I guess I officially became a Digital Nomad two years ago. However, I really just moved to Brest, Belarus for two years. Since I left on January 8, I have become a true nomad and I am learning things quickly. I am in Alanya, Turkey until May 15, because there was a sale on a condo (160 USD for 15 days) and I didn't notice that it was non-refundable. Also, they took the money immediately, so while I have enough cash on hand, I won't feel too loose with my money until April 3 when my next pension comes.
Another thing I have learned is that a balcony overlooking the sea is wonderful when you have a gracious woman to share it with. Alone, I don't go out there. It just reminds me that I am alone. I switch to my new condo reservation (same hotel) on March 16 and at that time, if they want a premium to stay in this apartment, I'll move. They all have balconies, but most have partial sea views, not the full on view I have here.
Another thing I have learned is that it is pretty easy to get screwed up, visa-wise. My 90 days in Turkey run out on May 24, but I can't re-enter the Schengen zone (Warsaw in my plans) until May 28. So, I'm going to do something interesting when my May 15 checkout arrives. First, I will take a bus to Antalya and stay in a hostel for one night. That is a two hour and fifteen minute trip. The next day I will take the 11 hour bus trip to Istanbul and say in a hostel for one night there. The next day I will take a 3 1/2 hour train to the Edime, Turkey which is right on the border with Bulgaria. I will stay there at its one hostel ($10). That will be May 18.
The evening of the next day I will take the night train to Sofia, Bulgaria. The whole cost, bus from Alanya to Antalya, bus from Antalya to Istanbul, train from Istanbul to Edime and night train from Edime to Sofia will cost a grand total of $35.
I need to stay in Sofia from at least May 19 to May 27. That is because I cannot stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days out of any 180 days. I was in Warsaw for 50 days, leaving me 40 days. But my 180 days don't expire until July 6. That means that I can't enter the Schengen zone until May 27. If I do at that time, my days from the previous 180 days expire at the same rate as my days in my new 180 days accumulate. I then must leave Schengen by August 25.
Of course, if Sofia is very nice, I can stay longer and I might. The hostels and hotels are about the same as in Alanya and slightly less than in Warsaw. I will be staying in hostels when I get to Warsaw for the simple reason that I want to meet people. You don't when you stay in an apartment. At least not as much.
On August 25 I will go to SE Asia. I can essentially stay there forever if I want. Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand all provide me with 90 day stays and I can stay up to 6 months in Vietnam if I want without being taxable. Malaysia does not tax foreign income. They all allow 'visa runs' that can refresh 90 days if I am particularly enamored of a place.
An, as of yet, unanswered question is whether a return of 90 days or more to Europe in the summer is worthwhile. Actually, the worst months in SE Asia are September and October. However, those are good months in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, so fleeing the climate is simply not necessary. The reason would more likely be a desired dose of EuroAmerican culture.
In the meantime, the weather in Alanya is nice enough. It is usually sunny and the temps are in the 18C to 22C range (64F to 72F) and getting warmer. The sea is beautiful and the restaurants are good and they are inexpensive. There is a lot of inexpensive clothes and once I get my next pension check, I will probably buy some clothes to hold me over until Hoi An. I could do it now by pulling some funds out of my reserves. However, I have learned from experience that once you do that you keep finding reasons to do it again and the next thing you know your reserves are shrinking instead of growing. Still, I will probably do some window shopping tomorrow.
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