221207 - White Beach - North to Station 2 - 8
DECEMBER 2022 - JANUARY 2023 OVERVIEW In August 2022, I emerged out of COVID-19 restrictions and left Roatan Island, Honduras. I spent October and November in Gili Trawangan Island, Indonesia. … next is Boracay Island, The Philippines … PLEASE NOTE The currency in The Philippines is the Peso (or the ‘PHP’). I will refer to them as PHPs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 57.01 58.61 68.34 Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate 56.06 57.64 67.21 You will NOT get this Wholesale Rate … you will get the Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate; expect […]

Boracay Island – Philippines – Getting There

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022: OVERVIEW: In my post (Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Getting There), I talked about how to get to and find accommodation in Gili Trawangan (GiliT). I my previous post, I provided some General Information about GiliT. … now let’s talk about what it is like to ‘live’ here … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (or the ‘IDR’). I will refer to them as IDRs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 15,319 15,063 17,204 Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate 15,037 14,786 16,888 You will […]

Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Living on a GRANDPAcking Budget

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022: OVERVIEW: In my previous post (Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Getting There) I talked about how to get to and find accommodation in Gili Trawangan (GiliT). You can check out 12Go to have a look at ‘getting there’ options: It is assumed that you plan to be here for 60 days … arriving with a standard 30 day Visa On Arrival (VOA), then extending your VOA by another 30 days. This gives you upto 60 days for your GiliT ‘experience’. … now let’s talk about what it is like to ‘live’ here … PLEASE NOTE: The […]

Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Information

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022: OVERVIEW: Due to COVID-19, I have spent the last 2 years in either ‘lockdown’ or ‘hiding from restrictions’. From March to July 2020, I was in ‘lockdown’ on Phuket Island, Thailand: Patong Posts From July to September 2020, I was ‘keeping my head down’ on the Red Sea in Egypt: Hurghada Posts. From September 2020 to January 2021, I did the same in Dalyan, Turkey: Dalyan Posts. I made 3 attempts to leave Turkey for Central America: The first 2 attempts via the USA failed through COVID related ‘Acts of God’ … I got no refund […]

Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Getting There

JUNE 2021 - NOVEMBER 2021: OVERVIEW: In June 2021, I returned to West End, Roatan Island, Honduras for the 3rd time. This time, I planned to stay for several months. … GRANDPAckers may be interested in what ‘long term furnished rentals’ you can find … ABOUT ROATAN: Roatan Island (Isla de Roatan) is the largest of the Honduras’ major Bay Islands in a region that marks the south end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (the second-largest in the world). It is about 65 kms (40 miles) north of the Honduran coast. It is approximately 77 kms (48 miles) long, and less […]

West End, Roatan Island – Honduras – Where To Stay

MAY 2021: OVERVIEW: I stayed in San Pedro La Laguna (SPLL), Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for 4 months during COVID-19. Generally speaking, SPLL is pretty safe with bars and restaurants closing at 9pm. Alas, only about 50% of people there wear masks… and we had a COVID outbreak that came out of one of the young, party bars near the main Boat Dock. This resulted in the town being closed down for 2 weeks followed by bars closing at 6pm for a further 2 weeks. It was time to move on to Roatan Island, Honduras. I decided to take on the […]

Lake Atitlan (Guatemala) to Bay Islands (Honduras) – Journey (COVID-19)

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2020: OVERVIEW: During COVID-19, I was in Phuket, Thailand for 4 months followed by Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt for 2.5 months. In October 2020, many countries were still closed. The ‘2nd wave’ was well underway. I had few options: Turkey was open to tourists and did not require a ‘Fit to Travel’ health certificate within 72 hours of travel. … we, now, go to Dalyan, Turkey … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (or the ‘TRY’). I will refer to them as T$s. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: […]

Dalyan – Turkey – Information (COVID-19)

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2020: OVERVIEW: COVID-19 delayed my travels and altered my plans. I was stuck in lockdown in Thailand for 4 months. My Visa Amnesty in Thailand came to an end and I was forced to move on. Many countries were still closed. Daily infection rates in Europe (and many other countries) were on the rise again. I had few options. Egypt had just opened its borders (albeit with restrictions and a 14 day self-isolation period). … we go to Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (or the ‘EGP’). I […]

Hurghada – Egypt – Information (COVID-19)

MARCH / APRIL 2020: OVERVIEW: My ‘6 Year Around The World’ tour is complete. We are going back to some of the best Retirement Locations in S. E. Asia. … we now look at Patong, Phuket, Thailand … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (or the ‘THB’). I will refer to them as T$s. At the time of writing, the wholesale exchange rates were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate T$32.16 T$35.62 T$39.81 Effective Exchange Rate T$30.59 T$33.89 T$37.89 You will NOT get these wholesale rates (read the ‘Money’ section, below); expect to lose 5%. I […]

Patong – Thailand – Information (COVID-19)

MARCH 2020: OVERVIEW: My 2 daughters and I flew from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Chiang Mai, Thailand on AirAsia. … this is our Chiang Mai story … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (or the ‘THB’). I will refer to them as T$s. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate T$31.47 T$35.73 T$40.73 Effective Exchange Rate T$30.21 T$34.30 T$39.10 You will not get these wholesale rates; expect to lose a minimum of 4% … and as much as 6% (see, below). Over time, these exchange rates will change. […]

Chiang Mai – Thailand – CAT Motors Motorbike Rental – Living Ideas