HoliDaze Archive

culture shock

100 Strange, Intriguing & Obscure Travel Facts

Lover's Deep Submarine

The beauty of travel is that it constantly teaches you new things. Once you start traveling, it is hard to stop. And hard to go without. For all those who cannot travel internationally right now, here is a curated collection of the top 100 strange, intriguing and obscure travel facts. Guaranteed to teach you a … Read More

You Might Be In Korea If…

Our village is suffering from tourists

South Korea is a nation unlike any other. The self-proclaimed “drug-free country” seems to forget the fact that alcohol is a drug. They also overlook drunk people passed out on the sidewalk. Apparently the inconvenience of stepping around them is worth the convenience of alcohol being sold 24/7/365. Strange? Not in Korea. During my time … Read More

Japanese Toilets: Impressive, Futuristic…And Daunting To First-Timers

Instructions on how to use Japanese toilets

There is nothing more gratifying than a top notch toilet. And when it comes to fancy toilets it is fairly common knowledge that Japan leads the pack. Japanese toilets have features most Westerners have never dreamed of, including background noise to cover any sounds that the user may make, a warm cleansing spray, self-warming seat, … Read More

You Know You Are In Bolivia When…

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Bolivia is a thought-provoking and unique country, with friendly locals who will not hesitate to share a smile with you despite the daily hardships they endure in the poorest country in South America. Hardships that we cannot even begin to imagine without visiting. You know you are in Bolivia when traveling the country is not … Read More

Why Most Tourists Never Return To Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Many people love Vietnam. Many others, particularly long-term travelers, don’t care for it and feel that one trip was more than enough. After all no matter how much or how little you travel, there is always that one place you like the least. Some countries just rub you the wrong way, for whatever arcane reason. … Read More

15 Tips for Responsible Travel in Myanmar

Inle Lake, Myanmar

I first visited Myanmar in December 2010 shortly after the elections took place, an event that received mixed reactions internationally and signaled that a potential change was on the horizon. The release of Aung San Suu Kyi from decades of house arrest became a key catalyst for the international community lifting the informal travel boycott … Read More

One Night In Bangkok And The World’s Your Oyster…

Bangkok Nightlife @ Patpong

Having spent two weeks checking out the Bangkok nightlife I can now say that I understand and appreciate the words to the One Night In Bangkok song that much better. But before I get into the sordid stories of Thailand‘s capital city after dark, let me just first say a few things: I came to … Read More

To Be, Or Not To Be A Tourist ― Volunteering in Africa

Sierra Leone, Africa

Experiential travel is one of the biggest buzzwords in today’s rapidly changing travel industry, but there’s more than one way to get under the skin of a country. For ultimate cultural immersion, a voluntour provides you with the perfect mix, and there’s a deeper sense of commitment when the holiday is focused on the objectives … Read More

Life In Subic Bay, Philippines

Fishing boats on the beach at Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

The first thing to realize about life in Subic Bay is that the US military has had a navy base there since 1898, when we took control of the Philippines after defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War. Actually, it was the biggest overseas naval base of the United States. Granted, it was finally closed in … Read More