I'm going to write about the little critters because listening to people talk about them on my travels , most people don't relly know too much about them . If you do you dont really need to read this .
Let start of with a short video .
Just click - www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpkTC3bs4Cg -
Well, if you havent heard of these things when you start staying in different hostels regulary
you will come across them or people that have been bitten by them evntually , can't wait hah
Read on.....
First off they exsist they are not a myth its wierd ive just started writing about them and i feel a little itchy. aint it wierd how the body reacts sometimes.
Ive been bitin by them on so many ocassions it's now routine when i move into a hotel or hostel bed , i check the matress seams thats before my backpack makes contact with the ground .
I know it sounds a little paraniod . But these bugs have a thing for my blood , kiwi gourmet .
They are big news in australian hostels , american hostels , and south east asian accomodation
But ive also been bitten in europe by them a few times
You see they love to travel around in backpacks and they live on blood, they are nocturnal feeders , and spraying yourself with a repelent WILL NOT STOP THEM.
Sometimes i just thought they were mosquito bites, only to wake up in the morning rows of inflammed bites all over my body.
Yuck i need to go have a shower i'll finish this later
Alright im back , back from a 3 day 4wdriving trip up the east coast of Tasmania , i went with Mel , and were doing some pretty difficult terrain son she was a little scared , and so was i sometimes i wonder how i manage to keep the 4wdrive from sluippin down step paths ... back to bed bugs...
I dont think its somthing you need to be worried about on your trip . Just if your in the countries i mentioned
check your bed if you have a feeling there could be a chance, simple and if there is nicely ask reception for another bed please . If in doubt stay out !!
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QUICK BED BUG FACTS
Hemiptera: Cimicidae
SIZE: 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5 mm)
COLOR: Reddish brown or brown
DESCRIPTION: Bed bugs are sometimes called "red coats," "chinches," or "mahogany flats." The adult bed bug is a wingless insect that is flattened from top to bottom.
HABITAT: At the beginning of an infestation, bed bugs are likely to be found only in the tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses and bed covers. In areas of heavy infestation, bed bugs can be found in crevices in the bedsteads. Because bed bugs can live in bird nests, houses and buildings with several bird nests in the eaves and on the roof often will have bed bugs coming into the living areas.
LIFE CYCLE: The life cycle stages of a bed bug are egg, nymph, and adult. The females lay about 200 eggs, usually at the rate of three or four a day, in cracks and crevices in the floor or bed. Newly hatched bugs begin feeding immediately. They shed their skin five times before becoming adults. theres some usless info for you
TYPE OF DAMAGE: They live on blood usually backpacker blood by piercing the skin with a long beak and sucking blood into their stomachs. They feed mostly at night, but will feed during the day if hungry and the light is dim. Youll know there present by leaving blood stained smears on walls, sheets, pillows or nost of the time tiny spects of dried blood on the matress
That means they have been there or are still there -so check the mattress
im itchy good night
Craig m
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
What to have organised before you leave home
So you wake up on a the soft warm white sands of Costa rica to find that while you were asleep ,
your wallet BAG and WALLET that was sitting next to you has be TAKEN .
And no its not a practical joke . lesson learned : BE MORE CAREFUL OF YOUR THINGS!!.
I could sit here and write a million words to the tune of what you can learn before you go on the TRIP OF A LIFETIME.. but some lessons in life are best learned when the actually happen .
Nothing personal against Costa Rica . i just used it as an example.
Did you have a back up plan for losing everything valuble? Because if you had to cut your trip short due to losing valubles it could have been a preventable disaster.
I learnt this the hard way in my first week at the start of my trip in the usa, with greyhound usa or the dirty - dog as i like to call it .
Make sure your bags are clearly named with a contactable address , email , and phone number
I think its time we write a list of to do's before you leave home and stop this random rambling....
FIRST ABOVE ALL --just imagine for a moment the worst has happened ..
You were that person in costa rica who woke up without your bag and wallet.
What are you going to do , probably curl up in a ball and cry . You may as well forget about your old bag now . its long gone..
But are you prepared to deal with this situation?
-Did you take out full travel insurance for the duration of your trip?
-Do you have back up identification , get a spare 18+ card or similar as back up before your trip
well heres a list
1) In your wallet make photo copies of licences, passport,credit card numbers, insurance card, travel intinerary,18+ plus card , photo of your loved on , ooppsss , anything worth copying COPYit
2) If you don't have a credit card , get a debit card or both so you can use it to make travel bookings over the phone ,or on the the internet . Your bank will help you with security ideas
for travel and will usually issue a debit card within a week to anyone with an account .
Put some emergency fund money in a sepperate account should the need arise
If you can pay off any debt owing before you leave home -GOOD ON YOU it's freedom
3) Take a cheap unlocked mobile phone that you can use in the country of countries your visiting , you could have a roaming plan or buy a sim card when you arrive if its cheap enough
4) Have an email account set up that you can store back up photos onto , and if you going to look for work while your there make an abbreviated resume' you can print out at an internet cafe.
5) Do a little research/reading up on some of the places you've planned to visit , learn a little of the local language if you can . at least the basic niceities like thank you and please
You'll be amazed at the nice response you'll get . probably the start of a one sided conversation you just dont understand, personally i think people become really interesting when they don't speak the same language as one another. Hand sign language starts coming out . funny faces
a great time all round really . Just remember your in their country they don't have to know your languange KEEP COOL
6)Tell a few people of your plans , i know you will any way . but you could give them a copy of your basic itinary if you have one and keep in contact by email every now and then
Note: Backpacking is safe , but you still need to exercise caution .
7) Organise your first nights stay after the long trip on the plane , and maybe a couple of days before each new destanation, it really helps when know where your going.
IDEA : you could have a sentence translated at http://babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-us very quickly on paper ALREADY PREPARED with an address you can hand the italian taxi driver who doesn't speak english , something in italian like:
Ciao Potreste prenderli prego al mio hotel all'azionamento
di mia dei 156 Mama, pizzaville. Roma Quanto quel costo?
poveri im Grazie Craig
TRANSLATION
Hi
Could you please take me to my hotel at 156 Mama mia drive , pizzaville. Rome
$$$$How much will that cost? i'm poor
Thank youCraig
Cheers to my Italian flatemate Fabrizio ,for that knowledge
Sorry if the translation is bad , but im sure the taxi driver will understand
When i arrived at 1;30 am at divinci airport in rome i didn't know the airport was 40 odd kms
from the center of rome , and i had no hostel reservation .
1)There are no city buses for 3 euros at this time of the morning
2)the taxi drivers didn't speak english
3)i had no address to give them anyway
4)i had limited euros on me
I heard the driver say 6 euros , he meant 60 euros at the hotel . i dint have the euros to pay him after the trip . he took me to the police station, i understood police in italian . i signed a form i didnt understand and paid him what i had.. 35 euros sorry driver.
i slept in a hotel reception for the night.
Lesson learnt.
i could have saved alot of trouble if i was prepared
in fact I might start using this with all taxi drivers , even in my home town now if they dont speak english well .
Side note : If your getting in a taxi ask a few different drivers for prices first , you might get a cheaper price if you have to take a taxi
Alright i got go to bed im tired
Good night
Craig M
your wallet BAG and WALLET that was sitting next to you has be TAKEN .
And no its not a practical joke . lesson learned : BE MORE CAREFUL OF YOUR THINGS!!.
I could sit here and write a million words to the tune of what you can learn before you go on the TRIP OF A LIFETIME.. but some lessons in life are best learned when the actually happen .
Nothing personal against Costa Rica . i just used it as an example.
Did you have a back up plan for losing everything valuble? Because if you had to cut your trip short due to losing valubles it could have been a preventable disaster.
I learnt this the hard way in my first week at the start of my trip in the usa, with greyhound usa or the dirty - dog as i like to call it .
Make sure your bags are clearly named with a contactable address , email , and phone number
I think its time we write a list of to do's before you leave home and stop this random rambling....
FIRST ABOVE ALL --just imagine for a moment the worst has happened ..
You were that person in costa rica who woke up without your bag and wallet.
What are you going to do , probably curl up in a ball and cry . You may as well forget about your old bag now . its long gone..
But are you prepared to deal with this situation?
-Did you take out full travel insurance for the duration of your trip?
-Do you have back up identification , get a spare 18+ card or similar as back up before your trip
well heres a list
1) In your wallet make photo copies of licences, passport,credit card numbers, insurance card, travel intinerary,18+ plus card , photo of your loved on , ooppsss , anything worth copying COPYit
2) If you don't have a credit card , get a debit card or both so you can use it to make travel bookings over the phone ,or on the the internet . Your bank will help you with security ideas
for travel and will usually issue a debit card within a week to anyone with an account .
Put some emergency fund money in a sepperate account should the need arise
If you can pay off any debt owing before you leave home -GOOD ON YOU it's freedom
3) Take a cheap unlocked mobile phone that you can use in the country of countries your visiting , you could have a roaming plan or buy a sim card when you arrive if its cheap enough
4) Have an email account set up that you can store back up photos onto , and if you going to look for work while your there make an abbreviated resume' you can print out at an internet cafe.
5) Do a little research/reading up on some of the places you've planned to visit , learn a little of the local language if you can . at least the basic niceities like thank you and please
You'll be amazed at the nice response you'll get . probably the start of a one sided conversation you just dont understand, personally i think people become really interesting when they don't speak the same language as one another. Hand sign language starts coming out . funny faces
a great time all round really . Just remember your in their country they don't have to know your languange KEEP COOL
6)Tell a few people of your plans , i know you will any way . but you could give them a copy of your basic itinary if you have one and keep in contact by email every now and then
Note: Backpacking is safe , but you still need to exercise caution .
7) Organise your first nights stay after the long trip on the plane , and maybe a couple of days before each new destanation, it really helps when know where your going.
IDEA : you could have a sentence translated at http://babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-us very quickly on paper ALREADY PREPARED with an address you can hand the italian taxi driver who doesn't speak english , something in italian like:
Ciao Potreste prenderli prego al mio hotel all'azionamento
di mia dei 156 Mama, pizzaville. Roma Quanto quel costo?
poveri im Grazie Craig
TRANSLATION
Hi
Could you please take me to my hotel at 156 Mama mia drive , pizzaville. Rome
$$$$How much will that cost? i'm poor
Thank youCraig
Cheers to my Italian flatemate Fabrizio ,for that knowledge
Sorry if the translation is bad , but im sure the taxi driver will understand
When i arrived at 1;30 am at divinci airport in rome i didn't know the airport was 40 odd kms
from the center of rome , and i had no hostel reservation .
1)There are no city buses for 3 euros at this time of the morning
2)the taxi drivers didn't speak english
3)i had no address to give them anyway
4)i had limited euros on me
I heard the driver say 6 euros , he meant 60 euros at the hotel . i dint have the euros to pay him after the trip . he took me to the police station, i understood police in italian . i signed a form i didnt understand and paid him what i had.. 35 euros sorry driver.
i slept in a hotel reception for the night.
Lesson learnt.
i could have saved alot of trouble if i was prepared
in fact I might start using this with all taxi drivers , even in my home town now if they dont speak english well .
Side note : If your getting in a taxi ask a few different drivers for prices first , you might get a cheaper price if you have to take a taxi
Alright i got go to bed im tired
Good night
Craig M
Friday, June 5, 2009
FIrst trip to europe ? these links are from another site and not mine
Travel in summer , unless you really really want to ski or snowboard .
Yes the snow caped mountains and alps are breathtaking in winter but you'll be alot more free to sit under the eifell tower with a bottle of wine and snacks in spring automn or summer .
or shop , or watch the world go by in a beautiful park while lying on the soft grass.
I choose to use us dollars in the prices because most people can convet us dollars easily enough.
Pick your travel budget limit affftteerr you buy your gear, because it's a one-time expenditure.
Budget by the day, allowing a figure for fun and games -- you can always pool those bucks for one hotel splurge or night out. $40usd is realistic, $20usd is doable in Eastern Europe, and London is minimum $55usd. Understand the money and exchange rate before you go, prepare to eat cheap but well with street food, and write down what you spend in a travel journal or you will run out of money. Look for free things to do in Europe to stretch the euros, too.
Take th train to (Sofia, Budapest) for dirt cheap excitement. London is a must see. Rome is cheapish, cultured and huge fun. Paris can be cheap if you see the sites on the metro.
Laid-back Amsterdam is totally packed. Switzerland has breathtaking natural beauty tho youhave to make an effort here to make your money stretch and last !.Germany can be chilled or mind-blowing,you can have some good nights out in berlin. and then go on a free yes free guided walking tour the next day if your up for it www.brewersberlintours.com/free.html You can always choose an event, like a hot summer music festival, ostoberfest in munich ,or a place you want to see, like the Louvre in paris, and plan your trip around it. see 17 countries on a rail pass if you can't decide. Listen the way to travel flexibly in europe is by train , The network is massive - check it out! I didn't get the rail pass last time but i should of i would have saved alot of money.
Free Things to Do in Fave European Cities
Well thats it for now
Happy travels
Craig M
Yes the snow caped mountains and alps are breathtaking in winter but you'll be alot more free to sit under the eifell tower with a bottle of wine and snacks in spring automn or summer .
or shop , or watch the world go by in a beautiful park while lying on the soft grass.
I choose to use us dollars in the prices because most people can convet us dollars easily enough.
Pick your travel budget limit affftteerr you buy your gear, because it's a one-time expenditure.
Budget by the day, allowing a figure for fun and games -- you can always pool those bucks for one hotel splurge or night out. $40usd is realistic, $20usd is doable in Eastern Europe, and London is minimum $55usd. Understand the money and exchange rate before you go, prepare to eat cheap but well with street food, and write down what you spend in a travel journal or you will run out of money. Look for free things to do in Europe to stretch the euros, too.
Take th train to (Sofia, Budapest) for dirt cheap excitement. London is a must see. Rome is cheapish, cultured and huge fun. Paris can be cheap if you see the sites on the metro.
Laid-back Amsterdam is totally packed. Switzerland has breathtaking natural beauty tho youhave to make an effort here to make your money stretch and last !.Germany can be chilled or mind-blowing,you can have some good nights out in berlin. and then go on a free yes free guided walking tour the next day if your up for it www.brewersberlintours.com/free.html You can always choose an event, like a hot summer music festival, ostoberfest in munich ,or a place you want to see, like the Louvre in paris, and plan your trip around it. see 17 countries on a rail pass if you can't decide. Listen the way to travel flexibly in europe is by train , The network is massive - check it out! I didn't get the rail pass last time but i should of i would have saved alot of money.
Free Things to Do in Fave European Cities
Well thats it for now
Happy travels
Craig M
how to buy things cheap !! ANYTHING
I want to share something that has always saved me a few dollars here and there ,and its simple!
Whenever your purchasing something from a shop either a new sweatshirt , pair of shoes , just ask , are there any discounts you can do on this item ? .
Youll usually get one of three responses from the shop assistant
no. 1 : what kind of discounts? Thats where you say :" a sale price" , or "like a staff discount "
No 2: no sorry
No .3 maybe... i'll just ask . cross your fingers and say something to them like :"im trying to save money"
Retailers have learnt to be flexible with the economic situation at the moment .
You chances are greatly improved if you dealing derictly with the manager. Have a GOOD VIBE going with however your talking to .
Most large chain shopping centres have employee discounts available for staff menbers from all the shops in the mall. So ask if they can give you the employees discount , you'll be suprised at the results.
I've found this simple question " are there any discounts you could do on this item" works really well epecially when your paying with cash .
The best countries ive had great sucess with this are - Australia , Canada , New Zealand , U.S.A,
United Kingdom , where bargining is not the general way of buying merchandise.
So next time your at a hostel and your asking about prices ask " are there any discounts''
even if your not a network member of yha , nomad , vip backpacker etc etc ...
You just might $ave a few dollars .
Craig M
Whenever your purchasing something from a shop either a new sweatshirt , pair of shoes , just ask , are there any discounts you can do on this item ? .
Youll usually get one of three responses from the shop assistant
no. 1 : what kind of discounts? Thats where you say :" a sale price" , or "like a staff discount "
No 2: no sorry
No .3 maybe... i'll just ask . cross your fingers and say something to them like :"im trying to save money"
Retailers have learnt to be flexible with the economic situation at the moment .
You chances are greatly improved if you dealing derictly with the manager. Have a GOOD VIBE going with however your talking to .
Most large chain shopping centres have employee discounts available for staff menbers from all the shops in the mall. So ask if they can give you the employees discount , you'll be suprised at the results.
I've found this simple question " are there any discounts you could do on this item" works really well epecially when your paying with cash .
The best countries ive had great sucess with this are - Australia , Canada , New Zealand , U.S.A,
United Kingdom , where bargining is not the general way of buying merchandise.
So next time your at a hostel and your asking about prices ask " are there any discounts''
even if your not a network member of yha , nomad , vip backpacker etc etc ...
You just might $ave a few dollars .
Craig M
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Jokes baby!
2007 - Chinese year of the Chicken ......... Bird Flu Pandemic devastated most parts of Asia.
2008 - Chinese year of the Horse ............ Equine Influenza decimated Australian racing.
2009 - Chinese year of the Pig ......... Swine Flu Pandemic terrifying people around the globe.
Has any one else noticed this?
It gets worse next year,
2010 - Chinese year of the Cock .......... what could possibly go wrong?
2008 - Chinese year of the Horse ............ Equine Influenza decimated Australian racing.
2009 - Chinese year of the Pig ......... Swine Flu Pandemic terrifying people around the globe.
Has any one else noticed this?
It gets worse next year,
2010 - Chinese year of the Cock .......... what could possibly go wrong?
WHAT SIZE BACKPACK? -It doesn't make too much difference whether you're travelling in summer or winter. Perhaps you would choose a larger backpack for carrying bulkier winter clothing but remember the most important consideration is to choose a backpack that is right for you...your height, weight etc. If you can carry your backpack comfortably, you'll have a great trip.
SECURITY - Get small padlocks for your bag or a complete wire security mesh so you can lock it to the bunkbed , this way noone can take anything from it
TRAVELLING IN SUMMER- This generally means travelling more lightly. Try the pack on for size - empty backpacks all feel very comfortable so ask the shop assistant to help you fill it with whatever is lying around the store, just to give you an idea of how heavy it might be and to see how comfortable the pack feels across your shoulders.
.
SLEEPING BAGS- are a great investment but lets face it, in some hotter countries you just dont have need them. . And in some hostels in australia , new zealand and canada the are not allowed to be used beacause of the spreading of BED BUGS . yyuuccckkk...
I'd say 80 percent of hostels provide free sheets and linen or a duvee or doonna
And the rest might charge you a dollar or 2 to rent theres,
Most tour companies provide the option of hiring a sleeping bag if your in colder countries and you have to use one for a week or two . just check the climate of the countries you go to .In the summer months you will find that a sleeping bag is too warm for this climate however it can still come in handy - sleep on top of it for extra comfort. go down to the beach with the sleeping bag and someone special . joking...
GENERAL RULE -You probably dont need to pack a sleeping bag
TRAVELLING IN WINTER- You'll need a slightly larger pack for winter travel - winter clothes are larger and bulkier, you need extra socks , however, if you pack sensibly you should be able to layer your clothing for extra warmth and swap the layers around for variety. The golden rule....one jacket only!! you dont perspire as much in winter so clothes dont get as smelly , but just make sure things dont get damp in damp in your pack. , some packs come with a waterproof jacket that un folds aroung the pack , or you could purchase 1 for $10 bucks
MAKE A CHECK LIST - Dont you hate it when you forget your toothbrush , or worse you left your passport behind , most things you can replace cheaply enough on your arrival . But some things you cant so easily! Passport , travellers cheques , plane/train tickets, wallet, cash and credit cards.
Craig M
SECURITY - Get small padlocks for your bag or a complete wire security mesh so you can lock it to the bunkbed , this way noone can take anything from it
TRAVELLING IN SUMMER- This generally means travelling more lightly. Try the pack on for size - empty backpacks all feel very comfortable so ask the shop assistant to help you fill it with whatever is lying around the store, just to give you an idea of how heavy it might be and to see how comfortable the pack feels across your shoulders.
.
SLEEPING BAGS- are a great investment but lets face it, in some hotter countries you just dont have need them. . And in some hostels in australia , new zealand and canada the are not allowed to be used beacause of the spreading of BED BUGS . yyuuccckkk...
I'd say 80 percent of hostels provide free sheets and linen or a duvee or doonna
And the rest might charge you a dollar or 2 to rent theres,
Most tour companies provide the option of hiring a sleeping bag if your in colder countries and you have to use one for a week or two . just check the climate of the countries you go to .In the summer months you will find that a sleeping bag is too warm for this climate however it can still come in handy - sleep on top of it for extra comfort. go down to the beach with the sleeping bag and someone special . joking...
GENERAL RULE -You probably dont need to pack a sleeping bag
TRAVELLING IN WINTER- You'll need a slightly larger pack for winter travel - winter clothes are larger and bulkier, you need extra socks , however, if you pack sensibly you should be able to layer your clothing for extra warmth and swap the layers around for variety. The golden rule....one jacket only!! you dont perspire as much in winter so clothes dont get as smelly , but just make sure things dont get damp in damp in your pack. , some packs come with a waterproof jacket that un folds aroung the pack , or you could purchase 1 for $10 bucks
MAKE A CHECK LIST - Dont you hate it when you forget your toothbrush , or worse you left your passport behind , most things you can replace cheaply enough on your arrival . But some things you cant so easily! Passport , travellers cheques , plane/train tickets, wallet, cash and credit cards.
Craig M
$$$$ How to fund your trip $$$
Just imagine… relaxing on a golden beach in Thailand… trekking through a teeming jungle in Peru…. swimming up close and personal with the creatures of the Great Barrier Reef… roaming the electric streets of Tokyo at 3am in a sake-fuelled haze… ah, the possibilities!
But as the real world seeps back in - a crappy nine-to-five desk-job, perhaps? - your dream can feel distant cant it? perhaps even unattainable. i'll help you overcome these obstacles
I've been asked these questions many times , "
"Won’t it be expensive?""How much will I need?""How will I ever save the money?"
Now most people ive met want to travel with a reasonble level of comfort and security .
Not all the creature comforts of home neccesairlly...... backpacking doesn't mean going hungry, sleeping on the floor of a vacant building , which i have done once or twice when the sign has read NO VANCANCY at certain times and places . I dont recommend this !!
But its simplytravelling the oppisite end of the price range scale budget , to say staying at a 5 star resort , which are all the same anywhere ive gone in the world so far .
A THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER WHEN BACKPACKING :
Some countries are cheap to travel in eg: south american countries, brazil ,peru etc
south east asia , india , thailand, indonesia ,comfortable accomodation and food and drink might only cost you $20 us a day for everything from using the local buses, using a internet cafe
having a couple of coffees , and seeing a move , orrr those were the good old days
Well the good old days still exsist in som countries. believe it or not?
Some countries are expensive to travel in eg: england, norway, sweden, switzerland, japan etc...
Where a cup of coffee at starbucks in zurich might get you 2 or 3 nights accomodation in veitnam
So choose to suit your budget ,
Many countries have completly differnt customs to other countries , acceptable ways of dressing where you come from might be really offensive in a muslim country, There are laws you must follow , you can learn these simply by googling them on the internet ,
remember a practical joke you play on someone in your country might be illegal in another county, dont take souvenier placemats from bars in thailand , they dont see the humour in theift . Dont argue with police anywhere especially in cambodia ,
Police in poorer countries are on low income , this can lead to corruption and backpackers are easy targets
Be flexible with your travell arrangments
This can save you money compared to travelling at peak times and seasons
Ask yourself when travelling ,"What option i choose will give me the best memories"
The cheapist isnt necessairilly the best for you , it might have hidden costs .
Like a cheap hostel that has bedbugs that bite you might lead to you paying for expensive medication to resolve the problem .
If the people where you are dont speak your language learn some of theirs at least hello, thank u.
Quality experiences are what your after and the desicions that you make will either be positive or negative towards your experiences
If your a shy person its a great way to break free from your shyness , learn to say hello and smile when your in the kitchen cooking food with other people , it could lead a life long friend ship
or maybe just a night with someone cute , oh the memories, not that i do that of course
Read up on the country or countries youll be visiting before you arrive . The internet baby!!
( education and knowledge lead to greater experinces) in my opinion
And you can have a good idea on cheaper option to take on accomodation ,travel, food etc....
But i can hear you sayin : BUT CRAIG HOW DO I GET THE MONEY TO DO ALL THIS???
Well first youre going to want to improve your income so drug dealing and prostitution are out of the question? ,, . Just joking , if you have a fulltime job already and have the option of overtime .WORK OVERTIME!!
Or if you study fulltime get a good partime job , or look for a trip otion that might sponser your travel like OXFAM
WORKING HOLIDAYS! they are brilliant ways of getting you on the plane fast, not having to save too much money first , and get a job in the country your travelling to.
You could be a wwoofer( willing worker on an organic farm )
Travelling with somone else can lead to alot of ticket twin share , and accomodation expenses can
be halfed in some instances
Teaching english in a foriegn country - Great way to immerse yourself in a culture
Couch surfing for accomodation - Join this easily . this is a network of people around the world who will put you up for a night or two on their couch or other . Interested go to www.couchsurfing.org/
Craig M
But as the real world seeps back in - a crappy nine-to-five desk-job, perhaps? - your dream can feel distant cant it? perhaps even unattainable. i'll help you overcome these obstacles
I've been asked these questions many times , "
"Won’t it be expensive?""How much will I need?""How will I ever save the money?"
Now most people ive met want to travel with a reasonble level of comfort and security .
Not all the creature comforts of home neccesairlly...... backpacking doesn't mean going hungry, sleeping on the floor of a vacant building , which i have done once or twice when the sign has read NO VANCANCY at certain times and places . I dont recommend this !!
But its simplytravelling the oppisite end of the price range scale budget , to say staying at a 5 star resort , which are all the same anywhere ive gone in the world so far .
A THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER WHEN BACKPACKING :
Some countries are cheap to travel in eg: south american countries, brazil ,peru etc
south east asia , india , thailand, indonesia ,comfortable accomodation and food and drink might only cost you $20 us a day for everything from using the local buses, using a internet cafe
having a couple of coffees , and seeing a move , orrr those were the good old days
Well the good old days still exsist in som countries. believe it or not?
Some countries are expensive to travel in eg: england, norway, sweden, switzerland, japan etc...
Where a cup of coffee at starbucks in zurich might get you 2 or 3 nights accomodation in veitnam
So choose to suit your budget ,
Many countries have completly differnt customs to other countries , acceptable ways of dressing where you come from might be really offensive in a muslim country, There are laws you must follow , you can learn these simply by googling them on the internet ,
remember a practical joke you play on someone in your country might be illegal in another county, dont take souvenier placemats from bars in thailand , they dont see the humour in theift . Dont argue with police anywhere especially in cambodia ,
Police in poorer countries are on low income , this can lead to corruption and backpackers are easy targets
Be flexible with your travell arrangments
This can save you money compared to travelling at peak times and seasons
Ask yourself when travelling ,"What option i choose will give me the best memories"
The cheapist isnt necessairilly the best for you , it might have hidden costs .
Like a cheap hostel that has bedbugs that bite you might lead to you paying for expensive medication to resolve the problem .
If the people where you are dont speak your language learn some of theirs at least hello, thank u.
Quality experiences are what your after and the desicions that you make will either be positive or negative towards your experiences
If your a shy person its a great way to break free from your shyness , learn to say hello and smile when your in the kitchen cooking food with other people , it could lead a life long friend ship
or maybe just a night with someone cute , oh the memories, not that i do that of course
Read up on the country or countries youll be visiting before you arrive . The internet baby!!
( education and knowledge lead to greater experinces) in my opinion
And you can have a good idea on cheaper option to take on accomodation ,travel, food etc....
But i can hear you sayin : BUT CRAIG HOW DO I GET THE MONEY TO DO ALL THIS???
Well first youre going to want to improve your income so drug dealing and prostitution are out of the question? ,, . Just joking , if you have a fulltime job already and have the option of overtime .WORK OVERTIME!!
Or if you study fulltime get a good partime job , or look for a trip otion that might sponser your travel like OXFAM
WORKING HOLIDAYS! they are brilliant ways of getting you on the plane fast, not having to save too much money first , and get a job in the country your travelling to.
You could be a wwoofer( willing worker on an organic farm )
Travelling with somone else can lead to alot of ticket twin share , and accomodation expenses can
be halfed in some instances
Teaching english in a foriegn country - Great way to immerse yourself in a culture
Couch surfing for accomodation - Join this easily . this is a network of people around the world who will put you up for a night or two on their couch or other . Interested go to www.couchsurfing.org/
Craig M
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