Hey, Wanderers!

I got some new glasses here in Da Nang the other day! It's been a shocking five years since my last pair, and it was definitely time to get some new ones because they were getting so worn out I was worried they'd fall apart at any moment.

I got a recommendation for a local place here and, after messaging them on Facebook to confirm that they had an English-speaking optometrist available, I went in for my exam.

It was a very nice experience, actually! The staff were super friendly and the exam went quickly. Afterwards the staff helped me find some frames I liked, and I was able to pick up my new glasses 1 week later. (It'd normally be faster, but I have a strong prescription and they have to send away for the lenses. It was still faster than it takes in the US, where it's about 2 weeks of wait time.)

The best part? My new glasses only cost about $300 USD! And the exam was free! In the US, I pay upward of $600 for the frames and lenses, plus another $50-75 for the exam. I'm very happy with the savings. 🤓

If you're traveling abroad for a while, especially if you're in a place with a lot of expats, it's worth checking out the local healthcare options. In particular, I've had good experiences and been recommended places in Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Da Nang, and Bangkok.

They're usually very affordable (they even have price lists right on their websites) and the staff are just as trained as the ones in the US. If you're in those areas and need something looked at, it's worth checking out the options and pricing available to you.

Have you had a good healthcare experience abroad before? Hit reply and let me know!

Happy Wandering!

Anastasia Finch

​JustGoneWandering.com​

New Adventures on the Blog

Here’s what’s new and updated on Just Gone Wandering this week!

• ​Tokyo Buildings Photo Collection - A collection of interesting buildings I saw during my last two trips to Japan.
• ​Why You Shouldn't Use AI to Plan Your Trip - AI can do a lot of interesting things, but providing accurate travel information isn't necessarily one of them.
• ​How to Downsize for Full-Time Travel - How to tackle a mountain of STUFF and turn it into a suitcase's worth of possessions.

Wanderlust Finds from Around the Web

Looking for more wanderlust inspiration? Check out these awesome reads from fellow travelers:

• ​Sustainable Places to Eat in Berlin: Vegan Cafes + Organic Restaurants from She Wanders Miles - Includes a map you can save to Google Maps for easy navigation!
• ​1 Week in Fargo from No Home Just Roam - I love the Fargo movie but I keep forgetting it's a real place! And actually there's quite a few fun things to do there.
• ​How I Packed for My Trip to Singapore by Never Ending Footsteps - Very comprehensive and a good starting point for packing for the Southeast Asian climate.

Something to Watch This Week

This mini-documentary series about professional female sailors was recommended by some sailing friends. It's called Evening the Keel and here's the first episode:

​

Quote of the Week

(Thank you, Quote Garden!)

Travel Resources for the Road

Here are some of my favorite travel tools for life as a nomad:

• 👩‍💻 Deluxe Travel Planner Spreadsheet to organize trip info
• 📱 Airalo for eSIMs
• 🗺️ Get Your Guide for tours, attraction tickets and more
• 🚂 RailEurope for booking train tickets
• 🐈 Trusted Housesitters for petsitting in exchange for accommodation
• 🧑‍🌾 Workaway for free accommodation in exchange for helping
• 🧑‍⚕️ VisitorsCoverage for travel insurance

​​​​

This newsletter may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and buy something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me keep traveling and writing— thank you!

You got this email because you signed up at my website, or bought something from my shop! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend.

Sent this email by a friend? Subscribe here and never miss an issue.

Missed an issue? Check the archives here.