From Chang Mai the journey began. I decided to fly back to Bangkok, even to a budget savvy traveller the appeal of a night in a bed before the long journey to Cambodia was worth the additional £6. That was until the flight was delayed, I didn’t get to bed until 2.30 am and the bus to Cambodia left at 7 am the same morning. The journey from Bangkok to the Cambodian border was comfortable, starting off in a nice air-conditioned coach with plenty of spare seats to stretch out in, followed by a minibus and then a motorbike side-cart across the border. All was going well.

One across the border a group of us were shepherded into the back of 2 pick up trucks. We were told one of the bridges on the road to Siem Reap was broken, therefore we were to travel in the trucks to the bridge before meeting the bus at the other side of the broken bridge. The pick up trucks were so crowded, we had 12 people in addition to the 20 rucksacks which were forming temporary seats for more people who couldn’t fit onto the ledge at the edge of the truck. For the first hour or so the journey was fine, the scenery was so amazing, completely different to Thailand. I hadn’t expected such a contrast. The road, however, was the worst condition dirt track i have ever seen, with huge lorries and buses and motorbikes all charging along. They don’t seem to drive on any particular side of the road and road rules do not seem to apply.

Five very bumpy and uncomfortable hours later (by which time nearly 14 hours had passed since we left Bangkok), we eventually get to the broken bridge. We carry our bags across the bridge and get on the not so luxurious Cambodian bus, again with more people than seats, and definitely more bags than people. Again a little crowded but things were looking good, at least now we could hope to sleep for the 2 hour journey to Siem Reap, sleep on the pick up trucks would have led to us falling off the back. 30 minutes into this stage of the journey however, we again came to a halt. This time a lorry had got its chassis stuck in one of the potholes and was blocking the road. There were about 20 other lorries queued behind the one that was stuck, most with drivers sleeping in their hammocks underneath.

Residents of the local village had gathered to try to free the lorry, but with no success. Meanwhile, the local children were fascinated with seeing ‘white people’. I spent the 3 hours we were stranded there playing games with these children, teaching them songs such as ‘The Hokey Cokey’ and ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’. I knew my days as a play leader would come in handy sometime! Amazing doing this whilst also seeing fireflies and watching the moon set, very pretty.

At 2 am another pick up truck eventually arrived to take us to Siem Reap, this was even more crowded that the one earlier in the day. 1 1/2 hours later we were anticipating our arrival at our destination when the truck swerved to avoid a broken down car, once again the road was blocked! Yet again we were stuck. At least we were now on the outskirts of the city and a minibus soon arrived to take us onto the final bus stop, from where I hailed a motorbike taxi to take me and my huge rucksack on to my hostel. I eventually arrived at the hostel at 4am, 21 hours after setting out and very tired.

With hindsight do I wish I’d stumped up the money for the short flight from Thailand to Cambodia? Not one bit. Yes the flight would no doubt have been quicker and easier but this was a journey that I will remember forever.

Since returning from her travels, the author remains keen on travelling around the world. In her spare time she also enjoys working on her other interests which include trying and promoting experience days in the UK, and helping out with her partners web design Chester business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lyndsey_Abercromby
 

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Cities like London and Paris failed to make the list, with the NSW harbour city ranked ninth the selection.

The authors have described Newcastle as “underrated”, saying the city has been “overshadowed by its bigger, bolder and better-known sibling, Sydney”.

However Sydney, and Melbourne, have never made the list before as they are “too dull”.

Lonely Planet Asia Pacific travel editor Shawn Low said the book aims to inspire travellers to pick lesser known cities to explore.

Mr Low said hundreds of ideas were submitted by authors, staff and bloggers, then refined by a panel of in-house travel experts.

“The rankings come down to topicality, excitement, value for money and that special X-factor.

“We want to pick a destination that has good thing about it that has been flying under the radar a bit.

“Newcastle is a great city.”

Mr Low said that Australia’s better-know cities such as Sydney and Melbourne haven’t made the list as they are not interesting enough.

“Sydney and Melbourne are obvious choices, they are quite dull. We want to inspire people to think more broadly.”

Newcastle’s beaches, climate, night-life and arts were listed as key elements placing the city on the radar.

“Today’s ‘new’ Newcastle is a unique blend of imagination, sophistication and laid-back surf culture,” Lonely Planet‘s book says.

Tourism Hunter’s Executive Manager Sheridan Ferrier says it is an “honour” to be included in the top 10 list.

“I think it is testament to the range of experiences that we have to offer in Newcastle and is certainly attributed to our lifestyle as well,” Ms Ferrier told ABC News.

The city’s most bizarre sight, according to the authors, is the dome-shaped Queens Wharf Tower, which is 40m tall.

The city receives over 100,000 visitors per year.

Other cities to make the list include New York City, US; Tangier, Morocco; Tel Aviv, Israel; Wellington, New Zealand; Valencia, Spain; Iquitos, Peru; Ghent, Belgium; Delhi, India and Chang Mai, Thailand.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/australia/newcastle-named-among-worlds-top-10-cities/story-e6frfq89-1225946167212#ixzz142P8JSlv

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Are you tired of busy cities, crowded streets, high rents and almost non-affordable mortgage? Well…there are places in the world where you can live well for less. The cheapest places to live are also the most beautiful and exotic destinations. So why not make your dreams come true, pack your bags and move to one of those paradise locations, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a year or two?

There are two simple rules to follow while searching for low cost destinations. Firstly: if you find a place cheap enough to travel to, then most probably you will also find it cheap to live in. Secondly: wherever you are, the further from the big cities and large agglomerations, the cheaper it gets.  

Of course ‘cheap’ is a very relative concept, and what is cheap for you may not be cheap for people living some place else in the world.

But if ‘cheap’ means spending just a few dollars/euro/pounds a day, then these locations in Asia and Central America may interest you…

THAILAND

Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you remember that feeling of paying $1 (€0.70) for a glass of beer? Did you ask yourself then what it would feel like to pay that much for a drink back home? Or the other way round… what would it feel like to enjoy such prices on a daily basis? If your answers are yes, yes, yes …then why not consider moving to the Land of Smiles for a while?

Life is short and, really, no one forces you to spend your days sitting in the office with a computer as your best friend. Think about sandy beaches, constant sunshine and excellent food and realize that you can have it all for less than $500 (€350) a month.

Of course this amount will not pay a beach apartment but you can easily find cheap accommodation in places as beautiful as Chang Mai, up north, where you will pay around $30 (€21) a month for a small flat. Nearer the coast, a room in the apartments runs at roughly $90 (€63) upwards.

Cooking at home will cost you nothing as fruits, vegetables and meat at the local markets fall into the budget category. If you are too lazy to cook then try excellent Thai food from street-side food stalls. You can get spicy chicken with rice or noodles for around $1 (€0.70). Spending around $200 (€142) for food a month, you still have around $200 (€142) spare to enjoy local trips, restaurants, parties and some small shopping.

CAMBODIA

Thinking about Cambodian history, the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty, no one would dare to call the country a paradise, but in terms of living cost Cambodia rivals Thailand. It does not have as great beaches as its Thai neighbor but, well, it is not all about beaches, right?  You can easily live for less than $500 (€350) in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh.

As there are more and more foreigners living in the town, the accommodation prices are getting higher – it would be hard to find something below $200 (€142) a month, but you can always reduce this cost by sharing a flat with a friend or some long-term travelers.

With $300 (€213) left, you can easily get by in the country. The food prices are similar or lower than in Thailand. Eating in local restaurants will cost you around $2 (€1.40) a meal and $1 (€0.70) a beer but if you really aim to trim your budget, you can try food from street stalls- simple but delicious. Traveling by tuk tuk will cost you several bucks/euro a day. 

Living in Phnom Penh, the town of no McDonald’s and Starbucks, may be a life changing experience for you. Be aware that Cambodians are extremely poor but modest people, so treat them with respect.  Getting to know a few natives may help you to understand the complex history and tough life in the country. You can always teach English or get involved with some non-governmental organizations to help change the reality around you.   

For visa details read an article at www.shelteroffshore.com

You will find similar costs of living in nearby countries such as Vietnam and Laos .

PHILIPPINES

Another exotic destination where life will cost you not more than $500 (€350) a month is the Philippines. Following the rule of getting away from big cities, Manila is not an option, as a rent prices start at $360 (€255) a month.  But if you head for Cebu, one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with sandy beaches, golf courses and great shopping, you can get an apartment for $150 (€106) a month. In other bustling towns, such as Damaguete City, you can easily rent a room for around $40 (€28) per month.

Food is also cheap. $200 (€142) a month will be absolutely enough to provide you with all necessities including alcohol and tobacco – a big glass of beer and pack of cigarettes cost $0.55 (€0.39) and $0.80 (€0.57) respectively. 

Moreover, the Philippines offer a special resident retiree visa   that you can get as early as at the age of 35, but you need to deposit $50K in a bank there. At the age of 50 and above you have to deposit $10K and prove a monthly pension of $800 single ($1K couple).   

Malaysia , has a similar retiree offer called My Second Home program.

COSTA RICA

Just a few dollars/euro would be enough to survive in Costa Rica. And surviving in Costa Rica may be just a pleasure. The land has 12 different climatic zones and abundant wildlife, but in general, the weather is hot tropical and the natives (called Ticos) are very spirited and friendly people.

Prices in San José are low – the cost of goods and services is among the lowest of all cities throughout the world. You can easily live on $500-$600 (€350-€425) a month if you share a house or flat with a partner or a friend. 

Obviously the further away from San José, the lower the cost of housing.  Around 75 km (50 miles) from the town you can rent a small or medium house for $250 (€177) a month.

In the restaurants you can have an excellent meal with desert for about $4.00 – $5.00 (€2.8-€3.5). And if you buy food at local markets and from the street vendors, you pay less- a bunch of bananas will cost you $0.50 (€0.30) or less. Cigarettes are only about $1.20 (€0.90) per pack. In general, the prices in supermarkets are 30% higher than on the local markets and street stalls.

While in Costa Rica you can learn or develop your surfing skills as the coast has great breaks and excellent surf conditions. And if you’re not too lazy, you can learn or practice your Spanish. Lessons will cost you much less than back home or in Spain. 

To find out more check the blog by Tim, who has lived in the country for several years.  It seems that he knows a lot about living in Costa Rica.

If you seriously think about moving to Costa Rica, you should also read ‘Living Abroad in Costa Rica’ by Erin Van Rheenen, who herself moved to live there and wrote from experience. The book explores the country’s history and culture, describes the nation and, of course, suggests a reconnaissance trip to Costa Rica before you decide to move.

BELIZE

Your dream of a personal heaven for a bargain price may also come true in Belize, which is considered one of the most beautiful countries in Central America. It has it all: great beaches, subtropical climate, and diverse wildlife. The official language in the country is English – that makes things simpler, doesn’t it?

The country is also a paradise for scuba diving and snorkeling lovers .The Belize Barrier Reef offers 127 offshore Cayes (islands) where you will find the best preserved marine ecosystems in the world.

The costs of living are similar to those in Costa Rica. For a large house in Cayo district, a one-hour drive west from Belize City, you may pay $300 (€210) a month and if you share with two other friends, it is only $100 (€70)!!!

Groceries are cheap when bought locally. Imported stuff is in general 50% more expensive so if you want to trim your budget, you should shop at local markets and buy from street vendors. 

If you’re 45 or more you may consider retiring to Belize. The Retired Person’s Incentive Program may allow you to live a tax free lifestyle, which should definitely help you save up a few bucks.

Before you pack your bags, be aware that the country has dry and wet seasons so the weather is not always as perfect as you wish. The wet season starts in May and ends in October – it rains all the time and the hurricanes may occur, so if you want to spend just a few months in the country, go between November and April.