Travelling Post Graduation - Advice?

[MonsieurFish]

So I am graduating university this December, and am planning on going travelling with a buddy of mine for a few months afterwards. The rough plan we have is that post-graduation, he is going to need to get a part time job for a couple months to pay for all of this, so I imagine we will not start our travels til sometime around February - April, depending on how long it takes him to save up some money. Then we were thinking of going to the Thailand, Vietnam area and seeing the sights there.

However, this is just our rough plan and was wondering if anyone from CP had any advice/recommendations on what they would do. Is Thailand/Vietnam a good area to go? Should we go to Europe as well/instead, or stick to that area mainly? Australia? What about part time work while we are on our travels? I have heard rumours that in Australia you can get jobs picking berries and stuff like that while going from city to city which can help pay for some of this. We are both poor students, so price is a medium concern, but not the biggest deal.

So really... any advice at all about travelling post graduation would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Language]

My original plan after graduating was to do SE Asia, but my buddy bailed on me last minute before we were supposed to book our flights, and a crazy flight to Australia popped up that I couldn't not take.

I had never even though about going to OZ before but the fact that I was going alone now and it was very last minute made the decision easier knowing that it was English speaking.

I don't want to tell you to pick Australia over SE Asia or anything as I'm sure Asia is fantastic, but not knowing much about Australia besides Sydney and Melbourne before I went, I can tell you I had an amazing time.

I can tell you my detailed itinerary if you're interested and PM me, but things I did that you should research to find out if it would be your thing include:

- 4x4'ing and camping on Fraser Island (big big highlight - Lake McKenzie is one of those most beautiful lakes I've ever been in)
- skydiving Mission Beach
- sailing in the Whitsundays (Whitehaven Beach is drop-dead sexy)
- got certified scuba-diving and did live-aboard boat, scuba'ing Great Barrier Reef
- Daintree Rainforest
- Magnetic Island (more of a retreat due to too much drinking - found this cool eco-hostel where you lived in a hut and just chilled)
- rented a car and drove the Great Ocean Road
- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Surfer's Paradise, Noosa, Adelaide, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach, and Cains as well

Went for two months, leaving February 1st, and weather was perfect.

Don't know what you and your friend are like, but if you enjoy tropics, beaches, partying (if you choose to), and tons of girls, then this is a good place to go. Easy to get around if you get a Greyhound pass.

I went when the exchange rate was in our favor so it will definitely be more expensive than SE Asia, but it's not too outrageous, and hostel prices are much more reasonable for what you are getting than say, Europe.

[Robotic]

When I finished college I did the whole 12 month visa stay in Australia. I did most of the east coast (the highlights that Leonk19 mentioned). I originally planned on staying no longer than a week in each town/city and keep moving on. But I fell in love with Byron Bay (the most easterly point of the mainland). It's a big hippy town, with great surf, beaches, women, parting.

If you do decide to go the Australia route, I'd recommend staying in Sydney long enough to setup a bank account and Tax File Number card (if you plan on working while there), and start traveling around until you find a place you'd like to settle down for more then a couple weeks. Then ask the hostel your staying at for work as you will most likely get free accommodation, which will save you $200+ a week. Sometimes you'll also get a free meal, free internet and discounts on booze if they offer that.

The hostel I was staying at in Byron Bay for 7 months gave me all that, and I only had to work in a cafe on weekends for 10 hours a week.

[ma-skis.com]

SE asia for monetary reasons, australia if you're nervous about travelling on your own.

both are pretty safe regardless, or just thailand after australia, it's cheap enough that a couple grand will buy you a few weeks.

EDIT:

Re-read the post, and I'd say start with australia then Thailand since Australia would be in there winter by june/july. Short of staying north of brisbane, you'll get 10-20 degree days. Which sounds good, but to me australia is all about +30 days on the beach. Working is easy enough down there, you can get the 3 month work visa and just do about any entry level work. I worked in a restaurant and bar on the Gold Coast, a buddy picked fruit somewhere in the outback. I wouldn't expect a job to pay for stuff other than to maintain status quo for as long as possible, if you think it'll be like save up to go to thailand, that is very doubtful.

Really you should check out the work visa for a number of places while you're under 30. Apparently there's a bunch of countries that offer that to make travelling more accesible to the younger crowds.

Thailand and Australia are both pretty English friendly and travel friendly, you'll meet lots of other travellers and pretty much party all the time.

And i'd stay away from europe for now, it's expensive and not as tropical.

[Robotic]

I did SE Asia after Australia for 6 weeks. I tried to stay away from the main touristy places because theres just to many tourists and takes away from the true experience that Thailand should offer. So I went up to Chiangmai and lived with a hill tribe in the middle of the jungle for a week. They didn't speak a word of english, and I helped them around the village (making fires, cooking, entertaining the kids, etc..) That whole week was a eye opener.
You can live off of less that $20 a day if you really push it. Street food costs less than 25 cents a meal. I lived on a small island for 2 weeks that didn't have electricity and was only accessible by boat that was powered by a lawnmower motor...

I only suggest that when you travel, you travel and not vacation. Do something you wouldn't normally do, but be safe about it and have some street smarts if you hit up SE Asia. The locals there are only after your money and will give you endless stories and try to scam you.

[MonsieurFish]

Originally Posted by fotze

Seems like only yesterday monsieurfish was starting engineering, now hes done. They grow up so fast.

I am flattered that a mere peon such as myself is actually recognized by someone as famous as yourself.

Thanks for all of the info so far team, keep it coming.

[flylock shox]

Posted in another thread, but likely useful for you too: www.workaway.info

If budget is a major concern for you, you'll fare far better in SE Asia. And unless you go to the extreme North or Sourth, everyone you'll likely encounter in Thailand will speak enough English to get by - it's one of the most touristed countries in the world. And beautiful too. Oz is a great country as well, but it's pretty similar to Canada from a cultural perspective, and won't do much to push your boundaries. Europe is too expensive for you - unless you stick to Eastern Europe, which will also push your boundaries.

If you'd like something closer to home, central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama) are excellent options not to be lightly overlooked.

[enthused]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

If you'd like something closer to home, central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama) are excellent options not to be lightly overlooked.

This is where I went for my post-graduation traveling. It was an unreal time. I'd be happy to answer any questions if you have any interest in that area.

[JohnnyB]

If you choose to go the SE Asia route you might want to check out Yunnan province in China. It's basically between Vietnam and Tibet, apparently has great weather pretty much all year and I found the people there to be pretty laid back and really friendly. Food is good, everything is cheap and there are some pretty cool travel destinations. It will not be as easy to get around as Thailand would be though. It's well set up for tourism, though the tourism is mostly Chinese tourism. Nonetheless, if you're comfortable with adventurous travel it could be somewhere really cool that not everyone has been to.

I may be heading back there in another week and taking my mountain bike to spend some time just riding around in the countryside. I'm also looking at the possibility of moving to the capital city there, Kunming. If I do, I may be able to offer some couch surfing for you and your buddy.

[surferguy]

Ive been everywhere mentioned in this thread, AUS in my favorite country. For somebody just out of Uni here is my recommendation. Get the work Visa for AUS. If you like to party and blow of the education steam head for a beach town (I did Byron Bay for 5 months). It was a non stop cycle of new people (read women) from all over the world. It was a great way to stay still, soak up life in another locale and get your final educational classes (life in a another country). New Zealand is another option (however the social scene in the backpacking world is not promoted as much in NZ).

DO NOT go for three months, that will only give you a taste. Get the Working
Holiday Visa for AUS and do it right. SE is fun but is it so overdone now.

Here would be my path...

Calgary - L.A. (1-2 Days)-
choose one or two for one week each(Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia) -
NZ (6 weeks)
AUS (10 months) - Travel and work here. It is essential to stay still for at least 3 months in one locale, so you do not get burned out from moving all the time. If you are in a beach town, buy a surfboard and learn how to surf. Stay with it, it will take you two months to get it but you wont be wasting money filling your days spending money on other crap.

Head to SE ASIA for one month, go where ever. Im kinda over SE ASIA but you haven't been there and it is worth seeing. It will be cheaper but be mindful of your spending.

Head to either Hong Kong, Japan, or one European city for a week before coming home. This way you get a taste 1/2 of the worlds major regions. You will be a more rounded person and trust me this will mature you much more than 3 months of milkshakes in Thailand.

THis plane ticket should cost approx. 4K and you would need enough to travel for three months, considering that you will be working in AUS to cover your cost while there.

You will never see it all, so don't try to. You will be perpetually poor, your a student, you are used to it. Ive done 3 variations of the round the world trip and would drop it all tomorrow to go again. Ive been to 32 countries and AUS is my downright favorite.

Everybody will tell you different things, take the advice but seek what you want to see. Let the rest fall into your lap, there is more stuff out there than you can imagine, and THAT is what you walk out that door in search of. Just GO!

EDIT: feel free to PM me for more, I'll meet you for a beer and tell you stories that will make you want to get on a plane in 30 minutes.

[SeeBass]

My best advice is set the deadline to travel as firm with or without your friend

Too many times you wait for another and things fall through so you wait and when he can go you can't or one of you gets a serious GF so any girl you start to see has to know this date as well.

As a person who is too old and so jealous of you set a FIRM date for you and your friend. I have seen this happen too many times.

[MacDaddy77]

[QUOTEEDIT: feel free to PM me for more, I'll meet you for a beer and tell you stories that will make you want to get on a plane in 30 minutes.[/QUOTE]

Yes, you can Pm me as well if you want. I did the same thing. 12 month working Visa in AUS.

I travelled the whole coastal route, Sydney to Perth and from Broom (Awesome town!!) to Townsville and all up the East Coast.

Picking fruit is seasonal, i can give you some places and the times of teh years the fruit is in season. (Try to aviod picking grapes if you can it's really freaking hard to make money at it, picking pears, plums, apples etc can net you some decent $. I was making $1200 every 9 days (cash) and only working 6 hours a day.

I would suggest you stay in a hostel in Cougee Beach in Sydney, I stayed in the hostel above the McDonalds beside the Cricket field (Surfside I think was it's name) and yes if you work there you will get your room for free)

[surferguy]

^^^

Ahhh...The Coogee Bay Hotel! They know how to throw down a Sunday Session!

[troutman]

Central America - South America. Learn Spanish for two weeks in Antigua, Guatemala, or Quito, Ecuador, and go from there.

I might also suggest travelling alone, if you are going for a few months. You will meet plenty of travellers on the road. Travelling with one person 24/7 can be a problem when you want to do different things.

[MonsieurFish]

Awesome, thanks guys. When it comes to working in Australia... what kinds of jobs are these? Are they permanent jobs that are located in one city, so I would primarily have to stay around that area? Or is a job like picking berries fairly temporary and you do it in all sorts of different places while travelling? And how well should I be expected to get paid if I did this?

Also... considering I am going to have my engineering degree in December, is this something I should use if I was looking at jobs in Australia? Or should I stay away from the "career" type jobs as my primary motivation is to travel... not to work?

Edit: What is the cost of somewhere like Australia compared to the Thailand/Vietnam areas?

[Tron_fdc]

I'm pretty sure picking fruit in some butthole town in the middle of nowhere is some kind of backpacker badge of honour in Oz.

Worst. Job. Ever.

Oddly enough, you meet all kinds of cool people, and get to stink eye each other over the newest blond swedish hottie to arrive in town.

[the-rasta-masta]

When I graduated last year, I backpacked for 5 months (3 months in Europe and 2 in S.E. Asia). Just an all around life changing experience, and as I sit in a desk each day doing the 8-5, I realize how special it really was. Met some unreal people and had some great times. The thing about travelling is that you sometimes have the highest of highs and then the lowest of lows (i.e, sleeping in a parking garage in Mannheim after I watched Canada lose to Switzerland in the World Championships because we couldn't find a hostel that had room, or getting robbed in a Bangkok side street), but the stories afterwards are amazing.

I definately enjoyed my experience in Europe more than Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand). My next trip will probably be Australia, sounds like a blast!

[Robotic]

It's honestly tough to find a steady job in Oz because once they find out your a backpacker they will almost outright refuse you. Your best chance of finding work is at the hostel your staying at like I had previously mentioned. If you do find work through the hostel you'll get free accommodation and deals on food. That way you basically cruise off a couple grand for months. One of the jobs in our hostel was a bus driver. You basically pick people up from the bus station (4 blocks away from almost every hostel) and if give them a quick tour around town. For every person from your hostel that walks through 1 of the 2 clubs n town would give you 50 cents in bar tabs. We would be making over $200 a week in bar tabs. With that plus hostel discounts I could get 10 people wasted every night for a week straight. As Suferguy mentioned about Byron Bay it's a good place to stay for an extended period of time. Once you get your bearings down you can work little and spend next to nothing.

[habernac]

nothing to add other than... make sure you go. Something I will regret until the end of time. Instead of going and experiencing the world, I took crappy jobs here and wasted a few years of my life.

[Robotic]

Also, I found a job online as a kids camp councillor in northern Queensland. It was in the middle of the jungle and I lived on site for 3 months. They paid me $16 an hour and I was working 50+ hours a week. It was good to get away from the city life for a change, and since it was so far out of town I was forced to save up money. They charged $50 a week for accommodation and we had a weekly allowance to order food. I was living with a dozen Japanese people who spoke some english.
http://www.mungallifalls.com/

It was probably the highlight of my trip to Oz. I was living at the top of a rainfall, got to take kids from ages 5-18 on hikes, swimming, tubbing down the river, obstacle courses,etc... There was tons of wildlife around, Wallabies, Kangaroos, Snakes, Spiders. Banana and Orange trees outside your backdoor.

I highly recommend it. Not sure what its like now as this was 4 years ago.