Hi BnA!

I'm an 18 year old living in Australia, I've been living in the same house all my life and haven't really accomplished anything or gone anywhere. Life to me seems dull and the idea of going to college, having a successful career and starting a family IS NOT appealing to me what so ever.

I've had it in my head that I wanted to travel since I was about 16, but never thought I'd get around to it, but for the last few months I've been studying travel, backpacking and all that jazz religiously. I graduated high school last year and have been working at a local supermarket for the last few months, from which I've saved up about $4,000 AUD.

This money isn't going to get me far, although I plan on travelling on an extreme budget. What I want to do first is travel Australia and perhaps work on the farms fruit picking, I like the idea of this seasonal work as I can earn money whilst moving from place to place every few weeks/months.

Once I've done that I plan on first heading to SEA and go from there, no real plans just real freedom! I will try and get by on the cheapest possible option, I'm keen to hitchhike, sleep in train stations etc.
So hopefully from the funds I received in AUS I will be able to travel for a very long time, I will also consider working overseas where available. I will be doing this alone, and the only thing I'm really worried about is missing my family.

So hit me up with a reality check? does my plan sound feasible? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. Does anyone know where I can find some good informative fruit picking blogs? I've found one or two good ones but the rest of them are mostly of people complaining and quiting after one day. Thanks!

Ok, reality check..........

First travelling in your own country is an excellent idea, no hassels with work permits etc, lots of great places to go and see, ie east coast.

Fruit picking sucks, not the crappiest thing I have ever done, but after a month I was totally over it. Maybe that's why, you are only finding fruit picking blogs where everyone hates it!

Once I've done that I plan on first heading to SEA and go from there, no real plans just real freedom! I will try and get by on the cheapest possible option, I'm keen to hitchhike, sleep in train stations etc.

No no no! You are asking for trouble on all different sorts of levels. Always plan to have a secure roof over your head.

So hopefully from the funds I received in AUS I will be able to travel for a very long time, I will also consider working overseas where available.

Well fruit picking wages aren't going to get you very far! Sorry to burst your bubble, but budget at least $60 a day in SEA. If you are planning to work overseas, think about what you have to offer ie skills. Then you have the whole work permit issues to get around. It is not that simple.

As an Australian, you can apply for a WHV for a number of countries around the world.

Travelling is an amazing life enhancing experince, but you need to have a plan and you need to be realistic about what you can and can not do.

Here is a list of skills that you can use to get work abroad.

Bar tender/waiter/kitchen bitch (good cash earner in western countries)
Scuba diving (divemaster or instructor, did this in Thailand for four months)
Hair dresser (best way to earn cash on the road, cutting other travellers hair)
Fork lift driver (get a license before you go, best investment I ever made)
TEFL (teaching English, not my thing but plenty of people do it)

Beachcombers has great advice, though the only point I'd disagree on is the cost cited for SEA- AUS$60 is about US$50 and I did US$40/day in SEA while never feeling like I was scrimping. Could have gotten down to US$1000/month without feeling like I was seriously cutting back too. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies

When I say I wanted no real plans I meant that I didn't want a schedule or a set list of things to do, I do plan on finding a decent place to sleep at night, I was just using the sleeping in a train station as an example if it's my only option. Also, $60 a day in SEA sounds like living in luxury, I think I could live on $10-$20 a day, which would include the average backpacker expenditure of hostel dorms and street food, I don't drink BTW so that is sure to cut the cost down a bit. Of course $60 a day sounds reasonable in Western Europe or Northern America, when I do get there... eventually.

I've read thoroughly through fruit picking sites also, and I don't really think the pay is that bad, it's of course, not the best but it's actually pretty decent considering that it's mindless work really. It just depends how efficient you are at it, as most of the farms pay by how much you pick. Once you get the hang of it on a good farm you can be earning over $200 a day. Also keeping in mind that you're most likely in the middle of no where, so there really isn't anything to spend your money on, all you do is save really

I've also looked a bit into the jobs you listed, although I've never encountered anyone saying to get a fork lift license, that sounds an interesting one I will have to look into that hahaha.

Thinking about $10-20 a day in SE Asia (not to keep harking back to the topic but I'm a little bored just now!), and while it's definitely doable some days I think it'd be a stretch as an every day budget. Not drinking only helps so much when the beers go for $1 a pop after all, sometimes it's cheaper than the fruit juice! There really aren't hostel bunks in that part of the world because the guesthouses go so cheap, but if you find someone to split with you in faraway places like Laos or Cambodia you could probably split a room for $2-3, but you'll be lucky to find double that price in a place like Bangkok. Food would keep you in budget as well but where you'd really get stuck budget-wise is transport/ doing a few activities- I never understood the mentality of people who travel thousands of km from home only to never do anything while there because it's out of their price range. Just a few thoughts, though I think you're heading in the right direction.

Traveling on such an extremely tight budget gives you a significantly different trip than those of us who save more so we can spend more. Is it possible? Probably. But you won't be able to do much, won't be able to move around too often, and may find the food selection gets pretty mundane fast.

One of the great things about being young is that it's often possible to save up for a trip while living with parents, meaning almost all of your income can be dedicated to your trip. It doesn't take long to save this way, and will give significantly more flexibility once you're on the road.

While working in Australia is fine, I wouldn't plan on working in developing countries once you leave. The reason being is that unless you have extremely specialised skills, it takes a lot of work to make a little money in most of the world. Australia has WHV arrangements with many wealthier countries and those are definitely worth looking into. It is much more worth your effort to work in such countries and then enjoy how far that money goes in a poorer country, than the other way around. If your interested in experiencing the work-day side of culture in developing countries, you're probably better off arranging a volunteer opportunity than spending a lot of time and effort finding paid employment.

$10 - $20 a day would probably be my aim per day, and I agree with you that I will likely go over that budget now and again, but my way of travel isn't all about going on tours, staying in desirable hotels or partying into the night - I generally want to travel just for the experience, seeing some place new, meeting the locals and discovering their culture. I know it is likely to be far from what I imagine, but when I travel I WANT to travel on a bus crowded by the locals, I WANT to sleep in uncomfortable places and I WANT to try that rat kebab that street vendor is selling in Vietnam, I want to travel for the experience, or to live like the locals do. I don't travel to live like a westerner in another country. I understand that most would have no desire to travel like that, but its what I've been yearning to do for the past 2 years. Of course I will treat myself now and again and take holidays from my holiday

The main cost of my trip will be visas and vaccinations, I plan on doing as little air travel as possible, mostly travelling over land.

Also, I never planned to work in a developing country for paid employment, only to volunteer. I do plan on working in the more developed countries where it'll be worthwhile though.

Thanks for the great advice guys, really appreciate it

I have to say that I agree with the other travelers here Kadiri - $10 is just a bit to low. I did Laos on $22 US a day, splitting accommodation with people - and I really only rarely drink. I just wouldn't want you to discount the advice because you think that going local is going to save you a significant amount of money -- it will, but $10 is straight up too low. If anything set your expectations a little higher so that you aren't stressing out and scrimping when you get there and things/activities cost more.

I don't want to seem like I am just harping on what the others have pointed out, but it's something to consider so that you really can stay on the road for a good long while

Anyhow, that's my two cents.

Go for it, I love that you're going to start slowly in your own country and then head for SEA - good plan, have a blast, and enjoy yourself You can always pick up some work once there if you have to

Cheers,

Shannon
alittleadrift.com

I think it is important to ask:

What sort of experience are you looking for.

I recently went to Vietnam recently to teach English. These jobs are rather easy to obtain and the pay is adequate considering the cost of living, and yes I think a person can do SEA on $10-$20 a day, I did. I used hospitalityclub.org and stayed with a wonderful family the last few day of my trip.

Ok, back to what sort of experience. In my travels I have found the grandeur of nature, the wonders of history and societies, but above all else, the beauty in human beings. There is an amazing adventure to be had in meeting and getting to know people.

I stayed in the same small city for most of my stay. I had a clean, beautiful hotel room on the beach ($6/night), a schedule of classes... and a lovely routine ensued. I got to know the locals made a few friends and chatted with westerners as they passed through. It was easy to tell who was new in town because it was small. The tourists would tell me where they had been and where they are going next, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the list went on. They were always in such a hurry to get to the next place and get a photo of the next temple. It seemed stressful and I wondered if they were really getting something out of all this.

In western society, more is better and bigger better. So, naturally, the more you see the better your travels were, and the proof is now in the photo album on your coffee table.

Now when I say less is more, I mean staying put and truly absorbing an experience, drink in the beauty of life and people.

I had a class of wonderful and funny students. They stayed after class to chat, took me places in town, invited me to their family's home for dinner, even a wedding party! The headmaster of the school invited me to stay the weekend at his home in the countryside where he lived with his wife and two children.

If I wanted to go sight seeing or go to a temple, one of my students or friends go with me or take me on their motorbike. (Bring your own helmet, one that fits).

Traveling for me (and I don't assume that my way is better than anyone else's) is not about guided tours, scheduled days and a predictable experience. I let each day unfold, as it did and every moment was amazing. I remain spontaneous, open-minded, fun loving and project a positive energy.

I think your "life of travel" idea is awesome. Please don't let fear and little doubting voices stop you. Nothing great was ever accomplished in a secure and predictable manner. Go see what's around the next corner, and for Pete's sake write about it!

The rest is up to the gods.

- Johannes