Take sleeping, for instance. You can’t get cheaper than free. Even in the US, I have often slept for free next to my motorcycle. I have yet to find anywhere that will pay me to sleep.

But let’s consider actual sleeping accommodations. In Bali, part of Indonesia. For one night. What do you pay, and what do you get?

$1–$4 gets you a basic room with a shared bath (down the hall) out in the country, not in town. This type of place is called a guesthouse. (ahem) Your Serenity agent will fix you up with something higher class, but if you’re out vagabonding, this is where it’s at. These are not part of any chain as far as I know, and you pretty much have to ask around to find one.

$5–$10 gets you a shower of your own, and in the right areas gets you a big room with a private bath, veranda, surrounded by tropical gardens. The upper end of this range includes a king-size bed, maid service and breakfast.

This look worth $10 a night to you?

$15 in some areas gets you air conditioning and a pool.

$20 or less on Samosir Island gets you a two-room suite

Off season, $50–75 in most of the country gets you a place that would rate four stars.

Let’s head into Jakarta. You can spend $250 at a lavish resort. And they go way up from there in the right areas. If you’re determined to spend a grand per night, you can do it.

Now let’s talk about food. Typical Indonesian food is one of a million variations on noodle or rice soup. Spiciness varies a lot, too. You won’t get bored. Indonesia, by the way, is where chickens came from, and you can see them running around, and you can get them in your soup. They’re leaner than the relaxed, plump ladies I keep in my back yard, but they’re better off than the poor creatures in a chicken factory. But I digress.

$0.40 gets you a cheap meal from a street vendor. Eat where you can see the food being prepared, and from places that look clean. Spend a buck in a restaurant. Some places serve family style. The tab will come to a few bucks. Tourist traps cost you maybe $15 unless you go to some world-famous place. Seafood is the best meat to eat, and don’t drink the water! The coffee is okay, though. Actually, the coffee is outstanding.

This guy found an uncrowded spot to pose for his picture

You get the idea. The cheaper the more adventuresome. The more expensive, the more like home. And why would you go to Indonesia to experience what you can get at home?

I’m interrupting the travelogue of cheap travel destinations to share some photos with you. We’ve been looking at the part of the world that includes Indonesia, and I already made passing reference to Mt. Merapi. Reuters has posted a series of pictures you’re not likely to see in the US newspapers. Some of the pictures are pretty graphic. Here’s an “attractive” photo

This is a time exposure. click to enlarge

Here’s the link:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/mount_merapis_eruptions.html

Don’t go there unless you can go to help out. This event hasn’t gotten a lot of coverage in the US, and I haven’t checked out ways to donate help, but this is not vacation material, and it’s occurring right in the middle of a very attractive part of the world…

Here’s a little interlude on traveling while you’re traveling. Specifically, in taxis.

Rule of thumb 1: Most drivers are competent, honest, and interesting people. Be friendly and don’t be afraid to carry on a conversation. They are typically good sources of “inside” info about their town. At least that has been my experience.

Rule of thumb 2: You don’t have to be paranoid, but not all of them are, that that’s what makes for this article.

Rule of thumb 3: (And this is a good business practice in general). Make sure everything is agreed on before you get into the vehicle. Once you’re inside, you’re committed to whatever you agreed on, and whatever you didn’t agree on, you’re stuck with whatever the driver decides: Is the fare for you only, or for you and your bags? Is the fare for the whole group or for each of you? Trust, but verify.

Rule of thumb 4: A word about the vehicle. Before you get in, make sure the meter works, and be sure he turns it on. If you put your luggage in the trunk, don’t pay him until everything is unloaded. In some areas taxis without meters are legal. If this is the case (common in the Caribbean, in my experience–not a lot of possible destinations, so they have standard rates for standard destinations), agree on a price for the whole trip before you get in.

Cute taxi in Indonesia

Rule of thumb 5: Unless you want him to take a round-about route, specify that he take the shortest (or fastest) route. This applies mainly to metered rides. When I was young and naive, I got the grand tour on my first visit to Nashville from a fellow who did an excellent job of distracting me by pointing out the sights as he tooled along.

Remember, people enjoy showing off their knowledge. Be an eager student of your teacher, your driver.

Maybe I should say “stops” because Indonesia is a lot of places. It’s southeast of Thailand, and it’s about a million islands, part of an archipelago that includes Borneo, the Philippines, Sumatra, and Papua New Guinea. I suppose you could include Australia and New Zealand, too. It depends on what scale your map is. Here’s one:

Australia is off the lower right corner, Thailand and Vietnam off the upper left

The cheapest island in this already inexpensive country is said to be Sumatra. I don’t recommend Java right now unless you’re volunteering for volcano emergency relief. Mt Merapi is spectacular, but it’s causing serious problems for the folks who live near it. All the guidebooks emphasize the variety of scenery and culture available in this area. Indonesia has a lot of people, and they’ve been there a long time, so living on separate islands makes them all different. Not that anyplace is the beaten track (we’re talking Borneo, Komodo, and Bali here), do a search on places like Lombok and Bonggakaradeng to get really off the beaten track. Oh yes—if you like to snorkel, check out Sulawesi.

Houses in Bonggakaradeng

One little caveat about the low prices. Be prepared to bargain.

The key word you want know regarding accommodations is “guesthouse.” These places have private rooms and typically a common area where guests can congregate. They start at $5 I am told, but I figure most Americans will want the $12 room, and for maybe twice that you can get a beach room that would set you back hundreds in the Caribbean.

Thai food is easy to like. I’m especially fond of the coffee, a multi-layered concoction with lots of cream. You can eat most cheaply on the street, from a vendor, but the restaurants are maybe a fourth what you would pay in the US. The food is safe and tasty, but don’t drink the water. Buy bottled water. Unless, of course, you want to catch Montezuma’s revenge. The bathrooms are nice, but you don’t want to spend all your time there.

Some of the more exotic victuals

I mentioned a few posts back that natural wonders tend to be less expensive than museums and amusement parks. Here’s a natural place to see. It’s on the route of an eco-tour.