South East Asia or Europe? - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**simply_angelic** · 10-22-2007, 08:25 AM

wait, you went to one thai food place in your life, and LOOKED at the food. You didnt even try it to see whether or not you'd like it?

I guess there's always McDonalds...they're everywhere

Rathma · 10-22-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

wait, you went to one thai food place in your life, and LOOKED at the food. You didnt even try it to see whether or not you'd like it?

I guess there's always McDonalds...they're everywhere

Yeah, I hate everything. I've only had salad once and I almost threw up. And i've never eaten a tomato before, which surprises some people.

**DC_Jessica** · 10-22-2007, 09:12 AM

Food is amazing, but would you miss out on the most inspiring, coolest things to see and do in the world because of food?? I don't eat so much when I travel. Accidentally, of course. But I end up leaving thinking, "why didn't I eat that squid on a stick, it would have been SO COOL!" But when I'm budgeting, I can't eat when I'm not hungry (I'm cheap!) and usually the adrenaline rush of backpacking kills my appetite. So it's possible to travel and just pop into convenience stores for something with enough calories to keep you going so you can maximize site-seeing by eating on the go. Also, rice. You can just get plain old rice EVERYWHERE. Carbs, plain, perfect.

I lived off of Prinzenrolle and Rittersport in Germany!

I'll be honest, there's some shit food in Europe, too. See "weird foods you eat" thread that has just devolved into Blood Pudding 101!! (Never had it, I'm just being prejudicial...I'm sure it's good...

) And I'm sure convenience stores with plain food would be just as expensive, maybe more in Europe than in Asia.

**voyd** · 10-22-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe7f

Well if that's the case, I would absolutely recommend Japan. I went there for 12 days last year and was spending roughly 20-25 USD per night in hostels (~15-17 Euros) which were among the best I have ever been too. Tokyo is more expensive than most cities (especially transportation). I have a link to my blog in the signature you can click on May and see what I did

Yea, Japan wasn't as expensive as I thought. I actually stayed at an airport hotel outside of Tokyo for only $54/night. Which is actually pretty damn cheap because in the US, any airport hotel is going to run you at least around $100.

And of course, the hostels are much cheaper than hotels...

Rathma · 10-22-2007, 04:09 PM

One downside to Japan is transportation. Bullet trains can be really expensive I hear, unless I just want to hang out near Tokyo the whole time.

Rathma · 10-22-2007, 04:29 PM

Is there no editing on this forum? Hmm.

Anyways, a 21 day rail pass is about 400 dollars. Same as a rail pass for Europe I suppose.

**aliz** · 10-22-2007, 05:18 PM

only recognized members & mods can edit posts. it probably says this on the first page, but how far away in this trip? I'm getting the impression that you really want to go to japan, I say just start saving like crazy and go there

**joe7f** · 10-22-2007, 05:27 PM

Once you have your degree you can actually get a job teaching English in Japan through JET or one of the private language schools. The pay is decent (if you aren't planning on saving the money).

The study abroad programs (non university) are a tad expensive but are pretty worthwhile (I did that in and will do that again in Spain)

In addition to starting to save money, start learning Japanese now. The average English proficiency is a far cry from Europe (of course, at tourist information, hostels and the like you will find very fluent speakers). Of course, for me learning languages is fun (especially crazy ones like nihongo)

Let us know what you decide

--Joey

Rathma · 10-22-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliz

how far away in this trip? I'm getting the impression that you really want to go to japan, I say just start saving like crazy and go there

It's quite a few months away, I'd probably go around April or May which would give me time to save up.

I am also going to start practicing Japanese on a daily basis now in the event that I actually do get enough money for it.

Only two pages into this thread and i've already changed my destination completely.

**joe7f** · 10-22-2007, 07:40 PM

^That happens. I went to Japan because I was researching flights to Beijing for 2008. I was just going to stop in Tokyo because it seemed interesting. Now Japan is my 2nd or 3rd favorite country in the world and I can't wait to go back!

If you go in May you can catch "Golden Week" which is a week with 3 holidays spaced a day apart so everyone just takes off the whole week. Usually they flee the cities and go to the small towns where they grew up or go on vacation. Consequently Tokyo is relatively empty. I went there during this time and noticed a huge difference one week later when I had completed my run through Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Have you ever been out of the US before?

--Joey

Rathma · 10-23-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe7f

Have you ever been out of the US before?

--Joey

I've never been out of North America. I live in Canada.

**mermaidnz** · 10-27-2007, 01:27 AM

japan is Really not the expensive!!

you can book yourself into a guest house for a month for about $400 rent http://tokyonoticeboard.co.jp/ look here for current guesthouses with vacancies.

at least that way you can explore tokyo and do day trips out of the city for a month cheaply, then get your bullet train pass to explore the rest of japan.

Rathma · 10-27-2007, 09:42 AM

Yeah I was browsing a site of guest houses and the monthly rent can be very acceptable. So stay in Tokyo for a month, then get a rail pass and travel for....

7 days: $238
or
14 days: $380

Is 7 days enough to do a bit of sight seeing outside Tokyo? Or should I try for the 14 day pass?

**joe7f** · 11-18-2007, 06:59 AM

I used a 7 day pass outside of Tokyo but I did a fairly "basic" tour. Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima-Tokyo. The only reason I got the pass was Tokyo-Kyoto round trip made it worth while. Add the Hiroshima leg and I probably saved a few hundred.

Since Japan is your dream destination I think you may want 14 days to allow you to really see the island.

--Joey

glitterhairdye · 11-18-2007, 09:28 AM

So I am a pretty picky eater. I'm a really strict vegetarian and I won't eat anything unless I know for a fact that it doesn't have any traces of meat in it. I also don't eat bananas, potatoes (and I do love germany), honey, peanut butter, and the list goes on. Don't ever let your pickiness say you can't try anything. Unless you have a moral problem with eating soething just try it. I wouldn't say I didn't like all of those foods if I hadn't tried them. I lived in grocery stores and I bought some amazing local foods to eat while I was backpacking and even though I've never been to SEA ( I really want to though) I will probably do the same thing there.
And please, go out and try a tomato. They're not bad.

**Legitikick** · 11-18-2007, 05:11 PM

Yeah I second tomatos, they rock.

glitter: cool signature, that's a good idea

Go Army, beat Navy

sirensounds · 12-03-2007, 07:43 PM

i say go to south east asia.
i just got back last wednesday from one month backpacking around thailand by myself. im 22/f. and i had the time of my life, im already thinking about when i can go back.

i am the fussiest eater i know. i dont eat red meat, i dont think ive ever eaten a tomato either, i dont like salad...there are plenty more things i dont eat..but i never went hungry.

the first couple of weeks i ate 'westener' type foods, but on my trek i had to eat what they gave me. it was either that or starve. lol. and it really wasnt that bad. i thought to myself im in thailand so i may aswell eat thai food.
in my last week i pretty much lived off noodles from the side of the road.

i even ate a deep fried frog and meal worm...the cicadas looked a bit too crunchy though

now that im home in craving pad thai but im not paying $9 for it when i payed less then $1 for it in thailand!

**Canadian Bacon** · 12-03-2007, 08:24 PM

Having never been to SEA, I'd say go to Europe because its a good first time trip, and for sure you will have an awesome time.

Having been to more 'hardcore' places backpacking, I would say that Europe is definitely more fun. And after your graduation... what do you want to do? FUN!

Not that Thailand won't be fun... I'm sure it would be awesome, but hell, I'd still go to Europe.

But also factor into what you like: when I took my trip to Europe, I was really into European history and art... so that was like, a good match.

Rathma · 12-03-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Bacon

But also factor into what you like: when I took my trip to Europe, I was really into European history and art... so that was like, a good match.

That is a good point. I do not care for history and art whatsoever.

The only thing I look for in my trip is to walk around and see as many beautiful sights as possible (i'm a big fan of mountains or just high elevations in general)

And of course, a reasonable budget is also something I look for.

By the way, SEA and Europe aren't the only options. I wish I could edit my thread title. I'll travel anywhere. I've been recently reading up on China, and some areas seem reasonably priced.

**joe7f** · 12-04-2007, 04:49 AM

Don't buy bland beer because it is cheap, don't eat lite ice cream to save calories, and don't travel somewhere unless you want to go there. Get great beer/great ice cream and drink/eat them less frequently.

Go wherever you want to go most, and adjust your stay accordingly

If you go off with your friends to Europe, check out Interlaken, Switzerland, I think you'll like it. If you go to China, take a look at Guillen, in Japan Fuji-san and the Nagano area would be right up your alley.

--Joey