Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Photo of Author Wai-ing with Ronald at a Thailand McDonalds.

I have always had a shameful fascination with American fast food chains abroad. I don’t even remember the last time I ate a Big Mac at home, but put me in a new country, and I’ll be scarfing down a super sized fries the minute I can’t handle another bite of pad thai.

McDonalds is probably the ultimate in globalization and product adaptation case studies, so this is not really a bad habit… just research. So in the name of educating people everywhere, here is the run down on a few Asian countries’ McDonalds:

1. McDonalds Indonesia: The standout quirk at this McDonalds was neither the McFlurry nor the Mac, but instead the unusual side order. Not feeling fries? Dive into a white rice patty–not to be confused with a rice paddy–with your burger. I don’t get why anyone would make that substitution, but hey! The Indonesians were lovin’ it.
2. McDonalds Thailand: Thailand has managed to Westernize faster than its SE Asian neighbors, so I suppose it was no surprise to me that the McDonalds menu was pretty much the same. Besides the wai-ing Ronald at the door and an entree option of spicy pork and basil, this McDonalds was not so shocking after all!
3. McDonalds India: Devoid of clown imagery, the Indian McDonalds was just as different as everything else is in India. From a beef free menu of Maharaja Mac and Spicy Paneer Sandwiches, I selected a simple chicken sandwich. However, as not to be overshadowed by its Indian brothers, this sandwich came with a Puri Puri Spice Mix and a Shake Shake Bag for mixing it all together. The unique culinary experience at this McDonalds might be as distinct as they come.

Have you had any interesting observations at a McDonalds or other fast food joint abroad? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook!

Author at the Taj Mahal with Some New Friends

I’ve been traveling abroad for a year and haven’t seen my family for months, yet it seems like I’ve posed for more family photos than ever.

“How?” you might ask?

Well… excluding the family Christmas Card with my face Skyped in, my ‘family’ photos have been taken with other people’s families–Indian families, Thai families, Indonesian families. You name an Asian nationality and I probably have a family portrait. Not to mention the hundreds of shots with flirtatious youngsters, silly girls and enthusiastic old fellows.

Initially this phenomenon was amusing. While my friend and I scaled the stairs of Borobudur in Indonesia, we were accosted by a giggly group of school girls and asked for a photo. I thought it was just because my male companion was handsome, but soon, one photo turned into a photo shoot with every person in the place. By the end of the day, I found myself ducking behind ruins to catch a look at the temple without being pulled into a photograph.

Author at Borobodur

I suppose I was a little less surprised when the same thing continued to happen throughout Asia– at Bangkok’s Grand Palace, at Agra’s Taj Mahal, at the temples of Bagan in Myanmar. No matter how spectacular the background, it seemed like my American friends and I were the preferred subject of people’s photographs.

Author at Amber Fort

Closely zoomed shots of our faces cut off entire pillars or cropped out Buddha’s head or omitted the family’s youngest son. Arms were slung around our shoulders and handshakes were given simply for the photo opportunity. Within the snap of a shutter we had suddenly become the fictional “English friend” or “the Canadian girls that I hung out with” of the beholder for years to come.

I didn’t get it. Why would they want a picture of some random girls? Do they show to their friends? Frame them? Put them in family albums? Show their grandkids?

…

Today I was flipping through years of photos in my iPhoto library–through albums overflowing with memories of friends, places traveled and family gatherings. But then, there were also my “artsy photos”… photos of boys playing soccer in Ghana, the aged face of my fortune teller in Hong Kong, and fruit vendors dispensing mangoes in Jakarta. People going about their daily life and me capturing it with my DSLR to look at later on– in frames hanging on the walls to show my friends and grandkids (someday).

And for the first time, I realized how weird it must seem to the subjects of my photographs that I want a picture of them doing… well… nothing in particular.

After this realization, I don’t think I can resist it anymore. In fact, I think I owe it too all the photo happy tourists to offer up my smiling face for photos if they want it.

I guess I had it coming all along. So, here’s my travel photo pledge of good will: As long as I shoot, I consent to be shot. EVEN if it means I become the imaginary “American girlfriend” of a Punjabi man I hardly know.

Have any funny “family” photos from your trips abroad? Where were they? (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: Posing for Other People’s Family Photos)

Two Dancers Perform the Kecak Dance in Ubud, Indonesia. Photo by Author.

I’ve never been much of a beach lover. While others seem to enjoy hours upon days of sun and waves, I have about 2 hours of stamina before I’m burned out on my salty-sandy state. I really just go for the company… and maybe a piña colada or two…

I know it sounds blasphemous to say, but after a day at Uluwatu– the Balinese surfer’s paradise– I was a little beached out. Luckily for people like me (I know you’re out there!) there are so many more things to do in Bali than simply beach bum.

Hundreds of years of water-locked culture have evolved into a fascinating art and music scene that make this Southeast Asian destination stand apart from the rest.

• Balinese Dance: A choir of voices clicking rhythmically creates an unmistakably musical soundtrack for the Kecak Dance. Amongst fire torches, lavishly costumed dancers recreate the story of the Hindu god Rama through emotional gestures and deliberate steps. The Kecak, amongst other Balinese dance performances, makes your annual trip to see the Nutcracker seem like yesterday’s stale bread, so if you have any interest in the tradition of Bali, a glimpse at Balinese dance is essential.
• Traditional Art: Whether you have a trained eye or are simply intrigued by the stunning sarongs and elaborate wooden statues around town, you have to make a trip to an art workshop during your trip to Bali. Batik, woodcarving, and silver craft are among the many traditional art forms that are thriving on the island. You can watch artists work for free at one of the many factories as long as you’re willing to at least browse the gallery when you’re finished.
  

  Making Beads at the Silver Shop. Photo by Author.

• Local Music: The islandy influence has made modern Balinese music a combination of reggae and mellow rock. Look for restaurants featuring live musicians for a casual sampling of local rhythms or spend an evening at a concert for a bit of Balinese culture. If you’re feeling especially inspired by the island breeze, join in on a beach jam session or sing along with the band after the bar closes to covers of Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers–songs that feel so much more inspiring by the sea.
• Contemporary Art: Indonesia has a surprising presence of modern art forms created by young people straying from the traditional variety. Often, art schools will hold exhibitions where you can check out the artistic perspective of Southeast Asian youths through funky batiks or abstract sculptures. Also, keep an eye out for cafes and restaurants that feature the work of local artists for a bit of culture while taking your morning coffee.

Whether or not you’re tired of the beach, the unique cultural offerings of Bali are wonders no traveler should miss! The enriching artistic side of Bali spills out as far as the sand and you’ve gotta see it to believe it, whether formally or more casually.

So wipe off that sand, put that sundress back on and dig into Balinese culture! If you’re feeling inspired, check out some of these great tours of Bali with Gray Line.

Whats your favorite way to escape the beach? (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Beached Out in Bali? Get Artsy)