I’d heard that holidaying in Asia was super-cheap – but I’d never been there before.
Last year I debunked the myth that Northern Europe is prohibitively expensive.
But is it also a myth that Asia is mega cheap?
I decided to book a trip to Thailand, a renowned cheap Asian destination, to find out.
The first thing I did was decide against getting the recommended needles. Last time a bunch of needles cost me about $300. This time I decided to save a bit of cash and take the risk. Because maybe it’s all just scaremongering and hype – maybe we don’t really need those needles?
(This is in no way a ‘don’t get those needles’ recommendation – just a Tight Artist’s tale of survival – a way to save $300 if you’re budget’s super-tight.)
Next thing – flights. $723 on Royal-Brunei to Bangkok booked just a few weeks out http://www.bruneiair.com/.
That’s another budget travel myth debunked – you don’t always have to book your overseas flights 10 years in advance to get a cheap deal.
Reasonable flights and accom somewhere in Australia would probably be more expensive – without the cultural experience.
You’d be drinking VB’s and sucking back chicko rolls instead of papaya shakes and green mango salad.
Anyway…
I’m a nervous flyer so I popped sleeping pills the second I got onboard. Next thing I know I’m waking up on the runway in Bangkok, Thailand with dribble down my face. Nice.
Then I step into the soupy, Asian air and suss the exchange rates like any good Tight Artist. I like to fly by the seat of my pants a little. Excessive planning is stifling. I don’t read travel guides and I only listen to certain people. What a bad ass.
It turns out that 1000Baht is around $35 – but how far will it go?
$140 bucks gets me a flight from Bangkok to Ko Samui. It’s an island outpost for English lager louts, sleazy old men and heinous over-development.
From there I jump on a ferry for $18 bucks and head to my final destination, Ko Tao – a very small island just 8km long and 2-3 wide. The rock.
So far the flight and ferry were ok but certainly not super cheap?
Is this another myth? Who makes this stuff up?
It’s 9 at night by the time I arrive and it’s pretty quiet. I wander into a little travel agency place and he throws me on the back of his motorbike and takes me to a little resort his friend has.
It’s pitch dark. I’m underprepared, but I roll with it. I brace myself to be stitched up. How much I ask?
500 Baht ($18 bucks) – it’s not amazing but ok, and I’m glad I made it to my destination in time. Any later and I could have been curled up in the foetal position on the beach with scorpions and ladyboys crawling all over me.
I nail a quick curry for $6 and go to sleep – happy that Thailand will be more than affordable - cheap, decent accommodation and street food to die for – not die from.
The next day will be about acting fast, getting my bearings, transport and finding somewhere nice but cheap to stay for a week.
A “Thai-t” Artist’s economical adventure awaits me…:)
Greg Ellis – A travelling Tight Artist
