(and the ONE thing we have learned that we will ALWAYS do when we travel in the future)
When we set out on this journey, our objectives were clear:
1. Qualify as Dive Masters and Dive as Much as Possible:
Thanks to the exceptional team at Dragoman, we achieved Dive Master certification in late September after an intense month of diving. Arriving in Turkey, we were initially unprepared for the path to a Dive Master qualification, facing unexpected challenges such as obtaining a Diver's medical. Despite the hurdles, we persevered, completing daily dives and nightly e-learnings, and qualified just days before our departure.
Diving, while a source of immense joy, is not without its financial demands. Realising that sustaining our passion requires careful budgeting, we're now exploring opportunities to work or volunteer as Dive Masters. Our sights are set on Fiji or the Pacific next year, ideally in the conservation space, to merge our love for diving and travel with the other significant part of my life, conversation, and planetary advocacy. We'll keep you posted.
2. Stick well with our Budget of £100 a Day (Excluding Dive Training):
In a nutshell, we’ve done surprisingly well. Over four months, we managed to save £2500 from our original £100-a-day budget (for both of us!). How did we pull it off? Firstly, camping in Europe played a crucial role. Although it feels like a distant memory, during our initial month exploring Europe, we made it a priority to sleep under canvas and prepare all our meals. Egypt stands out as the most expensive country for us so far. Recent price inflation, coupled with tourist taxes, prices, and tips for attractions, meant we were consistently teetering around the £100 daily spend or occasionally exceeding it.
Now that we've ventured into Asia, budgeting has become notably easier, with fantastic food costing very little. I'll admit, we've grown accustomed to the occasional luxury as a trade-off for saving money. Frankly, if we were still the bright young things we once were, thriving in South and Southeast Asia with half our budget wouldn't be a stretch! Surprisingly, one unexpected but now essential expense for us is access to a gym. Despite assuming that the walking, hiking, swimming, and the overall active nature of travel would compensate for our daily gym and cycling routines, after three months of noticing a decline in our fitness without regular training, we're now making it a priority to choose accommodations with gym facilities.
3. Minimise Air Travel:
Honestly, avoiding flying is proving harder than anticipated. Successfully reaching Turkey using rail, bus, and boat was a fantastic experience, covering nine countries in just over four weeks. Travelling at such a pace can be exhausting; challenging the concept of 'slow travel.' Since leaving Europe, not flying has become more challenging. Our planned route from Egypt to Jordan up the Sinai Peninsula was disrupted due to escalating conflict. With a heavy heart, we cut short our Middle East plans, booking a new flight to India, and eventually onward to Singapore due to visa constraints. We’re hoping to get back on track (and on road and sea) in the coming months through South East Asia.
Travelling by land and sea has also brought unexpected visa challenges which it’s useful to be aware of. Varied entry requirements and exceptions for land and sea travel compared to flying became apparent. For instance, Thailand requires a flight out of the country for UK citizens to enter visa-free for 30 days (will do a blog on how we’ve navigated this once we’ve made it!). In Laos, visa on arrival services aren’t always available at the land border, requiring advance application. Future travellers, take note: spend more time ahead of the trip working out visa requirements.
Finally, what’s the ONE thing we have started to do on this voyage that I will always do when I arrive in a new country from now on?
Immediately purchase a local SIM. For a few pounds and 15 minutes at the station or in a phone shop, you can buy plenty of data and a local number; saving money, time and stress. It's a game-changer for booking Ubers, calling your hotel, making bookings, or changing plans on the move. Despite the availability of eSIMs, local SIMs offer better value and provide a local number for local interactions or local service sign-ups.
It’s been good to spend a bit of time reflecting on our progress, successes and the MANY challenges we've faced and over come in these amazing four months. As expected, so much of the best bits about travelling is all the unexpected things that happen around and in spite of the plans you made. Time is really flying by now and at this point on the journey I genuinely can't ever imagine having to go back to a 'normal' life, and I wouldn't want to. Let's see if we feel that way in other 4 months...
To be continued. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or add your own experiences below.
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