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Donnie Does Presents...The Betel Nut Diaries

I’m sure many of you remember my Japanny Ramirez video. Not a big deal at all but it did recently receivevthe first ever Barstool Award for “Best Foreign Film.” Feel free to refresh your memory below.

However, what I’m sure you weren’t aware of was that a month after my trip to Japan. My friend Gary informed me that he was headed to Taiwan with Manny to prepare for the 2nd half of his season and that Manny said it was fine if I tagged along. I think Manny’s actual words were “Where is your friend with the camera?” and I took that to be a personal invite. Unfortunately, the day I showed up Manny decided to bounce back to Japan because it was just too god damn hot in Taiwan.  You think the guy who negotiated for all you can eat sushi and optional practices in his contract was going to put himself through a week of training in 100+ degree heat? Forget about it.

Anyways, that left me stranded in Taiwan for a week with absolutely nothing to do. Bored out of my skull, I decided to get hooked on Betel nuts for content. #companyman.

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According to Radii China, Betel nuts grow all over the tropical Pacific where people chew them medically and recreationally for their natural psychoactive ingredients, the most important being arecoline. which gives the user a warm, stimulating buzz. They are insanely popular in Taiwan, especially amongst truckers and taxi drivers who chew them to stay awake on long drives.While they’ve been known to cause oral cancers and tooth decay, they’re definitely a healthier alternative to crystal meth, the drug of choice amongst truck drivers in the US trying to stay awake for long drives.

Traditionally, Betel nuts were sold by “Betel Nut Beauties” –  scantily dressed young women who would pedaled the nuts from neon-lit roadside enclosures.

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However, this practice was eventually phased out when lawmakers realized that betel nuts weren’t the only type of “nut” many of these “Betel Nut Beauties” were selling if ya catch my drift. If you don’t catch my drift what I’m trying to say is these shops became a hotbed for prostitution. Color me shocked. These days you’ll find guys like this selling them on the side of the road. Less seedy but not as easy on the eyes.

The Betel nut buzz isn’t really anything to skype home about, which is probably why I was able to kick the habit as soon as I left the country (the fact they don’t sell them in China may have helped). It’s similar to a cup of coffee with a quick wave of warm and fuzziness thrown in.  This June I will be officially one year #OFFTHENUTS. Hopefully my tale of conquering addiction will give you the courage to confront your own vices but I’m not counting on it. The video isn’t that inspiring.

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Donnie Does

25 videos

1
I Reviewed the Hospitality Houses as the Summer Games

I Reviewed the Hospitality Houses as the Summer Games

2
Meeting Fans From Every Country at the Summer Games (LIVESTREAM HIGHLIGHTS)

Meeting Fans From Every Country at the Summer Games (LIVESTREAM HIGHLIGHTS)

3
I Tried to Find Nicky Smokes and Ben Mintz a Wife at the Shanghai Marriage Market

I Tried to Find Nicky Smokes and Ben Mintz a Wife at the Shanghai Marriage Market

4
The Shark Knight Returns: Back At My First Shanghai Sharks Game in FIVE YEARS

The Shark Knight Returns: Back At My First Shanghai Sharks Game in FIVE YEARS

5
Inside the Life of Pangzai: The Chinese Drinking King

Inside the Life of Pangzai: The Chinese Drinking King

6
Reuniting with Pangzai After FOUR YEARS

Reuniting with Pangzai After FOUR YEARS

7
I Returned to the Rowdiest Event in Sports: HONG KONG SEVENS

I Returned to the Rowdiest Event in Sports: HONG KONG SEVENS

8
My First Boat Party Ended in Disaster

My First Boat Party Ended in Disaster

9
We Made the Best Taco that ISN'T a Taco | GOONED UP w/ The Wonton Don

We Made the Best Taco that ISN'T a Taco | GOONED UP w/ The Wonton Don

10
We made CRISPY Gumbo-filled Rangoons | Gooned Up w/ Wonton Don

We made CRISPY Gumbo-filled Rangoons | Gooned Up w/ Wonton Don

11
Last Day in Shanghai LIVESTREAM HIGHLIGHTS

Last Day in Shanghai LIVESTREAM HIGHLIGHTS

12
I Made French Onion Rangoons with my Former Intern

I Made French Onion Rangoons with my Former Intern

13
Highlights from my First Livestream in CHINA

Highlights from my First Livestream in CHINA

14
GOONED UP: Lobster Fest

GOONED UP: Lobster Fest

15
TOP CHEF Teaches Me How to Cook Balkan Rangoons!

TOP CHEF Teaches Me How to Cook Balkan Rangoons!

16
We Made Chinese BBQ Rangoons! | GOONED UP w/ The Wonton Don

We Made Chinese BBQ Rangoons! | GOONED UP w/ The Wonton Don

17
Our Last Shot to Coach Ugandan Football to a Victory (Last Chance Uganda Finale)

Our Last Shot to Coach Ugandan Football to a Victory (Last Chance Uganda Finale)

18
Most Stressful Night of My Life (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 6)

Most Stressful Night of My Life (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 6)

19
We Taught 200 Children in Africa How to Play Football (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 5)

We Taught 200 Children in Africa How to Play Football (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 5)

20
We Returned to Africa to Beat the Kenyan Football Team (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 4)

We Returned to Africa to Beat the Kenyan Football Team (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 4)

21
We Played in the Biggest Football Game in Africa (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 3)

We Played in the Biggest Football Game in Africa (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 3)

22
We Almost Drowned After Our Last Practice in Uganda (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 2)

We Almost Drowned After Our Last Practice in Uganda (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 2)

23
We Got Hired to Coach the Ugandan Football Team (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 1)

We Got Hired to Coach the Ugandan Football Team (Last Chance Uganda Ep. 1)

24
We Were ATTACKED on Our Gorilla Trek

We Were ATTACKED on Our Gorilla Trek

25
Donnie and Billy Do the Pyramids! (Last Chance Uganda Prologue)

Donnie and Billy Do the Pyramids! (Last Chance Uganda Prologue)