monirz77

Definitely a first world problem. Is wifi connection not enough? Are you just reading/surfing or are you developing complex apps that you need a lot of bandwidth?

That's why I don't have an iPad. My only 1 Mac keeps me busy enough. Or have we run out of more fun things to do?

The CL app can do that for you. Say, you save a search for "refrigerator" in a certain area, in the "Free" category, the app would notify you (it puts a # on the top bar of your phone) letting you know there's a new listing for "refrigerator". Same thing for "roommate" or "carpenter" jobs, etc.

It's pretty cool, wish I've known this app when I was looking for a free carpet.

Interestingly enough, just last month, I bought on CL and sold a pair of girl's snowboard boots for $15 more in a matter of 4 days. Mostly because I really didn't want it.I was just practicing on my selling skills. I'm more inspired after reading this.

If you need a buddy here in the US, I can help :) Also got flight benefits, on a stand by basis. Email me.

Thanks all for your responses.

I consider myself one. The account was created 551 days ago, but my first ever post was 240 days ago. I hardly get on here, I travel a lot (for fun), and have probably accumulated more airline miles than my HN mileage, go figure :)

Dude, $5K would be living like a king in SE Asia. I travelled to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar for a month in Feb, and I spent $1,500 total including my air fare. But I am an airline employee so I saved about a $1,000 worth airfare.

And I was staying on $8/night guesthouses, or if you want to update, maybe $15-20/night room, but if you want to splurge, $5K can easily be wiped out in a week :)

Yes, Singapore is on the higher end, and I love the food there! Not that I don't like the food in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, well, let's just say I'm a foodie :) Food is one of the reasons why I travel.

Ok, about meeting people. If you don't have a Couchsurfing account yet, then I suggest you shd sign up at couchsurfing.org

You'll surely to meet other travellers and they do have local meet up and yes, they can also host if that's your cup of tea, on your first few days. It's a great way to meet a local right away! Talk about cultural immersion.

Once you've signed up, join CS groups in the city where you'll be visiting. Just send a message, and let them know of your interest -- 'would like to meet CSers who also do front-end dev' etc etc. If not, people will direct you to people who knows other people who's doing the same thing.

Each Couchsurfing city (say CS Singapore, CS Bangkok) has its own sub groups. See if they have Expats group where you can connect with. Cambodia has an active expat group in Phnom Pehn. But I tell ya, I love Siem Reap, $.50 cents beer!!

Thailand is tourist friendly, very easy to travel there that I find no challenge to backpack, but that's just me :) The beaches are fantabulous! You can rent a bungalow for a month within your budget. I was in Krabi in 2009.

And 20,000 expats living in Chiang Mai could not be wrong. Chiang Mai is cooler with its proximity to the mountains. I was just there in Feb.

I've never lived there (other than in the Phillipines) but had been vacationing the past 2 yrs to SE Asia. Happy travels!!. Send away your questions to me if you have.

There's nothing you can do to prepare when getting back except to savor the memories and prepare to tell stories about your adventures.

And beware, you may not want to come to back to the US though :) And that's not a bad thing either.

Rowena

My goal is finish up my application for the Peace Corps, after postponing it for 3 long years. They keep knocking my door since 2007 when I indicated my interest. Gotta do it this time while my knees are still strong.

And I can die when my legacy is realized - help out, and make this world a better place before I came. I can no longer waste my time, channeling my energy into something I'm not even passionate about.