Eight Asian Destinations For Travellers Of The Single Persuasion

REAL TALK: singles unencumbered by the constant presence of a significant other can do anything, everything and more that people in relationships can. That much goes without saying, but a cursory reminder never hurts. 

While there are (arguably) benefits to travelling the world as part of a matching set (the ultimate relationship crucible), conversely there’s nothing so liberating as travelling without a ball and chain in your carry-on prohibiting you from unabashedly ‘doing you’. With that particular brand of freedom on our minds, here’s a select itinerary of things you can and should do in eight Asian destinations for travellers of the single persuasion; and by that, we mean YOU, potentially. 

Nothing – absolutely nothing – is more chic than being able to say or do anything “Après-ski” on every day of your vaycay. For the vertically and powder-inclined bachelorettes amongst you, Nagoya is the jumping off point for where you’d rather be: Chausuyama Kogen in Aichi Prefecture and the Takasu, Washigatake, Hirugano Kogen, and Dynland ski resorts in the neighbouring Gifu Prefecture are all within your ski pole’s reach. 

Regardless of whatever direction you choose to head in, you have a one-on-one zen date with an onsen.

Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi via Getty

If you’ve never wanted to walk the streets of Shinjuku with only your overwhelming ennui for company, you’re watching Lost In Translation all wrong. In keeping with that theme, why not go – excuse the expression – balls to the wall and recreate the entire movie in your itinerary? 

Start with a Suntory at the Park Hyatt’s New York Bar; whisper something inaudible into your own ear in Shibuya; eat your body weight’s worth at Ichikan Sushi in Daikanyama without fear of judgment; and change irrevocably the lives of a roomful of beautiful strangers with your flawless rendition of Phoenix’s ‘Too Young’ in Room 601 at Karaoke Kan. 

Why should you visit Osaka in 2014? Four words: Harry Potter Theme Park. 

Why else should you visit Osaka in 2014? Two more words: Cray Merch.

Photos: Handout, Yoshikazu Tsuno via Getty

Disregard (temporarily) all those amazing things you’ve heard about cosmopolitan Seoul’s rich cultural history and vibrant present and head further south. 

Located on Jeju Island – a popular honeymooning spot famed for its natural beauty off the south coast of South Korea – you’ll find Jeju Loveland, which bills itself as “the only humorous sexual theme park in Korea”. It’s perhaps the only place that is at once the best and worst destination you could possibly visit as a rogue agent. To give you an idea: Loveland is a “place where you can let your imagination run wild” – a park the size of two football fields punctuated by 140 artfully rendered statues depicting dogs, fauns and humans alike in the ecstatic throes of sexual congress. That’s a surprisingly high sexy statue:square metre ratio.

For Pete’s sake, would you just look at these Good Time Gals?

Photo: Chung Sung-Jun via Getty

With food becoming one of if not the primary motivation to leave the house and/or country, why not plan an entire holiday dedicated solely to the consumption of delicious foodstuffs in the world’s most bizarrely-themed restaurants? 

Taipei can lay claim to having some of the best market eating in the world, with night markets like Ningxia and the South Gate Market, or entire streets like Yongkang Street, devoted to serving mouth-watering culinary realness. 

Not only is Taipei the native home of Din Tai Fung’s famous soup dumplings, it’s also host to ridiculous establishments like the A3-80 In-Flight Kitchen, a fuselage shaped restaurant where stewards serve your dinner from an airport trolley; or D.S. Music Restaurant, where sexy nurses inject condiment syringes directly into your mouth and drinks are poured from IV drips. For the saccharine kiddult in you who isn’t offended by garish hot pink decor, there are both Barbie and Hello Kitty restaurants where you’d be well-advised to dine alone for obvious reasons.

The pièce de résistance of Taipei’s obscure dining scene, however, has to be Modern Toilet Restaurent [sic]. I’ll let their website describe it for you: “It all started when one of us was reading the manga, ‘Dr. Slump’, on the toilet – and the rest is history. In the beginning, we mainly sold ice cream – a big pile of chocolate ice cream sold in containers shaped like a squat toilet,” and now they sell everything. Started from the bottom, et cetera. 

There are three Modern Toilets in Taipei alone. Travelling alone or with company, you can’t not go.

Photos: AFP, Peter Parks via Getty 

Sri Lanka and its capital Colombo have fast been ascending the travel industry’s myriad ‘Must Visit’ lists for the last few years, ever since the country’s protracted 25-year civil war ended in 2009. The reasons? They’re myriad: there are still palm and coconut-fringed beaches that remain as-yet largely untouched by large-scale tourism; breathtaking wildlife and jungle alike threaten to overwhelm some incredibly beautiful hotels; and – perhaps you’re sensing a recurring theme – there’s the food. 

If that doesn’t sound it would already do your body and soul a world of good, a heavenly yoga and surfing retreat should do the trick. Namaste. 

Photo: Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images 

BEIJING
You’ve chosen to embark on a holiday in one of the most densely-populated countries on earth. Good luck with that! To avoid small complications like the world spinning out of control when you impossibly try and consume all of Beijing in one fell swoop, start small instead.

There’s an art to doing things alone; an ease in having nothing but your own company to rely on – it’s something you may have to work at. Where better than to do that while you’re literally surrounded by art. Beijing’s contemporary arts scene is not the worst place to start cultivating that sense of ease, considering you’re probably going in knowing you’re a little out of your depth.

The 798 Art District in Dashanzi northeast of Beijing bills itself as a thriving “Soho-esque” arts precinct in the midst of former state-owned weapons factories complex. There you’ll find contemporary music, art and architecture, bars and restaurants and, who knows, comfort in your own company. 

Start small, then hit up Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall.

This is perhaps the most ‘YOLO’ [*shudder*] thing you could ever do: climb to the top of the world, or as close as you can get by trekking to the peak above Mount Everest’s Base Camp, Kalapathar. As is your wont when you plan on reaching the top of anything, you’re going to need to do a lot of advance planning, so flying solo is doubtlessly an ideal situation when it comes to decision making. 

To choose your own adventure and go into the running to win the two abovementioned return AirAsia flights to one of the destinations listed above (and more), head here to nominate yourself or a mate for PEDESTRIAN.TV’s Bachelorette Of The Year presented by MINI Australia. 

 

Photo: AFP/Stringer via Getty

Lead Photo via YouTube