nomad4ever

In a recent development that may seem like a two-sided sword, 2 of the most famous and notorious American Fast Food Giants make inroads by coming to Bali.

While that would certainly mean more options for fast food and pizza lovers, some might argue also that the original character of Bali might get spoiled even more.

The island is pretty much splattered with foreign franchises already, especially in the over-developed South, where Burger Joints and American(-ized) Fast Food Franchises like McDonalds, A&W, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or KFC are operating outlets in abundance:

written by Chris

I was asked many times over, to update the Cost of Living spreadsheet on this page. Time is definitely ripe for an update, as prices in Bali soared over the last 3 years.

The economic crisis, a weakening Euro and an Indonesian Inflation (unofficially in the double digits) did all their part as well to change Bali from a backpacker’s paradise into a full-blown ‘Tourist Dollar Money Making Machine’.

Tourist numbers rose already to pre-crisis levels in Bali and are still climbing steadily. While most prices also went clearly up, there are still a handful of exceptions.

written by Chris

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Asia. Travelers, Expats and Locals alike are known to happily give it a rest and enjoy a cold one, when leaving the office, sitting in their hang mats, a lively bar or at the many beaches in the region.

The Philippines are blessed with one of the best breweries in Asia. The San Miguel brewery is around for ages, they steadily bolstered their grip on the local market, acquiring more and more rivals until they now have an almost monopoly-like strength in the country. Here is a introduction about their most well-known products, which target every palate:

written by Chris

Eating out in Goa can be a science. There is so much choice! As established here, you can indulge yourself in various delicacies all over the state. Now we will shed a bit more light on where you can find those tasty dishes.

North Goa alone is a vast area and you can spend hours and hours driving around and trying new restaurants every day. The variety is stunning, as are the quality of the dishes, its presentation and freshness.

No place is perfect though, there is always some shadow, even with plenty of light. Here are 5 great choices, for eating on a budget, but not compromising on quality and quantity:

written by Chris

Ahhh! Thailand, the famous Land of Smiles. A wet dream for many, yet a fulfillable one if you see the influx of Farangs, who find a place to live long-term in Thailand over the last couple of years. Great tropic weather, friendly and beautiful people, relaxed beach life and a cuisine to die for – are there any more reasons to retire in Thailand?

Maybe cheap Costs of Living, compared to your motherland in Europe, the US or Australia. And surprisingly, Thailand can even score in this regard. Here is the latest update of prices for day-2-day items, in our tradition of cost of living comparisons for Asian holiday destinations:

written by Chris

Beer in Goa is a strange creature. As observed before, most local brews here taste all similar due to preservatives added to ensure a longer shelf life in the tropics.

Unfortunately this spoils the taste of a beer completely, even for normal beer drinkers with more insensitive tongues.

Luckily there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can buy unspiked beer in Goa, if you know where. And for the adventurous thirsty traveler, there is even a method to separate beer and preservatives from each other.

written by Chris

To describe the best Indian dishes is not an easy task. Indian cuisine is rich in spices, tastes and influences from different cultures. And no dish tastes the same if you visit a different restaurant in another town.

But there are certain fixtures, for instance that mainly more vegetables than meats are used. The most popular geographical classification is dividing Indian food into North and South Indian cuisine (although West and East Indian cuisine (Bengali) exist as well).

South Indian cuisine is a bit lighter, with less spices, focusing on rice and coconut-based dishes – while North Indian food can be richer in cream, dairy products, (cottage) cheese or yogurts, spicier and with thicker sauces:

written by Chris

I was practically glued to the TV last week when the events in Mumbai happened; couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Hard to get in front of a computer again, didn’t feel like posting anything at all about long-term traveling in India.

But then, isn’t that what those terrorists tried to achieve? To paralyzing the country and make an economical impact? Most people in this thread on the IndiaMike Forum, discussing the repercussions of this hatred, agree that they want to continue traveling to India.

So I will follow their example and won’t stop recommending it. Read on for a “Cost of Living Chart” for living in Goa, India:

written by Chris