Less McDonalds, More McDimSum

Less McDonalds, More McDimSum

The more I travel to other countries, the more I realize that they are all starting to look the same. Visit any major city in any country any you are likely to find a McDonalds or a Starbucks staring right back at you. This trend is sure to continue as more and more multinational companies attempt to establish a bigger foothold in the global market.

I imagine this development will be a welcome change for some tourists. Just recently, a friend who visited China frequented McDonalds, Starbucks, and Kentucky Fried Chicken during his weeklong stay. I suppose that it is understandable to seek out something comfortable especially when in a strange, new land. But I say, where's the sense of adventure?

Show some derring-do and traverse the streets of Shanghai searching for some dim sum. Ask the locals where you can sample the finest Chinese cuisine the city has to offer. And if you've got the stomach for it, there should be no shortage of exotic animal organs from street food vendors. This is how you embrace a cross-cultural experience, by opening your mind to new possibilities and immersing yourself in a different culture.

To close, let me share with you a story from my own travels. While waiting for my flight at the Hong Kong International Airport, I went to the food court to see what was available. The sample size is small, I admit, but all the locals were eating McDonalds while the foreigners were eating local food. I guess everyone needs a change of pace now and then.

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