Advice Needed: Reclaiming My Life, Seeking Affordable Travel Suggestions

OneFootUp on 13/09/2023 - 07:31
Last edited 13/09/2023 - 09:23

I haven't had a vacation or taken a break in over 15 years. I'm feeling burnt out and in desperate need of a reset. Unfortunately, I don't have much money to spare, but the need for a break is pressing. I'm currently renting, and the owner plans to move in once my lease expires in a few weeks.

I've decided not to rent anything else at the moment and I am in the process of selling all my belongings, aiming to detach myself from material possessions. I see this as a unique opportunity to reset my mind and get back on track.

I'm not a fan of cold climates, and I plan to travel solo for up to three months, either in Australia or abroad. My top priority is finding a destination where I can unwind, clear my mind, and not have to worry about anything. The specific location doesn't matter to me; I'm open to any option as long as it provides the peace and relaxation I'm seeking.

My thoughts are scattered, and I'm feeling lost, not sure where to turn for a much needed break. I'd appreciate any suggestions on affordable destinations or options that can help me relax and clear my mind without breaking the bank.

Edit: Please recommend a destination and provide specific activities to do there. However, if you believe it's a place where I can simply relax and do nothing, please mention that too.

Travel

Comments

    • kerfuffle on 13/09/2023 - 07:48
      +32

      He didn’t ask for a sermon.

      • brendanm on 13/09/2023 - 08:47
        +11

        Amen

        • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2023 - 09:59
          +6

          …and awomen.

      • Gunnar on 13/09/2023 - 19:55

        Personally I’m more of a fan of Matthew 21:17

      • HelpMeiCantSee on 14/09/2023 - 10:35
        -1

        What harm does it do?

    • coffeeinmyveins on 13/09/2023 - 09:10
      +18

      Geez, read the room mate. No-one asked for a bible verse and you literally didn't provide anything to the OP of value (I guess that sums up most religions)

      • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 09:20
        +10

        I don't like it but you never know what others might cling on to.

        Last week I met some old friends I hadn't seen in a while at a funeral. Two of them were absolutely glowing. I asked each and it turns out both found Jesus. Each had a crisis point that got them started.

        On longer talking to them (individually and later together) it was clear they had both disconnected from a lot of reality - which I found disappointing. But eh, if they're feeling better for it, and don't turn into dicks, (i.e. remain simpleton believers), it's a positive move from where they were. IMO better to have a chance to slowly recover from happy delusion rather than let trauma or depression win.

        • Crow K on 13/09/2023 - 10:07
          +2

          Counterpoint: the mindless simpleton then encounters a stranger having a burnout/distress event and, because they lack either the social skills or empathy to understand the situation, tells them how Jesus is the answer to their problems.

          • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 10:28
            +1

            @Crow K: We all have our delusions. As long as they're not pushing against better verified help or hurting others in the process, who cares.

            • Crow K on 13/09/2023 - 10:33
              +2

              @fantombloo: It's as harmless as any other time wasting response that doesn't address the person's question ("What would be a good winter soup to make?" "Maybe serve a Caesar salad instead").

              And, like I said, being offered to someone who's acknowledged they're in a vulnerable position. Why not offer them some fantastic MLM business opportunities while we're at it? Maybe they can Amway themselves to a better place! Etc.

              • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 10:55

                @Crow K:

                some fantastic MLM business

                I know people who've gone into that glowingly too, keeping them from other crap in their lives, and then coming out of it in their own time.

                • Crow K on 13/09/2023 - 11:03

                  @fantombloo: This "anecdotal evidence suggesting maybe it's not so bad overall" is an unexpected stripe on you, but I suppose we are all complex and sometimes contradictory creatures

                  • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 11:31

                    @Crow K: Of course it's bad overall. But so is so much other crap. If we wanna put all the cards on the table we can, but it won't be pretty. People are suffering mental health problems in much greater numbers since Thatcher and Reagan and socal media. Chronic stress is up. We're a violent society, detatched from the types of mutual aid that helped make us the intelligent species we are. There are (gonna be) ramifications.

                    Of course I hope OP and anyone in a similar place finds proper, independantly verifiable help. In the mean time I'd rather they find temporary solace in the opiate of the masses, or anything that reduces that stress, than live a life of suffering.

                    • Crow K on 13/09/2023 - 11:41
                      +1

                      @fantombloo: Fair enough. Using religion as a panacea to address underlying social problems instead of addressing the cause seems like the starter kit for making the Bible Belt/Southern states of America however.

                      People don't turn to the Bible because they have a game plan of wanting in a few years to persecute trans people and people seeking abortions. But that's exactly what happens.

                      • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 12:03

                        @Crow K:

                        address underlying social problems

                        Try that here. It's not so easy!

                        I let my kids believe in Santa till they're ready to not believe. But of course I won't let my kids tease others they didn't get a good present from Santa.

                        What else can you really do?

                        We're all still essentially kids.

      • silverx on 13/09/2023 - 10:45
        +2

        Noted :)
        I am not too sure on how to respond without causing too much discords and I apologise for not directly addressing OP's question and if I have offended anyone.

        • RotundPolarBear on 13/09/2023 - 12:48
          +1

          Nothing wrong with your comment. People on here only like the stupid joke and troll comments the most. I'm not religious and I liked what you said to the OP.

  • Master Bates on 13/09/2023 - 07:38
    +9

    I hear Bangkok calling you.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2023 - 10:04
      +2

      Time for some "chess."

    • zonra on 13/09/2023 - 10:12

      Stop by Specsavers first, unless you like surprises.

      • Master Bates on 13/09/2023 - 13:35
        +1

        That's part of the charm. Have a feel and then decide what to do in the heat of the moment.

        • zonra on 13/09/2023 - 15:16

          Spoken like a true master, er Master Bates.

    • TilacVIP on 14/09/2023 - 17:35

      Affordable (Bangkok aint as cheap as people think it is anymore) & place to relax (hell No), Bangkok aint.

      Not to mention the humid stinkin hot weather.

  • Sinnerator on 13/09/2023 - 07:46
    +6

    any cheap fun country, asia or south america, just take a backpack and go go go :-)

  • sharkyoz on 13/09/2023 - 07:57
    +4

    have a look at NSW Trainlink Discovery pass,
    it services all nsw regional train journeys, including XPT services to Melbourne and Brisbane
    just buy a pass for the period you want to travel, fortnight, month, 3monthly or 6 months
    buy the pass and book as many journeys as you like in that period
    I use it to visit friends in nsw and visit family in qld

    • OneFootUp on 13/09/2023 - 09:14

      Does it have sleeping berths? Can I stay on the train for a month or more? How does it work?

      • kerfuffle on 13/09/2023 - 09:37
        +1

        Can I stay on the train for a month or more?

        No

      • carwashhair on 13/09/2023 - 10:21

        Overnight XPT trains to Brisbane and Melbourne do; it's an $88 fee for a sleeper berth. Cheaper to sleep in seat. Better still is to get a train then connecting countrylink bus and camp in smaller towns along the way.

  • renster72 on 13/09/2023 - 08:02
    +4

    do you have a car, van plan to keep?, going bush get out in the country can be good for you..

    • OneFootUp on 13/09/2023 - 09:16

      Yes, I do have a car

      • fantombloo on 13/09/2023 - 09:31
        +10

        Mate, just go for a drive. Maybe don't plan - maybe have some general idea where you might wanna end up - but just follow whatever feels right on the day. Get some cheap camping gear from Kmart if you don't have any, get Wikicamps for your phone, and just get out there. Make friends on the way, or don't. Check out some nature - do some walking too. Jump into the water even when it's cold.

      • fishing on 15/09/2023 - 04:00
        +2

        Travel the top end
        Buy Wikicamps and free camp each night
        The serenity is unreal
        Once you traveled from one side of the continent to the other, I granted you will have had a reset and will have discovered there is more to life than how you are currently living
        Regional WA is absolutely screaming for people with no skills to full professionals.
        Heaps of opportunities to do something completely different and reinvent yourself

  • Mokr on 13/09/2023 - 08:06

    Vr holiday

  • Loot N Plunder on 13/09/2023 - 08:17
    +5

    You could chase the seasons with adventure and work by doing seasonal food harvesting.
    Anything from grains, fruit, veggies to livestock some of these places even have accommodation.
    Waking up to a different location and a different harvest as your heart desires freedom and an anxiety free lifestyle.
    Had enough of the one job just move on to the next chapter of your life.

  • MS Paint on 13/09/2023 - 08:21
    +2

    What about your kids?

    • tharlow on 14/09/2023 - 15:09

      The oldest one is 15 now — time to find out the hard way how much a night in an Airbnb costs…

  • EightImmortals on 13/09/2023 - 08:31
    +6

    There was a guy Matt Lawson who recently walked from Melbourne to Brisbane and he looks like he found exactly what you are looking for right now. Mind you he walked all the way and didn't hitch-hike but you do you. What you;re looking for is probably not overseas as much as within. Good luck, the path awaits, all you have to do is start walking it. :)

  • Duckie2hh on 13/09/2023 - 09:24
    +2

    Thailand.

  • kekw on 13/09/2023 - 10:11
    +3

    If you want your money to go far then definitely not in Australia. Countries in southeast Asia might be your best bet being cheap, relatively safe, and less language barrier.

  • Motek Benzona on 13/09/2023 - 10:17
    +5

    I would head to Thailand. Get a proper visa not just the 30 day one. Dont just go to Phuket and Bangkok etc…there are places that are are relatively dirt cheap and amazing places to unwind. If i had 3 months or more id defo go veg in Udon Thani for at least half of that time. or Chiang Mai to name but two.

    Dont bother with Australia, you can have a LOT more buying power in Asia (well lots of it)

    • TilacVIP on 14/09/2023 - 17:37

      yep, somewhere, far away from the mainstream tourist spots

  • Sweet3st on 13/09/2023 - 10:26

    How about Gippsland? You can get there by car or train/coach. I believe there's currently a $10 cap on regional journeys in Victoria. I loved Mallacoota. Quite remote but beautiful. Lots of bush and beach, nice community feel. Find a caravan park and camp or rent a cabin. It's a short bus ride to Eden in NSW which is an interesting old whaling town on the coast. From there you can take the coach to Cooma and on to Canberra. Road trips are relaxing I find.

  • Almost Banned on 13/09/2023 - 11:19

    If you have worked for 15 years straight and not taken any holidays you would have about 60 weeks of accrued leave.
    If you are going to pack it all in I assume you will also be leaving your work - meaning you will be paid out for that unused accrued leave. That should give you a tidy sum (although if you take it as a lump sum it will also get hit with tax up the wazoo).
    Alternatively you could simply take that leave and continue to be paid for slightly over a year if you can get your work to agree to let you use it all. That should make for a pretty good holiday.
    I'd be thinking SE Asia - although the Aussie dollar has gone to hell recently that's still likely to get you decent value if you don't want to live like a king.

    • jv on 13/09/2023 - 11:23

      you would have about 60 weeks of accrued leave.

      not if they were paid out for them… some companies wont let you accrue.

  • jv on 13/09/2023 - 11:21

    Seeking Affordable Travel Suggestions

    Myki ?

  • sharka on 13/09/2023 - 11:45
    +10

    I'm really sorry to hear that you're feeling this way, but it sounds like you're taking some important steps to prioritize your well-being. Sometimes taking a step back to reassess and recharge is necessary.

    Given your preferences for a warmer climate and a relaxed, inexpensive setting, you might consider the following destinations:

    1. Northern Territory, Australia
      Destination: Darwin and surrounding areas
      Activities:
      Nature walks: Explore the nearby national parks such as Kakadu and Litchfield, where you can immerse yourself in nature, enjoy waterfalls, and take calming walks.
      Mindful relaxation: Spend time at the beautiful beaches in Darwin; Mindil Beach could be a great option. You can focus on mindfulness practices such as meditation to help clear your mind.
      Community connection: Engage with local communities; understanding and learning the indigenous culture can be a grounding experience.
    2. Sri Lanka
      Destination: Southern Sri Lanka — areas like Mirissa, Unawatuna
      Activities:
      Beach relaxation: Spend your days relaxing on the picturesque beaches, taking in the sun, and reading a good book.
      Wildlife: If you are interested, you can visit the nearby national parks to witness the rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka.
    3. Indonesia
      Destination: Bali
      Activities:
      Wellness retreats: Bali is known for its affordable wellness retreats, where you can indulge in spa treatments, yoga, and meditation.
      Nature: Explore the scenic rice terraces and take walks in the beautiful natural surroundings.
      Spiritual experience: You can visit temples and take part in spiritual healing sessions to clear your mind.
    4. Vietnam
      Destination: Da Nang, Hoi An
      Activities:
      Cultural immersion: Engage with the local culture, visit historic sites, and learn about the Vietnamese way of life.
      Beach relaxation: Relax on the pristine beaches of Da Nang, taking time off to just be and enjoy the moment.
      Culinary experiences: You can also indulge in the local cuisine, which is not only delicious but also quite affordable.
      Tips to Keep the Costs Down
      Accommodation: Consider staying in budget accommodations like hostels, guesthouses, or Airbnb.
      Transportation: Use local transportation means like buses and trains, which are much cheaper.
      Food: Eating where the locals eat can often be a more affordable and more authentic experience.
      Activities: Focus on activities that are free or low-cost, like hiking, visiting free museums, etc.
      Remember to prioritize your well-being and choose activities that genuinely make you feel relaxed and happy. It sounds like you're embarking on a transformative journey, and I hope you find the peace and relaxation you're seeking.
    • OneFootUp on 13/09/2023 - 12:05

      Thank you so much for the recommendations list

      • sharka on 13/09/2023 - 13:18

        No problem. Hope it helps

  • Drakesy on 13/09/2023 - 12:36
    +5

    If money is tight just go to south east asia until it runs out, reset and come back anew (straight into a recession mind you).

  • debb on 13/09/2023 - 15:14

    Please check out Samurai Matcha for some ideas on a minimalist lifestyle and travelling on a bamboo bicycle.

    • tharlow on 14/09/2023 - 15:13

      A bamboo bicycle?! Better pack an extra tube of that you-know-what cream

  • Pumpkin_rrr on 14/09/2023 - 07:49

    Other than the above, not sure about your Budget. But you've said "tight". Perhaps you can try volunteering in other countries? I've attended some talks where they'll provide flights and accommodation if you have a specific skill that they require. Not sure if you regard this as "working". Suppose you can mix it up.
    All the best!

  • jrvb42 on 14/09/2023 - 09:15
    +3

    Hearing you.

    I'd recommend Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China.
    All will offer a great and affordable experience. The first two offer visa-free entry.
    Malaysia and China are the places I feel safest.
    I prefer China for the wide variety of cultures (there are dozens of special nations), the friendliness of the people, ease of travel between the cities (high speed rail and cheap air).
    Autumn and spring brings festivals and great weather.
    If you are trepidacious about going to China, why not try a 144 hour visa-free entry as a taster - you won't be able to leave the city you land in, but any city offering this option will keep you busy for way longer than that anyways.
    I budget $20 accom, $20 food, $20 other per day on average (slightly more in Beijing).
    (China haters - please keep your sarcasm and criticism to yourself for once - I'm offering travel advice, not political advice)

    • OneFootUp on 14/09/2023 - 14:17

      I'm thinking about Malaysia or China. But I don't want to be in a busy areas, as I want to be able to unwind and clear my mind. Thank you for your kind advise

      • jrvb42 on 14/09/2023 - 19:16

        If Malaysia, there are many relaxing places - Langkawi is a duty free area (so if you like alcohol, yay), but lots of places easily found with a little research.
        If you're heading out of the major cities, I'd probably skip China unless you read/speak Mandarin.
        There are many relaxing beach or mountain areas in Vietnam (visa is easy to get) - we're going ourselves in a few weeks - you'll likely land in HCM, and a bus can quickly get you to a beachside retreat - be careful in HCM. (Vung Tau - accom $15, all you can eat seafood buffet $4, on the beach, paradise)
        Whatever you choose, enjoy and relax.

  • Bearhay on 14/09/2023 - 09:57
    +1

    Another idea - why not look into volunteering as a way to refresh, reset your mind and give, all at the same time?
    There are many organisations working to improve people's lives both here and overseas who would welcome your input with minimal cost to yourself.

    Good luck, and whatever you do, make the most of this opportunity to change your life and make it more fulfilling.

    • OneFootUp on 14/09/2023 - 14:19
      +1

      It's a good idea but I don't think it suits me well at the moment. I am running away from duties and responsibilities. Thank you

  • anthony t on 14/09/2023 - 10:42

    I can't find any mention of India, though lots of the above places in Asia sound very good. Not the big cities of India (though I spent many months in Madras years ago) as they are not my idea of tranquility! As with all these countries, getting the right visa in advance is imperative. Nepal as a side visit is great too.

  • afah0447 on 14/09/2023 - 12:21

    Cambodia is cheap and pretty quiet in some of the smaller towns. Northern Thailand is another option but will be slightly more expensive.

  • valuer on 14/09/2023 - 15:07

    Laos.

    The official titled is Lao PDR (People's Democratic Republic) - but the locals joking say it means Please Don't Rush.

    No beaches, but generally a quieter way of being and cheap once you get there.

  • 2esc on 14/09/2023 - 17:25

    Get a swag, gas cooker a few other bits and pieces and if you dont need a heap of luxuries there are plenty of free camp locations.

    Free hot showers are available in some towns. Use camping apps they can give you locations to camp which ones have toilets, showers etc.

    You dont need a heap of expensive gear just do your research so you dont get stuck somewhere.

    If i was single and no family i would be gone tomorrow working my way around Australia.

    • OneFootUp on 15/09/2023 - 13:55

      Which apps or websites do you recommend for free camping sites and showers around Australia?

  • Bearhay on 15/09/2023 - 09:45

    Wow, what a fantastic opportunity!
    Where do you find the greatest sense of peace and fulfillment, of really and truly being your own Self, free of perceived encumbrances? The world is at your feet; explore this wonderful playground to your heart's content, until your heart's content!
    Good luck and Bon Voyage.

  • MITM on 15/09/2023 - 14:02
    +1

    Have you thought about housesitting for a while ? Free accommodation and available in regional locations for the peace and quiet you seek.
    You could bounce from one housesit to another for a longer term break.
    Maybe get adventurous and housesit internationally.
    Start with https://www.thegreynomads.com.au/classifieds/housesitters-wa…

    • OneFootUp on 15/09/2023 - 17:07

      Housesitting is a great idea, but it doesn't suit me at the moment because they require someone to look after their pets, which would add another responsibility on my shoulders

  • Sunfish on 16/09/2023 - 10:36
    +1

    Definitely look at camping and getting out and exploring Australia. Plenty of places that you can camp for free or for a small donation that have toilets and/or showers. You can just google them. Plus check out pub camping. The national parks are also cheap for camping and in some states there is only a small booking fee.

    Or head to Asia. Malaysia is a great spot and pretty cheap. You can get out into the hills or spend time on an island or go across to Kuching and Borneo.. Southern India could be another option. Varkala is pretty quiet and lots of people go there to find themselves. In Vietnam you could go to Phan Thiet a coastal town or up in to the mountains of Dalat or Sapa. Maybe do a bit research on a few places to see what appeals to you.

  • ozice on 16/09/2023 - 15:49
    +1

    Indonesia is an amazing place to rediscover yourself. I personally would avoid Bali and head to some of the other islands, even the main island if Java has some beautiful and relaxing destinations, from fishing villages in the wast to volcanic mountains in the centre. All of which is remarkably cheap in Australian terms.

    Slow travel around Sulawesi and Sumatra if you want more adventure on different islands.

    And Good luck

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