Plenty of the budget-conscious just skip it altogether.

 

 

 

You see, most countries don't do breakfast like we do breakfast. You can't just shake out a bowl of Froot Loops, or tuck into bacon and eggs each time you wander out of bed in the morning.

 

There's usually some pretty crazy stuff that people from other countries choose to start their day with, stuff that often has Western travellers pining for the comforts of home - and which probably explains why every hostel cafe from Jakarta to Hanoi does a roaring trade in banana pancakes.

 

If you're anything like me, that pining for a filthy fry-up never quite goes away. However, when you open yourself up a bit, and take a few chances, you can find that some countries have got this whole breakfast thing sorted out.

 

Others, of course, haven't ...

Pho, Vietnam
Without doubt, the king of the non-Western breakfast. There's something both soothing and inspiring about being presented with a steaming-hot bowl of fragrant beef noodle soup to start off your day. Throw in some chillis, bean sprouts, a little lemon juice, a few basil leaves, stir and slurp. Life is good.

 

Dosai, India
My second favourite of the crazy breakfasts, and a good option in India if you can't quite stomach a full curry to start your day. These rice flour pancakes arrive filled with all sorts of spicy goodness - although potatoes are a personal favourite - plus the usual Indian condiments to smother over the top. Add a chai tea, and you're laughing.

Bread and butter, Brazil
Sometimes, the simple things are the best. They don't get all fancy for breakfast in Brazil - just bake some fresh bread, split it in half, grill it with some butter, and serve with a giant coffee or a fresh juice. Perfect if you've had a few caipirinhas the night before...

Full English, England
Okay, we're not getting too far off the beaten track here, but tell me you wouldn't kill for one of these after a few weeks in Asia. The whole plateful of artery-clogging goodness usually includes bacon, eggs, beans, fried bread, and maybe blood sausage. You won't need to eat for days after a good one.

Mee goreng, Malaysia
If you can't stomach spicy food for breakfast, you may want to steer clear. However, if your idea of a morning pick-me-up includes fried noodles with garlic, onions, egg, meat, and a whole lot of chilli, then you'll be a happy little traveller in Malaysia.

Burritos, US
These sound like they should be Mexican, but I have a feeling it was some grease-loving American who came up with this breakfast gem. It's a flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, ham or bacon, and then topped with a spicy sauce, sour cream and guacamole. Awesome.

Continental, Europe
It's hard not to feel like you've been ripped off when a cold continental breakfast lands in front of you, but hey, if that's what everyone else eats, go for it. A few cold meats, some cheese, bread rolls, some jam ... things could be worse, I guess.

Coffee and pastries, Italy
Italian breakfasts are ideal for the busy traveller. You don't even have to sit down. Just stand at an espresso bar, throw a coffee down your throat, munch your way through a sweet pastry, and you're on your way. At least, until your next coffee fix.

Natto, Japan
I haven't tasted this stuff, and nor do I want to. But if you're a true breakfast adventurer, then you'll want to tick it off your list. Natto's a kind of fermented soy thing that looks and smells a bit like pond sludge. Hey, each to their own.

Yum cha, South China
Did I say pho was my favourite? Can I take that back? Most Australians need no introduction to yum cha (or dim sum, I don't understand the difference) - nor do they even have to leave their city to get it, really. But for the true experience, for the widest variety of tasty morsels wheeled around the restaurant by pushy yum cha touts, you have to head to south China. Extra points if you can work out what you've just eaten.