Kerala Backwaters Map
FEBRUARY 2025 OVERVIEW If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. We are progressing down the western coast of India. We have just left Kozhikode. <<< our next stop is the Kerala Backwaters >>> MONEY EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 86.97 89.95 108.08 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) 86.10 […]

Backwaters – Kerala – India – Information

FEBRUARY 2025 OVERVIEW If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. We have just spent a few weeks travelling south down the Karnataka coast. It was very disappointing. The only place that I can recommend is Gokarna Beach. <<< our next stop is Kozhikode, Kerala >>> EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale […]

Kozhikode – Kerala – India – Information

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 OVERVIEW If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. We have just finished Christmas & New Year in Candolim, Goa. <<< we now hop down the West Coast of India through Karnataka >>> The stops are: Palolem Beach (Goa); Gokarna Beach (Karnataka); Honnavar / Kundapura (Karnataka); Mangaluru (Karnataka); Payyanur (Kerala). On the above map, Orange Lines represent bus routes and Blue Lines represent train routes. EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the […]

Karnataka – West Coast – India – ...

JANUARY 2025 OVERVIEW If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. We are progressing down the western coast from Goa to Kochi. We have just left our first stop: Palolem Beach, Goa. <<< our next stop is Gokarna, Karnataka >>> EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 86.35 89.93 106.57 Actual Exchange […]

Gokarna Beach – Karnataka – India – ...

JANUARY 2025 OVERVIEW We have just finished Christmas & New Year in Candolim, Goa. If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. <<< we now hop down the West Coast of India >>> <<< from Palolem (Goa) to Mangaluru (Karnataka) >>> This is our first stop: Palolem Beach. EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 […]

Palolem Beach – Goa – India – ...

DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025 OVERVIEW We have just finished our 1 month tour of Rajasthan. If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post. <<< our next stop is Christmas / New Year in Candolim, Goa, India >>> EXCHANGE RATE The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 84.33 89.56 107.65 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise […]

Candolim Beach – Goa – India – ...

NOVEMBER 2024 OVERVIEW Rajasthan (the ‘Land of Kings’) is a state in north-western India. It is the largest Indian state by area and it comprises most of the inhospitable Thar Desert. If you haven’t done so already, I suggest that you read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help explain much of what you are going to read now. In this post, I document a 1 month train tour of Rajasthan. I start in New Delhi and stop off in each of the, following, towns before leaving Rajasthan and heading for Ahmedabad (the capital of Gujarat): […]

Rajasthan – India – A One Month ...

GENERIC: OVERVIEW People say that, when you come to India, you either love it or you hate it. In this post I give you some important tips, tricks, and traps that (hopefully) will help you love it … rather than hate it. As I learn more, I will update this post with new information … if you plan on coming to India, why not tag this page so that you can get the latest information before you arrive. MONEY The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the […]

India – Tips, Tricks & Traps

JUNE / JULY 2023 OVERVIEW We have just finished our 3 month stay in Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia. … our next stop is Hoi An, Vietnam … PLEASE NOTE: I have been to Hoi An before: firstly in 2015 and later in 2020. Hoi An hasn’t changed much 🙂 In this blog, I will focus on what is new. To read my previous blogs follow these links: Hoi An – Vietnam – Information (2015) Hoi An – Vietnam – Retirement Locations (2020) EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Vietnam is the Dong (or the ‘VND’). At the time of writing, the […]

Hoi An – Vietnam – Information (2023)

MARCH 2023 - MAY 2023 OVERVIEW In my previous post, I provided General Information about Cenang Beach including: Exchange Rates; Money / Banks / ATMs; Getting There; When to Go; Transport; Where to Stay; Accommodation Options; Internet / WiFi; Your GRANDPAcking Costs. … now, let’s look at what it is like to LIVE here on a GRANDPAcking Budget … BEACHES CENANG BEACH / PANTAI CENANG Cenang Beach is the most popular beach in Langkawi. This sandy beach is lined with many hotels, restaurants, and bars. It is 2 km long. This is also the busiest beach on the island with […]

Cenang Beach – Langkawi – Malaysia – ...

MARCH 2023 OVERVIEW We have just finished our SCUBA Diving Liveaboard and Island Hopping in the Andaman Sea, Thailand. … our next stop is Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia … EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Malaysia is the Ringit (or the ‘MYR’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 4.50 4.77 5.38 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) 4.46 4.73 5.33 Actual Exchange Rate (Typical Credit Card) 4.36 4.62 5.21 Actual Exchange Rate (ATM) 4.40 4.66 5.25 You will NOT get this Wholesale Rate … you will get the Actual […]

Cenang Beach – Langkawi – Malaysia – ...

FEBRUARY 2023 OVERVIEW Thailand, currently offers most major country passport holders a 45 day Tourist Visa On Arrival (VOA). At the time of writing, Thailand had no COVID-19, Travel Insurance, nor Exit Ticket requirements. Thailand was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists. So, what can you do with those 45 days? … In this blog, I summarise a SCUBA Dive Liveaboard with some island hopping down to Langkawi, Malaysia … then, I suggest a 30 day Island Hopping itinerary … EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Thailand is the Baht (or the ‘THB’). At the time of writing, the exchange […]

Andaman Sea – Thailand – Living Ideas