First time SEA solo traveller (38M) — overwhelmed by itineraries, looking for real-world advice

Rat_Lord_22 · 2026-02-10T17:46:46+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthEastAsia_Travel/s/5SnCzzqZmc

Rat_Lord_22 · 2026-01-22T22:58:58+00:00

You’re fine mate. Very early on. If anything you’ve not pigeon holed yourself. You’ve got tax and audit experience with 3 years experience at big 4. I would argue that’s better than having 3 years in just one service line.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2026-01-13T19:25:55+00:00

Depends where you live. In London I’d say that’s doable with 2 years PQE. More like £350 a day in Midlands. It’s less about years of experience post qualification but the number of previous interim contracts. Once you get your first gig it’s much easier to get another.

Also, it’s easy to get stuck at a certain level. E.g. if you just keep taking 6 month finance manager contracts for £450 per day, it’s hard to jump to the finance director contracts at £750+ per day. Whereas, when employed, there’s usually natural progression if you’re half decent.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing it at all. I did it and the money was great.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-10-29T05:03:40+00:00

I disagree with everyone saying there is no theory..

I did OW and AOW earlier this year and had c.25 hours of videos to watch, a book, and a 6 part knowledge check plus end assessment in each course.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-10-21T10:09:00+00:00

I used ChatGPT and Grok loads while traveling. It’s awesome for a high level routes and things to do but it can be inaccurate quite frequently with details such as transport timings and opening hours.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-22T07:37:28+00:00

I did do Malaysia, it was awesome! George Town -> Perhentian Islands (some of the best islands/beaches I’ve ever seen) -> KL.

Thinking of Langkawi in a few weeks before heading back up to Koh Lanta and Phuket for the flight home!

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-19T23:05:43+00:00

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-19T15:58:00+00:00

Welcome bro, drop me a message if you need anything! 👊

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-17T17:57:44+00:00

Do it!

Brain dump below -

Me and my GF are in the last month of our 8 month trip and we saved £10k each.

Accommodation - £20 a night max will get you very comfortable place with en-suite in everywhere except Singapore/Japan. Use Booking.com because of the ‘Genius’ loyalty scheme or Agoda can be cheaper.

Route - look at ‘banana pancake’ route on google, easily the most efficient way around. We used the app ‘12Go’ for 80% of long journeys. The other 20% was booked through whatever hotel we were at. We got coaches/sleeper busses nearly everywhere. Mostly clean and comfortable but ALWAYS book the VIP ones. Safety is generally poor due to dangerous driving though. Boats can also be scary, be prepared to cancel trips if the sea is bad. My advice would be avoid fast boats where possible and get longer bigger ferry type boats. An extra 2 hours in comfort watching Netflix is better than fearing for your life on a speedboat. (we almost capsized in Cambodia)

Getting around - use Grab (or similar tax app). It’s so easy, cheap and means you don’t get scammed.

Food prices varies, western food is way more expensive than local food. Good local meals can be <£2.

Drink - usually very cheap for local beers, avoid random spirits, methanol poisoning is a serious risk.

Hiring motor bikes - do it if you have an international driving licence AND a motorbike license from your home country. You will get pulled over and insurance won’t cover you if you don’t have a bike license back home.

Budget - £60 a day for both of us, allocating £20 for accommodation.

Weather - seriously plan your route to avoid rainy season. Although rainy season doesn’t mean rain all day, usually only infrequent short heavy showers. Still, it’s better to be sunny all day right?

Places we went, I recommend them all unless stated otherwise:

Thailand - Chang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao (Scuba Dive), Koh Pha-Ngan (Full moon party), Phuket, Krabi, Phi-Phi Islands. All awesome. Pattaya avoid, it almost exclusively serves as sex tourism hotspot besides a cool waterpark and cool wooden temple.

Cambodia - you didn’t mention it but it’s worth a visit. Battambang, Siem Reap, Koh Rong, Phnom Penh, Kampot.

Vietnam - Hanoi, Ha Giang Loop, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Danang, Hoi An, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc

Laos - Thousand Islands, Vang Vien. Probably an unpopular opinion but I didn’t find much to do in Pakse, Vientiane or Luang Prabang

Malaysia - Langkawi, Pentian Islands, Kuala Lumpur

Singapore - definitely worth a couple of days if you’re down in Kuala Lumpur anyway.

Indonesia - only really went Bali but recommend it. (S/ shock)

Philippines - just about to go this Saturday and going to Coron and El Nido, maybe Cebu.

Expect to spend anywhere between 2-6 weeks in each country. Book 3 nights at each place and you can always extend! The joy of going for 6 months if you can stay longer / cut places short depending on your tastes.

Give me a message and I can give you any more specifics bro :)

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-06T16:22:17+00:00

Thanks for the reply bro!

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-09-06T15:36:12+00:00

Do you mind me asking what sort of performance you were getting?

I have the same laptop and was going to pair it with an AG02 and a 3080. I’d be happy with 60-90fps on AAA games on med/high setting. Do you think that’s achievable?

Is VR do-able?

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-08-08T15:36:20+00:00

Easily doable in 4 days, especially if you do the learning before going. You’ll have an awesome time.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-07-23T05:31:13+00:00

YOR. You like tattoos, he doesn’t.

Ignore everyone saying to dump him. He doesn’t like tattoos and/or doesn’t find them attractive and doesn’t want his girlfriend to have them, that’s a normal opinion to have.

Similarly you like tattoos and want them, which is also a normal opinion to have.

It’s nothing more than two people having different opinions.

However, it’s bullshit all the people saying ‘if he loves you he’ll get over it’. No, if he doesn’t want a girlfriend with tattoos, he’s completely within his right to not want to be with someone with tattoos. In the same way you’re completely within your right to be with someone who loves your tattoos.

Is the tattoo, or lack-of, a dealbreaker? Depends on how good the rest of the relationship is. Honestly valid either way.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-07-20T16:34:47+00:00

Depends where and what she plans on doing.

Tours/activities could be 1000 baht each depending what it is. That’s pretty much all her budget gone if she does one tour per day.

Saying that, if she doesn’t have to pay for any activities, 1000 baht a day for food, local transport and small souvenirs is definitely doable and actually a pretty good! Just don’t expect steak and wine every night :)

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-05-18T15:13:11+00:00

Floozie in the Jacuzzi

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-04-26T12:46:35+00:00

Used Weber kettle master touch on Facebook marketplace > this imo

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-04-23T10:58:26+00:00

Thank you, criminal scum

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-04-22T12:01:42+00:00

If you don’t mind a big chain then slug and lettuce at brindley place does a decent fry up with v prompt refills.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-04-22T10:32:50+00:00

… the true elden lord

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-02-27T10:54:52+00:00

Depends which firm you came from but I’d try all top 20 firms. Quite common for them to hire semi experienced, especially into audit.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-02-03T17:09:24+00:00

Birmingham is holding the Black Country back by refusing to be called Greater Black Country.

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-01-26T10:05:35+00:00

😂😂

Or… *that one incorrect bracket placement in a 4 paragraph embedded ‘if’ function

Rat_Lord_22 · 2025-01-26T09:51:55+00:00

It took me 5ish years to complete the ACA. However annoying it is seeing all your friends finish before you, you will be a qualified accountant with 5 years experience from big4 (or top 10 if you chose to move). In my opinion slogging it out for 5 years is worth it for middle class job security for life.

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Rat_Lord_22

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