"Hi Linda, I think you guys were in an enviable position. When I very first travelled on my 'Big OE' I arrived in Europe with les than NZD$2,000 which at the time was about GBP£800. It took me ages to find work and I was miserable. My recommendation to anyone today is to have some money behind and like you say even if you don't use it, it is fantastic to know it is there. I was lucky enough to have great parents too - but that is another story in stress management and travel."
- Dan Roberts
"Thanks for all the contact information Michael - I know from experience this can be invaluable - even if you think you don't need them now."
- Dan Roberts
"Ulaanbaatar itself is not a nice place but you could spend a day or two visiting the Buddhist temples - some of which are really cool. From Ulaanbaatar heading out you can stay in waht they call tourist camps, which are a collection of traditional style tents. They are fun to stray in and well equiped. I definitely think a group is probably best, because you will cover a lot more ground. I was spoilt because I was actually travelling there with Mongolian govt consulting to them on how to get more backpackers to go to Mongolia - so I got the princely tour from the back of a Range Rover."
- Dan Roberts
"In some ways I think that might be the problem Luke - you just don't expect to die in supposedly mature tourism economies such as New Zealand or Australia so you put all your trust in the operator without actually thinking about the inherent risks. Certainly if I was to go canyoning or Bungy Jumping in Africa I would really think about it and do my research."
- Dan Roberts
Travelling Solo? Things to consider before you head out | Travelling around the world - talking bout a generation - http://travelgeneration.com/blog...