Nomad Lifestyle – Travel on Budget

How I became a Nomad

Hi, my name is Heather Oblon-Fischer. In this blog, I will show you how I Travel on a Budget.

Who am I and why?

I am from Hermosa Beach, California, in the USA. My life turned upside down on November 17th, 2017 when my husband suddenly and tragically passed away from an accident. After that, I was left broken and lost with no real direction, He was everything to me and we had planned goals to achieve together. Therefore, after several months in a cave of grief, I just had to pull myself together and move forward without him. But I had to ask myself, how do I move forward? I didn’t want to just move forward without him. Most importantly, his accident showed me how life can change in an instant, moreover to live a far more amazing life than before.  I somehow knew that all that tragedy was there to show me an incredible new way to live. I had to do this alone.

What to consider

My kids are adults and my parents are healthy.  I was employed remotely, with a company that would let me work online from anywhere. I didn’t own a house and lost my place after he passed. Considered technically homeless at that time. I had no reason to stay in the US and pay $1800 per month, or more, in rent. Therefore, the challenge to myself was would I be able to travel for less than my rent of $1800? But, traveling on a budget was critical as I didn’t have any real money to speak of. In short, here is the story of my first 6 months of travel and the various costs, and lots of cool experiences. Most importantly, to answer my question, could I really travel on a budget? I had to know.

But, I had never traveled internationally for more than 2 weeks. Therefore,  I had no clue what this life of an international nomad would look like, let alone how much it would cost. However, If I could do it, anyone can. Planning the trip as a total newbie, Could I even Travel on a Budget?

Pushing the boat from the dock:

Finally, When I was ready, I went online and booked my first trip to Thailand. Initially, I chose Chiang Mai Thailand because I had been there on a previous trip and loved it.  I booked a one-way flight, pre-booked the entire 2 and a half month stay in Chiang Mai. Ouch. 2 and a half month advanced booking in Chiang Mai turned out to be a mistake. I would have found a cheaper place once I arrived and would have had some flexibility to leave earlier if I wanted to explore. I was an over-planner and first-timer. My accommodation booking in Chiang Mai was $500 per month. However, Once I got there, I learned that I could have gotten a similar condo for $100 – $200 per month. Oops! That was a rookie mistake.

To sum it up, I left America for Thailand on  January 16, 2019, not knowing when I would come back, if ever.

Chiang Mai

Learning to Travel on a Budget

The first thing I noticed about Chiang Mai where the 300+  temples. Beautiful gold-clad rooftops and bright colors. I  even spread some of my husband’s ashes at the largest temple on the mountain called Doi Suthep. First, I visited an Elephant Sanctuary and was mesmerized when I looked into the eyes of 1 large beast, well worth the $50. Second, I loved eating from the street carts daily, at a fraction of my normal food cost back home. Moreover, once I settled in I realized that it is incredibly easy to live here. In summary, I can live and work for far less and still have a wonderful life on a limited budget, sure Frugality was part of the experience but mostly it was about having fun living and exploring the places while having a budget

For more on the above Elephants

Street Art Chiang Mai

Travel on a budget expenses

Let’s talk about daily expenses. Firstly, food was on average $2 per meal so $6 per day.  Secondly, using Grab which is the Asian Uber or a Songthaew, the local taxi truck costs about $3-6  per day. Additionally, Cooking classes, excursions, and, various activities cost a total of $100 per month.  In short, even traveling on a budget can be luxurious.

Southern Thailand – Nomad Travel Begins

After 2 and a half months, I left Chaing Mai with 2 weeks left on my visa heading to the south of Thailand. I made a few stops around the areas of Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Krabi Town, Oa Nang and, Railey Beach. The water with the limestone rocks rising is stunning. I explored the area by boat, scouted out bat caves and, met new friends. This was by far the hottest part of my journey. 

Learning as I go

What was learned, it is good to carry electrolyte powder in hot humid countries in addition to good AC when staying in hostels. The cost of staying in hostels cost between $5 and $15 a night. In summary, my 2 weeks in southern Thailand cost me $300 plus my $118 flight from Bangkok. 

Bali

Learning to Travel on a Budget

I have so many friends that would tell me stories about Bali, how safe it is there for female solo travelers as well as how beautiful it is, and how affordable Bali is. So, since I had just spent 3 months in Thailand, I decided to spend 6 weeks in Bali exploring the island. After that, I set my travel on a budget of $2700 for this trip. (1.5 times the monthly budget)

Ubud and Surroundings

The first 2 weeks I had pre-booked in a village above Ubud. I got to experience village life and learn about the culture. I did something crazy, I decided to get up at 2 am and climb a volcano to see the sunrise on Mt Batur, are you kidding me. ya If I can do that literally anyone can and if you cannot, for small fee guides will take you up on the back of a dirtbike.

Checking out all the areas

I spent 2 weeks hopping around to check out the areas, Sanur, Seminyak, Nusa Penida, and Canguu. Just sightseeing and taking the usual Instagram photo. It is good to note, up to this point I have only really been staying in private accommodations such as hotels, Airbnb and if in a hostel then a private room running $12-$27 per night. You could say I was getting adjusted to the nomad lifestyle little by little. I returned to Canguu to a resort for their yoga retreat You won’t believe what I paid,

Yoga

Might be good to note that I barely have any previous yoga experience. I just had to tell myself “I can do this!” after that, I chose the best classes for a lazy person, Yin Restorative yoga. but, most importantly, during the yoga retreat, the host took me to a beautiful water temple and showed me the ritual and the meaning behind it all. I had an extremely magical experience. In summary, The entire week at the yoga retreat was less than $300 that included everything, food, bed, yoga, excursion and at an eco-friendly resort a stone’s throw to the sand.

Ahmed

After the yoga retreat, I had a full week remaining on my visa and as a certified diver, I chose to go diving. I bet you think this would be expensive. But remember, this is about travel on a budget. First, I used my usual filters in the booking app and found a great resort in Ahmed Jukung Dive Resort. Second, I got to spend a week with the divemaster seeing 9 different sites, wrecked WWII ships, pygmy seahorses, giant turtles, and everything in between. Sitting staring at Mt Agung watching the sunset, reflecting on my dives. In summary, all this for less than $400. That included all dive related stuff, meals, and a nice ocean view room by the pool, sunset free of charge if you are willing to walk up the hill.

Summary Bali

The only reason I splurged on the yoga and diving activities was that I was already well within my allotted budget for the trip. I felt it was time to take a little self-care and enjoy this adventure.  What I learned is that my budget is too high.   I ended up spending a total of $1950 for the 6 weeks and that even included sending home some gifts and postcards.

More about my trip to Bali

Malaysia/Borneo

Traveling on a Budget, becomes reality

I had no real plan when I left the US besides Thailand and Bali so I was free to travel on a budget wherever whenever. But I am still a novice and pretty shy when it comes to exploring each destination alone. I knew that Malaysia was on “my list” but I never really heard of Borneo, other than on TV. After meeting another solo traveler headed there, she let me tag along with her well planned out a month in Malaysia and Borneo. This was a very active itinerary which included 5 flights, 4 busses a train, and a ton of entrance fees and trekking. I budgeted some extra for the month, I gave myself $2000 to cover everything to travel on a budget. 

My flight from Bali to Kuala Lumpur was $95. Kuala Lumpur is a big city with plenty to do that can fill a couple of nights. I paid $5 a night to stay at a hostel in a great area that was known for its street food and is walking distance thru downtown.

I moved on after a couple of days and went to Cameron Highlands on an $8 bus ride, in search of the elusive Rafflesia flower. One day after an hour-long hike in the rain forest we found the beautiful flower. Soaked to the bone picking leeches off I couldn’t stop smiling. I am in Malaysia on this wild adventure and this is my life. The realization is starting to sink in, I am a nomad.

Chasing Art and Nature

Another bus ride, this time $3 and I was in Penang. Initially, I stayed at a hostel with a pool in the kitchen. The place was pretty posh for $8.50 a night. My favorite discovery is street art and Penang is filled with it, from paintings to metal artwork all around town. I spent days wandering around seeking out the art, it was like a treasure hunt. I also walked the Penang Hill 833 meters, but we decided to take the less obvious route, which is insane and many stairs 75% of the trek, and these are jungle stairs and then the rain started. We hauled ass up the last bit of the hill just in time to reach shelter before the sky really opened up and poured down.

You can read more about my trip to Malaysia here

Borneo

Travel on a Budget in the Wild

A short $67 flight to Kuching and  I was able to get up close and personal with Orangutans at the sanctuary.  First, you will get robbed by the Macaques on Bako before trekking around the island. Those little thieves run over so fast and snatch your snacks away. However, you think you are prepared but it’s like lightning speed. Then sat quietly and watched the troop of proboscis monkeys and wild pigs peacefully walk by me. I have been to zoos all my life but this is real life nature up close. For $8 a night in a hostel. Food costs $2-$5 a meal.

Off grid as a Digital Nomad, not good.

Most Importantly, up until this next stop, I have been working remotely. Full time in the evenings on the available free wifi in the country. However, Mulu, Borneo is a beautiful almost unspoiled protected rainforest, without WiFi. The airport is a small runway between miles and miles of green trees. There is little to no wifi and even my local sim card didn’t work. For $15 a night inside the national park I stayed in a huge dorm, with just another person. The night time was the opera of mud frogs and other small creatures. As well as bats flying above my head while sitting outside, snatching up the mosquito around. Finally, I got to explore the many pathways throughout the park and enter several caves, homes to the 3 million bats in Mulu. 

For some, Bats are a dream come true

One night I sat outside a cave at dusk and watched 3 million bats exit for nighttime feeding,  a 20-minute long stream dancing in the sky like a serpent slithering far above. In short, Something I had only watched on TV before. Therefore, Later during my stay, I explored the same cave to get to a hidden waterfall only accessible thru that the caves.

The last 2 stops, Kota Kinabalu for $7 a night a brief walkabout and boat excursion in search of fireflies and monkeys and Sepilok rainforest where I bid my fellow traveler goodbye to wrap up my last few days.

I spent just under $1400 on everything including the flights between places. I really had no idea it would have been this inexpensive. $2-$8 per meal depending on where I was. The biggest expense I had here was the sightseeing and excursions and even that was less than $200 and I did a lot of them compared to other months.  

You can read more about my Borneo trip here.

Nepal

When you have finally arrived!

My last stop during the 6 months is to Nepal. $1800 over 30 days is $60 a day, so for 20 days I budgeted $1200, That doesn’t seem like much so far from home, on the other hand, it was plenty. In the beginning, Nepal is a place I never thought I could afford to visit, it seemed so far away from the US and so foreign to me growing up, reading thru National Geographic’s and seeing photos of Nepal and Tibet and fantasize about being there. Therefore, sInce I was headed to Europe and currently in Malaysia, Nepal was a perfect affordable “pit” stop.

Visiting 5 different areas, including a complete 3-night all-inclusive safari with a guide in the National park, seeing rhinos and alligators up close.  I spent 2 days trekking 33 kilometers up a small mountain. I even slept in a home above a woodshop in an ancient UNESCO town. All of this with a domestic flight between areas and 2 buses along with a private driver sounds like it would have spent thousands. However, I did overspend from my budget only because I spent several hundred on gifts.

Meanwhile, what I learned, Is Nepal is a country that I absolutely had to buy gifts in and that I did in fact overspend on gifts, and for the first time. Surprisingly, I even sent a box home to myself. In summary, The total I spent for the 20 days was under $1400 including the gifts.

Read more about my trip to Nepal here

What I found in my first 6 months of learning to travel on a budget was that I could easily live within the budget to travel of $1800 a month as my goal. Therefore I decided to lower the budget and try to live on less and even try work trades to save on food and accommodation expenses. In conclusion, I learned so much and grew thru the pain of losing my husband in ways I could not even imagine back at home. As a result, I spent less than my initial expectation on a loose travel budget and I lived an amazing adventure meeting new friends and seeing things first hand.