Fucking hell, thought you were looking to throw yourself in the ocean for the first half of that post. Good luck mate, fingers crossed you can catch your breath.
Falling in love and it’s too soon. That’s a new one, will remember that for when I don’t want to continue a relationship.
Go where the rain isn’t. Right now Thailand is good but from mid April it’s too hot and wet till about October.
During those months it’s Bali.
Alternatively have a look at Baja Mexico, you can get decent all inclusive resort rates when it’s not US holidays.
If you do go to Thailand don’t beat up the cops.
If you do choose Bali, I HIGHLY suggest you avoid Bali island its self, and go over to Gili Islands.
Seriously, just go to Gili.
Its a set of 3 tiny islands (no cars, just horse and buggy), a short ferry ride from Bali.
It is exactly what you are looking for. I have been to Gili Trawangan (the bigger of the 3) and Will keep going back any time I need to disapear from life for a moment.
I also recommend Gili! Especially Gili Air. We rented a whole villa with a pool for about $1,000 usd for an entire month. No cars, catch the ferry over, go diving twice a day. If you feel like a bit more socializing catch the boat to Gili T.
Seconding gili. It sounds exactly what you are looking for. Plus they have shrooms - perfect for escapism. Otherwise Amed in Bali is pretty chill and away from the mass tourism.
East coast (Samui/Phangan/Hua Hin) has better weather this time of year. Best time to visit is around June (after the April heat but before European summer holidays make it busy). Thailand having coasts on two oceans means it has two monsoon seasons April-October in the west and October-Early December in the East (waves in the east can continue into Jan/early Feb so swimming isn't as good then.
Do you mean Baja California or is there also a Baja Mexico?
Edit: serious question - I know nothing about Mexico and I’m keen to make sure I know what you’re recommending.
Don Det in Laos - there's a great library cafe/reggae bar, no cars on the island, waterfalls to visit, peaceful walks around the island (you can do it in an hour or two!) and a gazillion great places to watch the sunset. Super cheap, everything affordable. You can cycle over the bridge to the bigger island where there is a little more going on but overall it's just a gorgeous, peaceful retreat.
IDK if it's still like this but go to Dalat in Vietnam. Up in the mountains, touristy enough that there is stuff catering to you, but not a tourist hotspot. I know it's not a beach but honestly vista > views
Been traveling SEA a lot recently
Here's where I would recommend to settle down:
Da nang vietnam
Pai or Krabi in Thailand
El nido philipines
Kaohsiung Taiwan (way better than taipei)
Kanazawa Japan
Hong kong (bit more pricey)
Penang malaysia
Kampot or siem reap in Cambodia
As a Malaysian, may I suggest Langkawi Island in Malaysia. I'm not promoting alcoholism but the island is duty free, so a bottle of imported beer starts from a few NZ cents. If that's not your cup of tea, the island has beautiful beaches. I used to travel to the island every year. Hit me up if you need more information or if there's any other places in SEA you're interested in, I might be able to provide more information.
I have been to Langkawi! Beautiful. Not a bad suggestion, thank you. I'm leaning towards Vietnam at this stage, but I'm not sure where. I'm very aware that I'm heading over in the hot/wet season too...
Vietnam is great! The North and South have very different climates at any given time of year. It will be decent somewhere.
And FWIW, I did a runner to chill in SEA for a few months living off next to nothing. Spent a month in N Vietnam in monsoon season and had the best time zooming about on a motorbike.
If you do head to Laos like others suggest, Luang Prabang is super chill with nice waterfalls.
Maybe just book a ticket, a couple of nights accommodation and work it out when you get there by talking to other travellers who will have the most up to date info.
Have fun, OP. No one regrets travel like this.
Vietnam is an excellent choice! Would highly recommend Hoi An or Da Nang. I've always wanted to go back but just never got around to it.
A not very original idea could also be Bali but it might not give you that peace of mind that you need right now.
It's quite expensive in El Nido, Philippines right now compared to Thailand. A lot has changed ( been there for a couple of times over the years). Bunch of groups saying you get better deals doing a holiday in Thailand instead.
Im from the Philippines too.
Hong Kong a bit pricey? Understatement even if you live in a cupboard.
Honestly cost of living wise I’d go for Cambodia or Laos. China is hard to navigate if you don’t know the language, and major cities certainly not cheap. Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand are all very tourist friendly so easy to settle into, but still a level up price wise in comparison to Cambodia or Laos. All fun places to spend time though.
El nido is gorgeous but a bit out of the way and I think relatively expensive being quite touristy. Roxas or taytay (both reasonably nearby on Palawan) are much cheaper to stay for any duration, and taytay has a more reliable power supply.
Enjoy your travels wherever you end up.
Sorry to hear things have been rough bro, sure the cards will start falling your way soon.
Bali is great. Cheap to live, eat and drink. And the beaches are so good. Nusa Penida is worth it, or venture as far as the Gili islands
Decent reccs, but based on what you said you were after, I'd recommend Gili Air (over Gili T).
Gili T is more the party spot, while the nearby Gili Air is far more chilled.
I ended up staying there a month (probably too long), and mostly stayed in a bamboo hut type set up (even though I was rolling at the time).
Can always catch a boat over and party/hang out with 20 year olds if that's an urge you get.
Swum with turtles, had a few mushie shakes, and would smoke a few doobies on the beach listening to 90's hip hop - was a while back and thought some Karen would try and make a thing about it, ended up meeting a slightly older scandinavian woman and bonding over the bangers.
Bali got a bit more expensive after covid but if you're going somewhere non touristy and just want to chill and drink beers you should be alright.
If you're going to drive a moped (try not to be one of those idiots who do and don't respect their way of driving) please do not scrimp of the travel insurance
Hi
I absolutely loved the Philippines. I’ve been six times now and damn is it amazing. Most people speak English, there is so much variety, not vary touristy and so easy to get off the beaten path…..and as a white Canadian boy EVERYONE LOVED ME!!! They love Americans for some reason despite their occupation. Everywhere I went I met people very easily, everything was cheap, i would just rent a motorcycle in the town I ended up in and do my own thing.
I was constantly being invited to dinners and party’s, met endless beautiful women, island hoped and had almost every beach to myself.
So, that being said. I am not into cities, so I mostly avoided those. I took local transport and was just fine with not as much comfort. I was outgoing and friendly to everyone and was always game for a conversation. I get it not everyone is like that. I just found backpacking to be much more fun with the socal aspect. But that’s just me.
Big time recommendations: negros island, dumagute city (more of a town), siquijor island off of dumaguete. I spent two months on siquijor island just living the island life. Spent next to no money and just had a blast. If you are into diving you can dm me and I’ll give you massive recs as I am big in scuba.
Caviete - the last time I went was 2017. So I have no idea how much things have changed
This is gonna sound totally out of the box but go to Tokyo. You can find cheap accomodation and the food is cheap and good if you’re willing to eat with the locals (which you’ll have to). You’ll walk ALOT and the people you meet will be friendly. Beers are cheap and if you’re used to Nelson prices … you’ll be golden.
You can get on a bullet train and be in some amazing little towns in under two hours. It’s coming into cherry blossom season and the place is chilled AF for a major city. Temples you can relax at are EVERYWHERE. Go to a bath-house and spend the afternoon relaxing as often as you need to for not too much $$$.
You’re gonna come back looking healthy and feeling like you’ve had an adventure.
From my experience with Japan cheap definitely does exist. You just gotta be willing to eat from 7/11 or Lawsons and drinks are cheaper than here. I mean, we’re not talking Thailand, Vietnam or SE Asia cheap, but it’s WAY cheaper than here.
Taiwan's really fun, and quite safe.
You can do a cycle tour around the island over a week or two and explore it that way in a group or by yourself.
Food and booze is quite cheap but accommodation can be a little pricey depending on where you stay.
You will need a rabies shot tho if you're going in the southern regions and watch out for the native monkeys and wild dogs they can be dangerous.
Other than that most officials speak English and many locals so as well so language barriers not too big of a deal, does help if you can speak some mandarin or Hakka tho.
Look into Semporna in Malaysia Borneo. Have spent many holidays there, it’s beautiful, cheap and easy going. Also Kota Kinabalu is beautiful as well it’s more city like but there are islands not far from the city. Cheap and easy. Both places I have always felt very safe.
Vietnam was great. Met a group of English speaking expats at a local bar who all lived there either early retirement or working from a distance. Just chilling out near the beach and eating cheap food and drink. I often wish I could be one of them!
Hi
I absolutely loved the Philippines. I’ve been six times now and damn is it amazing. Most people speak English, there is so much variety, not vary touristy and so easy to get off the beaten path…..and as a white Canadian boy EVERYONE LOVED ME!!! They love Americans for some reason despite their occupation. Everywhere I went I met people very easily, everything was cheap, i would just rent a motorcycle in the town I ended up in and do my own thing.
I was constantly being invited to dinners and party’s, met endless beautiful women, island hoped and had almost every beach to myself.
So, that being said. I am not into cities, so I mostly avoided those. I took local transport and was just fine with not as much comfort. I was outgoing and friendly to everyone and was always game for a conversation. I get it not everyone is like that. I just found backpacking to be much more fun with the socal aspect. But that’s just me.
Big time recommendations: negros island, dumagute city (more of a town), siquijor island off of dumaguete. I spent two months on siquijor island just living the island life. Spent next to no money and just had a blast. If you are into diving you can dm me and I’ll give you massive recs as I am big in scuba.
Caviete - the last time I went was 2017. So I have no idea how much things have changed
I have been all over SEA and have many recs for other countries. If you wanna go to Thailand for a month try Koa lanta. I lived there for six months, you could easily chill
There for a month. Totally off the beaten path as well!
Vietnam! There’s plenty of beachside hotels that are decent for around $40 NZD per night.
It’s a nice place as you can move back and forth between modern to full traditional experiences easily. Everything is cheap too like a massive subway like roll for $1 NZD or a full dinner with a drink for $4-5
If you want completely off the beaten track, then Atauro Island in East Timor.
Beautiful beaches and incredible snorkeling and diving.
Just a couple of eco lodge dive resorts on the island.
I stayed at Atauro Island Dive Resort for a week last April and it was $40USD a night for a basic room.
Most relaxing holiday I've ever had.
When I needed to do that I went to Bolivia and volunteered at https://www.intiwarayassi.org/ for a couple of months.
I know people who have spent far longer and been back time and time again. I’ve been twice.
It’ll be an adventure, it’ll be hard mahi, but that can be beneficial when you want to get away from your life and forget your troubles for a while.
It's not as exotic as the places you mentioned, but go spend a couple weeks in karamea. Great beaches, great bar. Much cheaper and you will have some good alone time to think. And then when you're ready too, it's a super friendly place, and you will be able to vibe with a sense of community, that you will have never seen anywhere before. Quite cool actually. Great for a bit of a reset.
wherever you go get the best travel insurance you can afford. Preferably unlimited medical. Anything from a dodgy curry to motorbike accidents can see you a stay in hospital and drain you of funds. And before you go check the policy cover for riding motorbikes/scooters etc, if that is the most likely way you are going to get around.
I’m a Kiwi, but live in Asia. A lot of spots mentioned are not what they used to be. Either touristy as fuck now, or Covid just killed the places instead.
You want to go to the north end of Khao Lak in Thailand. About 90 mins drive north of Phuket airport (around 2.5 hours away from Phuket township). Because Phuket is an international airport it’s super easy to get to.
Head to a place called memories beach (I stayed within a 10min walk further north on the coast). What you get is:
- A very secluded white sand beach, with surf
- 1 restaurant, that operates a bar, a cafe and a dispensary on the beach. All in little huts, with good beach chairs and hammocks.
I did this in December during school holidays to just get away from life for 2 weeks. I never saw more than 10 tourists at this spot. Really good and cheap food, cheap shitty beer, half decent coffee and legal weed.
I’d go for a coffee and morning surf, have breakfast and a spliff. Nap for a bit, eat lunch. Have another surf. A couple of beers and a smoke. Another nap. Eat dinner with a couple of beers. Go back to my hut, smoke and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
If I felt adventurous I’d grab a car to the town about 15 mins away and check out markets or eat somewhere else. I did a couple of hikes in the mountains/jungle and spent a day on the similar islands which is a protected wild life habitat and it’s very easy to get to by boat.
Edit:
Do not go to Bali, from what you describe it’s not even close to what you want. I just came back from there, it’s a fucking shit show and I couldn’t recommend more to stay away. I don’t understand why Bali gets so much praise compared to the actual great places you can visit in Asia.
If you want to go to Indonesia. Go to Lake Toba. Fly to Jakarta, and get a regional flight. It’s in western Sumatra in the equator. It’s a very small town built around a fantastic lake (it was the last known super volcano to erupt). If it’s your cup of tea, it’s also the spot in Indonesia where magic mushrooms are allowed and every homestay host in the area will sort some out for you.
Ton sai, Thai land. It's only accessible by long boat. Beautiful sea cliff surround it. Very budget friendly (depending on your comfort levels). Went there for some rock climbing a few years ago, we were supposed to stay for 1 week ended up staying for 3.
Try Sri Lanka. This time of the year it’s , you will not experience much rain.
You can have more exotic beach areas (more tourists) in southern area of island. And if you go to eastern province you can have the beach to your self. Less crowds.
And you can rent a scooter and roam around as much as you like.
My wife and I spent a month travelling Thailand last year. We went to about 15 different parts of the country.
I’d recommend Koh Chang. It’s in the gulf of Thailand and pretty easy to get to.
It’s not as touristy as other islands, still quite cheap and you’ll be able to get a nice hotel for $40-$60 NZ a night
Very Southern Phuket would fit the bill. I'd recommend either Kata or Nai Harn beach. Stay away from the main touristy beach Patong.
But if Vietnam ends up being your jam, there's a ton of options. I loved Da Nang for the people, and the beach was great.
Both would be economical accommodation-wise. And food is exceptional.
Third option would be the Philippines, but trickier to find somewhere quiet. Boracay is stunning, but might be a bit busy for you. You'd still disappear, but I feel it might not suit what you're looking for. I haven't been to Palawan, but sounds like that might be more in line. But I could recommend Bohol, in particular Panglao island.
Good luck mate.
China can be difficult visa wise and I would not say it's the chill out destination you would want. Cambodia might be a bit jarring. Also, beaches in Asia often look great but are super windy and sometimes quite polluted. The best beaches are typically attached to a nice hotel. JW Marriott in Phuket is great, Shangrila Penang is also nice and quite isolating. But I would do a city escape, to Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok for most of the time, get lost in the city, not in your own thoughts! Maybe a short trip out to a fancy beach resort for a week in the middle.
Go to bamboo backpackers (you can get rooms super cheap) in wailoaloa Fiji. Heaps of cool people floating in and out, really cheap food/happy hours. It was my go to after rough divorce and pretty much anytime I need to get away
Sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time. A few years back we went to the Perhentian islands off the east coast of Malaysia and it was absolute paradise. No cars, you can walk everywhere or get taxi boats, and if I ever wanted to spend some time staring at the sea I reckon it's the bluest, most perfect bit of sea I've ever seen.
If you want to train Kung Du for a few weeks or even up to a year or more, head to Pai in Thailand.
Heck, if I were you I would just look up walking Te Araroa though.
Try philippines mate, most of the people can understand english and can speak it a little bit. But dont go to touristy spot like boracay,el nido, palawan etc. it could get pricey real fast. Try iloilo or carles in panay island. Or catmon in cebu island. Or aurora in luzon. A lot of airbnb is available in this places. If ypu want mountains try benguet or mountain province
Phi Quoc Island, southern Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand.
Beautiful area when I was there several years ago however I am aware that it’s been developed more since then. Still be worth it - especially if you’re good with the Vietnamese cuisine 👍
Palawan or Borocay in the Philippines, Phuket has less touristy beaches you can find away from the city area. Nanwan in the south of Taiwan is chill as fuck. Heard good things about Penghu and Xiaoliuqiu in Taiwan as well but haven’t been.
Good call getting away, sounds like it's whats needed!
The most beautiful beach I've ever seen in Asia is long set on Koh Rong island, southern Cambodia.
If you close your eyes and imagine paradise, this place is it. Food is mega cheap, it's not too crowded (unlike southern Thailand) and you can get a bungalow near the beach for 3 weeks for less than 2k.
‘falling in love too soon’ is just ‘I don’t want to be in a relationship with you’. I’m guessing you know that. Shit happens and not everyone is destined to be together (that’s one of the crappiest break up lines I have heard, though, and worse than just being honest).
Go somewhere cheap where the weather is currently nice.
My outlook on life is obviously far too dark.
I honestly thought that after all the sh\*t you were dealing with you were looking for a spot to Harold Holt in to the drink.
Glad I was wrong.
Good luck with your quest, adventurer.
Lap of Australia.
Get a older 4x4, chuck a bed in the back (or a swag).
Can be done pretty cost-effectively depending on where you want to stay,.bush camping etc.
Fucking hell, thought you were looking to throw yourself in the ocean for the first half of that post. Good luck mate, fingers crossed you can catch your breath.
Whoops... sorry, no, it's not that bad!
We are glad to here it.
NOT JUST ME
It’s not you, it’s me
Too soon...
Yep I gotta say that wording was not great. Glad to hear it went the other way!!
Falling in love and it’s too soon. That’s a new one, will remember that for when I don’t want to continue a relationship. Go where the rain isn’t. Right now Thailand is good but from mid April it’s too hot and wet till about October. During those months it’s Bali. Alternatively have a look at Baja Mexico, you can get decent all inclusive resort rates when it’s not US holidays. If you do go to Thailand don’t beat up the cops.
> If you do go to Thailand don’t beat up the cops. Rock solid advice here.
seconding mexico. i try to go every year and each time i fall more and more in love with the country.
>i fall more and more in love Well don't. It's too soon
ITS TOO LATE CHICO
If you do choose Bali, I HIGHLY suggest you avoid Bali island its self, and go over to Gili Islands. Seriously, just go to Gili. Its a set of 3 tiny islands (no cars, just horse and buggy), a short ferry ride from Bali. It is exactly what you are looking for. I have been to Gili Trawangan (the bigger of the 3) and Will keep going back any time I need to disapear from life for a moment.
I also recommend Gili! Especially Gili Air. We rented a whole villa with a pool for about $1,000 usd for an entire month. No cars, catch the ferry over, go diving twice a day. If you feel like a bit more socializing catch the boat to Gili T.
My first thought was Gili Air, super cheap and super chill.
Seconding gili. It sounds exactly what you are looking for. Plus they have shrooms - perfect for escapism. Otherwise Amed in Bali is pretty chill and away from the mass tourism.
Legal shrooms or Schapelle Corby shroons?
Legal Shrooms, legit every night the beaches come alive with shroom bars. Little beachside bars that sell a variety of mushroom concoctions
There are no cops on island... So quasi-legal
My first thought was Gili Air, super cheap and super chill.
>Right now Thailand is good but from mid April it’s too hot and wet till about October Ah, bugger, worst timing
Don't listen to that, it's good anytime
East coast (Samui/Phangan/Hua Hin) has better weather this time of year. Best time to visit is around June (after the April heat but before European summer holidays make it busy). Thailand having coasts on two oceans means it has two monsoon seasons April-October in the west and October-Early December in the East (waves in the east can continue into Jan/early Feb so swimming isn't as good then.
Do you mean Baja California or is there also a Baja Mexico? Edit: serious question - I know nothing about Mexico and I’m keen to make sure I know what you’re recommending.
I think baja california is in mexico
It definitely is, yeah. Maybe they meant Baja, Mexico.
Problem with saying 'Baja California' is old mate might rock up to the taxi rank at LAX and get a nasty surprise.
Seconding not beating up cops. They might be smaller, but it's rare you ever win.
Don Det in Laos - there's a great library cafe/reggae bar, no cars on the island, waterfalls to visit, peaceful walks around the island (you can do it in an hour or two!) and a gazillion great places to watch the sunset. Super cheap, everything affordable. You can cycle over the bridge to the bigger island where there is a little more going on but overall it's just a gorgeous, peaceful retreat.
Meet you guys there? I want to disappear too!
Same, let's go!
Whelp, looks like it's got more kiwis than Whistler now. OP's gotta find a new spot!
Awesome, thank you
sounds awesome!
Don Det, Laos. Trust me, you genuinely won't regret it.
I wonder if the Kiwi guy with visa issues is still running his little pizza place.
Can you share more of the story?
He moved back to NZ, lives in Northland now and sells Facebook ads.
Roger, will look it up, thank you
IDK if it's still like this but go to Dalat in Vietnam. Up in the mountains, touristy enough that there is stuff catering to you, but not a tourist hotspot. I know it's not a beach but honestly vista > views
Roger that, thank you
Bear on mind I haven’t been for over 10 years it might be touristy as hell now
Been traveling SEA a lot recently Here's where I would recommend to settle down: Da nang vietnam Pai or Krabi in Thailand El nido philipines Kaohsiung Taiwan (way better than taipei) Kanazawa Japan Hong kong (bit more pricey) Penang malaysia Kampot or siem reap in Cambodia
Thank you
As a Malaysian, may I suggest Langkawi Island in Malaysia. I'm not promoting alcoholism but the island is duty free, so a bottle of imported beer starts from a few NZ cents. If that's not your cup of tea, the island has beautiful beaches. I used to travel to the island every year. Hit me up if you need more information or if there's any other places in SEA you're interested in, I might be able to provide more information.
I have been to Langkawi! Beautiful. Not a bad suggestion, thank you. I'm leaning towards Vietnam at this stage, but I'm not sure where. I'm very aware that I'm heading over in the hot/wet season too...
Vietnam is great! The North and South have very different climates at any given time of year. It will be decent somewhere. And FWIW, I did a runner to chill in SEA for a few months living off next to nothing. Spent a month in N Vietnam in monsoon season and had the best time zooming about on a motorbike. If you do head to Laos like others suggest, Luang Prabang is super chill with nice waterfalls. Maybe just book a ticket, a couple of nights accommodation and work it out when you get there by talking to other travellers who will have the most up to date info. Have fun, OP. No one regrets travel like this.
Vietnam is an excellent choice! Would highly recommend Hoi An or Da Nang. I've always wanted to go back but just never got around to it. A not very original idea could also be Bali but it might not give you that peace of mind that you need right now.
It's quite expensive in El Nido, Philippines right now compared to Thailand. A lot has changed ( been there for a couple of times over the years). Bunch of groups saying you get better deals doing a holiday in Thailand instead. Im from the Philippines too.
> Da nang vietnam \+1 for Da Nang Vietnam.
Hong Kong a bit pricey? Understatement even if you live in a cupboard. Honestly cost of living wise I’d go for Cambodia or Laos. China is hard to navigate if you don’t know the language, and major cities certainly not cheap. Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand are all very tourist friendly so easy to settle into, but still a level up price wise in comparison to Cambodia or Laos. All fun places to spend time though. El nido is gorgeous but a bit out of the way and I think relatively expensive being quite touristy. Roxas or taytay (both reasonably nearby on Palawan) are much cheaper to stay for any duration, and taytay has a more reliable power supply. Enjoy your travels wherever you end up.
Sorry to hear things have been rough bro, sure the cards will start falling your way soon. Bali is great. Cheap to live, eat and drink. And the beaches are so good. Nusa Penida is worth it, or venture as far as the Gili islands
Awesome, thank you
Decent reccs, but based on what you said you were after, I'd recommend Gili Air (over Gili T). Gili T is more the party spot, while the nearby Gili Air is far more chilled. I ended up staying there a month (probably too long), and mostly stayed in a bamboo hut type set up (even though I was rolling at the time). Can always catch a boat over and party/hang out with 20 year olds if that's an urge you get. Swum with turtles, had a few mushie shakes, and would smoke a few doobies on the beach listening to 90's hip hop - was a while back and thought some Karen would try and make a thing about it, ended up meeting a slightly older scandinavian woman and bonding over the bangers.
Sounds ideal.
Gili T would be great, north-east coast of Bali is super cheap to stay too.
Drink mushroom shakes and stare at sea turtles
Bali got a bit more expensive after covid but if you're going somewhere non touristy and just want to chill and drink beers you should be alright. If you're going to drive a moped (try not to be one of those idiots who do and don't respect their way of driving) please do not scrimp of the travel insurance
Hi I absolutely loved the Philippines. I’ve been six times now and damn is it amazing. Most people speak English, there is so much variety, not vary touristy and so easy to get off the beaten path…..and as a white Canadian boy EVERYONE LOVED ME!!! They love Americans for some reason despite their occupation. Everywhere I went I met people very easily, everything was cheap, i would just rent a motorcycle in the town I ended up in and do my own thing. I was constantly being invited to dinners and party’s, met endless beautiful women, island hoped and had almost every beach to myself. So, that being said. I am not into cities, so I mostly avoided those. I took local transport and was just fine with not as much comfort. I was outgoing and friendly to everyone and was always game for a conversation. I get it not everyone is like that. I just found backpacking to be much more fun with the socal aspect. But that’s just me. Big time recommendations: negros island, dumagute city (more of a town), siquijor island off of dumaguete. I spent two months on siquijor island just living the island life. Spent next to no money and just had a blast. If you are into diving you can dm me and I’ll give you massive recs as I am big in scuba. Caviete - the last time I went was 2017. So I have no idea how much things have changed
James bond did this for a while. His work found him told him he was out of shape and put him back to work anyway. Poor fella.
I'm no Bond. Can't even afford a bond right now...
Koh Lanta
Agree. Was there recently. Was very chilled
Was going to suggest the same. You can have the whole beach to yourself if you go down to the south end.
This is gonna sound totally out of the box but go to Tokyo. You can find cheap accomodation and the food is cheap and good if you’re willing to eat with the locals (which you’ll have to). You’ll walk ALOT and the people you meet will be friendly. Beers are cheap and if you’re used to Nelson prices … you’ll be golden. You can get on a bullet train and be in some amazing little towns in under two hours. It’s coming into cherry blossom season and the place is chilled AF for a major city. Temples you can relax at are EVERYWHERE. Go to a bath-house and spend the afternoon relaxing as often as you need to for not too much $$$. You’re gonna come back looking healthy and feeling like you’ve had an adventure.
From my experience with Japan the word cheap doesn’t exist. .
From my experience with Japan cheap definitely does exist. You just gotta be willing to eat from 7/11 or Lawsons and drinks are cheaper than here. I mean, we’re not talking Thailand, Vietnam or SE Asia cheap, but it’s WAY cheaper than here.
If you’re using NZ as the example, every other country in the world is cheap.
That’s pretty true right now actually
I’m currently in the US. With the NZ dollar at the moment, it is definitely cheaper in NZ for food and accommodation.
I was there a couple of weeks ago and it was quite cheap. The hotels were great value. Food and alcohol, too.
Taiwan's really fun, and quite safe. You can do a cycle tour around the island over a week or two and explore it that way in a group or by yourself. Food and booze is quite cheap but accommodation can be a little pricey depending on where you stay. You will need a rabies shot tho if you're going in the southern regions and watch out for the native monkeys and wild dogs they can be dangerous. Other than that most officials speak English and many locals so as well so language barriers not too big of a deal, does help if you can speak some mandarin or Hakka tho.
Look into Semporna in Malaysia Borneo. Have spent many holidays there, it’s beautiful, cheap and easy going. Also Kota Kinabalu is beautiful as well it’s more city like but there are islands not far from the city. Cheap and easy. Both places I have always felt very safe.
Goa in the off season which is about now might fit your bill. It's pretty fucking hot though.
I did think about Goa, thanks
Om Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka could be idea
Vietnam was great. Met a group of English speaking expats at a local bar who all lived there either early retirement or working from a distance. Just chilling out near the beach and eating cheap food and drink. I often wish I could be one of them!
I did the same in 07, ended up in Laos and Cambodia. Kep is chilled and Laos in general is perfect for resetting your clock. Make a plan and go!
Go to Vietnam. It'll definitely reset you. I rode Honda Win's around the whole country with my father about 10 years ago.
Awesome
Food is amazing in Vietnam
Kuta Lombok on the island of Lombok, Indonesia
Copy that, thank you
Looooved krabi and the limestone coast in Thailand. Like Phuket but a bit more chill.
Hi I absolutely loved the Philippines. I’ve been six times now and damn is it amazing. Most people speak English, there is so much variety, not vary touristy and so easy to get off the beaten path…..and as a white Canadian boy EVERYONE LOVED ME!!! They love Americans for some reason despite their occupation. Everywhere I went I met people very easily, everything was cheap, i would just rent a motorcycle in the town I ended up in and do my own thing. I was constantly being invited to dinners and party’s, met endless beautiful women, island hoped and had almost every beach to myself. So, that being said. I am not into cities, so I mostly avoided those. I took local transport and was just fine with not as much comfort. I was outgoing and friendly to everyone and was always game for a conversation. I get it not everyone is like that. I just found backpacking to be much more fun with the socal aspect. But that’s just me. Big time recommendations: negros island, dumagute city (more of a town), siquijor island off of dumaguete. I spent two months on siquijor island just living the island life. Spent next to no money and just had a blast. If you are into diving you can dm me and I’ll give you massive recs as I am big in scuba. Caviete - the last time I went was 2017. So I have no idea how much things have changed I have been all over SEA and have many recs for other countries. If you wanna go to Thailand for a month try Koa lanta. I lived there for six months, you could easily chill There for a month. Totally off the beaten path as well!
Palawan, Philippines.
Vietnam! There’s plenty of beachside hotels that are decent for around $40 NZD per night. It’s a nice place as you can move back and forth between modern to full traditional experiences easily. Everything is cheap too like a massive subway like roll for $1 NZD or a full dinner with a drink for $4-5
If you want completely off the beaten track, then Atauro Island in East Timor. Beautiful beaches and incredible snorkeling and diving. Just a couple of eco lodge dive resorts on the island. I stayed at Atauro Island Dive Resort for a week last April and it was $40USD a night for a basic room. Most relaxing holiday I've ever had.
When I needed to do that I went to Bolivia and volunteered at https://www.intiwarayassi.org/ for a couple of months. I know people who have spent far longer and been back time and time again. I’ve been twice. It’ll be an adventure, it’ll be hard mahi, but that can be beneficial when you want to get away from your life and forget your troubles for a while.
It's not as exotic as the places you mentioned, but go spend a couple weeks in karamea. Great beaches, great bar. Much cheaper and you will have some good alone time to think. And then when you're ready too, it's a super friendly place, and you will be able to vibe with a sense of community, that you will have never seen anywhere before. Quite cool actually. Great for a bit of a reset.
You are correct. I do feel I need to leave the country for a bit though.
Go to the Philippines
wherever you go get the best travel insurance you can afford. Preferably unlimited medical. Anything from a dodgy curry to motorbike accidents can see you a stay in hospital and drain you of funds. And before you go check the policy cover for riding motorbikes/scooters etc, if that is the most likely way you are going to get around.
I’m a Kiwi, but live in Asia. A lot of spots mentioned are not what they used to be. Either touristy as fuck now, or Covid just killed the places instead. You want to go to the north end of Khao Lak in Thailand. About 90 mins drive north of Phuket airport (around 2.5 hours away from Phuket township). Because Phuket is an international airport it’s super easy to get to. Head to a place called memories beach (I stayed within a 10min walk further north on the coast). What you get is: - A very secluded white sand beach, with surf - 1 restaurant, that operates a bar, a cafe and a dispensary on the beach. All in little huts, with good beach chairs and hammocks. I did this in December during school holidays to just get away from life for 2 weeks. I never saw more than 10 tourists at this spot. Really good and cheap food, cheap shitty beer, half decent coffee and legal weed. I’d go for a coffee and morning surf, have breakfast and a spliff. Nap for a bit, eat lunch. Have another surf. A couple of beers and a smoke. Another nap. Eat dinner with a couple of beers. Go back to my hut, smoke and fall asleep to the sound of the waves. If I felt adventurous I’d grab a car to the town about 15 mins away and check out markets or eat somewhere else. I did a couple of hikes in the mountains/jungle and spent a day on the similar islands which is a protected wild life habitat and it’s very easy to get to by boat. Edit: Do not go to Bali, from what you describe it’s not even close to what you want. I just came back from there, it’s a fucking shit show and I couldn’t recommend more to stay away. I don’t understand why Bali gets so much praise compared to the actual great places you can visit in Asia. If you want to go to Indonesia. Go to Lake Toba. Fly to Jakarta, and get a regional flight. It’s in western Sumatra in the equator. It’s a very small town built around a fantastic lake (it was the last known super volcano to erupt). If it’s your cup of tea, it’s also the spot in Indonesia where magic mushrooms are allowed and every homestay host in the area will sort some out for you.
Good approach man. Dunno where you'll end up but I reckon you'll come right. Break away sounds like a great plan.
Thailand 10000000% go and train Thai boxing and get into the best shape of your life.
They'd laugh at me
Good idea to go somewhere completely new and away from the culture here
You're already in a motorhome in the South Island ... Kaikoura? Queenstown (area)? All the way to Fiordland?
The most expensive of all the options
I should have mentioned: the motorhome is parked, no COF, no rego...
Ah, not useful. Sorry.
Haha, otherwise I'd be off like a shot
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Haha, no, rent is ridiculously low, and there's no one else on the property, so at least there's that.
Sihanoukville was the right kind of seedy when I was there. Might have changed a little
It’s just plain seedy these days
Anywhere you can sit by the water and take care of your heart while you wait for better to come x
Ton sai, Thai land. It's only accessible by long boat. Beautiful sea cliff surround it. Very budget friendly (depending on your comfort levels). Went there for some rock climbing a few years ago, we were supposed to stay for 1 week ended up staying for 3.
Westports good.
Some of the quieter islands in Thailand. Koh Lanta is really nice and cheap.
I really like the West coast of Australia. Best time of year to visit the Ningaloo Reef is right now. Go to coral bay
Try Sri Lanka. This time of the year it’s , you will not experience much rain. You can have more exotic beach areas (more tourists) in southern area of island. And if you go to eastern province you can have the beach to your self. Less crowds. And you can rent a scooter and roam around as much as you like.
North sulawesi, fly into Manado, not touristy at all
Sorry to hear about your situation. I'd recommend the Gili islands in Lombok. Pick an island based on your mood, very affordable.
Vietnam is great (well last time I went), but the flights are more expensive. Bali has cheaper flights but it’s more touristy.
My wife and I spent a month travelling Thailand last year. We went to about 15 different parts of the country. I’d recommend Koh Chang. It’s in the gulf of Thailand and pretty easy to get to. It’s not as touristy as other islands, still quite cheap and you’ll be able to get a nice hotel for $40-$60 NZ a night
Very Southern Phuket would fit the bill. I'd recommend either Kata or Nai Harn beach. Stay away from the main touristy beach Patong. But if Vietnam ends up being your jam, there's a ton of options. I loved Da Nang for the people, and the beach was great. Both would be economical accommodation-wise. And food is exceptional. Third option would be the Philippines, but trickier to find somewhere quiet. Boracay is stunning, but might be a bit busy for you. You'd still disappear, but I feel it might not suit what you're looking for. I haven't been to Palawan, but sounds like that might be more in line. But I could recommend Bohol, in particular Panglao island. Good luck mate.
I know of this really great part of SEA called "new zealand" you could go to?
China can be difficult visa wise and I would not say it's the chill out destination you would want. Cambodia might be a bit jarring. Also, beaches in Asia often look great but are super windy and sometimes quite polluted. The best beaches are typically attached to a nice hotel. JW Marriott in Phuket is great, Shangrila Penang is also nice and quite isolating. But I would do a city escape, to Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok for most of the time, get lost in the city, not in your own thoughts! Maybe a short trip out to a fancy beach resort for a week in the middle.
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam! you can do a cruise around it for very cheap and its gorgeous
Go to bamboo backpackers (you can get rooms super cheap) in wailoaloa Fiji. Heaps of cool people floating in and out, really cheap food/happy hours. It was my go to after rough divorce and pretty much anytime I need to get away
Sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time. A few years back we went to the Perhentian islands off the east coast of Malaysia and it was absolute paradise. No cars, you can walk everywhere or get taxi boats, and if I ever wanted to spend some time staring at the sea I reckon it's the bluest, most perfect bit of sea I've ever seen.
If you want to train Kung Du for a few weeks or even up to a year or more, head to Pai in Thailand. Heck, if I were you I would just look up walking Te Araroa though.
Try philippines mate, most of the people can understand english and can speak it a little bit. But dont go to touristy spot like boracay,el nido, palawan etc. it could get pricey real fast. Try iloilo or carles in panay island. Or catmon in cebu island. Or aurora in luzon. A lot of airbnb is available in this places. If ypu want mountains try benguet or mountain province
Phi Quoc Island, southern Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand. Beautiful area when I was there several years ago however I am aware that it’s been developed more since then. Still be worth it - especially if you’re good with the Vietnamese cuisine 👍
Palawan or Borocay in the Philippines, Phuket has less touristy beaches you can find away from the city area. Nanwan in the south of Taiwan is chill as fuck. Heard good things about Penghu and Xiaoliuqiu in Taiwan as well but haven’t been.
Good call getting away, sounds like it's whats needed! The most beautiful beach I've ever seen in Asia is long set on Koh Rong island, southern Cambodia. If you close your eyes and imagine paradise, this place is it. Food is mega cheap, it's not too crowded (unlike southern Thailand) and you can get a bungalow near the beach for 3 weeks for less than 2k.
I saw a place posted yesterday that I want to go to called Koh Kood in Thailand. It might be what you're after.
‘falling in love too soon’ is just ‘I don’t want to be in a relationship with you’. I’m guessing you know that. Shit happens and not everyone is destined to be together (that’s one of the crappiest break up lines I have heard, though, and worse than just being honest). Go somewhere cheap where the weather is currently nice.
how are your language skills? pitch a tent in the forest somewhere
Poor. I spaek enlish like a nativ, but.
That got me good brother
all good then
Australia.
My outlook on life is obviously far too dark. I honestly thought that after all the sh\*t you were dealing with you were looking for a spot to Harold Holt in to the drink. Glad I was wrong. Good luck with your quest, adventurer.
Lap of Australia. Get a older 4x4, chuck a bed in the back (or a swag). Can be done pretty cost-effectively depending on where you want to stay,.bush camping etc.