Should I take $50k and backpack around the world?

[MrGecko]

happy to rough it, seen the high's and the lows of travel under various guises. Doing things on the cheap has generally been the most rewarding.

Appreciate the comments about trading myself around the world, but my experience of trading suggests that I just wouldn't be able to do it and enjoy both.

 

[DionysusToast]

A lot of my friends were backpackers and I never did that as I chose what was a relatively lucrative trade at the time.

I decided to mix work & travel, starting off with 6 months in the states. Then off to Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Thailand. All working as a consultant, all on somoene else's $$$. The companies I worked with had me travelling around too and there's a long, long list of countries I've worked in or hopped across to.

It's been about 13 years now.

If you have some marketable skills, you might be able to go the five star route. Bugger roughing it. That'd get old very quickly.

 

[Prawnsandwich]

But as you said $ 50K is a fair amount to spend on a sun tan / memories......if you were trading and generating an income at the same time, it would ease the pressure and allow you go at your own pace etc, not worry about capital expenditure, stay in one place as long as you wanted etc....

Live the dream dude, live the dream......

 

[spy74]

Just a thought...I've traveled a bit with work into Asia and through the States, as well as doing a backpacker jaunt through Europe. Looking back these experiences are just so much more vivid and memorable when you can sit down and laugh and reminisce about them over a beer with those you traveled with. I don't really think too much about seeing the landmarks/cities/beaches - they do seem to get a little bit same-old after a while, but I do often think about how I saw a whole new side to my wife while solving the problems associated with backpacking through Europe, found out my boss was actually a half-decent bloke while getting sh*t-faced in a bar in NY etc etc...just provides a better backdrop for the memories IMO. Of course, you could meet some great people to travel with along the way.....

 

[scose-no-doubt]

Do it! If I had the money and the knowledge that I had the skill set to walk right back into a very well paid job when I get back I'd be out of this dreary sh1t-hole quicker than a bolt of greased lightening.
These are years you'll never get back and you won't be able to do it the same way once you getting towards the end of your innings. Plus you could get hit by a bus tomorrow and miss out on it all the world has to offer- a lot of good the 50k will do you then eh?
As long as you have confidence that you can continue to earn money and secure a decent future and retirement when you return then why not?
Just remember to leave a few places out so you can visit with the wife when you are all wrinkled

Hope you do it mate!

PS. I think you're on to a winner by deciding to bin trading while you travel. Maybe bang one or two if you really want to but I personally think trading to support your journey would probably make it feel like work.

 

[DionysusToast]

Mr G

If you do it, don't become the stereotypical backpacker.

In Bangkok, they'll go to Khao San Road, where all the other back-packers stay. They'll socialise with other back packers which generally means sitting in a cheap bar hogging a bottle of water all night, eating Pad Thai (as if that's the only food in the country) & watching bootleg Hollywood movies on the bars TV. Then they'll of course go to Kho Phangan which is an Island pretty much full of backpackers, bars showing hollywood movies and selling bottles of water.

Then to Chiang Mai where they'll hang out with other backpackers and watch bootleg movies over a bottle of water. I think you get the picture.

All of this is usually paid for with Mommy & Daddies credit cards.Often, the only real adventure they get is a trip to the hospital after arguing with Somchai over the price of a 50p beer in Khao San road. Nowadays, anyone dressed like a pikey is delicately asked to pay in advance for a beer there.

I guess buying a lonely planet and then following it to the 'T' is an adventure in the eyes of some people but to me, backpackers are mostly a bunch of little turds. They are tourists who look down on other tourists because those other tourists are on holiday whereas backpackers are 'travelling'. Ask a smelly backpacker how long he's been on holiday and watch the scowl.

These 'induhviduals' walk around looking indentical. Dreadlocks, shaggy beard, tie-died t-shirts, Timberland boots (or sandals) and a big bloody backpack. I guess Niel from the Young Ones has a lot to answer for. We go to watch them sometimes and have a laugh over these identical individuals expressing themself by looking just like every other backpacker.

Honestly, I marvel at walking around Bangkok and then seeing some fresh faced hippy (wasn't that 50 years ago ?) dressed as if he's about to go hacking around the jungle and acting like he's even been close the local culture (which of course, entails getting nuts deep IMO).

There ends my rant.

DT

 

[Gumping]

Mr G

If you do it, don't become the stereotypical backpacker.

In Bangkok, they'll go to Khao San Road, where all the other back-packers stay. They'll socialise with other back packers which generally means sitting in a cheap bar hogging a bottle of water all night, eating Pad Thai (as if that's the only food in the country) & watching bootleg Hollywood movies on the bars TV. Then they'll of course go to Kho Phangan which is an Island pretty much full of backpackers, bars showing hollywood movies and selling bottles of water.

Then to Chiang Mai where they'll hang out with other backpackers and watch bootleg movies over a bottle of water. I think you get the picture.

All of this is usually paid for with Mommy & Daddies credit cards.Often, the only real adventure they get is a trip to the hospital after arguing with Somchai over the price of a 50p beer in Khao San road. Nowadays, anyone dressed like a pikey is delicately asked to pay in advance for a beer there.

I guess buying a lonely planet and then following it to the 'T' is an adventure in the eyes of some people but to me, backpackers are mostly a bunch of little turds. They are tourists who look down on other tourists because those other tourists are on holiday whereas backpackers are 'travelling'. Ask a smelly backpacker how long he's been on holiday and watch the scowl.

These 'induhviduals' walk around looking indentical. Dreadlocks, shaggy beard, tie-died t-shirts, Timberland boots (or sandals) and a big bloody backpack. I guess Niel from the Young Ones has a lot to answer for. We go to watch them sometimes and have a laugh over these identical individuals expressing themself by looking just like every other backpacker.

Honestly, I marvel at walking around Bangkok and then seeing some fresh faced hippy (wasn't that 50 years ago ?) dressed as if he's about to go hacking around the jungle and acting like he's even been close the local culture (which of course, entails getting nuts deep IMO).

There ends my rant.

DT

WOW!! Succinct. I was pretty much going to say something like this myself....did SE Asia for 6 months and the only bit I didn't like was Bangkok and Phuket. (Didn't bother with Chang Mai) Rock climbing in Krabi was excellent though
I 'roughed it' through SE Asia and spent about £1000 in 3 months. Best place: Cambodia. Doubt it would be the same now, but sitting chilling with a load of local guys and a guitar was amazing. They taught me loads of Cambodian folk tunes and I taught them Hotel California. And I drank a very large amount of palm wine (Looks like fizzy milk, tastes like a mixture of beer and wine and you can taste farts every time you burp!) Also good: Laos. Best bit was walking up to some guy and asking him to borrow his bike for $5 for the day and just cycling off into the mountains and knocking on people's doors and asking them if they'd cook me some dinner for a $.

Do that. I know you well enough - you'd love it! Don't do the Bangkok bit mentioned above...

 

[D70]

Answers on a postcard. Prolly take a couple of years, maybe more. Willing to skip the states.

Markets ain't going anywhere, my youth is.

Firstly, you dont need $50k.

Secondly, of course you should do it.

Humans are herded into school and then into jobs, scared to leave 'coz of the mortgage innit'.... all bull****.

Get out there. Buy a 4x4 and start the journey. :clap:

If you need a reality check. Stand at the top of canary wharf tube from about 7am and look at the faces.

 

[Pat494]

Oh to be young again ( 1 scientist was prophesying on the radio recently that within the next generation will be people living 1000 years, but I digress )

For us more mature folk that have grown accustomed to our comforts, I have been toying with the idea of hiring a camper van and travelling around Europe and beyond. Nothing unusual in that you are probably saying. One needs some objective rather than aimlessly wondering unless that is the objective.

Just for starters some ideas
paint local scenery
record local music
buy antiques for resale ( the Beeb did an interesting series with experts buying/selling on the road.
follow the pilgrim routes
challenge " dragons and rescue maidens in distress"
other ??

 

[arabianights]

Of course you should. What a ridiculous question.

 

[Black Swan]

WOW!! Succinct. I was pretty much going to say something like this myself....did SE Asia for 6 months and the only bit I didn't like was Bangkok and Phuket. (Didn't bother with Chang Mai) Rock climbing in Krabi was excellent though
I 'roughed it' through SE Asia and spent about £1000 in 3 months. Best place: Cambodia. Doubt it would be the same now, but sitting chilling with a load of local guys and a guitar was amazing. They taught me loads of Cambodian folk tunes and I taught them Hotel California. And I drank a very large amount of palm wine (Looks like fizzy milk, tastes like a mixture of beer and wine and you can taste farts every time you burp!) Also good: Laos. Best bit was walking up to some guy and asking him to borrow his bike for $5 for the day and just cycling off into the mountains and knocking on people's doors and asking them if they'd cook me some dinner for a $.

Do that. I know you well enough - you'd love it! Don't do the Bangkok bit mentioned above...

Just remembered when me and the wife travelled around Malaysia/Singapore (late 80's) for a month..Anyhow you know when you arrive at an airport and they have a desk full of hotels being pushed? We got to Penang and was offered a brand new five star suite, they needed guests desperately, for 20 quid a night..backpacking, yeah right...

 

[glyder]

I agree with the idea of an objective, or several objectives while travelling, as Pat494 says.
Its a long time since my travels. First time I went was a relatively short trip -less than 6 months.
I found that hanging out on beaches and visiting temples and sights grew a bit dull, nice to do but same thing again and again..
Next time I went travelling I made sure I had some objectives. I worked, not because I needed the money (was not working my way...) but in order to meet the locals and interact and get an understanding of the countries I was in. It made one hell of a difference. A Much more satisfying and therefore longer trip. Also a few other objectives of mountains to climb, places to trek to, Try to go to these places with locals. Maybe stay with a local family a bit, learn their way of cooking. I still cook a mean curry after staying with a family in India, and thai's not bad either.
As D Toast has said many places are now part of a backpacker trail, kind of leads to the naive mixing with the naive all leading nowhere. (Koh Samui - I went back recently, around 25 yrs after first visiting, I wish I'd stayed away and left my memories intact. A relatively untouched paradise turned into tourist hell in some parts. But still I have good Thai friends there and was able to at least visit them stay in a few local places and eat home cooked thai food)
Step out of the norm there are loads of adventures to be had.
But Mr Gecko remember the 'travel experience' you mention, its not necesarily something that hits you big at that moment , but as I can now say, its great to have done the travelling had the experiences and have it as part of your ROM.

One thing I wonder though is, if you have to ask the question do you really want to go?

 

[MrGecko]

Thanks for all the input, it is good to hear from people who have done something a little more adventurous than picking vegetables in Australia on a Gap year... I only know one person who has done something like this, and haven't managed to get hold of him yet.

 

[D70]

Thanks for all the input, it is good to hear from people who have done something a little more adventurous than picking vegetables in Australia on a Gap year... I only know one person who has done something like this, and haven't managed to get hold of him yet.

You could always try trading your way round the world. Similar in fashion to the guy who traded a paperclip to a house. Took a while, but it was in the papers.

 

[Black Swan]

I agree with the idea of an objective, or several objectives while travelling, as Pat494 says.
Its a long time since my travels. First time I went was a relatively short trip -less than 6 months.
I found that hanging out on beaches and visiting temples and sights grew a bit dull, nice to do but same thing again and again..
Next time I went travelling I made sure I had some objectives. I worked, not because I needed the money (was not working my way...) but in order to meet the locals and interact and get an understanding of the countries I was in. It made one hell of a difference. A Much more satisfying and therefore longer trip. Also a few other objectives of mountains to climb, places to trek to, Try to go to these places with locals. Maybe stay with a local family a bit, learn their way of cooking. I still cook a mean curry after staying with a family in India, and thai's not bad either.
As D Toast has said many places are now part of a backpacker trail, kind of leads to the naive mixing with the naive all leading nowhere. (Koh Samui - I went back recently, around 25 yrs after first visiting, I wish I'd stayed away and left my memories intact. A relatively untouched paradise turned into tourist hell in some parts. But still I have good Thai friends there and was able to at least visit them stay in a few local places and eat home cooked thai food)
Step out of the norm there are loads of adventures to be had.
But Mr Gecko remember the 'travel experience' you mention, its not necesarily something that hits you big at that moment , but as I can now say, its great to have done the travelling had the experiences and have it as part of your ROM.

One thing I wonder though is, if you have to ask the question do you really want to go?

The 'easy' tourist trail up Everest kills it for me..or what Ubud in Bali has now become.. Even places closer to home such as Fethiye in Turkey and Olu Deniz ruined...but perhaps not for some locals who have made some much needed cash..

Only other thing I'd add is that a lot of *travellers* I've met appear to be escaping something, relationships, themselves etc...and as others have pointed out up thread it's an expensive business these days when even $50K won't get you that far...

 

[robster970]

Absolutely do it MrGecko. You only get one time round so make the most of it. The world is a fantastic place and it's a travesty to not try and experience it. I put most people's ignorance down to the fact that they never travel and experience the world and its inhabitants first hand.

 

[HawkTrader]

One peice of advice, as you are packing to travel the world make sure you pack extra light as you will find yourself buying clothes and whatnot while traveling. There are a lot of high quality clothes when you get into some remote places. Make sure the clothes you do take to start with are light, easy to pack, and are more "technical" than your average cotton T-Shirt. They should absorb sweat but not get too damp. Think Rohan or Berghaus. I've made the mistake of hauling a massive rucksack full of cotton underpants and T-shirts wondering what I was doing - when I got cold I looked to see that I didn't have anything of use when I could have just bought a local woolen jumper for a tiny price and not only would have fit in more, but would have been warmer and had a memory for life.

Enjoy yourself, wherever you choose to go!

 

[FX Bandit]

Just remembered when me and the wife travelled around Malaysia/Singapore (late 80's) for a month..Anyhow you know when you arrive at an airport and they have a desk full of hotels being pushed? We got to Penang and was offered a brand new five star suite, they needed guests desperately, for 20 quid a night..backpacking, yeah right...

Just do it.

50K fer fooks sake? Anyone that can't make that in 4 days with a 500 quid account shouldn't be trading IMO. CBA to do the maths etc.

 

[N Rothschild]

Answers on a postcard. Prolly take a couple of years, maybe more. Willing to skip the states.

Markets ain't going anywhere, my youth is.

IM doing exactly the same, markets are a joke at the moment. I leave for nepal in 2 weeks, will return to trading in a few years when its not correlation algo fed intervention central.

 

[FX Bandit]

IM doing exactly the same, markets are a joke at the moment. I leave for nepal in 2 weeks, will return to trading in a few years when its not correlation algo fed intervention central.

I'm surprised you say that actually, I'm finding things really fairly straightforward (Dow futures in particular though, more so than forex).