What 400 days on the road taught me

Having spent more than 400 days on the road, I am finally back in the comfort of my own home in Sydney, enjoying some much needed downtime, free of worries. Hence, I have been reflecting on my journey over the past year. From meeting new friends along the way to gaining new life experiences. These are the things that I have learnt:

The Misconception that Travelling is Expensive

Of the many people and friends I talk to, this is probably the most common topic that comes up time and time again. I often come across the question  "How can you afford to travel for so long?" and "Oh you must have saved a lot?". Although YES, this is often the case, the opposite is also possible. One can explore the world on a shoestring budget.

When I first planned this adventure, I was of the same mindset. However, once I started to budget properly, I soon realised you don't need a whole lot of money. It all depends on how you choose to travel. I have learnt many things along the way from fellow travellers. In one case, I met a guy who managed to travel on a budget of USD$10 a day!

Sure, while one can spend $200 a night indulging in 5 star luxury, on the other end of the scale one can also find a hostel bed in Cambodia for USD$2 per night. In Laos, you can get your own waterfront bungalow on the Mekong for USD$4-5 a night!

My own piece of the Mekong in Southern Laos for $5 a night!

Istanbul in Pictures

Just Pictures...

Hagia Sophia- The Christian church turned into a mosque.