2005-09-03 14:22:34
This is the first post of the working nomad blog. In a little over one month I will be embarking on a six month plus trip around Asia. I have n't decided where but likely locations will be Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Nepal early next year. The difference between this trip and the 1000s of other trips undertaken by backpackers is that it will be entirely funded by money earnt through maintaining sites on the Internet. Well I have almost finished my contract job in London that came to a bit of a surprise ending! Without naming where I worked lets just say the future was n't bright for me there ;o)
I had planned on going away to do this in November / December just before the short winter days fall upon Northern Europe but now I am leaving on October. Have a look around this blog. I hope to help others who might be thinking about working on the road as well. Well I have to renew my passport (thank god I can have a new picture in my passport!) as it expires early next year so that should be fun. I have a lot of things to buy for the trip. Not least a small portable laptop and a new backpack. Well thats my first blog entry. It is a hot afternoon in London and I am about to go to the pub and watch England v Wales. Bye for now
2005-09-07 14:22:34
I am likely to leave the UK in under 4 weeks time and I still have n't bought a flight out of here yet. In fact I am not even sure whether to buy a one way or return? In all my travels I have always had that return ticket lurking deep within my backpack. It seems more trouble than it's worth sometimes. For instance on my last trip I was sold a ticket where I could change the date of the return leg.
This was fine until the day I called Malaysian Airlines while in NZ to be told I could not change the date and would have to fly home on my original return date! Anyway 3 days later after numerous faxes and telephone calls to London, Melbourne and KL I finally managed to get the flight changed! I guess the other consideration is cost. At the moment I am looking at GBP300 one way to KL or Bangkok. Open returns are around GBP500. I am leaning towards a one way ticket despite the extra cost. Anyway when I am ready to come back to the UK I will have made so much money from the web sites I'll be chartering my own plane (positive thinking!!). One way it is then.
2005-09-09
Monday 17th October and I will be off! Got a bargain one way ticket from London to Bali with a brief stop in KL. Can't wait to go now. I had originally planned to book a flight to KL and pick up an Air Asia onward flight to Bali but I have discovered that many airlines in South East Asia will chuck in a free onward flight! In terms of web work I had my first outing today working with my laptop in the pleasent surroundings of a local coffee shop. I also discovered that while I'm away from an Internet connection I actually work much harder and I am generally more productive. The Internet is quite a distraction! Well it's been a good day all round. Always nice to the get flight sorted out and behind me. I can now concentrate on my work. There will be an earnings udpdate soon. I am pretty much on for matching what I achieved in July and August. Traffic has been down on my sites this month so far which surprised me for September. Anyway still another week to go.
2005-09-26
Well it has been a mixed month for my web sites. I should be happy because I have had a record month making a profit of around GBP460 or USD820 which is slightly more than I made in June. July and August were fairly quiet months although I was still making nearly £100 a week.
I guess I have mixed feelings because for most of September I have been working harder on the sites and my traffic is way down on the previous months! Now I know the sites exist purely to make money and to enable me to work from anywhere but it is disappointing when your sites lose popularity. I think Google are updating there search engine results and I have taken a bit of a hit. Thats the way things go. You have to roll with the punches.
I guess I am feeling a bit down because of what has happened in Bali last night. I will be in Bali on the 18th of October and still have every intention to go. In fact I am more determind to go than ever. Although the terrorists have clearly set out their agenda we cannot let them win and drive tourists away from Bali.
The Balinese need you!
2005-10-05
Well I am back in my childhood town of Ipswich in Eastern England preparing myself for the big trip. Getting pretty excited now about being in Bali next week.
One possible feature of this site will be some crazy photos of me working in the most unlikely of places. I might even get people to suggest places where I should go and work for the day. Not sure yet but I am convinced there is a good idea in there somewhere!
We are one third into October and I have to say it is looking like a very poor month on the Internet earnings front! I am well down on previous months. I hope this is a temporary blip.
Found a really good resource for web sites the other day. It is called Digital Point and well worth checking out. It is kind of similar to webmasterworld.com and has lots of information for newbies to the web site creation scene.
2005-10-13
I have had a number of emails from people who basically know nothing whatsoever about how to start a web site, how to get it online and what to do thereafter.
In response to this I am going to put together a step by step guide for absolute beginners. I will probably post weekly each step to take from your idea right through to the marketing and making money bit.
This is just an idea at the moment but I guess the guide will take this sort of format.
1. Your idea.
2. Software to build your web site
3. How to build a web site.
4. Naming the web site.
5. Choosing a host for your web site.
6. Maintaining the web site.
7. Getting traffic to your web site.
8. Converting your web site visitors into money.
I have looked over this site and I guess a lot of what I have written is assuming people will have certain knowledge and understand terms such as hosting, domain names, adsense etc.
This weekly guide will be in the plainest language possible and will hopefully help those who are completely new to web sites.
I am trying not to sound too patronising here. Understand that it is easy for techie people like me to forget the fact that not everyone’s a geek when it comes to terminology!
2005-10-20
The Working Nomad adventure has begun. Well it is actually on hold for a few days. I will be neither working nor will I be nomadic as I will be have a bit of a holiday, catch a few waves and generally chill out.
The Bali tourist industry has obviously felt the impact of the recent bombing. I saw my first hint of this at the departure gate for my flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dempasar. The Malaysian airlines plane was n't even half full. The other two times I have flown into Bali the planes were full both times (and at similar times of year).
I guess this could be down to the fact we are just about to enter the wet season as well. While the place seemed deserted this morning it is certainly more lively tonight with lots of tourists shuffling about being hassled for things they don't want to buy.
All I can say again is that if you have a holiday planned for Bali then still come along. Natural and man-made disasters can happen anywhere at anytime. The folks here certainly need you.
There is definetly more security about. My small rucksack was checked today as I entered a busy shopping mall in Tuban which is reassuring. It is probably as safe as anywhere in terms of global terrorism.
As I mentioned above I am not going to be doing much work over the next few days. Despite a quiet start to the month things have picked up a bit on the web earnings front which is good news and I am back on target to at least match September's performance.
2005-10-23
Just a quick update to say that I have n't done too much work yet since I arrived last Tuesday. This is largely due to meeting some people I know and drinking too much of the local brew Arak! It is such a nice change to be somewhere where the pace of life is slow. I am so use to seeing people charging around all day. Unfortunately my laptop has also decided to take things a bit slower as well! I am giving it week or so to acclimatise.
2005-10-26
Well after a few hard nights of excess I have settled down into a steady Monday to Friday routine now. 9am – Normally I get up and go to my favourite café for breakfast and then onto an air-conditioned coffee bar (Starbucks at the moment here in Kuta) for 2 hours or so work. 1pm – Get back to my guesthouse and freshen up. Go and get some lunch and then head down the beach around 3pm for a couple of hours surfing until sunset. 7pm – I either go shopping / wandering or head to the Internet cafe to upload any new work and catch up with emails, news etc. 9pm – Meet friends for dinner and maybe head off to a bar for some beers.
This is the version if I end up going out late drinking the local Arak! 3am - Stagger back to the guesthouse avoiding numerous working ladies on motorbikes. 3pm – Finally get up feeling very sorry for myself (usually accompanied with a sore head). 3:30pm – Go down to the guesthouse pool and back to sleep. 6pm - Finally get out in search of comfort food. 9pm - Back in bed asleep.
Getting back to business, Google are in the process of a major update which is having some positive impact on my newer sites but not so on my more established sites! Hopefully things will calm down soon but it is the talk of the web geek community presently. I will be posting an earning’s update soon for October. It is hard to tell at the moment how I have done overall but it will not be a record month. Thankfully my living expenses are now very minimal. My guesthouse is about GBP 4.00 a night and most meals are coming in at under GBP 1.50. If only I did n’t like beer!
2005-10-26
Had an email the other regarding free wi-fi in Asia. For anyone who is n't familiar with the term 'wi-fi' it is basically wireless broadband and can be found at various places such as airports, coffee bars etc. You basically rock up and logon to the network and you have free broadband speed Internet connection from your own laptop! (Your laptop must have a wi-fi card plugged in or have one built in) Well the person who emailed me mentioned an excellent web site called Wifi Free Spo which is a database of free spots around the globe and importantly for me Asia too. Free Internet is a dream for a working nomad.
While the Internet cafes in Southeast Asia are pretty cheap anyway it all adds up. There are times when I could really do with a 3 or 4 hour session from my laptop rather than downloading files onto my USB memory stick and plugging it into an Internet cafe PC. Sometimes while surfing the Internet I spot something and would really like to tweak my site there and then but I can't at the moment. Alas there is no free wifi here in Bali but I am heading to Kuala Lumpur on the 12th of November and should be able to find some free wifi.
2005-11-01
Just a quick update from Kuta in Bali. Firstly I could n't resist putting up this interesting shop name photo that I took today. Well I am heading to Java on Friday, the main Island of Indonesia. With a friend we take a 12 hour bus to the Mount Bromo area for sunrise trekking and a change of climate. Work is going ok. I am managing to do at least 2 hours a day at the moment.
I will post a full earnings update for October next when I have gone through the figures but it looks like I might be slightly down on September. Having 7 to 10 days off when I first arrived in Bali probably is the reason for the smaller income.
2005-11-02
Working for yourself on web sites can be hugely rewarding but like any work you have good days and bad days. Motivation is the key to make this suceed and there are a number of ways I try and motivate myself to work harder.
1. Log in and see how much money I have earnt today and then transfer this to my running total and monthly totals.
2. Walk to the undergound station in the morning with all the other glum looking commuters and then turn around and walk home.
3. Visiting web sites such as webmasterworld.com for moral support and read about people that have made it big doing this type of work. There are lots of ways to keep yourself motivated. When I am on the road I will be only spending what I earn. So the previous days' earnings will be the next day's spending money.
If I only make enough to cover my room and a bowl of rice then so be it.
2005-11-05
After four days away in the volcanic region of Mount Bromo in East Java, Indonesia the Working Nomad is back in Bali . Well only just.
My 8 hour bus journey from Probolinggo to Denpasar was supposed to be in an executive air conditioned coach* which broke down before I ever saw it. Instead I ended up in a cattle truck** for 13 hours that stopped everywhere and picked up everything imaginable.
On my epic journey I encountered angry teams of buskers (well you run out of small notes after the 50th live act boards the bus), being teased by wealthier locals on executive coaches in bus stations and 4 hours on a reclining seat that only reclined (to 90 degrees).
I am not moaning by the way. While I was thoroughly fed up at the time I still arrived in one piece (despite the best efforts of our Formula One driver) and 4 dollars better off with my refund. It is the sort of experience that makes travel what it is.
I must say the whole Bromo experience was excellent. Being above 2000m the climate was more akin to England and made a nice contrast to the steamy tropics below. The local Javanese were exceptionally friendly as well.
I will be posting the long awaited 'what I have spent' and 'what I have earned' update for October in the next day or two.
* A standard coach by western standards with a toilet and tv
** A standard coach by western standards (40 years ago) with no toilet and all sorts of other entertainment
2005-11-09 12:41:20
I have written an article about USB pen drives or you might know them as flash drives, key drives or memory sticks. These little hard drives are transforming the world of mobile computing and is an essential tool for a working nomad. Even if you just plan to travel or find yourself on the move a lot then check out the article as it might save you a lot of pain and money. The importance of USB pen drives to the mobile worker
2005-11-15
I have arrived in Kuala Lumpur and the first thing I did was to buy a wi-fi card for my laptop. This is my first post from my laptop, sitting outside one of KL's many Starbucks! The connection is a bit slow but I am online for the price of a coffee and taking advantage of the free wi-fi. It is all very exciting for me (believe it or not!).
I bought a wi-fi card that just plugs into a USB port and is small as a pen drive! It is super cool (if you are a geek like me!). I met this English girl in the street who now lives in Japan but knows KL really well and showed me the best places to buy electronics. I am not going to write anymore for now because I fear I may lose the connection!
2005-11-19
I thought that before I left Malaysia I’d write a post about a country that I am very fond of. Despite being slightly more expensive than some its neighbours Malaysia has a huge amount to offer, but not nightlife on a Thursday. OK I know Thursday is not always the busiest night of the week and I have just come from a party island but KL is the capital after all! Here is my down and dirty guide to KL nightlife on a Thursday...
Golden Triangle / Bintang Walk / CBD area Being virtually the only Westerner shuffling around looking lost I was a prime target for hawkers. I was offered the usual list of services reserved for Western men in Asia (which I declined with a smile). Poked my head around the door of a couple of bars but they were empty apart from the enthusiastic staff attempting to tempt me in with various 2 for 1 offers.
Bangsar (as reported by an English guy I met later that night in Chinatown) Bangsar is usually a lively area that is frequented by ex-pats, wealthy locals and lost backpackers. It is packed with bars (mostly the pretentious type that always appears large due to a complete lack of furniture) and restaurants that has prices to make the average traveller run a mile. Thursday night in Bangsar: absolutely dead.
Chinatown This is where it is happening. In fact every night it seems to be lively and Thursday is no exception. There are not many bars though but plenty of cheap restaurants with tables outside that are more than happy to serve you a large Tiger beer without noodles or rice. There is a bar in Chinatown that is worth mentioning, or not. It is called ‘Reggae Bar’ and is a dimly lit and rather depressing place managed but grumpy staff with no sense of humour. The staff will……try everything in their power to serve you expensive beer by telling you they have run out of all soft drinks and happy hour does not happen on Thursday because Thursday does not come under ‘Every Day’? The staff won’t……turn off the monotonous Bob Marley music and turn on the sound of the big screen despite the fact everyone, and I mean everyone in the bar was immersed in the Australia v Uruguay World Cup qualifier. If you are looking for hopping nightlife then maybe KL and indeed Malaysia is n’t the perfect destination. If you are looking for great food, an interesting mix of cultures and friendly people (the Reggae Bar is the exception) then give Malaysia a go.
2005-11-19
Hello from Bangkok. This is just a short post as it is pretty late here and I should really be asleep. I arrived three days ago now and have been in a bit of a drunken haze since thanks to Beer Chang. As promised a month ago I am compiling an absolute beginners guide to creating web sites and making money from the web. I am trying to write it in plain English rather than techy speak (which is not easy for geek). The introduction page and part one can be found here.
I have been banging on about flash drives and how useful they are but I have n't mentioned about viruses. My little pen drive has been in and out of so many PCs that I had 40 viruses on the little bleeder! I only realised when my portable web browser would n't start. Anyway I have sorted the problem and discovered a free anti-virus progam that you can actually install on to you flash drive. You can download free av here. If you are going to stick your thing in many different places you need protection, if you get my meaning. The anti-virus software works like a dream.
2005-11-25
After a long bus journey and a very rough sea crossing I am now on the Island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Tao is famed for it'd diving and dive schools but I am here to prove that non-divers can have a good time. There is lots to do on this diminutive island if you don't dive like me (damn the asthma!).
There is jungle trekking, kayaking, wake boarding and great snorkelling. You can also lie on the beach and go swimming as well! I have come to this island because it is low season here now and I expected it to be quiet and relaxing. This way I might actually get some work done! Yes I have to admit that since Bali I have done very little work.
This is not helped by the fact that my web sites are all doing well on their own at the moment so there seems to be little incentive. It makes me realise how much potential there is in web site publishing. It is no surprise now that people are making six figure salaries each year doing this full time. I am not saying I'll ever achieve that but if I applied myself things could really take off. I am now feeling quite motivated for work. In fact I might just have to pop down to the beach for the day to consider it all ;o)
2005-12-01
Hello again from the Island of Koh Tao. You are probably thinking why is he not enjoying the beaches and warm tropical waters with abundant sea life rather than writing this?
Well it has been raining cats and dogs all day long. This has given me the opportunity to get on with some work which I suppose is a good thing!
I am leaving the island tomorrow and taking an overnight sleeper train from Chumphon back to Bangkok before heading to the north of Thailand. It has been a great week here and I thoroughly recommend Koh Tao to divers and non-divers alike.
I have written the second part of my absolute beginners guide to web sites. It is a guide to domain names.
It is of course a new month now which means an earnings / budget report for November. I hope to get this out in the next few days. Early indications would suggest I have had a better month than October. My spending must be down as well as I have made an effort to cut back.
2005-12-09
Our sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai crawled in four hours late so I missed my connection to Pai. Did n't matter much anyway as I have spent few charming days in Thailand 's second city.
Chiang Mai is a world away from Bangkok 's craziness but I do seem to be spending half my day waiting to cross the roads here.
There are pedestrian crossings with lights in Thailand but I believe the locals think that red means they must speed up! The biggest joke is the pelican crossings.
I am off to Pai early in the morning for a few days before I negotiate the great Mekong River and one of the last bastions of communism, the Peoples Republic of Laos.
I have included a page that has my route map and some other random travel photos from my trip so far. Working Nomad route and random photos.
2005-12-22
Well I finally made it to Laos . I was suppose to be here three years ago but ended up going to New Zealand and Australia instead. I arrived two days ago from Thailand across the River Mekong.
The immigration control, like the country as a whole, was very much a laid back affair. I spent one night in the border town of Huay Xai before taking the Nagi of Mekong river boat down to Laung Prabang, which is where I am now. The picture right illustrates how cold it was on the boat!
Talking of cold weather the evenings in Luang Prabang are very cold. In fact we could be in France . The colonial legacy is definitely lingering with French villas for Guesthouses, warm baguettes for breakfast and a faint hint of a French accent in some of the older Laos people.
I have also taken note of how many French people are holidaying here. You could be mistaken into thinking that Laos still belongs to the French. I think some of the French people here still think it is!
I am pretty impressed with Laos so far and makes a refreshing change from Thailand .
Work is still going well. I had a few days off but the success of this month is driving me on to do more.
2005-12-28
Well my Laos adventure has finished now. I ended up not staying for the duration of the 15 day visa because of a miscalculation of money needed.
There are no ATMs in Laos so I had take all the money I required beforehand in US Dollars and Thai Baht. I ran a bit short in the end. Still I loved the country and would highly recommend it.
Met lots of nice people and even had a Christmas dinner as well. I also went tubing down the river. There are some great pictures of the day here to look at (not taken by me I might add, thats why they are so good).
Back in Bangkok now after a somewhat eventful bus journey last night and to be quite honest I really don't know where to go next. Probably going to see the New Year in here and maybe head to Ko Chang island.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Working Nomad.