Jun 03 2008
Slow Travel and Apartment Rentals
I’ve been in Beijing for just over a month now and feel like I’m pretty settled in. I still can’t say more than five words in Chinese but there’s always that thought that maybe tomorrow will be the day I make the leap up to to six. I like to aim high.
One thing being here has shown me is how much I love just hanging around and getting a feel for a place. I still haven’t been to the Great Wall, visited Mao’s creepy carcas or checked out the Forbidden City but the beauty of spending so much time here is that there’s no rush. Instead, I’ve been meeting new people, having some debaucherous nights out, exploring the art scene while attemping to get back into painting and, of course, working on my sites.
Being able to unpack, relax and do what I want with each day has done wonders some days for my production and other days for my procrastination but the point is that I never feel like I should be doing something because there’s plenty of time for everything. I might not be saying this in three months when I haven’t seen a thing and haven’t done any work but for the moment, it feels great!
Travelling slowly is something I’ve always tried to do and have combined it in the past with working abroad. This time around my work is portable and renting apartments in cool cities around the world is how I see myself spendng the next few years. I’m heading to Australia in February 2009 for a wedding and think I’ll get an apartment and hang out in Sydney or Brisbane for a few months at least. I can use that as motivation to get my earnings up since Australia is a lot more expensive that Asia. I keep hearing that Buenos Aires is a great city so might do the same there and attempt to learn Spainish… hopefully more successfully than my attempt at Chinese!
After that, who knows but I’ll be keeping a lookout for cities of interest. I’ve always wanted to spend some time living in New York City but I think I’ll need a bit more in the bank before I can afford one of those closet apartments in Manhatten.
If anyone can recommend any cities you’ve loved living in (or even just dream of living in) let me know!
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I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go.
Hey Kirsty,
I know Valencia in Spain is a pretty cool city. I have not been living there but my brother did and he would love to get back there.
I love Tokyo, but it is another expensive city.
I think its very different when you stop a while compared to flitting thru a place! Its lovely that feeling that you are actually not lost the whole time. We have been in Perth for 8 months now and will probably stay to the end of next year. Its still temporary because we rent and don’t have much stuff, but its permanent enough to comfortable: cheap much much cheaper to rent a furnished place than even the crappiest hostel bed and we are really getting to know Perth and the SW
If you are looking to spend time in the med I would reccommend Marseille
Its a large city relatively cheap & idealy loacated for shorter trips.
I’m living in Madrid this summer (3 months), then Mexico City (6 months)… both are good jumping off points for travel too. Madrid’s more expensive but still doable, plus they have a lot of spanish schools and people looking to learn english. (If learning spanish is a goal). Mexico City can be super cheap, depending on the neighborhood.
I would really like to live in Rome one day… that city makes my heart beat fast…
You and I share same travel style. I love just traveling slowly and seeing the world. I loved Bangkok and now I’m going to experience China.
Where in Beijing to do you live? I hear Chaoyang is a good district.
Some good ideas for places to look into, thanks!
Mike Japan has been on my list for years for places to go. I think I might have to pick up an English teaching gig to sustain myself there though and I’m not sure I’m in the mood to go back to work just yet.
Learning a bit of Spanish is on my to do list… the part that I keep putting off. But a stop in either of those places could be on my agenda. I’m certainly used to pollution having spent some time in Beijing so I could probably cut it in Mexico City.
Matt I’m living near the central business district just down the road from the China World Trade Centre. It’s in the Chaoyang district but it’s a huge area that includes a large chunk of the central eastern part of the city and stretches all the way around to a bit of the north as well. I’m trying to get my head around the different areas to live in and will add it to my Beijing site smetime soonish.
Hey Kirsty, I am interested in your comments about how you have managed to meet so many people. Have to admit this is one thing that I dont always find that easy.
I know you said you were sharing an apartment with a guy, have you met a lot of people through him?
I think the ability to meet like minded people in long term travel is key but if you are not working then it can be pretty hard..
I actually haven’t really met many people. Well, I have, but I haven’t really pursued friendships. I knew a couple when I arrived that I’d met in The Philippines and hung out with them a lot. They’re good friends now. I also knew Mike (OverlandAsia) from your forum and have hung out with him a couple times.
I’ve met a few people through my roomie and hang out with him from time to time. Couchsurfing has actually been a bit of a social life lifesaver too. There’s a pretty active group in Beijing and they have meetups weekly as well as other events. I’ve met a few cool people through this but haven’t been as proactive about pursuing friendships as I could be.
I’m kind of in antisocial mode here at the moment, concentrating on working (or attempting to) and going out when the mood takes me. I’m pretty happy in my own company but it’s nice to have options to go out when I want to as well and the little network I have is good for that. My roommate is always up for going out so that helps too but he’s a bit of a dick when he gets drunk so I only hang out with him in moderation.
If you have trouble meeting people, check out the Couchsurfing groups. They have little message boards for each group and many places have regular events. Other than that, if I was feeling like I wanted to meet people I would join stuff. A sports league, an art class, whatever you’re interested in. I’m amazed at how many things Beijing has going on for expats.
Thanks Kisrty for that. The Expat scene in Valencia is pretty quiet but I am here a while and determined to make a go. Lots of foreigners here but all Interns from the States in their teens and 20s! Gee I feel old.
I am planing on joining a touch rugby club on Sundays and have even considered toastmasters.org as they are active here!
Hopefully I will find someone to have a beer with, never a problem in Asia or Downunder.
Intrigued by your comments about your housemate acting like a drunk dick.
By the way I am in some very dodgy homestay that is close to prison as I ever wanna get.
At least some sucker has an open wireless connection so I can communicate with the World outside.
Cannot believe my Firefox English spell checker doesn’t pick up ‘wanna’ - bloody Yanks!
@ Working Nomad - hehehehee as a ‘yank’ I’m glad that it doesn’t pick up wanna. should you be complaining if it’s a word you use?
@ Kristy & the post (because isn’t that the point?) - If you ever have a desire to visit So Cal, drop me a line and we’ll work something out… I have several rentals which are sometimes vacant during the off season that I could get you in cheap. Or you could just couch surf with us *grin* that’s always fun. Of course, trust me, no one wants to stay in So Cal for very long when there’s the rest of the world to see!
Will do Suz. Actually, since volunteering in Bangladesh I’ve met loads of Americans. I’ve never met many before, surprisingly. Well, not many I liked!
But USA has never been of much interest to me and now a trip around seems like a good idea. Think I’ll collect more American friends first though… it’s always better when you have someone to visit wherever you’re heading to.
Hi Kirsty
Re: Buenos Aires, I’ve been here for a significant portion of the last 2.5years….it is a pretty cool place and should definitely make your “to visit” list. You can lead a very comfortable lifestyle on $1000 US per month here, if you’d like to rent a nice pad I’d probably up that to $1200…..likewise, if you find a roomie and live prudently you’d be fine on $700-800.
Congrats on acheiving nomadity (don’t think that’s a word?!), I took the plunge myself nearly 4 years ago and haven’t looked back.
Andy
Hi Kirsty,
I just stumbled upon your web-site and I have really enjoyed reading about your life/work/travel balance. I too am planning on traveling next year indefinitely and will be renting an apartment for a month in each city I visit. I haven’t heard of anyone doing that until now and it’s great to see it’s working out for you. Good luck with your sites!
Cheers,
Leigh