Goodbye work, hello travel!

[MrMatt]

So i'm leaving the 9 to 5 in September and heading to South Africa for a few months and am still trying to decide where to head to next.

I was thinking Sri Lanker or India somewhere in that region... Anyone got suggestions?

[jaffa1949]

Sounds like a plan, surfing included or just travel. Your idea is pretty vague

[jacobsurf]

Do u plan to travel alone?

[MrMatt]

Yeah, traveling to surf =) Alone unless I find someone doing a similar thing.

[dtc]

I highly recommend India as a place to travel. Never surfed there; but there is so much else to do/look at that surfing will be pushed out of your mind for a while... (its tough though, if you aren't used to travelling). I've heard Sri Lanka is a bit easier for travel and better surfing.

There is always Australia if you have the budget. Taiwan, the Philippines if the seasons are right. Namibia if you are scary brave (from the looks of the surf anyway; the country itself is fine)

[MrMatt]

India does look amazing! What makes it tough?

There is so many place ahhhh!

[dtc]

India does look amazing! What makes it tough?

There is so many place ahhhh!

India is just chaos. If you have travelled in larger cities in Africa (not counting Sth Africa but like Nairobi or Cairo) or, especially, SE Asia (Vietnam, China, parts of Thailand) its like that but about 10X more chaotic. Maybe 20X. A typical 2 lane road will have 8 lanes of traffic, comprising pedestrians, camel or donkey cars, motorbikes, tuk tuks (3 wheel taxis), cars, trucks, buses and cyclists. All honking their horn (you miss the honking after you leave) and trying to overtake at the same time. Trying to make your way around a major train station is not something to do if you are a worrier.

If you get stressed dealing with touts and beggars (or negotiating for taxi fairs etc), then it can be really hard. I, however, being totally heartless, was able to say 'no' to all beggars and being 6ft3 and male, they tended to leave me alone after that. Read up on how to deal with them - not rudely, just firmly. A lot of westerners I saw were either too rude (usually because they were scared/ not confident) or too vague and soft, and were constantly harassed (it is easier being male for sure in this respect - females tourists do get harassed more).

You will probably get sick a few times, hopefully not terribly but that's just the way it is. Even the locals get sick...

Basically its a country where you either roll with it or get stomped. Much like falling off on a big wave really, you roll with the wave or you get bit#$ slapped (as someone wrote recently) and, even then, you will be taken out of your comfort zone. Its noisy, crowded, chaotic (did I say that before), constant, bizarre - just comes at you and comes at you. Ive travelled a bit and its the only place where I have seen tourists have 'culture shock', to the extent that some almost refused to leave their hotel rooms or could only stay out for an hour or two before needing to rest and recover

But its the most fascinating country I've ever been to. I often say that when you go to Europe, you go for the sites and wandering around the streets is nothing special. In India, the sites are so so for most of them, but wandering around the streets is just mind blowing. You will see things every minute you have never seen before in your life (that said, the Taj Mahal is extraordinary). I wandered around the old streets of Varanasi, which isn't a large area really, for about 3 days straight just looking, wide wide eyes. Dehli much the same. You will never forget it; it may change your life (I like to think I became much less consumerist after visiting, and I'm not a 'spiritual person' by any means)

I have only been to Northern India; I gather its a bit calmer in the south but I cant imagine that the cities are much different.

Oh, I can't imagine dragging a surfboard around Dehli or Varanasi or really anywhere in India except around Goa and the coast. You might want to try and find some kind of storage facility if you can and leave your board there for as much as possible.

[surfrat123]

If you leave South Africa after a few months - that'll mean you'll be looking to move around November. India could be a good option - but as a surfer - I dont know much about it. But I do know that Sri Lanka is awesome and is close by! - and has waves all year round. From there - head to Indonesia, although this is the off-season - there's always good waves somewhere. Northern Sumatra is offshore that time of year until April. Southern Sumatra is on-shore though. Head to the Mentawais if you can, its amazing, winds are good year round. From there - head further east, or perhaps north to the Philippines. I did a trip in the Northern part of Luzon. Super fun waves too. Its all there to be explored....!! Enjoy... Dave

[GoneToGetSalty]

I can't say from experience, but India looks awesome! have you seen that section of a surf movie (sorry, cant think of the name for the life of me ) where rasta is surfing those perfect, emerald blue head high A-frames? Nobody out but him.....

I'm looking for writers/surf travellers for a surf travel website, so if you need some extra cash while you're abroad to extend you travel time, hit me up at alex@gonetogetsalty.com

[MrMatt]

Surfrat, that is mostly how I was planning my trip with a stop in Thailand to visit my friend and do some diving =) Isnt the Mentawais super costly? I would be stoked to go there though!

I was looking a going to Reunion Island, until they put that surf ban in place......


Gettingsalty, I havent seen that part from Rasta but i'm now on the hunt, I love his style! I am defiantly up for helping with your site, I shall hit you up on the ol' electronic mail...

[Alexanderwalk]

Tours and travels are meant to be all fun. Most of the individuals today prefer to get their holiday trip planned by a professional travel agent.