Random Thoughts- Traveling full-time on a budget

I have been traveling on and off ... I quit my job beginning of 2011 to spend all my time traveling! Almost two years now and I have traveled some parts of India. As the time passes by, at times I am asked by my Dad ... what next? What are the plans for earning a living? Yeah, valid concerns from worried parents :) 

These thoughts have passed my mind too! I jumped into something that I always wanted- Be a Vagabond. But, then how am I going to maintain myself being a Vagabond? Yeah, when I had a job which paid me a very very handsome amount I went on luxury trips. Now, I have tried moderate budget backpacking trips in India.

Well, spending money without income doesn't work for long. Still I am not ready to take up a Software/management job. People I worked with earlier call me to ask ... we have an opening just right for you, why don't you join? ... I still am not satisfied with wandering around -or- not yet bored of present life -or- scared of my future. I read blog articles about how to earn money while traveling and so on ... Well, I am not so much experienced yet to advice people to quit jobs to travel. I myself haven't yet tried the cyber-employments. I haven't tried to win contests for fully paid trips. I haven't tried to write reviews about Airlines, hotels, resorts, restaurants or books. I haven't tried volunteering in exchange for accommodation and food. I haven't even tried to promote my blog. I am very bad at marketing. I do not know how am I going to manage things ... I still haven't got an opportunity to believe that these prizes, sponsorships are a reality. I may start believing it when I win something :) Either way, I win or not, I am sure I will definitely try to live out of my backpack and I am going to be happy that way.

Since the day I have quit my job I chant only one mantra ... value for money. I think before buying something for me or others ... do I or they really need it? And so end up saving money for my travels. Best thing that travel teaches you is ... you need very less to live. Eat to live and to experience. Walk at least 3KM per day for sightseeing, that keeps you fit! You can still look very stylish spending very less :) 

Since my childhood I have traveled luxuriously with parents. But, I do not want to ask my Dad or siblings to sponsor my trips. Now, my needs while traveling have become very basic. A clean and safe shelter for after dark hours. Food and water to live. Internet access would be great. The balance between need and comfort is the key. Being a backpacker/camper/trekker I am not too fussy about  comfort. Is it too much to ask- A room with clean bed, white linen and a clean attached bathroom-toilet with hot water? But, if available I will use much of luxury :)

Food, I am okay with smaller vegetarian restaurants. I will taste and enjoy the authentic regional cuisine provided it is not too masaledaar (spicy) and doesn't have the popular taste salt (MSG). Posher the restaurant lesser the authenticity. In my opinion in posh restaurants food is modernized and customized to suite the international tourists. I will eat anything from street-side Aloo-vada or momo or simple local food in Home-stays and exotic local cuisine and modernized food in posh restaurants provided it fits my policy- value for money and no MSG.

Till now, I have been keeping a record of my expenses. Least is spent on food. Most of the money is spent on flight tickets, wildlife viewing, trekking guides, adventure sports, entrance fee to Amusement parks, sometimes sightseeing taxis and the accommodation. If these costs come down my life will be much easier!

Pic: In Sep 2012, Me at Grand Canyon, AZ, USA. For a change my own picture :)

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Scrapbook- A Travel Blog by Kusum Sanu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.