A few years ago I wrote a guest post about being a big chested woman traveler. A recent incident happened to me in Danang, though, which made me realize it is time to revisit the topic of traveling with big breasts.
The issue came up when I became the subject of some unusual attention at a seafood restaurant in Danang. We were out with some friends, just before Tet, drinking beers and having a fun time. The restaurant was packed, with revelers celebrating the upcoming Tet holiday. It is customary for there to be work parties, similar to holiday parties in the West.
There was one table in particular that caught my eye, and it was the table that got me into trouble that night.
Is It So Bad Traveling With Big Breasts?
Sometimes it is just plain brutal having big boobs. I know, it is a grass is always greener sort of thing. Many of my small chested friends would love a little more heft. But traveling in certain parts of the world it is just plain tough being a big chested woman traveler.
At least I am not alone. There are other women, traveling with certain assets, or traveling with ginormous boobs, just like me. But, I do think we are in the minority. There seems to be a perception that female travel bloggers, and long term perpetual nomads are in their twenties, and stick thin, making one blogger counter about traveling with curves.
I am definitely in good company, but we all can commiserate about traveling with big breasts, or minimally, with big curves. I try to own it, but still feel self conscious, a lot. Ever realize that most of the pictures of me are from the shoulders up?
Being Big Chested in Asia
Travel and living in Southeast Asia, it becomes blatantly clear just how unusual my situation is among the locals. It is not easy traveling with big breasts here. I already know that my 5 foot 8 inch stature is close to female giant size. I know that in photos with locals I tower amongst the group. But, it is more than just my height that sticks out.
Although I always try to dress in line with what is acceptable for a western woman in an Asian country, I receive the stares of gawkers nevertheless. No matter what I wear, my boobs arrive in a destination shortly before I do – and they get noticed. Walking by a bia hoi in Ha Noi, Vietnam takes patience, for both me and The Husband. And it takes more time for the stares to stop than the drip coffee to be ready to drink at a cafe in Vietnam. At a beach resort on the Gili Islands, in Indonesia, some of the workers looked at me like they have never seen breasts before.
Traveling With Big Breasts in Danang
This one night in Danang, though, was the first time I had this sort of attention and it is not what you are thinking.
There was a large table of you women, drinking, toasting beers, and having a good time, like only the Vietnamese can. It is not something we are used to seeing. Generally, it’s large groups of men drinking, and Eric is often invited to drink and toast with them. This night, though, it was ladies night.
I made my way over to the table to wish them a happy new year, and to offer a toast, and then things spiraled out of control. There was a lot of toasting back and forth, it was a grand old time. Until, one of the young women, who were all caddies at the local Greg Norman golf course, got a little touchy feely. With me.
I am not used to getting this kind of attention, particularly from a woman. I know she was not sober, so it was somewhat excusable, but funny nonetheless. At one point she touched my breast, and then, said “boob” and touched the other for good measure. Yeah, that is what it is like traveling with big breasts.
What’s a Girl to Do When Traveling With Big Breasts?
It gave us a big old laugh that night, as we had a table full of digital nomads drinking and eating seafood with us. But, it made me think about the situation I often find myself in.
I continue to dress modestly, and try to cover the boys as much as possible. I try not to get riled up. Most important, I keep my patience. I realize, God gave me what he did, and I can’t change it (unless anyone out there has some good recommendations for plastic surgeons in the region…).
I realize it would be much easier for me to settle in a different geographic region – perhaps Latin America would be a better fit, where voluptuousness rules. But, in the end, I have to accept that while in Asia, I just need to get used to traveling with big breasts, and the attention that comes with it. From men, and women, alike.
Amber Hoffman, food and travel writer behind With Husband In Tow, is a recovering attorney and professional eater, with a passion for finding new food and drink destinations. She lives with her husband, Eric, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Together they have traveled to over 70 countries.
This made me smile on a cloudy Monday morning! Fortunately (or unfortunately?) I don’t have this problem but I can imagine the issues you have in Asia 🙂
Ha!Yes, fortunately and unfortunately, because grass is always greener!
This story never, ever gets old. Best told in person, though!
O.K. So this was really funny, kind of… But you left me hanging? So what happened after the lady said “boobs?”
As a guy, I tend to look not in that direction so as not to get yelled at. I look straight in the eyes.
But I travel so much I have seen plenty. Most recently was a lady at my hotel. She had just come out of the pool and she took a good few minutes making herself “respectable” as her husband stood idly by. I guess he can’t really help.
BTW, Queen Latifah did get reduction surgery as she said that they gave her backache.
After boobs, she just went back to her table. It wasn’t like we brought her home with us;) there were a few more toasts, but the boob touching was, pretty much, the highlight of the night!
How could you handle that lol. I have macromastia and one thing I’ve been researching is how to handle foreigners responding to me and all the travel dead end I can expect lol.
I should mention I’m 22 and my husband is 28, this is our first excursion to a country across the pond. I’m naturally extremely nervous but reading your blog does help, FWIW.
BOOB! I do not have this problem at all, I am one of your friends that wish she had more. Great story.
Glad you liked my Big Boobs Blog!
my wife suffers from the “big Boob syndrome aswell”
cheers good light hearted story
I’ve had this problem my entire life, and I had them reduced when I was 19!! You do have to own it, but I sympathize with you and the unwanted attention. Glad this time it sounds like drunk, curious fun. Query, if she had been a guy, how would you reflect on it? Stay safe!!
I think if she would have been a guy, Eric would have knocked him on his ass. It helps to travel with a giant.
I have the same problem, although nothing like that happened to me in Vietnam when I lived there. When I lived in Japan, however, I was asked on 3 separate occasions if I was a porn star – and I was targeted in train stations by Nigerian men who, allegedly, were after white women to work in dance clubs. Seriously, I was even followed home by them 🙁
I now live in India and the women here often have large chests, so I fit right in 🙂
Interesting about Japan. We’ve been hesitant about traveling to India because I am concerned about attention just being a woman, and whether Eric could handle it.
Hahaha! That’s hilarious and so awkward. I’ve definitely gotten a lot of comments about my height in Asia but thankfully not my boobs! I would gladly get a reduction too, they are more trouble than they’re worth 😉
Katrina, maybe I should start a kickstarer campaign and ask for contributions for reduction!
From my nearly 4 years in Asia, I’ve found that no matter what it is, if something about you looks different and ‘uncommon’ it will get pointed out. At 5’7″ and about 115 pounds I’ve been called fat (and then also too skinny even though I’m still bigger than many Thai girls), I’ve been told I have a big nose, big teeth, big eyes, ugly yellow hair, beautiful golden hair…just about every comment has been made on my appearance from strangers, people I work with or even people I’m close with…sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s really aggravating!
It’s true that no comment, and no question, is off the table here. I get questions about being pregnant all the time! That is, when people look beyond my boobs to the belly 😉
Oh my god I can’t believe she touched them!! I hate to break it to you, but there are no big boobs in any of the parts of South America I visited either. I am only a D and I struggled to find a bikini that fit in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru or Bolivia. Probably mainly because at 5 foot 8 I am like an amazonian warrior compared to the locals. I could also not find a pair of hiking boots, in several countries that fit a 41. In the end settling for some men’s runners! I always bring bras with me to Asia or order stuff online.
I actually bought an amazing black bikini in Brazil once. Maybe I felt comfortable in it because most women wear next to nothing on the beach. But, yes, I always stock up on bathing suits and bras in the US, or I buy bras at Marks & Spencer in Asia. The best one is in Kuala Lumpur!
I hear you loud and clear I forever having people make comments about my breasts but then in Oz when I was younger it was the same. As a 50pluser now I thought it had changed but recently im a spice shop in Morocco a young bloke young enough to bet son commented how he thought my breasts were beautiful and big lol. I thanked him as did not know what else to say and walked out laughing. SEA is worse as you really stick out there.
Ha! Michelle, it is interesting how different cultures would approach this subject. I would never go up to a man, anywhere in the world, and say “hey, strange man, you have a nice ass.”
I can totally relate. I think Asia was the most challenging for me. In S. Korea, I once had the entire back kitchen staff come out one by one to laugh and point. It was clear from the hand motions and exclamations of “big, big!” what the commotion was about. While I try not to take it personally, and always dress modestly, in line with local mores, there’s really only so much you can do to hide. Thanks for the commiseration.
Sometimes, Tamara, that’s all we can do…commiserate with others and know we are not alone!
Imagine actually being Latina, and big breasted, and curvy…it’s like a walking stereotype. “Hot, big boob, sexy Latina!” Over the years, I have learned to embrace my body and my Latina-ness..if anything, I am one of the lucky ones. My boobs are amazing, as is my big ass and thick thighs. But though I love it, my husband loves it, and I get plenty of attention when I travel, the “typical female traveler” is whiter, way thinner, and her big boobs aren’t often due to genetics. Embrace the boobs, girl. They are more the norm than you think : )
Ha! Carol, I wish I had your confidence.
As a fellow DD cup I appreciate your predicament! Eating at a beach side restaurant in Sri Lanka, a couple of young kids asked for their pic with me – no problem….. Until one out his arm around me and placed his hand directly on my boob!! WTF!
I’m in your category boob-wise and have similar experiences in South-East Asia. In Thailand on a fish market (during the day no drinking), one woman kind of asked if it was ok to touch a boob (she seemed to want to check if it was for real). I allowed it, we all laughed and I have one more picture with me sticking out like a giant among the small women sourrounding me just reaching my shoulder (hairdo and all).
Then on Lake Toba when I was on my own walking back from the village the boy grabbed my breast in passing then ran away and I stopped being amused about it.
A couple of years later in India, the behaviour of men (in particular) was harassment, but with all that is known now from the news, I seem to get the typical harassment all women get in India.
I can relate totally to this. I am ‘blessed/cursed’ and the ‘girls’ have always got a giggle during my travels in Asia. It doesn’t help as I have big blue eyes as well. Enjoyed the post.
Thanks Karen!
What a damn good read. I have the same issue and it amazes me that people think they have the right to touch or comment on the size of my boobs! i would never comment on the small size of anyone’s boobs but somehow it’s ok to mention mine.!?