Living as expat in Asia can be both a challenge as well as an interesting and meaningful change. Those who have sampled life in Asia have met both the lavish exotic delights offered by tropical countries and the like and exotic ways of life. One must take note that life in Asia is never really meant for everyone. Some people from the west find it quite difficult to live as an expat in Asia while some have no problem adjusting.

Asian Climate

One of the challenges in living as an expat in Asia is adjusting to the climate. Since Asia is the largest landmass in the world you can expect a wide variety of climates depending on which country you choose to live in. A lot of the countries you'll find within this continent have humid tropical weather. It can come as a welcome treat to those who crave for such type of weather. However, the tropical summer heat can be quite challenging.

Other than wet and dry tropical weather, another huge challenge comes in the form of monsoon rains and devastating typhoons. You'll get the most of the year's rain fall if you choose to live within the East Asian region. Rainy months in this region fall from April to October. However, you should expect some countries to experience continued monsoon rain showers extending to November and even up to March. It is also interesting to note that some places around the Arabian Peninsula would experience no rain lasting for quite a few years.

Forms of Government

Another thing you have to cope with living as an expat in Asia is a possible difference in the form of government you are familiar with. You'll find commonwealths, republics, monarchies, and socialist republics to name a few. Of course, if you're unfamiliar with such forms of government you would have to find a way to adapt to such political form of leadership.

One of the important issues that you'll have to face with regards to your relationship to a country's government is that of its tax system. If you plan to start a business while living as an expat in Asia, you should get acquainted with various tax laws. Take note that if you plan to work in an Asian country while living as an expat, you should do some research first. It is no secret that there are Asian countries where finding work will become a big disappointment.

Medical Care

Medical care is one of the big issues for those living as an expat in Asia. Countries that are located near the equator may expose you to many diseases uncommon in western countries. For instance, there are Asian countries that report instances of rabies, malaria, and dengue fever. Again, it does pay to get some background info on medical care available in a particular country.

Cost of Living

One of the boons of living as an expat in Asia is the lower cost of living. Goods and services in Asia, for the most part, are generally quite affordable. Huge expenses will usually come in the form of rent and medical care. If you choose to live in rural areas then expect everything to be a lot cheaper than living in urban areas in Asia.

Culture

As with other regions of the world, living as an expat in Asia will require you to adjust to a particular country's culture. However, you shouldn't expect to find extremely bizarre traditions or beliefs, though some of the things you'll see may seem out of the ordinary.

Living as an expat in Asia can be both a pleasure and a challenge. Knowing the challenges, some background research, and a bit of heart, you will prepare you for the changes you have to cope with.

During your visit to Asia, you get a chance to enjoy not only the spectacular sights but also the great cuisines of the various Asian cities. Singapore tops the best Asian restaurants list because of the innovation they offer in the form of providing the diners a chance to see the kitchen action, and thus communicate directly with the chef. Iggy's in Singapore is the restaurant that is renowned to be the best in Asia. Other great restaurants in Singapore are Les Amis, Gunther's, and Garibaldi.

The L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Hong Kong is a great restaurant. The restaurant is very casual in its ambience, and allows the diners to see the preparation of their dishes. Moreover, the people are also allowed to compose meals in accordance with their appetite. Another very good restaurant in Hong Kong is Bo Innovation. Old Chinese methods of cooking are used in the restaurant. This restaurant offers great ambience with its chopstick shaped lamps and a cosy kind of lighting.

The Mozaic Restaurant in Bali, Indonesia is also a great one. It has a unique setting that is elegant, enjoyable and charming. The chefs are popular for their changing culinary creations all over the world. There are some very good restaurants that you can visit in Tokyo. For example, the Tempura Mikawa is a restaurant where seafood is prepared in the classic Edomae style. Other great restaurants in Tokyo are Bird Land, Ginza Harutaka, Nihonryori Ryugin, and the Teppanyaki Ukai-tei.

There are some restaurants in Beijing which are very popular all over Asia. The one considered best is Made In China which is in the Grand Hyatt. The dining room is in the open kitchen, and people can watch the preparation of their orders. Another very good restaurant in Beijing is the Ding Ding Xiang which has banquets that are concealed with beaded curtains.

Some very good restaurants are situated in Hanoi. The one that is considered best is Bun Cha. Another very good restaurant in Hanoi is Green Tangerine which has a terrace with alfresco setting. Verticale is another very good restaurant which offers very skilfully prepared French-Vietnamese cuisine.

Bukhara is a restaurant in Delhi that is considered not only the best in India, but is also one of the best in Asia. If you want to have a truly Eastern experience, you should go to Bukhara where you would have to eat your food with hands instead of utensils. Moti Mahal and Smoke House Grill are other very good restaurants Delhi.

Almost all the hotels that are amongst the best in Asia have open kitchens which enable the customers to see the chefs in action. The Blue Elephant in Bangkok is a restaurant that offers classis Thai cuisine. China Town and Chote Chitr are two other very good restaurants in Bangkok.

For authentic Malay cuisine, go to Bijan in Kuala Lumpur which offers traditional cuisine in an alfresco setting. The Senses is another great restaurant in the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. Other restaurants that are considered amongst the best in Asia are Robuchon a Galera and Antonio's Fine Dining in Philippines.