2 months in Asia - advice?

[ikemen]

india, wow.. reminds me of the recent terrorist blast at mumbai, stay safe

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by ikemen

india, wow.. reminds me of the recent terrorist blast at mumbai, stay safe

Well I'm hoping that ****** hostels are not a primary focal point for terrorists.

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Well I'm hoping that ****** hostels are not a primary focal point for terrorists.

Well I used to drink in Leopolds pretty much every night for 3 weeks...

Couldn't believe it when it was on the news!

 

[snuffy]

Fantastic itinerary Metrostyles. Whats your budget for this trip?

Have you been away for this long before? You might get a bit tired of living out of a suitcase (backpack).

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by snuffy

Fantastic itinerary Metrostyles. Whats your budget for this trip?

Have you been away for this long before? You might get a bit tired of living out of a suitcase (backpack).

I don't really have a budget. I guess $6000 or so. I have enough money to survive an emergency in my bank account. But I will try to go as cheap as possible. I'd prefer to spend less than $2000 on airfare total, $30 a night on lodging (that might be a high estimate), and <$30 on food a day. If I really roughed it I'm sure I could do it for $2000, but with only two months to work with, I can't take as much ground transport as I would like to.

 

[clee1982]

&lt;30 a day for food... I think you can surivive with &lt;5 a day for food in many places you're visiting. Might spend a bit more just trying to eat all the little things you see here and there.

 

[robertorex]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

I don't really have a budget. I guess $6000 or so. I have enough money to survive an emergency in my bank account. But I will try to go as cheap as possible. I'd prefer to spend less than $2000 on airfare total, $30 a night on lodging (that might be a high estimate), and <$30 on food a day. If I really roughed it I'm sure I could do it for $2000, but with only two months to work with, I can't take as much ground transport as I would like to.

<30 on food a day is very, very doable if you stay away from places that foreigners normally eat at. Although it may average to that if you try to go for the famous restaurants once a week or so, whenever you feel like a bit more than the street fare.

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by robertorex

<30 on food a day is very, very doable if you stay away from places that foreigners normally eat at. Although it may average to that if you try to go for the famous restaurants once a week or so, whenever you feel like a bit more than the street fare.

I will be going to at most 3-4 nice restaurants in the entire 2.5 months. Not interested in treating myself to anything nice. Only when I meet up with friends or acquaintances will I go the nice places. Besides, I certainly won't be dressed for swanky eateries. I am packing a very un-SF approved wardrobe.

The only luxuries I will spare myself are 5-6 nights at Starwood hotels when I feel I need a good night's sleep or a good clean bath. I have over 150,000 points there so I may as well use them - but only sparingly.

 

[snuffy]

MetroStyles,

Are you taking a break from work? Just finished school? I'm curious as to how the idea for a 2 month vacation came along. I myself was in-between jobs when I went.

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by snuffy

MetroStyles,

Are you taking a break from work? Just finished school? I'm curious as to how the idea for a 2 month vacation came along. I myself was in-between jobs when I went.

My company has excellent benefits. I am taking a two-month sabbatical. The company allows up to 6 months for sabbatical if you are an employee in good standing. As a consultant, my projects have very definite start and end dates. If I had another job, it would be harder to leave my duties for several months. As a consultant, as long as I do not get "staffed" onto a new project for a couple of months, no value is lost. It's a pretty great deal.

 

[robertorex]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

I will be going to at most 3-4 nice restaurants in the entire 2.5 months. Not interested in treating myself to anything nice. Only when I meet up with friends or acquaintances will I go the nice places. Besides, I certainly won't be dressed for swanky eateries. I am packing a very un-SF approved wardrobe.

The only luxuries I will spare myself are 5-6 nights at Starwood hotels when I feel I need a good night's sleep or a good clean bath. I have over 150,000 points there so I may as well use them - but only sparingly.

Depending on where you go and how brave you are $10 a day for food will be plenty.

 

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Eason

If you're really coming and need a place to stay, let me know a bit beforehand, my apartment might have a free room.

ditto Vietnam

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by m@T

ditto Vietnam

That's extremely kind of both you and Eason. I might take you up on your offers...beware! Jeez, I never thought the day would come that I would meet an SFer (outside of a B&S context).

 

[globetrotter]

you can eat very well in india on 30 day, you can eat pretty well on 10 dollars a day, but even some of the best places in town for 30. sounds like you will have fun.

 

[West24]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

That's extremely kind of both you and Eason. I might take you up on your offers...beware! Jeez, I never thought the day would come that I would meet an SFer (outside of a B&S context).

if you plan to stay with eason, id bring a jock strap to wear backwards while you sleep.