Southeast Asia - where to?

[tomcsi]

Hey guys!

I'm planning to stay for a month somewhere in Southeast Asia - probably Indonesia or the Philippines, maybe Malaysia. I want to learn surfing (I only tried it once and I'm hooked but I'm a total novice) in a surf school (or from an individual trainer).My budget would be 400 usd max. for accommodation and the lessons (I don't have any problems staying at the cheapest airbnb's whatsoever). Which cities/islands would you recommend?

My first idea was to go to Bali but the more I read the less I feel like it would be the ideal choice.

Thanks for your help!

[Big H]

400 usd for what? Food? Room? Surf lessons? All of the above?

Not going to happen here in Bali. Just in the space of time that I've lived here cost of living has grown exponentially.

Save up more than 400 bucks? Realistically, it's going to take more than that most places.

[tomcsi]

For accommodation and surfing lessons. From what I've found online, it seems doable (found rooms both on Airbnb and local listings for around 150 a month so I would have 250 for lessons).

[Big H]

What will you eat?

It is cheap here but not that cheap. Add on to that the "surcharges" of being a Westerner in the East....even though you're broke you will be seen as being rich (able to fly around the world to learn to surf....that equals rich in comparison). You won't be able to squeeze a penny like you want to do; you will be expected in remote areas to pay for certain things, and will be overcharged. One surf break in the north requires that you buy a t-shirt...if you don't you'll be hassled in the water and dropped in on by local rippers so you won't be able to enjoy at all. In more cosmopolitan areas, it isn't cheap anymore.

Realistically, you need more cheese.

[Namu]

Where do you live now? I'd rather learn the basics of surfing first locally, before I waste time and money travelling half way around the world just to ride knee high white water waves in a straight line. You wouldn't be able to appreciate the great tubing point breaks or reef breaks when you get there since surfing has such a steep learning curve, you would have to leave before your skills approached anywhere good enough to surf those breaks.

[tomcsi]

I didn't tell you many things but simply because I already considered them and my question was the real thing in itself.

I said 400 bucks for accommodation and lessons because I meant it just like that. I think I'll pay around 2, max. 300 more for eating (out) and parties. Plus 200 for a language course.

I've travelled halfway through the world more times so I know that as the white man I'll pay more, sometimes even on an official basis (restricted methods of travel, museums etc.). By the way it really does suck for me because I live in Hungary which is a poor and cheap country albeit not as poor and cheap as Southeast Asia but way cheaper than Brazil for instance. It also means that I don't have any way of learning how to surf here - we don't even have a sea, let alone an ocean. And lastly, I will travel for about two months after the initial surfing-language learning and SEA is the place I'd like to discover now and luckily I can easily pair it with surfing.

So that's the whole deal

Thank you for your answers so far, I'd appreciate it if you could tell me something more based on the additional info.

Tomi

[jaffa1949]

Lets start helping you, both Indonesia and the Philippines are thousands of islands, different surf seasons Indian Ocean ( Indonesia) pacific. ( Philippines).

Ferry or boat ride to breaks beyond the Bali south coast, air BnB the further you get from surf and tourist spots the cheaper they will be.
But then add transport, board hire surf lessons, and meals. The further out the less likely parties, many of the air bnbs are on non surf coasts.
The rest of Indonesia beyond Bali you need to be both capable and self sufficient in surf safety.

You might achieve your usd400 for the month stay in a one room stay several blocks back from the Kuta stretching Bali but you will need extra for everything else.

The Philippines the surf zone is on the outer islands and most breaks require some developed skills
Malaysia there is surf monsoonally seasonal and hard to find... head up the west coast towards Thailand again transport cost, maybe visa costs , accommodation taxes, the list goes on.

Vietnam has South China Sea surf, in season, and will be cheaper, several things stand out, wherever you go if you are staying in cheap accommodation you will still be so much richer than the street locals, so you will expected to pay.

Much more money is needed.

[tomcsi]

Okay, so what I gather is that it's virtually impossible to find a surf school in Indonesia or the Philippines apart from Bali so I'll probably have to stick with that even though I'd prefer somewhere less touristic...

Just for you to see that I'm not a raging lunatic who makes up crazy stuff just for fun, check this:

https://www.airbnb.com/s/Bali--Indonesi ... g=mPNkAjcJ

This one is the cheapest I found for about 130 usd a month with fees:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14809620?c ... s=rCFi-5Tq


So there really are rooms for under 150 usd a month and I can definitely find one for 200.

Considering this you really think I will need more than 8-900 usd for a month if I plan to do a 200 usd language course (not counting the airfare, obviously) ? In other words, do you think I will need more than 4-500 usd for eating, drinking and partying?

[icetime]

Going on a surf trip in another country with less than a thousand bucks is a terrible idea, even in countries that are cheap to live and eat in like Morocco, even here 400 dollars isn't enough.
Personally, I suggest you just save up more to enjoy your trip instead of it being trying to survive day by day with the few pennies you brought and not enjoying your stay.

[jaffa1949]

That is a room within your budget but do you know how far you are from the beaches in the amazing tangle of Kuta roads.
You are closer to the spots of the Bukit peninsula than seminyak where the surf school is. Seminyak is north of the airport, traffic is unbelievable.
Parties happen in the main Kuta stretch so you will Need car transport back and forth.
Buy yourself a book "Indo Surf and Lingo" by Peter Neely has surf spots ,schools and a very good conversational Bahasa Indonesian section.
It's updated yearly so you are not misinformed.

There are surfschools elsewhere in Indonesia and The Philippines but there pricing doesn't fit your criteria. They are attached to surf camps.


Wherever you go you will find it's not like anything you know from Europe or South America, ( I don't think you are a raving lunatic, they don't ask first they just rock up). We are not arguing with you just advising!

You are being appropriately courteous by learning the language, that will give you an advantage. Every person you meet will have a friend or a cousin who can give you " deals" and you can barter.

I have been going to Bali since 1979 every couple of years, how you want to do it is at the bottom end of do able , but you will be caught short.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVOIg_lHRzk

You could travel just a little further and see what Kuta Lombok shows on airbnb is likely cheaper and close to a beach.

Bali is mostly Hindu , and it is a land where karma happens easily! You will find it so different!

Tidak apa apa.

[tomcsi]

I just don't understand why everyone assumes that I'm broke. I simply wana know what's what and not spend a fortune if possible.

But finally I'm getting somewhere and thank you for that! So I think it's best to stay in that area where most surf schools and the parties are - I can still manage for about $200 and I won't have to worry about distances.

By the way I've also been to India so I don't think I'll have many problems adjusting to the vibe. (Not that I won't have any, just... not too many.)

And one last quesion: How much would it cost me a month if I wanted to go somewhere a little more hidden (but not completely isolated) for food, accommodation, surf lessons?

[jaffa1949]

Kuta is a city almost in its own right , it is a maze of streets and walking navigating from your two links would be Impossible.
Since everything you want is in the densest area around Jalan Legian and the lanes running of it. Pay more party more,
Good advise has been offered, no one assumes you don't have money, just tightness.
Buy the book have the experience. Go figure it out since you want to tell us otherwise.

[dtc]

I just don't understand why everyone assumes that I'm broke.

Perhaps because you started off by asking for somewhere to stay that costs USD13 per night?

I know this isnt the answer you are after, but Bali isnt India in terms of budget. Bali is much more Costa Rica or Turkey - its not western europe expensive, but its not $5 per day. Bali is where a lot of Australians go to holiday (and other nationalities of course); its a mid range holiday destination, with some cheaper and some more expensive areas. Kuta is almost entirely tourists and tourist business and tourist pricing - hence why people are advising that your stated budget probably wont be sufficient. But so long as you are aware that you might spend a bit more, thats all fine.

[tomcsi]

Thank you !

[RinkyDink]

I remember a long time ago when I was in France I would always see Canadian tourists with little Canadian Flags on their backpacks. I thought it was a clever way to say NOT AMERICAN. You might want to try something similar so you're not lumped in with the Australian herd.

[Big H]

I remember a long time ago when I was in France I would always see Canadian tourists with little Canadian Flags on their backpacks. I thought it was a clever way to say NOT AMERICAN. You might want to try something similar so you're not lumped in with the Australian herd.

He's a bule.....no escaping the lumping.

[RinkyDink]

I remember a long time ago when I was in France I would always see Canadian tourists with little Canadian Flags on their backpacks. I thought it was a clever way to say NOT AMERICAN. You might want to try something similar so you're not lumped in with the Australian herd.

He's a bule.....no escaping the lumping.

Then the next best thing is to practice your smile. Everybody likes people who smile genuinely.

[Big H]

FWIW, there are cheap rooms out there. At the end of my street there are some Kosts, single rooms with a shared toilet/shower, no furniture. They cost USD 70 a month. I have used them for storage space is how I know the specifics. There is no ac, rats and rubbish around the place an the doors could be broken in to with a solid push. Rooms are lit with a single lightbulb in the center of the room. No windows. The owner is Balinese and speaks zero english. There are no western people who stay there at all. Reckon the rate would be higher for a westerner, if you could communicate. But yes, cheap. Street food is cheap as well....dishes are used and rewashed from a bucket that is filled with water in the morning.....same water is used all day and the same plates, bowls and tableware are shared by all customers with only a dirty water rinse. Food prepared from these street vendors is not refrigerated....product is either semi spoiled or loaded with preservatives including a shocking amount of formaldehyde in noodles, fishcakes and meatballs. But it is cheap. Westerners get sick on the regular from eating in these places....sometimes severely. So yes, it's possible to live on a budget you describe. Westerners don't; honestly the conditions to live and the food that you'd eat just aren't up to your lowest standards, and I can say that without meeting you. The next level up is manageable, but the costs are more. You need to consider safety as well...cheap rooms aren't so cheap if your stuff gets stolen. Surf schools are based on tourist pricing levels as are board rentals. Kuta for 2 hours is 80,000 now, about 5-6 dollars. Surf schools were around 35 dollars for 2 hours last I checked, but that includes a board and rashie rental. There is a lot of tourist dollars around and the economy and expectations are based on that. Just a cab from the airport will run you 20 USD and there are no alternatives other than better bargaining skills.

[RinkyDink]

But yes, cheap. Street food is cheap as well....dishes are used and rewashed from a bucket that is filled with water in the morning.....same water is used all day and the same plates, bowls and tableware are shared by all customers with only a dirty water rinse. Food prepared from these street vendors is not refrigerated....product is either semi spoiled or loaded with preservatives including a shocking amount of formaldehyde in noodles, fishcakes and meatballs. But it is cheap. Westerners get sick on the regular from eating in these places....sometimes severely. So yes, it's possible to live on a budget you describe. Westerners don't; honestly the conditions to live and the food that you'd eat just aren't up to your lowest standards, and I can say that without meeting you.

When it comes to food in other countries it's easy to get sick because the microbes are different. I'm sure the microbes in Hungary are a lot different than the ones around California. If you're exposed to the same bugs every day, you get a certain tolerance for them. Go somewhere else though and it's a different story. That doesn't stop me from occasionally rolling the dice on street food, but that's also a risk I have to budget for. Do I have the emergency funds/time to deal with a bad case of food poisoning? I usually decide to avoid the risk, but I've had some great street food on occasion. I've also ended up being forced to buy a round of beers for 10 prostitutes in a Greek bar I stupidly went to with somebody I thought was cool--lost about $100, but got out without a scratch. So it goes.

[Tudeo]

There's a lot of places (warung) that sell good quality food for really low prices where I live, West-Denpasar. But the trouble is there are the bad, filthy, one's too and we, forreigners (bule), cannot see the difference.
My wife is Balinese and she knows the people or sees the level of hygiene in the blink of an eye. As long she does all the buying, we can live relatively cheap. Btw. the people also know her, and the fact her husband is bule. That drives some prices up for her too