Advice on travelling the world

You will be amazed what you can do without in order to do with what you love, SoD. Once the travel bug bites you nothing is ever the same.

Aren't there things you would like to see before you die? Would you go see them if it meant ramen noodles and rough accommodations?

Yes I would. i would do a lot. I love travel, it bit me when I went to Germany. It was a real eye opener. But, I can't see how you can afford just travel, along with all of this equipment. Also, for reference, how do you keep up money to eat and live while you are there, otherwise, how do you make money there? Or do you just save up ahead of time? I learned firsthand how much more enjoyable it is to live with someone else outside of your country. It's amazing and much better than staying in a hotel. I've always hated touristy type things, but I learned that I love living the way they do. The native people always know what is the best to do, all of the cool little things, how to have fun there, and just make an amazing experience making new friends. But, I would after college love to eventually do a trip around the world, or more amazing, move to Germany. From there, it's more of a matter of trains through Europe and much cheaper than those overseas plane tickets. Oh my lord. Also, I told this to my parents and apparently this is why a lot of people move to different countries, is that I felt more at home, like I belonged there, in Germany than I did at my actual home.

My original question was of curiosity, much because I would love to do it myself.

Cairns / the Great Barrier Reef! The rainforest etc in the area are nice too, but to me the GBR is the single must do for the area, even if you only snorkel or go out in a glass sided semi-sub.

I typically save up, it sounds lame, but I take my change and throw it into a bucket, it adds up quickly. Many people use study and work as a way to go abroad.

Pick a place you would like to go, start cutting out things you don't need to save up, ask for advice from all the awesome HoPeeps, mayhap one will open their home to you.

SpinnerofDetroit. I'm currently sitting at work (i work in a call centre) and i work full time. on top of that i live at home so my expenses are almost zero. I also have started busking in the city. Am trying to develop and manufacture my own clothing to sell as well as my own line of toys and build my poi website and promote myself as a professional fire twirler to try and gete actually gigs and run paid workshops and, and , and ... collapse!

To be perfectly honest it's exhausting but brilliant at the same time. I don't get much sleep, about 4-6hrs a night. but i have serious plans to be able to travel perpetually and work or at least busk doing my arts while i travel to supporrt myself.

there are tons of ways to be able to travel the world for a pittance. My mate just got back form 8 months in europe and africa, he spent a total of $13,000 including everything. now he hitchicked, camped and couchsurfed basically everywhere in Europe which saves you a ton. I'm hoping to have over $20,000 saved before i leave in august including having paid for tickets and insurance. It's going to be very, very tough. i need to save another $10,000 - $12,000 in the next 3 months... which is why i'm working my ass off and doing all sorts of other stuff.

My advice for cheap long term travel is:

couchsurf,
hitchhike (if you're comfortable doing it)
eat cheaply (vego food is nutritious and cheap everywhere)
volunteer (e.g. Woofing)
get temp jobs (e.g. ESL teacher) - I'm currently waiting on a reply on a job as an ESL teacher in Spain for the 2010/11 school year.

Your first port of call is www.transitionsabroad.com which is an incredible repository for travel information.

Awesome, I'll have to look at that later because I have to sleep now.