Help Wanted...!!
I'm new here, so...Hi, everyone... To introduce myself; I am female, 47, & desperate to leave 'all this' behind to start back-packing my way around the world. I want to start in Nepal, as I just got back from there & I LOVED it...I'm definitely NOT a beach person, prefering towns to cities - something smaller scale than, say, Hong Kong! - & the countryside rather than beaches...
An example is Thailand...It is, I know, very cheap to get to, but I've been there twice now, & hated it both times - from Bangkok to Koh Tao!...But, I did love Kanchenaburi...& I've never been 'up north' to Chiang Mai/Rai, which I think I would like...But, I have a feeling it's all a bit 'tourist trail' & quite expensive these days. I'd like to head through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, & down the Malay peninsula, possibly go to the Philipines too...beyond that, well, we'll see...
Well, by way of introduction, I have three questions (well, that'll do for now, anyway..!)
My first question is a financial one...Travelling alone is always a bit more expensive, but that's how I prefer to travel...So, I'd welcome any advice on whether it's possible to travel far-ish & fairly wide, solo, on a monthly income of £700 (that's $1,143 US dollars or 811 Euros or $1,243 Aus dollars)? I don't want or need air-con, cable TV, en-suites or mini-bars...just a roof over my head, something to do other than wander the streets or pay fortunes to visit 'interesting sites' & food to eat...In fact, 'accomodation' brings me to my next question...
I'm trying to compile a list of temples, monasteries & nunneries that offer accomodation &, if possible, food & a bit of learning, chanting, & knowledge-acquisition too (preferably Buddhist, as I'm studying/fascinated by Mahayana Buddhism, & have already stayed in several temples in Japan & Nepal so far)...I'd also appreciate any recommendations for decent hostels...
Lastly, does anyone know of any GENUINE projects/places that are looking for willing volunteers but don't make you PAY for the priviledge? I've noticed volunteering seems to have become as much of an industry as 'eco-tourism' these days...I want to help, but I don't want to pay thousands of dollars to come & work for you...COME ON !!!
Hope someone can offer me some answers...& any recommendations for a good 'shoestring' book wouldn't go amiss either...This is the address/link to my Facebook page too, where I have posted a bit of an array of travel photos...
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=663709103#/unlimitedlou23?ref=profile
Meanwhile...Happy travels, one & all...