Breaking in your travel legs

Hello world, as I write this I am sitting in a hostel in Kuta, Bali about two weeks into my month long adventure in Southeast Asia. I promised some blog posts on budget traveling and providing some beneficial information on what I learn while on the road. Due to lack of internet for extended periods of time this has resulted in publishing a longer than wanting post containing my last two weeks of travel condensed into (semi)readable paragraphs. Now, there is a major shoutout that must be done here, for it would have taken a lot longer to figure out what I have learned so far if not for the amazing man himself, Amir Foy. This kind hearted soul and brother has spent the better part of the last six months here in Southeast Asia and has just provided me a literal crash course in budget traveling for the Southeast Asia geographical area. What follows is my personal account and lessons in budget traveling from the island of Bali.

Southeast Asia

Getting to se asia -- I had been eyeing tickets on the internet for a while, and finally after about two weeks of consistent searching and doubting I finally made the decision to purchase my first flight to Asia in three months time. It is best to purchase your ticket three to four months in advance to provide for proper planning. Now something I did not know at the time, but has since come to my attention is the use of cookies by airline companies to marginally inflate the prices of flights that you consistently search. Over time multiple online searches of the same flights generate cookies, which then are used to marginally inflate the prices of the flights you are interested in, because the airlines see a demand for the flight and slowly wean the cheaper flights out of the picture. Now this is not a published fact, but research strongly suggests that this is a standard economic method utilized by airlines to generate further profit. An easy fix for this is to clear your cookie cache every time you finish researching travel plans that include flights. As a result of my ignorance the price of the flight I was interested in for over two weeks worth of research increased by more than $150 when it came time for me to finally decide and invest. Now remember, this is southeast Asia, one of the cheapest areas of the world to travel in, and an area of the world where bargaining exists for almost all goods and services. So $150 can stretch to almost a weeks worth of traveling depending on your specific travel demands.

D-Day -- Departure day, I am sitting in Denver International Airport about to catch my first of three flights before I reach my destination, Singapore. The duration of the trip is 30 days, an efficient amount of time in my opinion to break in your travel legs. I have packed a 30 liter backpack for the duration of my trip. If you pack smart all you need is a carry on with a personal item (day trekking pack stuffed with airplane necessities). Everyone is different, so obviously packing is unique to every individual traveler, but some good guidelines to follow are, to keep your pack under 10 kg. Most budget airlines (which are the cheapest and usually best airlines to book with for short duration flights to non-specific and specific destinations) employ a weight limit of 10 kg for carry ons before they begin charging extra fees. Your day trekking pack (personal item) can be used to carry heavier items that provide excess weight.

Singapore, Malaysia

I land in Singapore for a brief stay before heading to Bali. Singapore is a beautiful city with many modern attractions. Most attractions cost money, but it is still possible to experience Singapore on a budget. For accommodations there are hostels and home stays available. For transportation the public bus and metro system is cost effective and efficient. For food the local “hawker stalls”, as they are known, provide local cuisine at very affordable prices. For attractions Little India, Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay, and Geyland all provide for vibrant experiences at no entry cost. I finally depart for Bali on an AirAsia flight (with help from Amir’s budget airline knowledge). We land in Bali International Airport and the chaos ensues.

Bali -- The airport on this small island is located on a very small channel of land, which creates a bottleneck effect when driving in or out of this area. Kuta, Bali is probably one of the more visited areas of Bali for its beach-vibe party scene and is located just five to ten minutes from the airport. When exiting the airport do not take the first car or bus service you see. People will try to sell you anything. Exit the airport and walk to the outside roads that run parallel to the airport. Now find a taxi, Blue Bird taxis are quite reliable taxis in Bali, but always ask the driver before you get in if they are running the meter. If not find another taxi that will run the meter. I have figured a daily budget of ~$30 USD to be of a sufficient travel budget for the island of Bali. Every location in Southeast Asia will vary on a sufficient daily budget, but for Bali there is no reason other than non-budget traveling why you cannot travel and experience Bali on $30 USD or less per day.

Bali

It is usually easier to book accommodations in advance at a location in Bali online if you are unfamiliar with the area and would like to relax after a long day of travel, rather than walking around bargaining for a room of your necessities. For budget traveling in Bali a basic room with a bed, bucket shower, and toilet should run you no more than 100,000 rupiah. Now this is very basic living standards, and for a little upgrade you should pay no more than 250,000 rupiah.

Food is very cheap here and you do not need a super strong stomach to be able to eat cheap in Bali. As long as you look for locals eating there you will get a cheaper price. It is always nice too if you know a bit of the local dialect to begin conversations with, it is a good ice breaker and makes the locals more approachable to giving you local prices. A traditional dish that is hard to go wrong with is Nasi Goreng, which is just fried rice with some egg and vegetable. Solid staple meal that goes for approx. 10,000 rupiah. You can get a hot tea to wash it down for 3,000-5,000 rupiah and you have a safe, local, fulfilling meal for just over $1 USD cost.

Transportation is very personalized. Every traveler has there own level of comfort for transporting themselves places. For the super budget traveler, a scooter, the open road, and some fuel is the option. At a cost of around 50,000 rupiah per day (including fuel) Amir and I were able to see about 75% or more of the island in five days. That is an approx. cost of 250,000 rupiah or $20 USD in transportation for five days, or about $4 USD a day in transportation for two people. One topic of awareness is the use of road blocks by local police in search of people in violation of the very laissez-faire traffic laws in use on the island. A popular search is of tourist drivers in search of international drivers license’s. It is a very common practice to simply delay procedure and provide a monetary stimulus to the police for passage in an amount of 50,000-100,000 rupiah.

Attractions are many on this island paradise. From world class surfing at Medewi surf point, to snorkeling out on Deer Island off the North Shore, to climbing volcanoes and exploring Hindu temples, to searching out magnificent waterfalls and immaculate rice terraces. Amongst these attractions “donations” and fees are also plenty. Be cautious when breaking out the wallet to see a temple, or to get a “guide” to view a waterfall. These are small scams that all end up costing you big in the end. There are the few attractions that have organizations that manage them, and require an entry fee of usually approx. 15,000 rupiah. Surfing can be an easy money trap as well. The average cost should be no more than 50,000 to 75,000 rupiah for a full day of surfing (lessons not included). Don’t be afraid to bargain and start low.

Gunung Agung, Bali

The attractions that can scam you are the waterfall treks and volcano treks. Now if you are not familiar with trekking in general, the locals (“guides”) can offer an easy (but expensive) alternative to experiencing these attractions. If you should commission a guide you should pay no more than 20,000 rupiah to trek a waterfall, and no than 100,000 to 300,000 rupiah to trek a volcano (depending on which volcano you wish to trek).

When it comes to purchasing the local goods for memorabilia and to give your loved ones in an attempt to create peace for not taking them with you, it is very important to remember the power of bargaining. Most prices for goods sold in Bali and Southeast Asia are inflated, so with proper bargaining techniques in hand a proper price can be established with the right knowledge. Now this can seem ill-favored to some people that do not understand the economics behind it, and it also comes down to principle. People simply tend to believe that the price given is the market price, but this is a common misconception. The economy of the area supports a daily wage of approx. $4 USD per day according to wageindicator.org. Most tourist traps found on Bali provide goods that are sold in little stands. The average price for a bracelet that I saw at one temple was 35,000 rupiah. That is almost a full day wage for one person with one bracelet. This kind of economic environment does not support long-term growth and development in an area with rampant poverty and governmental corruption. It is also the principle surrounding the entire concept. That principle, though not everyone agrees, is that we are all participants here together, and the common universal law, do unto others as you would want to be done unto you.

Up to this moment in time the information above is the majority of information I have retained in the last two weeks in this crash course on budget traveling my brother Amir Foy has so generously passed on to me. There may have been pieces I have learned, but have forgotten to mention, and for that I am sorry. These last two weeks have been some of the most humbling and enlightening experiences of my life, and I am still just beginning to fully process all the information and data. This world is filled with magic and wonder, and it is easier than you think to access these far off lands, you must simply remember that traveling like a local is the most organic and cost effective experience you will ever find. We are now off to Lombok, an island adjacent to Bali, to continue our travels. We will be taking the public transportation from Kuta, Bali to the harbor, where we will catch the slow ferry to Lombok. Experiences to come, so stay in touch.

Please feel free to comment and share. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, personal attacks are never tolerated, and I would be happy to take topic requests for this area. Never stop exploring, and we will inform you soon from the island of Lombok!

Onward,

Hayden