Hi everyone,
Interesting thread.
heres my 2 cents worth. Look at the salary u earn in an hour.(more for those in Europe) That same amount can sustain you for at least a day or two in Asia.

I am from Singapore, for South east Asia we earn quite a bit of money but in Europe, its a fraction. But if you are in Europe, Asia is soo cheap its hard to see why not to do it.

If you stay in your own country, you will have similar standard of living as almost anyone in a similar position anywhere in the world, (with your dvd, hi fi entertainment, car, phone bills, other bills ..... in europe you earn big salaries but cost of living is big too) but if you leave your continent (Europe Especially) the whole world is cheap. I just spent the last 4 months working in ireland behind a bar, and the money i saved there will prob take me for my ride back to Singapore or to almost any destination. Camp in Europe or stay with friends, or ride quickly, and after that... everywhere is affordable, when u have earned in euros.

For our american friends i sympathise with u. In 2003 when i left singapore, i had travellers checks in Usd. 1 USD was worth 1.15 or more Euros, when i got to europe it got the other way around and worse. So my travel money evaporated and for u its more expensive to travel.

How to afford to this lifestyle. Prioritise what u really want. Every pint of lager u skip in Western Europe, u could have two or more further east. Every packet of cigarette u buy in Uk for example could buy u five or easily pay for your guesthouse in asia. Im not suggesting to stop enjoying yourself, but think what that money could do u in another country. I know i'm having lots of s starting from poland onwards. If you live in Europe and wish to travel, you are in a way blessed that u are born there.
Think about the locals in Asia and Africa, South America, for them overland travel is not an option, well definately not in Europe anyways.

So go out an enjoy your luck of being born in Europe or America or for me in Singapore, cause we can afford it. I didnt have a house to sell or a rent to collect, but enough luck and money to buy an old 1989 dommie and travel. I know i am lucky cause i am born in Singapore, and all of you are too.
So go and enjoy it, travel, and do spread good vibes to the locals in the poorer countries, even if they try to con u and ask for more money than they should. At the end of the day they are not as lucky as we are. But they have other things we dont either, and they are usually happy to share them.

So for all of u earning euros and pounds, go now, before the other currencies catch up.

Besides how much money is just relative. Its never enough or if u choose it can be enough.

Cheers
Dalbir