel traveller ghetto but a fair share of local nepalis frequent the area's bars as well.

Celtic Manang:
Small, dark upstairs Irish pub (with actual Irish owners). Has Guinness on the menu for 650 Nepali Rupees.
very friendly bar staff.

Tom and Jerry:
Spacious western style bar with tv's and t-shirts signed by Everest summiters hanging from the walls. Free popcorn and wifi. Surprisingly quiet on most nights.

Paddy Foley's;
Open air rock bar with live band. not much irish about it other than the name and guiness on the menu. unlike most bars does not include tax+service in drink prices! By far, the loudest bar in Thamel, this place rocks late into the night.

Neon pub:
High ceiling spawling bar with projection tv and live cover band.

Shisha terrace:
Sit on the floor or at a table and listen to the cover band that plays everything from Michael jackson to Bob Marley. Shisha pipes are, of course, available with a range of flavours.

Thakali Bhancha:
Not a bar but a family run restaurant that is one of only a handful of local joints that is good place to go for those looking to sample Nepali alcoholic drinks like Raksi and Chang on the cheap.

Everest Irish Pub:
A friendly vibe with excellent nepali barmen, pool tables and the standard irish pub decor. Not genuinely Irish but plays the part well.

Sam's Pub:
Mostly open air balcony with an interior bar with the signatures of patrons past on the walls. A great place to meet other travellers. Have a chat with the Austrian owner/bartender and enjoy the complimentary popcorn.

Fath Kath:
Comfy bar/lounge with floor seating and live music. has a Southeast Asia traveller bar style for those missing a bit of Bangok.

The Factory:
Nice modern bar popular with locals. A live band rocks the place on weekends. Don't expect to find many travellers here as this is of only a few places in Thamel that is mostly Nepali.

Electric Pagoda:
Chilled out garden bar. Strangely, one of only a few ground floor bars in thamel.

Funky Buddha:
Laid back garden bar and lounge on the ground floor with a raver trance scene in the blacklight lit upstairs club. This is the highest energy club in Thamel with many ravers from the Goa scene.

Fire Horse:
"Bar with dance"... If you're interested in checking out one of the Nepali dance bars buy a drink here and dance the night away with one of the hostesses; an interesting cultural experience

Chhaang, Nepali for Beer

2011-07-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Chhaang, chang or sometimes reffered to as Himalayan Beer is an intriguing drink, to say the least. A milky white drink with flecks of floating white chunks throughout. Sometimes referred to as Nepali beer, chang is a fermented rice beverage, making it similar in appearance, taste and production method to unfiltered varieties of Japanese sake.

The taste is sweet at first like a fruit wine but quickly becomes quite tarte. The method of consumtion varies throughout Himalayan cutures. Served cold it can be quite refreshing in the humidity of Kathmandu although when warmed it may assist one to brave the alpine chills.

Chhaang, like beer, is made with fermented grain. Barley, millet (finger-millet) or rice is used to brew the drink. Whichever grain is most readily available is boiled and when it has gone cold, some yeast is added and it is left to stand for 2 or 3 days. When fermentation begins when it is called glum. The resulting 'glum' is then hand strained and some water is added resulting in a very cloudy but ready to drink Chhaang
.
According to legends, chhaang is also popular with the Yeti, who often raid isolated mountain villages to drink it. So if you find yourself in the Himalayas looking to get 'Yeti drunk' try a Chhaang for change.

India's Super-Ultra-Strong Beers .... 100000

2011-07-09T03:35:00.000-07:00

The beer market in India is unique in that it is dominated by high alcohol beers. Humorously named beers such as Hayward's 5000 or He-Man 10000 with numbers indicating the potency held within. The labels vary from the tame "Strong Beer" to "Ultra Super Strong Beer." These extra strength beers occupy as much as 75% of the Indian Beer Market. With such popularity it is no surprise that beer giants such as Heineken, Tuborg and Carlsberg are all making strong beer entries into the up-and-coming beer drinker country. With all the Hype one has to wonder, "How do these beers taste?"

Strong beers in India range from 6-8% alcohol-by-volume and for the most part the brewers haven't done a great job of concealing the additional alcohol. It is difficult to generalize the taste of these beers but they range from poor to absolute piss. It seems that the intended use of most strong beers is just for getting drunk on the cheap and not for savoring the flavors.

Today, Kingfisher Strong is India’s largest selling beer brand but weather you choose Kingfisher Strong, He-man, Godfather or Knockout you'll be sure to get smashed.

Book your flights to India and sample the extra ultra super duper strong beer selection now!

Cheers!

Pokhara's Rockin Lakeside Nightlife

2011-06-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Pokhara is a serene lakeside city with stunning view of the nearby Himalayas. As Nepal's third largest city and one of the countries most touristed locations, it is no shock that Pokhara has an abundance of places to party. The Lakeside tourist area is where most of the city's nightlife is located; conveniently, as that is where most travellers will end up residing. The best part about the lakeside party scene is the outstanding live music that many of the bars feature. A drawback of all nightlife in Nepal is that drinking establishments are required by law to close at 11pm (although many simply close the doors and windows at this time).

All venues listed below are on the street known as "Lakeside" unless otherwise mentioned.

Busy Bee:
A popular and long lasting lakeside establishment has a cool outdoor patio restaurant and an excellent cover band that rocks into the night.

Amsterdam:
Another live music venue with orange interior highlights paying tribute to it's Dutch namesake. Features a great streetside bar adding the to the already present musical entertainment with the action on the street.

Old Blues Bar:
Live blues music (no doubt) and a relaxed makes this a popular hangout for older trekkers and travellers.

Club Paradiso:
Unassuming exterior, apart from the pounding bass, gives way to a huge nightclub with a large dance-floor. Check the chalk board out front to see what is on, events range from DJ sets to chilled out Movie nights.

Monsoon:
One of the pricier bars in town, Monsoon has a fishing lodge feel with nice high ceilings and wooden decor.

Oxygen;
Poshest of the Lakeside live music venues with uber-modern styling pricey drinks.

Raygen:
Another posh nightclub/lounge but no live music here. DJ's sets draw in the trendiest locals and Indian tourists.

India's Infamous Bhang Lassi

2011-06-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

A pale greenish-white concoction arrived at my table following a relatively long wait. I had chosen to go with 'strong' instead of the lighter varieties because, "I can take it"...

The vomit coloured drink tasted about as great as it looked with a blend of yoghurt salt, pepper, rose water and various other spices. I consumed it slowly and eagerly anticipated the desired effect.

As the high began to take hold it was relaxing, calming and nice but as it progressed and the drink reached the bottom I began to feel light-headed and dizzy. Speaking became itself a challenge and standing up or walking seemed to be out of the question. The more the effects set in the more I realized that I had to gain to courage to get back to my hotel so that I could lie down and hopefully pass out.

What seemed like an eternity later, I reached my hotel room and lay down to see the world spinning around me. A long night of lucid dreams and hallucinations left me exhausted the following day and convinced that if I am ever to have a Bhang Lassi again it will definitely be the 'light' option.

For those who do not know, Bhang is a mild preparation of marijuana made from young leaves and stems of the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa while a Lassi is a yoghurt drink flavoured with sugar, salt, mild spice or fruit.

Bhang lassis are widely available in South Asian countries at varying degrees of legality. In the Indian state of Rajasthan government licensed bhang shops sell the drug in a variety of forms including powders, drinks and baked goods.

Bhang has a long history in India and was first used as part of the Hindu rite in India around 1000 BC and is today an integral part of Hindu culture. The herb is devoted to Lord Shiva on Shivratri, a Hindu festival.
Sadhus and Sufis use Bhang to boost meditation and to achieve transcendental states. Bhang is widely consumed during the famous colourful festival of Holi.

Trying bhang in some form could be considered an essential part of any India trip. If you decide to try a bhang lassi then learn from my mistakes and start off with the mild variety

Kolkata's Krazy Bars and Clubs: Nightlife Guide

2011-06-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, is a vibrant city accented by remnants of it's colonial past. Victorian architecture adjacent to traditional Hindu temples shines light on the unique cosmopolitan vibe of India's third largest city. As with any great city, when the sun goes down the drinking holes fill up, from grimy dive bars to the posh nightclubs, the city on the Hooghly River has it all.

Sudder Street Tourist Ghetto:
The area in which most budget traveller's will be staying has a range of cheap but no-frills bars.

Super Pub (Bar):
Located at the East end of Sudder Street.
In case you weren't sure that a 'Pub' serves liquor the "(Bar)" makes it abundantly clear. Waiters dressed in bowties and vests serve up ice cold beer in a nice AC room with one large flatscreen TV. Not particularily "super" but close to the budget accommodation. Cheap beer makes it a great place to start the night.

Sunset Bar:
Located in the Lytton Hotel midway down Sudder Street.
A small but stylish bar with red lighting highlights and several flatscreen TV's showcasing the latest cricket highlights. High end relative to the sudder street standard and somewhat pricey.

Fairlawn Hotel Garden Bar:
Located midway along Sudder Street at the Fairlawn Hotel.
Slightly overgrown garden bar gives one the feeling of being miles away from the city in a sub-tropical Jungle. A great place to start the night and an excellent place to meet other travellers and locals alike. Only serves Beer, no liquor.

Park Hotel Complex:
One of Kolkata's most expensive hotels, the Park Hotel on Park Street is an epicenter for nightlife in the city. A range of bars and nightclubs to suit anyone's needs as long as they're prepared to spend a bit of money.

Trincas:
Located Adjacent to the Park Hotel
Multi-room restaurant/bar. The largest room features a live band on some nights of the week while the Ming room is reserved for those in search of a little quiet. Trincas Tavern is cheapest of the Park Hotel Complex for both food and drink.

Someplace Else:
Calcutta's most rocking bar features cover bands every night of the week. Stylized with traditional English pub decor, one could truly feel that they have gone "someplace else".

The Street:
An upscale cafe serving overpriced "street food" also comes equipped with a full bar and a range of domestic and imported beers.

Tantra:
Reputed to be one of Kolkata's best nightclubs, Tantra is a large high ceilinged dance hall centered around a large square bar that serves overpriced drinks. A lounge area at one end with bean bag chairs and a dance floor at the other ensure comfort for both those who came to dance or simply to relax. An additional bar upstairs provides eagle-eye views of the bar and dancefloor below.

Roxy:
Shimmering silver discs on the walls make this stylish downstairs dance club an attractive venue. Nice dancefloor with big projection screen. Unfortunately, most crowds head directly for Tantra leaving the dancefloor a somewhat sparse.

Kenilworth Hotel
Rival hotels to the Park Hotel are the Kenilworth an the Astor. Both have their own nightlife venue and both are located South of Park street on Shakespeare Street.

Big Ben:
Would feel just like an english pub were it not for the occasionsl hindi beats coming from the small, but lively, dancefloor.

Astor Hotel
Plush:
Another of Kolkata's finest nightclubs comes in the form of a smallish but comfortable nightclub. The decor reminds one of someone's warm yet very posh living room giving the club a great vibe akin to a raging house party.

Salt Lake Area
The recently developed suburb of Salt Lake has it's own happening scene. Clustered in 'Sector 5' bars and nightclubs cater to the many young professionals working in the IT industry.

Shimmer:

A favourite of young professionals, Shimmer fills up early as people make their way there as soon as the work day is done. Lots of T.V.s ensure that you're up to date with the latest cricket scores and the rowdy dancefloor provides poppy tunes to dance to.

Reflections on India: The things I Learned

2011-05-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Close to two months spent in India and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have been extremely lucky to have experienced all that I have and to have met the amazing people that made my stay extra special. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in India and it exceeded my expectations n every way. I would recommend travelling India to anyone seeking a unique cultural experience and a bit of adventure.Things I've learned from my stay in India:

-Cows are disgusting creatures and I hate them. I am happy that they are one of the most delicious animals and I will now enjoy veal even more than I used to.

-There are hundreds, probably thousands, of different indian dishes that taste exactly the same; delicious.

-Sometimes milk in India tastes a little bit like cow.

-The term "chai tea" is redundant as "chai" is the indian word for tea. Masala chai is the tastiest chai but can vary greatly in quality.

-AC class on the train is well worth the extra money.

-Cricket is an excellent when, and only when, paired with beer.

-The sound of a Royal Enfield motorcycle is music to the ears.

-Traffic rules in India are taken as nothing more than loose guidelines and the horn is a cars most useful accessory.

-Indians are the friendliest people of any country I have been to and never in all my travels have I met so many "locals" who I now consider my friends.

India Trip Part 7: Kolkata

2011-05-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

My final stop in india is the country's second largest city, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). Despite the way my parents remember the city, it is quite nice and relatively clean.

Kolkata was the capital of colonial India so there is a great deal of british architecture and lots of nice parks.
Conveniently, the traveller's ghetto, Sudder St., is pretty close to the best area for nightlife in the city, something that was far from true in Delhi or Mumbai. The nightclubs in Kolkata are very expensive

I took a break from the bars and clubs for one night to catch a Bollywood film. I chose a theater close to my hotel and it onle had one screen so the wasn't any choice of what show to see. The movie was a horror movie along the same lines as the hollywood film "paranormal activity" so unfortunately there were no elaborate dance scenes. While the movie wasn't much to write home about, the theater itself was pretty impressive; three tiers of balconied seats and large enough to hold well over 1000 people, however only about 15 chose to see the film I was seeing.

I did quite a bit of walking around the city and checking out the old colonial districts, all of which have been renamed to remove any association with the British. I took a ferry ride across the Hooghly River to visit the twin city of Howrah and then walked back along the Howrah bridge to take in the views.

On my final day in Kolkata and what was to be my final full-day in India I fell ill once again with the famous Delhi Belly (perhaps in this case Calcutta Butta). I lay in bed most of the day drinking water and various medications trying to decide whether I would be well enough to take the bus to Siliguri, a city near the Nepalese Border. A late decision saw me boarding the bus, still nauseous but "well enough".

I arrived the next day in Siliguri without incident and continued on to the border with a shared taxi for about a 1 hour drive. I walked across the border which was surprisingly easy and hassle free.

Upon seeing the border town on the Nepal side of the Border I decided to take yet another overnight bus to Pokhara. Had I seen the bus before I bought my ticket I may have chosen differently.

On one of the oldest, most overcrowded buses I have been on I set off across Nepal. I had been forwarned that road conditions made nightbuses in Nepal particularly dangerous and that drivers often fall asleep (don't know how you could on that bus). We stopped multiple times o pick up cargo and people until both the inside and roof of the bus were full. It was a very long night but I finally arrived in Pokhara.

Profit from Your Drinking Game Skills

2011-05-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Drinking games have been popular for many years and for good reason, as they're a great way to get the party started when hanging out with friends and can be an ideal ice-breaker in any situation. Whether you prefer board games such as the, hand-eye coordination games such as quarters or beer pong, or card-based drinking games like "Asshole" and "Screw Your Neighbor", you've got plenty of great options when it comes to drinking games. One thing you might not realize, though, is that in some cases you can put your drinking game skills to good use and actually pull in some hefty profits.

Beer pong is a drinking game staple around the world and has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, with events like the World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP) drawing more than 800 participants in 2010. Not only is the beer pong World Championship title up for grabs but there's plenty of cash to be won as well, with a $50,000 grand prize going to the winner of the 2011 WSOBP. Satellite tournaments let some teams win their way to Vegas for the WSOBP for free, so even if you don't win the championship title you still get to enjoy a weekend in Vegas and all the action you can handle at the blackjack, video poker, and craps tables.

If you're a veteran of card drinking games, you've likely learned a trick or two when it comes not just playing your cards correctly but also reading opponents and knowing when they're bluffing and when they actually have a strong hand. With some practice and time spent brushing up on strategy, those skills can be very valuable at the online poker tables, where top players can easily make $100,000/year or more. Millions of players compete at various online poker sites every year, drawn by both the profit potential as well as the convenience of being able to play from nearly anywhere in the world.

Once nice perk of playing poker, slots games online, and other casino games is that you'll also often be eligible for generous new player bonuses just for creating and funding your account, as many online sites offer lucrative cash bonuses and promotions to entice new players to their site. In some cases you can double or triple your starting bankroll with a new player bonus, which is in addition to any money that you win from your play at the tables. Terms and conditions can apply to bonuses, however, so be sure you read all of the fine print before you accept a bonus when signing up at an online site.

India Trip Part 6: Dehradun and Varanasi

2011-05-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Another overnight bus and I was in Uttarakhand state's capital Dehradun. Dehradun isn't very interesting or much fun. The only reason I stopped there for a night was to catch an onward train to Varanasi.

I did end up travelling about half an hour out of town to see the Tibetan colony which was pretty impressive. They had a massive monastery with a 5 story stupa and equally tall Buddha statue.

I spent a lot of the my second day in Dehradun worrying about whether or not I had a train ticket to Varanasi in the evening. I had booked a waitlisted ticket and had to wait until 2 hours before departure to find out that I would have a seat however would be a sleeper seat shared with another person. I spent 23.5 hours on that train and was exhausted when I finally arrived in Varanasi.

Varanasi is filthy, crowded and hectic yet altogether amazing. The activity surrounding the banks of the Ganges river, areas known as the ghats, provide constant entertainment. People bathing, washing clothes, praying and carrying out funerals creates excellent people watching. The heat was pretty intense. 42-45 degrees was standard during my stay meaning I was always drenched with sweat.

I took an evening boat ride along the ganges which was relaxing and enjoyable. I didn't end up swimming in the river although with thousands of people taking the plunge daily I think the risk of disease is highly exaggerated among western tourists.

I think I stayed one day too long in Varanasi. The final day I was fed up with the heat, the overcrowding and the annoying touts. This added to my stress as I once again faced the same old waitlist problems with the train. I worried all day again but in the end I got on and even got my own bed.

Onwards to Kolkata

Favourite Travel Photos: Sunset in Goa

2011-05-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

The calming sunset before what is sure to be a wild night in India's party state, Goa.

India Trip Part 5: The Dalai Lama's house and Himachel Pradesh

2011-05-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

I boarded a bus in Delhi on a tuesday afternoon and, somehow, found myself in the Swiss Alps on tuesday morning. That is, at least, how it felt. I had arrived in Manali in the northwest corner of India. Snow capped peaks, evergreen trees and cool mountain air have mefeeling as if I have left India and ended up in a ski resort on the other side of the world. Manali is, apparently, a major tourist destination for Israelis. Almost every other tourist there was Israeli and I'm pretty sure everyone just assumed I was Israeli as well.

I did a day trip with a friend I met in Delhi to the nearby town of naggar. Naggar was a neat little town that is famous for being home of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. We went to the Roerich museum which was ok but the best part of the trip was the ride through the mountain roads on the back of a motorcycle.

From Manali I took a bus to Mcleod Ganj. I decided to take a day bus instead of the cheaper overnight option so that I could see the mountain scenery. It was nice drive and I'm glad I did it. Mcleod Ganj is home to the exiled tibetan government for which the head is the Dalai Lama. Unfortunately the Dalai Lama is currently on tour somewhere, however there are plenty of tibetan related sights tosee around town and hoards of red-robed monks. It really feels like a different country here, I think there are more tibetan refugees here than Indians. The night that I arrived here there was an outdoor rock concert of one of india biggest bands (or so they claim). It was pretty decent and kinda funny to see tibetan monks rockin out to the music.

I walked a lot around the surrounding area a fair bit to a waterfall, a lake (currently dried up), and nearby villages.

I met some guys from Kashmir in a local pub. They are currently living here selling Kashmiri Handicrafts to tourists. They invited me to their home for dinner last night for Kashmiri food and tea, it was delicious and although I half expected them to propose some sort of scam business proposition to me the proposition never came and it was a great experience.

From McLeod Ganj I took a long and windy overnight bus ride to Uttarakhand's state capital Dehradun...