SRI LANKA, KANDY: After procuring a motorbike I decided to search for a local gym to do some progressive reps. Whilst on my way to one on the outskirts fo Kandy I saw a neon sign blinking which read NOODLES! So after U-turn I sat down for a highly entertaining bowl of Sri Lankan noodles.
February 14, 2019
INDIA, AHMEDABAD: In the middle of India's 6th largest city lies a magical city within a city. It's often referred to as the local slum or joked about as the Hollywood Colony. Where or how it got the name no one has been able to tell me. But this is hands down the wildest happiest most lively place I've ever encountered on my India travels. Every time I've driven by, there's been some festival or wedding party going on. The people are dressed in colorful Rajasthani fashion and nearly everyone says hello to me as I pass by. Knowing though that the interweb is full of useless videos of people doing walk through in exotic areas I thought I'd do one better. Why not show people what the inside of this place looks like and how these people live? Thus was born Harald Invades....
February 18, 2019
INDIA, AHMEDABAD: After breaching the Hollywood Colony's defenses using a policy or relentless attrition, it was time to bond with the locals. And what better way to bond than over dinner? Indian food as I've relayed in countless videos is damn tasty but also much more hygienic than its reputation. When this Indian family offered me to eat with them I was therefore overjoyed at the chance of partaking in this experience. So what dish did they cook? And what does an Indian family dinner even look like?
February 20, 2019
February 23, 2019
INDIA, AHMEDABAD: Artisan restaurant's Executive Chef Awanish Goswami's takes us into the heart of his Indian restaurant to reveal how to make a most sublime butter chicken, India's by far greatest and tastiest dish. So what's in a butter chicken? And how is it prepared? Awanish reveals all in today's episode. If you wish to dine and try the epic Indian food at 'Artisan' go to Regenta Central Antarim Boutique Hotel in Ahmedabad, India.
February 25, 2019
INDIA, AHMEDABAD: Most people likely don't dream of moving to an Indian slum but let's say for some reason you do. What does a house there cost? How big is the average home and what does a modest Indian house even look like?
March 14, 2019
SAIGON, VIETNAM: After driving around in Saigon's sweltering heat heat for 2 hours my patience was wearing thin. I'd been looking for a street barber so I could get shave but without success. The time was ripe for compromise. I thus opted for an open air barber in the poverty stricken district 6. The shave went as expected but as I was leaving I realized that this was a family run business and that the barber was living on premises with his whole family. This I had to investigate....
March 14, 2019
SAIGON, VIETNAM: Not having seen a capsule hotel since my first trip to Japan in 2001, I became pretty excited when I learnt that Saigon actually has one. Although pricier than your average budget hotel room in this mega city, Sunland capsule hotel offers something the others don't and hence charge accordingly. A unique experience you'll never forget. I therefore had no choice but to book in to my very own private capsule for a once in a lifetime experience.
March 16, 2019
SAIGON, VIETNAM: The variety of food on offer in the bustling streets of Saigon, Vietnam's biggest city, is second to none. Everything is on offer in all price ranges. Still one of the last things I expected to encounter on my Saigon street food hunt was an American making Mexican food in Vietnam! THIS I had to try.... so how was the tacos and what did they cost? And do people in the streets of Saigon recognize me? This and more in today's episode.
March 17, 2019
SAIGON, VIETNAM: Vietnam's economy is booming with small scale manufacturers popping up everywhere. Jeans, shoes, t-shirts and everything between heaven and earth are made in workshops where workers are laboring away at an impressive 17 hours a day. So what does it look like inside one of these operations? And how are the good produced? As Vietnam is quite far behind the West in terms of economic development and only begun the process of industrialization a few decades ago, it should come as no surprise that manufacturing here is a highly labor intensive endeavor. So join me as I take a closer look at Vietnam's economy by touring a shoe manufacturing business that has been in the hands of the same family for 30 years.
March 17, 2019
SAIGON, VIETNAM: I flew to Vietnam with nothing more than the clothes I was wearing and a change of t-shirt and underwear. Top of my agenda was thus to scour through Saigon's famous 'fake' clothes market (Ben Thanh) for a 2nd, 3rd and 4th outfit. From Nike shoes, Tommy Hilfiger t-shirts and Calvin Klein underwear this market has it all. So what do the products cost? What is the starting price? And what can for example a t-shirt be haggled down to? This and much more in episode one of my mega Vietnam fake market hunt. English
March 20, 2019
VIETNAM, SAIGON: The market shopping spree continues. After having been royally fleeced in the first episode I continue to get flagged down by greedy vendors eager for a mega payday. Seeing as I quite enjoy seeing how life and work at this market perpetuates itself I solider on. Besides, can one really ever own enough socks and t-shirts? And is overpaying when you know you are really a scam? The answer is no and no ;-)
March 25, 2019
VIETNAM, SAIGON: I'd bought nearly everything I needed in this market apart from one thing. A new pair of shoes. Not that I needed a pair but I was curious to see how much a fake pair of Adidas shoes cost i Vietnam plus it was rather fun to bargain with the funny sales women. So I decided to go on one last market hunt just for fun. So how much does a fake pair of Adidas shoes cost in Vietnam? What are the cheapest shoes? And what is the price for Converse shoes?
March 27, 2019
THAILAND, BANGKOK: In the middle of Bangkok there's an area or mall called Korea town. I've wanted to try the Korean BBQ there for over a decade now but was too afraid to venture into a Korean restaurant alone. But today was the day when I decided to put a stop to this. I needed to fid a local ally so I could try out Bangkok's finest Korean BBQ and suffer no more. How did I do it? What was the Korean food like? And is Korean food better than Thai food?
March 31, 2019
THAILAND, BANGKOK: The best beef steak I've ever had was in Landmark hotel's Rib Room Steakhouse. A decade ago I went there for a Kobe beef I have not been able to get out of my mid. So with Mr. Noodles in town, it was the perfect occasion for a second visit to Landmark hotel. Upon entering the restaurant however I quickly realized that the Kobe beef was no longer on the menu. Though they had substituted it with something even better and far pricier. What was it? And what did this ridiculously expensive dinner cost in the end?
April 10, 2019
VIETNAM, SAIGON: Most of the food I try in Asia, especially the street food, is excellent. But there's always the exception. This day in Vietnam was a horrible food day. After not having had a single bite of anything for 36 hours I decided to sit down at a street restaurant to eat a whole chicken. I was mighty hungry and looking forward to devouring it like no chicken I've ever dug into in my lifetime. So what was wrong with the food and why was it so bad?
April 17, 2019
LAS VEGAS, USA: You've most likely seen me do a street shave in countries like India and Vietnam. Often Americans comment under said videos asking if I could make a similar one at an American barber shop. So how does an American shave compare to a
.20 street shave in Asia? Well, you be the judge. I enjoyed them both. If you find yourself in Las Vegas and in need of either a Haircut or a shave, you can find 'The Barber Shop: Cuts & Cocktails' on the famous Las Vegas strip on the ground floor of the Cosmopolitan Luxury Hotel. The service was excellent and the people working there were really fun.April 22, 2019
April 29, 2019
VIETNAM, HANOI: I've tried some strange meals in my time touring the globe but never have I had one that was slain, drained and chopped up right in front of me. But you know what they say, there's a first time for everything. Hanoi is actually quite famous for its snake restaurants where people come not only from abroad but also from across the country to try this specialty dish. So how is the meal prepared? What was the heart like? And what does this tasty meal cost? I was able to find the restaurant in Google Maps. It's called Nhà Hàng Trọng Khách.
April 30, 2019
VIETNAM, HANOI: Second part of my visit to Hanoi's Cobra village where they specialize in various snake dishes. After choosing the Cobra and watching them prepare it in episode 1, it was time to taste the fruits of their labor. They turned one Cobra into 6 different dishes all unique in both looks and taste. What I was eating and how I was supposed to eat it I had no idea. Luckily other patrons of the same restaurant came over to my table and were more than eager to explain each dish.
April 30, 2019
VIETNAM, HANOI: After downing the beating snake heart raw, I felt like a new man. That called for a change in appearance. But to what? As I walked into the reception of my hotel it suddenly hit me: Go Gwyneth! (you'll see why in the vid) So off I went to the nearest hair dresser for a total hair makeover. So what color did I go for? And how much did it cost? And how good are the hairdressers in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital?
May 1, 2019
VIETNAM, HANOI: Driving home from the snake village I came across and awesome area along the highway full of barbers. But one in particular caught my eye. He had a chair set up in the middle of the road next to a tree. Although I didn't need a hair-cut nor wanted a shave I realized I had to check this place out. It's not like any of that has stopped me before right? So the next morning it was off to find this novelty of a street barber. But where was he? I had forgotten the location. After driving around for an hour I finally figured it out.
May 2, 2019
BA VI, VIETNAM: In the 19th century Vietnam became a part of France's colonial empire. This legacy can be seen in the architecture in a number of French quarters across Vietnam's major cities. That this legacy extended to more remote forests and mountains though was news to me. I was therefore mighty excited when I found out about an abandoned church in a forest a couple of hours drive from Vietnam's capital Hanoi. This being the monsoon season hough my journey there was not as easy as I had hoped.
May 4, 2019
BA VI, VIETNAM: After trekking up the mountain through the thick monsoon fog and investigating some secret colonial ruins, I was aching for a swim. But where was the waterfall? I drove around for an hour and all I found was an angry forest patrol who fined me for trespassing around a lake. As I drove away in disgust I saw a fairground ride in what appeared to be someone's backyard! A theme park on private property? I couldn't believe my eye! I was in Vietnam's jungle after all. As I drove around the property however it turned out it to be huge! This was a legitimate theme park built around a waterfall. But there was a catch....
May 5, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: There are luxury hotels and then there are budget hotels. In Asia however there's yet another type of accommodation for those on a tight budget: capsule hotels. Invented in Japan, this hotel type is now spreading across Asia to satisfy the insatiable thirst for budget accommodation amongst European and Asian travelers alike. This particular hotel I stayed at is located in Vietnam's capital Hanoi and has only been open for a week. Naturally it was in immaculate condition. But what was it actually like to reside in one of these capsules? And when normal hotel rooms in Hanoi are so cheap, can one justify to stay in a capsule when savings are in the single digits? This and more as I tour Vietnam's newest capsule hotel.
May 13, 2019
PHILIPPINES, MANILLA: Whilst doing some shopping in Manilla's biggest market, Divisoria, I stumbled into a guy who had made his own motorbike from a boat engine. This I had to film! As I started to roll tape my market excursion quickly turned into an interesting little culinary experience. A woman selling some kind of meatballs caught my attention and I decided to try her food. Struggling with food poisoning I'd caught at a roof top restaurant the night before, I was feeling mighty under the weather and this chicken would power me up! There was only one problem. I didn't understand her very well and when I tried to severely overpay using a 500 not (as it was all I had) the meal nearly fell through.... Luckily the mic on my camera works far better than my ear under such chaotic and extremely noisy circumstances and caught the whole train-wreck of a conversation on tape for you guys to hear. Enjoy ;-)
May 22, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: The easiest way to maneuver your way around the Philippines from one island to the next is by plane. But who wants easy when on an adventure holiday? By far the coolest, albeit time consuming method to island hope around this nation of 6000 islands, is by boat. This being my first time truly touring around in this country I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I boarded the ferry in Cebu destined for one of the country's most underdeveloped island Leyte.
May 22, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: After meeting Christen’s incredible family and seeing how they are able to get by and make things work with so little I knew this was the best candidates for a donation video since the family in Ahmedabad. The only problem was that there was no functional ATMs in Burgos. Me and Tim thus hopped on a bus to the next town. An hour later in unbearable heat we arrived only to find yet another cash machine that did not take MasterCard. 5 machines and one actual bank branch visit later and still no luck. Diner’s Club or Visa were the only options. After searching through the whole city we finally found the one machine that accepts MasterCard and the cash was secured. The next evening we ventured over to the village only to find the house empty. A lengthy wait ensued were we encountered some awesome villagers and hit a fantastic insight into life in this scenic little Filipino beachfront town.
May 23, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: As we arrived in Leyte and had a 4 hour drive ahead of us, it was about time we got a meal inside our bellies. Luckily on our first San Mig pit stop, we came across an epic pork lechon dealer. This was my first real run in with a proper Philippino street food kitchen. But did it disappoint?
May 24, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: Fresh coconut juice is one of the most delicious beverages in the world. Little did I know however the amount of labor that goes into harvesting these delicious fruits. In the Philippines I was lucky enough to be invited to see this process with my own eyes.
May 25, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: What is life like in a Filipino village? What do people’s houses look like? And how many people live in one house? This and many more questions are answered in today’s episode which takes you inside on a grand tour of a Filipino family’s home in a picturesque amazing little beach front village on the island of Leyte.
May 26, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: Nothing has caused me a bigger headache in the Philippines thus far than SIM cards. Move from one island to the next and your old SIM card stops working. So just buy a new one you say? Well it's not that easy...
May 26, 2019
PHILIPPINES, LEYTE: Given that the Philippines consists of 7641 islands there are naturally going to be tons of epic beaches in this tropical nation. So which is my favorite thus far? The secret beach of Leyte which only Tim The Great knows how to find.
May 28, 2019
PHILIPPINES, MINDANAO: Whilst moving from one Filipino island to the next is always an incredibly arduous endeavor, it is also wildly entertaining. Case in point, the boat from Leyte to Mindanao. From crazy diver hunting for coins on the ocean floor to the karaoke at the back of the boat. There was never a dull moment. Then we hit Mindanao and things got even more interesting....
May 30, 2019
PHILIPPINES, MINDANAO: After a long hard day of traveling it was time for an epic pork chop hunt. This being the Philippines though, I didn’t have to hunt for long. In fact I just crossed the toad and I was in lechon heaven!!! But which stall to choose? There were so many...
May 31, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: The coolest island in the Philippines right now, or so I've been told, is Siargao. A true surfer's paradise it's also got a lot to offer for pork chop hunters and connoisseurs of exotic swimming locations like c'est moi. Therefore I set out at 6AM with Progressive Shannon to tour the whole island in a single day by motorbike to find the best secluded beaches Sairgao has to offer. First stop, Magpupungko beach, famous for its rock pools...
June 1, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: After riding for a good 6 hours we were running critically low on fuel. Seeing as we had not yet eaten breakfast either energy was running low. In other words it was already waaaay past pork o'clock! This being the Philippines though a luscious juicy looking pork meal is never too hard to locate.....
June 3, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: Nothing beats seeing how people live. NOTHING! Whilst touring Vietnam I often rode past little communities of houses standing on stilts out in rivers and swamps. I just never got around to visiting one. When I was touring Siargao, an island in the Philippines with Tim Shannon, I once again rode past such a community. Sadly we were on a deserted beach hunt and Shannon had already ridden way ahead. This wasn't the day for a 'Harald Invades'. I thus made a mental note of where these houses were and decided to try and backtrack here another day. The next day I set out in the blazing sun to once again find this incredible looking swamp that for some reason people have decided to turn into a home. After an hour of being roasted in the scorching heat i found it. I parked my bike and started to roll tape. This is what ensued.....
June 4, 2019
PHILIPPINES, DAKU ISLAND: After an incredibly disappointing island hopping tour we came to what was our final destination: Daku Island. Luckily this fantastic little gem of a beach made up for the lame experience we had at the other two. The claim to fame of this little beach seemed to be the seafood. There were 3-4 little straw huts with 5-6 chefs working frying up your food of choice inside on a wood fired grill. There were pork chops. There were blue marlin. There were squids. And the was beef! Having never eaten squid before I opted for the unknown. But how is squid even prepared? And how do you eat it? The learning curve was steep.....
June 10, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: Finding a reasonable apartment or hotel room to rent can be a difficult task when traveling to the Philippines. There's one exception. At the high end price range you seem to pay slightly less than you would in other Asian holiday destinations. At the budget level or mid-range however prices in the Philippines can be outrageous. Case in point this tiny little studio I rented fro per day (!) on Siargao island.
June 13, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: Of all the food I thought I'd find in the Philippines, waffles with banana and Nutella was about the last thing I'd ever expected. But as I've said in countless videos on this country... in the Philippines expect the unexpected. After the Nutella Waffle I embarked on a walk back to my hotel. On the way there I ran into some interesting people and and witnessed the amazing beauty that is Siargao island once the sun has fully come up.
June 14, 2019
PHILIPPINES, SIARGAO: A lot of the scenes I film don't make it into my videos. Here are some of the scenes that didn't make the cut from my recent Philippines adventure.
June 27, 2019
SRI LANKA, COLOMBO: Despite traveling my whole adult life I've never stayed in a five star hotel. I thus decided to treat myself before I go touring in the remote areas of Sri Lanka to some five star luxury in the capital city of Colombo. As far as online reviews are to believed, there's no hotel in Colombo better than the Movenpick Resort. So join me as I tour the buffet, the King suite and rooftop swimming pool.
June 28, 2019
SRI LANKA, COLOMBO: The cheapest market I've ever been to was the old bazaar in New Delhi. And in all honesty I never thought I'd find a market anywhere in the world with lower prices. That was until I discovered Pettah market in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. So what do you think about the prices? Is Indian markets pricier or cheaper than those in Sri Lanka?
June 29, 2019
SRI LANKA, COLOMBO: "Be careful he is a bad man", they kept repeating as I wandered around a vegetable market on the outskirts of Colombo. Then 'the accused' told me that the people who told me to avoid him were bad themselves. Who was I to believe? Intent on not making a hasty decision I decided to wait it out and see as this was a unique market experience unlike no other.
June 30, 2019
SRI LANKA, COLOMBO: After only 3 hours in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo I stumbled across the country's signature dish; Kottu. Whilst in the process of devouring said dish I also ran into a long term viewer of this channel named Jeremy. As with pretty much everyone I run into wherever I travel, he knows a lot more about food than I ever will. So when Jeremy suggested we do tour of a famous beach front street food area in Colombo I grabbed my camera and hailed the nearest Rickshaw.
July 1, 2019
SRI LANKA, COLOMBO: My 2nd day in Colombo I ran into a great Tuk-Tuk driver who upon driving me around for a few said he'd be happy to show me his family and home. This was an opportunity I could not miss. His house turned out to be about two hours drive outside of Colombo though. To make the time go faster he suggested I try some local Sri Lankan lemon rum.....
July 2, 2019
SRI LANKA, NEGOMBO: After a grueling two and a half hour Tuk-Tuk ride we finally arrived at my driver's village home. Before we even entered the house it was quite adamant that this house has huge potential but was still under construction. He still has loans on both the property and the Rickshaw so it is a tedious work on progress. He saves up money, invests then takes time off to build. Once the money runs out he repeats. So what did the house look like as of right now and how long has it been under construction? And how many people are already living here plus how many will move in in the future?
July 4, 2019
SRI LANKA, NEGOMBO: The sun was about to set and it was looking bleak for my visit to the beach during daylight hours. So Sri Lanka's 2nd greatest rickshaw driver made an executive decision and drove by his daughter's house in a village near Negombo for a surprise visit. The stage was now set for another unique look into the life of a Sri Lankan family. This second house though was somewhat dimly lit but at least I got a feel for what it was like to live there. It looked like a very tight nit community and a happy place to live. After a visit to Negombo beach where it seemed the whole city had decided to go for an evening swim we drove back to Colombo. I was dead tired and couldn't wait to get back to the hotel. Then it dawned on me that all I had done was be a passenger whereas Aurun had been driving all day and still had another 2 hours ahead of him before he'd be back to his house. What a work ethic! This deserved a reward....
July 5, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: After a 4 hour Uber ride I check-in to a budget hotel in Kandy. A city in the mountains of central Sri Lanka. But first I had to find the place which was easier said than done. Luckily Sri Lankans speak English very well and I ran into some people on the way who were more than happy to help me out.
July 6, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: Whenever I'm in a new city I like to check out the local markets to see what goods are for sale and how much they cost. I generally don't care much for the price (whether I overpay or not) on these occasions as I'm happy to help out the local vendors who toil there day in and day out. But even I have my limits. After buying some socks at a pretty decent price at at the first market stall I entered I decided to go on a little shopping spree. It was then that I ran into the biggest con artist I've ever meet in any market worldwide!
July 8, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: After procuring a motorbike I decided to search for a local gym to do some progressive reps. Whilst on my way to one on the outskirts fo Kandy I saw a neon sign blinking which read NOODLES! So after U-turn I sat down for a highly entertaining bowl of Sri Lankan noodles.
July 8, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: As I drove away from Kandy my motorbike kept breaking down. Not in the mood to be stranded on some rural road in the middle of the jungles of central Sri Lanka I searched for hotels using Google Maps. Turns out just a short one hour drive North of my position there was a hotel with a 9.7 star rating on Booking.com. This I had never seen before! I've also never seen anything in this price range either away from both a beach and a major city. After 2 minutes of going back and forth with myself curiosity got the better of me and I made an executive call. I booked the room at the Sri Lankan resort in the middle of the jungle. Now all I had to do was find it before the bike broke down yet again....
July 9, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: My whole life I've always hated hotel breakfasts with a passion! Yes, PASSION! Dry crispy flavorless white bread with a bunch of cereals and toppings no man would ever choose were he staring into his own fridge. On top of that they end ridiculously early (so that most people won't be able to make it to this 'free' meal'. So why even bother? Well, seeing as this was the priciest hotel I've ever stayed at, I was kind of obligated to at least see what this Sri Lankan jungle hotel breakfast looked like.. .
July 10, 2019
SRI LANKA, KANDY: After a brief drive to the nearest town called Ukuwala, I asked around for the nearest store selling entertaining beverages. My plan was to simply film a minute or two of interacting with the shop owners before driving back to my hotel. That was until I ran into Sri Lanka's fine white wine man!
July 10, 2019
SRI LANKA, MATALE: On my way from Matalel to Dambulla I suddenly spotted a woman selling fresh king coconuts, avocados and others delicacies on the side of the road. I’m always intrigued by little one man operations such as this so decided to go for a little investigation. Turns out this little store was not just a business though but someone’s home.....
July 12, 2019
SRI LANKA, UDAWELA: Sri Lankan roads are not for the faint hearted. Neither is the process through which Sri Lankan villagers clear their lands of unwanted vegetation. Combine the two and you have a situation that resembles Dante’s Inferno within minutes! So how do the villagers control such situations and is there any help at hand?
July 12, 2019
SRI LANKA, UDAWELA: One of the greatest things about road trips in Asia are the ubiquitous stalls along the highways selling everything from pork chops to umbrellas. After driving through the fire you saw in the last episode I was mighty thirsty for some refreshments. Enter random fresh water lake with sandy beach and woman selling fresh orange juice. This juice however, although fresh, did come with a twist..... English
July 13, 2019
SRI LANKA, ELLA: Sri Lanka is a land of opportunities. Yet, despite actually doing my utmost to meet local entrepreneurs and established business owners I found it incredibly difficult do just that. But whilst on a long drive though the mountains and tea plantations of Ella I finally stumbled upon one by pure accident. What he told me was a mighty impressive story of how he'd taken the leap to open his own little tea shop at the age of 26. Is this man Sri Lanka's next Ceylon tea millionaire? This called for a full-scale Harald investigates!
July 14, 2019
SRI LANKA, ELLA: As much as enjoy touring a country by motorbike it does come with one major downside. You only meet people for a few minutes every time you stop for food or petrol and then you're on your way. You really do miss out on a more wholesome experience. For that there's nothing better than traveling by train. Preferably in third class. People there are always in a an exalted mood and eager to socialize. I don't know if it's the sound of the railway joints colliding with the steel wheels or the fact that people all know we're gonna be stuck together in this confined space for hours ahead. So that was my plan for the day. Park the bike at my hotel and travel by train, on what has been deemed the best railway journey in the world, starting in Ella. But that was just the beginning...
July 14, 2019
SRI LANKA, HAPUTALE: After unsuccessfully trying to find something that looked edible and unlikely to make for a troublesome return bus journey to Ella, I opted for the safety of a Snickers and Mars bar. With my newfound sugar high it was time to check out the local Haputale market. Perched high on a cliff side adjacent to the train station, this market offers stunningly high views and correspondingly low prices. A rare combination. So just how cheap is this market and what do they sell here? Why is the Yes Man of Haputale following me? And did I manage to escape the Yes Man of Sri Lanka in the end?
July 17, 2019
SRI LANKA, BANDARAWELA: After the rock bottom prices at the Haputale market shopping spree I knew it was impossible to find cheaper goods in the city of Bandarawela. But after the street barber rejected me for a shave I had some time to spare before my bus back to Ella. So I decided to go for yet another mega bargain hunt trip at the largest market in this part of Sri Lanka: Bandarawela Market. As usual I met quite a few characters. None as wild as the now legendary 'Yes Man of Haputale', but one did come close: The Bandarawela Market Playah, who proudly (and unapologetically) was parading around with what others described as: NOT his wife!
July 17, 2019
SRI LANKA, YALA NATIONAL PARK: In Sri Lanka there are five star hotels and then there is the Wild Coast Tented Lodge. An ultra luxurious all inclusive resort located inside the boundaries of Yala's National Park. This one of a kind hotel is unrivaled, not only in terms of scenic beauty but in price. At a night, your hotel room is actually not even a room but a tent. Given this price and Sri Lanka's current tourism 'situation', you may be thinking they're struggling to rent these rooms out. You'd be very wrong. I had to wait two days before I was able to get a room here. But was it a wait worthwhile? Is it worth the money? And what does this ultra luxury hotel room look like? Join me on a luxury version of Harald Investigates as I tour my hotel room, check out all its features in great detail and live through my first ever all inclusive resort experience.
July 18, 2019
SRI LANKA, YALA NATIONAL PARK: As the sun set on Sri Lanka’s ultra luxury resort in Yala’s national park my day was by no means over. Determined to make the utmost of this incredibly expensive stay I ventured out to my private swimming pool with the flashlight and sat there in silence searching for wildlife. Lucky for men it turns out that the hotel’s staff and the rangers were far more adept at that than me. The next day I go for my second ever five star hotel dining experience before embarking on an elephant safari.
July 21, 2019
SRI LANKA, SIGIRIYA: After locating the entrance and bypassing the Japanese tour group I was ready for a brief climb to see the famous 1600 year of frescos and scale the summit of the Sigiriya rock. Initially I thought it would be a brisk 10 ascent. I was wrong....
July 21, 2019
ITALY, VENICE: Sometimes it’s ok to splurge. Or at at least that’s what I told myself before I rented a Venetian Palazzo on Airbnb for myself and 8 friends whilst in Italy for the weekend. Given the outrageously expensive price tag it should come as no surprise that it was also incredibly spacious and lavishly furnished. So just how luxurious was this fabulous one of a kind Italian apartment?
July 22, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: Florence is famous for her beef but the Florentines also love a good pork chop. So do I! So come along as I wander the streets of Tuscany's capital in search of Italy's finest pork sandwich.
July 25, 2019
You guys have requested a Q&A video for years. So I finally caved. If there are any questions you'd want me to answer in future Q&A's please let me hear it in the comment section.
July 27, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: Ever since I arrived in Florence people have been telling me to please try the famous dish named lampredotto. Often sold as fast food from vans on the streets of Florence this dish have a rather exotic ingredient: the 4th stomach of a cow! Not one to shy away from an Italian street food challenge, THIS was something I had to try!
July 29, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: Of all the great achievements of Renaissance Italy, one reigns supreme. The construction of an epic brick dome by Brunelleschi in the middle of the 15th century. This architectural masterpiece has stood the test of time and you can still walk on top as well as inside it in the year 2019. So that's exactly what I did whilst giving you guys a little tip on how to enjoy history to the max on your travels.
July 30, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: Tuscany's capital is world famous for its Bistecca Alla Fiorentina. A type of beef that isn't necessarily slayed locally but instead derived from a special breed of bull and prepared in a specific manner which dates back to the middle ages. Traditionally they are served extremely rare! As a huge connoisseur of beef, this was naturally something I had to try and film for you guys. I therefore started sampling various restaurants across Florence over two weeks ago in search of the finest T-bone cut in he city. In all honesty I've yet to run into a bad steak anywhere in this city. But there is one restaurant I keep coming back to that offers the best value in terms of price and quality: Trattoria Dall'Oste. Hence why I choose this restaurant to showcase Florence's greatest dish. So did I defeat the mighty 1.6kg T-bone steak put in front of me? And were I able to walk afterwards?
July 31, 2019
September 3, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: The most challenging meal I've indulged in thus far in Florence, wasn't the 1.6 kg T-bone steak but Lisa's Lampredotto. It's not that the sandwich wasn't good. It really was quite tasty! It was more about having the knowledge of what I was eating and somehow muster the willpower to keep munching down on it despite my better judgement. Having seen my Lampredotto video, Martina, Florence's greatest tour guide, challenged me to sample some even more exotic ancient meals of Florence. So down to the 130 year old street food market known locally as Mercato di San Lorenzo I went. Objective: devour the most daring meals the city has got to offer. But first I was lured into taking the job as an Italian street food master chef! My first order, Panino con l'arrosto (whatever that is).
September 4, 2019
ITALY, FLORENCE: In Mercato di San Lorenzo, Florence's 130 year old Italian street food market, not a single part of the cow goes to waste. The cow's stomach are all local delicacies. The tongue is also devoured and so are the cheeks, liver, heart and everything else. One thing I didn't expect to eat though was the very spring of life itself as one food vendor put it.....
September 13, 2019
CATANIA, SICILY: Arriving in Catania by bus from Palermo, we drove past the railway station on the way to the hotel. It looked like a lively little eating area with lots of Sicilian street food options for the intriguing tongue. The next evening after an unfortunate meal at the hotel during my first evening in the city, I was ready to try the local Sicily street food delicacy: the mighty horse meat sandwich. Having previously devoured this animal at a restaurant in Serbia, and thinking it too dry to consume regularly, I was curious as to whether horse meat in Catania would have the same texture....
September 14, 2019
CATANIA, SICILY: Europe's most aggressive volcano, Mount Etna, is located on the Italian island of Sicily. You'd think that given her frequent hissy fits, the latest one which was yesterday, this volcano would be off limits to the general public. But that isn't the case. Mount Etna is Catania's biggest tourist attraction and a mighty entertaining one I must add. I didn't know quite what to expect as I jumped into the funicular taking me half way up the mountain but I knew I was in for an adventure. And Mount Etna didn't disappoint.
September 18, 2019
CEFALU, SICILY: There's some great deals to be had on Airbnb around the world but not in Italy. If you're hunting for bargain accommodations in this country the B&B's are your best option. Most of them can be found on Booking.com or by simply wandering the streets of the city you just arrived in. Airbnb in Italy is great for expensive apartments in prime locations though. Almost always more expensive than a hotel in the same street, the apartments I've found for rent across this country come with only one major advantage: space. Case in point, this 300 Euro 4 story beachfront apartment in Cefalu Sicily.
September 25, 2019
THAILAND, BANGKOK: As the world plunges ever deeper into climate cris is, I've made a solemn food vow! To stop eating beef, pork, horse, dogs, cobra snakes and humans and get all my protein from one abundant climate neutral source: bugs and insects! Easier said than done though. As i wandered around Bangkok's famous night market in Ratchada I ran into one tasty temptuous Thai street food delicacy after the other. From seafood to juicy pork chops and spare ribs, this market had it all. And to make it extra hard to resist, roughly 80% of the market stalls were staffed by hotties! What's a man to do... As I started asking for directions to the bug street vendors I had a bright idea! But would Greta approve?
September 25, 2019
THAILAND, BANGKOK: Bugs are highly rich in protein. But there's a catch. They look somewhat unappetizing. They're also quite weird to chew down on. But can our aversion to putting these creepy crawlies in our mouth be over come by seasoning, spices and a crowd cheering you on? I went to find out in Bangkok's famous Ratchada Rot Fai market where I tried every bug, incest and Scorpion on the menu. But did I manage to keep it all down..... ?
September 27, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: Vietnam's capital is fast catching up to the other mega cities of South-East Asia like Bangkok, Manilla and Saigon in when it comes to economic growth. Case in point, the city's skyline is now littered with flashy new hotels sporting roof top terraces giving international tourists a taste of the high-life few of them could afford back home. (Myself included!) Only having been modestly satisfied with the hotel I stayed in the last time I was in Hanoi, I decided to pay a little extra to see what you'd get in the 4 star hotel range. Did O'Gallery Classy hotel & Spa downtown Hanoi live up to her promise? And how well do the locals speak English in Hanoi these days? That and more in this first video from Vietnam.
September 28, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: As I was making a street tea video in the centre of Hanoi I stumbled upon an old temptation of mine which made me reminisce about India: a street barber. Not just that, this barber was female! Something I've never seen this before as this is a heavily male dominated profession. The only problem was I don't want to cut my hair and I also didn't even have a 2 day beard to shave! The only thing the barber could go to work on would be my treasured precious goatee!!!! So what was a straight white male to do?
September 29, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: After having the conversations from the shave video translated by you guys I realized that the awesome woman who was selling those postcards was even more awesome than I'd initially thought. She thus warranted a Harald Investigates! The only problem was she wasn't selling the postcards at the same location next to the barber. Dismayed I decided to cross the road for some of Hanoi's finest Noodles known as Fo (probably not the proper spelling), as I didn't want to have travelled across town for nothing. As soon as I'd crossed, I heard a familiar voice say Hello....
September 29, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: During my first visit to the famous train street in Vietnam's capitol Hanoi, I thought given the amount of cafes there, that it would be an even livelier area at night. So after a visit to the gym and a well deserved (and mucho mucho needed) shower, I went back to see if I could not only catch a train hurtling by, but some entertaining beverages as well. . . Before I started filing a spent roughly an hour and a half here. It really is the coolest place to meet locals as well as other Asian tourists in possibly the whole city. Elsewhere people can be less talkative and groups of people somewhat hard to break in to. Not here...
September 30, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: One of the most unique hotels I've ever slept in was the newly opened Capsule hotel in Hanoi. When I stayed there back in May I was one of their first customers. Knowing there was nothing about this hotel on Youtube I decided to Vlog the whole check-in process and stay. As I now find myself back in Hanoi one of you guys wrote that the hotel really liked my video and that they're looping it in the reception 24/7. This I had to investigate....
September 30, 2019
HANOI, VIETNAM: When it's pork o'clock it's important to dress to impress. You don't want to be the odd one out at the pork party. That's why I decided to sport my Hugo Boss blazer and shirt as I sampled some of Hanoi's unique Vietnamese street food. After the pork had been secured, I continued a little tour of this downtown food market before withdrawing to my private quarters to sample the greatest delicacy known to man: pork cake!
October 1, 2019
HONG HA, VIETNAM: Just because you're traveling in a country where you don't speak the local language doesn't mean you can't stop for a laugh with the locals. Case in point, my current roadtrip through Northern Vietnam. Whenever I see something interesting I stop to investigate. Here's a collection of chance encounters I had with random strangers today in the North of Vietnam.
October 2, 2019
HONG HA, VIETNAM: After 2 hours of sleep it was time to hit the road for a Vietnamese breakfast. The only problem was, I don't know anything about what people eat in the morning. I was curious to find out though. So after a brief stop at a gas station I scouted out 3 little Mom & Pop roadside restaurants, all preparing for a morning rush of hungry customers. Eager to experiment, I chose the most exotic looking dish on offer.... does anyone know the name of it?
October 3, 2019
BAO HA, VIETNAM: I felt like I'd been on the road for a week, yet it had barely been a couple of hours. Little did I know the today's journey had just begun. Up until 10AM riding around the villages and hills of Northern Vietnam is a cool leisurely experience. That changes abruptly once the sun truly gets going. Luckily there are a ridiculous amount of things to see and keep your mind off of the heat along the roads. For every time you stop, you must of course indulge in the peace pipe ritual the locals are so fond of with their unquenchable thirst for the strong tobacco known as thuốc lào...
October 4, 2019
LAO CAI, VIETNAM: After over 13 hours of riding on the most horrific of roads, albeit with countless stops along the way, I'd finally arrived in the Northern Vietnamese city of Lao Cai. From here you can look across a tiny river straight over to China. If you have a visa for china you can also cross over here by foot. Sadly I don't have one. A journey I thought would be merely a time consuming monotonous ride along endless rice fields had actually turned out to be one of the more entertaining rides of my YouTube career due to the many welcoming people i met along the way. But just a few hours short of the border I ran into a guy who turned out to be the friendliest of all....
October 6, 2019
HAI PHONG, VIETNAM: My main motivation to explore Vietnam's northern most regions, other than mountains with tiered rice fields, was to go shopping in a Hill Tribe market. Now these colorful hill tribe markets are harder to find than you'd think. Many are only once per week, often on Saturday, and are staged in far flung mountainous locations. After a little research I did discover one that was open everyday and only a 90 minute drive from Lao Cai. Seeing as it only required a 60 minute detour from the direction I would otherwise have driven in, I decided to go for it.
October 6, 2019
LUNG PHIN, VIETNAM: I've always wanted to see the terrace rice fields in the mountains of Vietnam. We've all seen photos of these stunning testaments to mankind's most formidable invention; agriculture, but what are they like in real life? Do they live up to the hype and how easy are they to find? Not knowing what to expect I set out east, trailing along Vietnam's northern most border with China in search of the most stunning mountain range I could find.
October 7, 2019
October 9, 2019
VIETNAM: After struggling to get out of a mountain city with the most confusing road system I've ever encountered (I drove through the city 3 times) I finally emerged into a valley. Upon closer inspection looked like a beautiful river was running through it. This called for a Harald Investigates! So down into the valley I went until I reached a shoddy looking bridge....
October 11, 2019
VIETNAM: After a VERY long but extremely successful day riding through mountains of Northern Vietnam, I faced a somewhat serious dilemma. The sun was a bout to set and Google Maps said I was still hours away from my final destination. Not that I truly had one as I was winging it taking random roads this day but I had a tentative goal where I at least knew there were hotels. Reaching that city now seemed impossible. I thus decided to stop at a cafe overlooking some incredible rice fields. This set of a chain reaction of curious events...
October 17, 2019
BOLIVIA, LA PAZ: After a heavy session at the gym I was mighty hungry for some fresh nuts. Thinking my Spanish would be what it once were (semi-functional), I wandered off to a street that is known for being full of nuts. As I approached the first nut vendor though, I realized to my great dismay... that I don't speak any Spanish at all . . .
October 17, 2019
BOLIVIA, LA PAZ: The Llama is Bolivia's national animal. They bring good luck and is thus greatly revered amongst the populace. It may this seem strange that Llama corpses are sold in the streets of La Paz. Naturally this was something I had to investigate... by buying my very own Llama to take home as a good luck charm. But can I bring it to Europe? And would Bald allow it in the hotel room?
October 18, 2019
BOLIVIA, EL ALTO: Above the valley that hosts Bolivia's metropolis La Paz, sits a vast plain which houses Latin America's largest market by square meters: El Alto Market. Rumor has it this is also the country's cheapest market by far. . So what better place to bring my new pet Llama, young Jeff Gundlach, for an afternoon of bargain shopping in the freezing Bolivian rain.
October 19, 2019
PERU, CUSCO; After Bolivia I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Peru. But given the high rates for hotels I did suspect Peru to be far more developed and better at setting their cities up for tourism. Once I got past a ridiculously inefficient immigration system, my initial thoughts were confirmed. Peru, or at least Cusco, is lightyears ahead when it comes to development of its tourism sector compared to her neighbor to the east. Given the proximity of this city to one of the world's most sought after tourist attractions, Machu Pichu, that should come as no surprise but still I didn't expect Peruvians and the architecture of Cusco to be as pleasant as they both are. So after finding a taxi and something to eat it was time to check-in to my hotel. Even hostels were quite pricey when I checked on Booking.com so I knew that a hotel room even in the + category wouldn't mean much. I therefore opted for a boutique hotel at just under . But was it worth it?
October 25, 2019
PERU, CUSCO; In Bolivia many market vendors do not want to sell what's in their store to you. So what about Peru? Things couldn't be more different. Whilst many Peruvians also don't speak the Queen's english, they do their utmost to make you feel welcome in their stores and explain the meaning behind their native statues, knitted Llama shirts and all the other goods they specialize in. Shopping at Cusco's native market in the center of the city was therefore and incredibly pleasant experience. But what about the prices? Can you get some bargains here? And what goods do they sell? And what about the quality? Join me on this bargain market tour of my first Peruvian shopping experience. . .
November 7, 2019
November 8, 2019
MACHU PICCHU, PERU: When people hear Machu Picchu, they probably don't think of shopping, but there is nevertheless a market there as soon as you get off the train and start wandering towards either the ruins or your hotel. So naturally I felt compelled to go and check out what was on sale plus gauge the prices there vis-a-vis other markets in Cusco and Bolivia. To say that the prices shocked me would be understatement of the year.... this is by far the priciest market I've visited in South America but they did indeed have some nice things for sale. Bargains though, they were not, as many vendors would not budge even one Soles. That made for a pretty entertaining back and forths...
November 9, 2019
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