Hi,
I am a 35.y.o, "experienced" ex-backpacker (bookish rather than a party animal), planning to return into the fray, still with a curious spirit, but with slightly higher expectations of comfort (meaning simply that I appreciate a single room, if possible, and am willing to fork out for things like good food). My job is online, as a translator, and I would like to spend about 5 months from Nov. through Mar. around Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. I would be taking my laptop with me to work on, and would greatly appreciate any advice on the following questions, and anything related, particularly specifics:
- My idea is to spend 2-3 weeks at a time in a convenient location in each country, actually working most of the day, with some time to explore locally and relax , and 1-2 weeks in between each of these just travelling. I am interested in recommendations for a few locations of different atmosphere (beach, town, city) that might serve as good bases, actual accomodation ideas would be great.
- A philosophical question to those with a similar lifestyle: how do you manage to combine the fact that you need to be available for work with still being able to feel that you are actually also travelling/"on holiday"?
- The technical aspect: since when I am working, (say 8 hrs a day), I am also online, and need to concentrate I don't know if WIFI spots (cafes and such) are the only solution, or other, local Internet options would be available for a reasonable price. Two small, but important things are: a comfortable table to work on and a reliable electricity supply (my laptop is a bit handicapped on that front).
Thanks in advance for advice of any kind.
Hi Trollover_Jackpot:
Well, I'm not an expert in all the SE Asian countries you've listed, but I do know a little bit about Viet Nam so let me try to help you out a little bit.
For work, if you need to be connected to the internet most of the time, Ho Chi Minh City would be the best. Here, you can basically get WIFI connection at any coffee shop you go into. Most hotels also provide free WIFI as well. Also, because it is a major metropolitan city, you can find any kind of food that you want. If you want Chinese, one of the best place is Royal Garden Restaurant at Hung Vuong Plaza in District 5. The reasonably priced and clean hotels are Kim Linh or Nhat Ha, in district 3 and 1, respectively. For relaxation and you don't mind not having any real clubs to go to, you can rent a car and driver and go out of town to Mui Ne. Which is about 4 hrs drive from HCMC. Mui Ne is a good place to go if you just want to get away from the city but if you need excitement, don't go there. :) Maybe try Nha Trang instead, but you'd need to fly there.
Well, I hope that has helped you some what. If you need more details, please visit my blog www.lolVietNam.com and leave me a comment and I'll try to help in any way I can.
Good luck and have fun!
Katrina
www.lolVietNam.com
I passed through Kuching, Malaysia a couple of years ago and there were quite a few people spending a month or more there doing exactly as you describe, living in a hostel, in a single room with shared bath, using the free wifi. Sometimes they sat in the community room and sometimes they worked elsewhere.
I have seen this in a number of places in cafes and hostels throughout this part of the world. Generally speaking my experience was that power and internet connections were not a major problem in Malaysia and some parts of Thailand. Cambodia is ok in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap but elsewhere it is more difficult.
Since you are primarily interested in Mainland and Peninsula SEAsia, you really should ask on those branches where the regulars hang out and have more details.
A philosophical question to those with a similar lifestyle: how do you manage to combine the fact that you need to be available for work with still being able to feel that you are actually also travelling/"on holiday"?
You don't feel like you are traveling. You feel like you are working during the week and are more like an expat than a traveler, but then on the weekends you are free to explore.
Personally I would plan to spend more time in a place since I suspect that picking up and moving will be disruptive to your work and you won't get to see much of the sites near you during the week because of work requirements.
Ruth
I like the sound of your plan!
A philosophical question to those with a similar lifestyle: how do you manage to combine the fact that you need to be available for work with still being able to feel that you are actually also travelling/"on holiday"?
I'd say that you aren't actually on holidays or travelling during those periods when you are working 8 hours a day. You are simply working in a different location to usual and really enjoying the fact that after work there are different things to eat/experience/do.
I don't have a similar lifestyle to what you describe but as Ruth mentions what you are thinking of is more like being a short term expat. As a long term expat most of the time I don't feel like I'm travelling or on holidays but that doesn't stop me enjoying all the experiences I have in my day to day life that are different to what I'd have if I'd never left home.
My job is online, as a translator,
I am not sure how much bandwidth you need. If not a lot, most places are fine. But if your need for bandwidth is great (up- and downloading large files) then you will need to double check where you are going. In some places, Phuket for example, ADSL/WiFi can be agonizingly slow during certain times of the day, rip-roaringly fast at other times. Internet can be fairly dependable in terms of being present, but bandwidth can be super variable.
I mention this as you said you are doing some translating thus if using largish audio files for that, you will likely have SOME bandwidth difficulty in some places. If you are just translating text files then no problem at all.
Thank you all very much for your advice and the positive vibes - you have made my feet even itchier :)
. . . you have made my feet even itchier.
I am afraid that, perhaps, the itchy feet may NEVER go away . . . so I say at age 59 . . .
Permamently itchy feet is not something I am afraid of, as long as have a place to rest my weary head (a great line I once read in a travel book said something about "at 18, sleeping in a ditch is an adventure, at 38, it is simply very uncomfortable") good food to fill my stomach, health, meaningful company, and a reason to get up each morning. If I can have these at 59, I won't be complaining...
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