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I left the school I worked at in Vietnam to start a new journey backpacking Japan, visiting my family in Singapore, and to live and teach in Taiwan. I didn’t dislike Vietnam but couldn’t get past some of the cons that made me not want to extend my stay past my fifteen months of living in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some of the things I do and don’t miss about living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:

The corruption: My temporary residence card was a piece of crap to begin with. It cost me well over $100 and was simply a cheap quality business card that had my photo laid on top and laminated. The seal was uneven and already breaking after just a few weeks in my wallet. So, I tried to double laminate it like a stubborn fool only for it to get bizarrely stuck in the laminator and come out looking like this. As a result, I tried several different ways to leave Vietnam from trying to purchase an exit visa, paying a bribe, and hiring a man who specialized in immigration issues such as this. In the end, the only method that worked was ironically getting help from a friend’s, whose dog I was fostering, cousin who worked for immigration. He simply met me at the airport, talked to immigration for maybe one minute, and waved me through hundreds of people queued in immigration and security. Literally he instructed me to go to the staff lines, which were empty, while hundreds of people waited in the regular lines. Each employee would look at me confused, I’d point to him, he’d give a thumbs up and a nod, and they would wave me through without a second thought. It was the most impressive thing I’ve seen in a long time.The pollution: My neighborhood in district seven was among the cleanest in Ho Chi Minh City, which isn’t saying much frankly, but I still never got used to waking up and seeing smog that would conceal the sky. I ended up getting a Vietnam “cough”, something a lot of expats initially develop from the exposure to pollution and are left with no choice but to either get used to it or leave. I was missing fresh clean air and nature more than I ever imagined to the point that every holiday I took I would go somewhere with mountains or beaches or both. Fresh air is something I’ll never take for granted again. The flooding: There’s nothing more comical than watching a horde of people with their feet on the panhandles of their bikes, going a kilometer an hour, and doing everything in their power not to come to a complete stop as that would cause them to have to put their leg, sometimes thigh deep or more, in the dirty flood waters that have nowhere to go due to the poor sewage system which is regularly clogged by locals uncaringly sweeping their into the drains. It was also unpleasant to be driving to work or the gym and experience a mild drizzle turn into a full on flash flood within five minutes. Many people wear heavy raincoats while driving, as umbrellas aren’t rational, even when walking due to the strong winds. However, people typically still bring an extra outfit in their bag or wear shorts and flip flops to avoid being stuck in wet clothes the entire day.

My students:My neighborhood, Phu My Hung:An unfortunate quick stop to Singapore: I reluctantly took a trip to see my mom and her side of the family in Singapore for my birthday prior to going on a three week holiday to Japan. I was fighting a serious case of homesickness and had contemplated going back home for my holiday instead of Japan. However, after spending three days with my family I couldn’t wait to say goodbye and move on to the next adventure. Aside from a nice birthday dinner and some much appreciated birthday gifts, I was all but forgotten. No one wanted to go out to eat, I ended up getting sick again, and every conversation went to gossiping about people or questioning my every life action. “What are you going to do after you’re done teaching?” “How are you qualified to teach social studies?” “What’s this? Why are you growing a beard?” “If you don’t like it you can go eat somewhere else!” It’s been a long time since I’ve been around people who made me feel so alone and small and I attribute my coldness and lack of trust to my undesired experiences and interactions with a fair amount of my family. To them it’s normal, to me it’s something I would never tolerate from any other persons. I chalk it up to different cultures but also to a lack of understanding from both sides of my family. I’ve never been understood and people can seldom relate to me, I ultimately think it attests for a lot of my loner mentality and lack of emotions.

Fair warning Singapore is a fun place but definitely strict when it comes to drugs. If you want a party beyond alcohol, don’t come to Singapore or try your luck in Geylang.The view from my grandmother’s apartment in Braddell Place.Six different currencies I’ve managed to collect overtime. Thai baht, US dollars, Japanese yen, Malaysian ringgit, Singaporean dollars, and Vietnamese dong. (From left to right, top to bottom.)Osaka Food Market: The seafood market was easily the best and my favorite out of the three I visited in Japan. Some of my favorites of the foods I tried were Kobe beefsteak, raw sea urchins, and fresh fire-roasted scallops.

Osaka’s Streets: Osaka is absurdly clean and people follow every traffic rule there is. No one j-walks, no one loiters, and everybody is helpful and courteous despite the language barrier. In Japanese culture it is rude to stare and common courtesy is expected such as holding the door out for someone, allowing someone in a hurry to pass you by, and to greet and thank customers and patrons habitually. That being said, a lot of Japanese will still see foreigners as outsiders, especially if they do not speak Japanese. Meaning just because they are polite to you does not necessarily mean they care or want to know about you.

My regular traditional Japanese Food: Sushi and dumplings.A Guilty Pleasure: I go to a McDonalds in every country I visit because it’s always a little different from the menu to the seating. Japanese McDonalds have bacon lettuce burgers, teriyaki chicken fillets, and double beef and egg burgers for example.Vending Machines: Vending machines are sprawled out everywhere, literally every block has one. From soda to coffee to beer and even ice cream. There are very few things, especially beverages that you can’t find in vending machines in Japan.

Trains: Japan has a lot of conveniences such as toilets and breastfeeding rooms everywhere for the self-explanatory. Trains are definitely one of those conveniences offering different trains like local, sub-express, and limited express. The system is a bit confusing but there are some conveinces to help you such as maps posted every where, machine for route finders and fare adjustments, and there is almost always a tenant who speaks reasonable English at every ticketing queue.

My first experience on the train in Osaka I followed Google maps which took me on an unnecessarily longer route. I showed the ticket tenant my ticket and asked if my directions were accurate. He literally gave me my money back, bought a new, cheaper ticket, and walked me to the right line, stop, and told me when and where to get off. I had never been so thankful or respectful of someone’s courtesy and helpfulness.

7th Eleven: These are everywhere as well in Japan and offer some of the freshest meals as well ass an exceptional variety of beverages.

Toilets: Something I have to admit I miss about Japan is the toilets. The seats automatically lift up and down and there is always a set of buttons that allow you to control music, clean the toilet for you, a bidet with adjustable buttons for the spray strength and temperature. It became one of those weird things where you actually looked forward to using the toilet.

Traditional housing in Japan: Oddities: For whatever reason Japanese people love Spam, they literally have flavors I didn’t even know existed. Nightlife: Osaka has a thriving nightlife from strip clubs to highball bars to British pubs. People in Osaka are generally more open and friendly towards expats whereas many Japanese can be particularly cold to foreigners. For example, many foreigners who have tattoos are not allowed into saunas, gyms, and springs unless they find a way to cover them up. Also, many foreigners are politely unwelcome at restaurants or bars simply because they are foreigners as well as aren’t fluent in Japanese. They’ll be politely told we are closed or full.

I experienced all these things in a variety of way such as being told at a hookah bar in Kyoto that they were full, until they saw my Japanese girlfriend and magically two seats became available. I also booked a hotel in Tokyo with a Taiwanese girl who spoke Japanese and laughed when a sign posted read:

The famous Glico Running Man:

Highballs & Sake: Highballs, which are basically tall cocktails comprised of liquor, normally whiskey and a lot of club soda. At first, this drink seemed unappealing to me as I prefer whiskey on the rocks or neat, but overtime they grew on me and I ended up having numerous highballs over my time in Japan.

Sake, on the other hand, is something to be either taken as a shot or sipped and enjoyed. A general rule of thumb is that quality sake is served cold where has lower tiers are served warm. I had the pleasure of trying a variety at various bars and have to admit I became a fan of aged Suntory whiskeys.

To politely cheers in Japan you should either pour your sake bottle or be holding your sake glass with two hands to receive your sake. You should also cheers lower than the person you are cheering with.

Japan isn’t cheap to eat or drink out at and one should expect to spend around 600-700 (around $6) for a standard beer at a bar.

Hookah in Japan: I fell in love with smoking Japanese shisha in Japan because it was something cheaper, social, and I wouldn’t be comatose in bed the next day. I also happened to Casanova my way into charming a female employee who gave me quite the hook up.Traditional Japanese Eateries: What I loved about the neighborhood, Tennoji, that I stayed at in Osaka was the variety of traditional eateries a short walk down the street form my hostel. The language barrier was difficult at first as I didn’t learn how to say useful phrases such as, “one please” “thank you” or “excuse me” until after a week of practicing in Japan. I relied on Google translate, pointing at pictures, and the dumb luck of having an occasional English speaking server or chef.

Osaka Castle: Is it touristy? Yes. Is it worth it? Hell yes.

Nature and weather during summer’s June: All over fellow travel blogs and travel websites I heard that June was the worst month to visit Japan due to the lack of blooming cherry blossoms and the unfortunate rainy season. However, of the three weeks I spent in various cities in Japan it only rained, and mildly at that, a fraction of the time. There was no flooding, no heavy rain, and no thunder or lightning. A simple umbrella and you can get around no problem. As far as nature goes, there is a bit of a lack of variety in color but there are still plenty of flowers and everything is very green and pleasant to see nonetheless. Many flowers won’t be in bloom but nature is still worth visiting in parks and gardens for sure.

Survival Japanese: Simplified for English pronunciation.

One = Itchy

Yes = Hi

Cheers – Comb pie

Please – Own knee guy she mas

Thank You – are we got toe go zi mas

Excuse Me/Sorry = Sue me ma send

No Problem = Moan die nai

Story Time: My last night in Osaka I spent the day in the slums run by the Yakuza. I walk into the first restaurant I see without any foreigners and the server tells me, “only Japanese menu.” I reply “mondai nai (no problem),” and the cook comes out to take my order but instead asks me about my cauliflower ears. I explain I’m a semi-retired fighter on holiday.

We start taking about fighting and I show him old videos of me and some of my old training partners killing it right now. They start bringing up old Japanese Pride fights and ask me to send them one of my old fight pics. They print two copies out and get me to sign them and they tape one on the wall and tell me they are going to put the other up in a nearby bar. It turns into a small group of the staff but we are all vibing.

I ask them if there are any Yakuza bars nearby I should be wary of and they laugh. They tell me you’re really close to one and I go seriously? The cook pulls up his shirt to show a full back piece of Shiva and I’m like oh shit. He explains he’s lower tier but not to worry, if you respect us we’ll respect you. I offer to buy them a round of drinks and they starts cheersing me and return the favor by giving me a free meal.

We keep talking and they literally say we’re going to close the restaurant down and take you to a local bar. Being me, I reluctantly say let’s go. They literally close the place down and we go to a Yakuza bar that’s something like a speakeasy where, go figure, is the second picture hung up. The bartender’s and other patrons go what are you doing bringing this foreigner here? They go don’t worry he’s with us, he’s cool. They warn me the boss isn’t in tonight but if he decides to show up you have to leave, it’s not personal but you aren’t one of us. I tell them I understand and we start eating and drinking but then a random member stands up and slaps me in the face – twice. I stand up and square up like what the hell? They all start laughing and say we wanted to see how you would react then say don’t worry, we all like you now because you didn’t back down, it shows you have pride like us. We go shot for shot, drink for drink ALL NIGHT. Eventually, I leave and they ask for a way to contact me to keep in touch, I right down my number and bid them farewell.

Never a dull moment. This is my version of Bert’s “I Am The Machine!”

Osaka I left the school I worked at in Vietnam to start a new journey backpacking Japan, visiting my family in Singapore, and to live and teach in Taiwan.

[alanjguitar]

Best Acoustic Guitars Under $100 Reviewed

After one particularly difficult and hasty move across country, I found myself for the first time in ten years without a guitar and barely any extra cash.

I wish I knew then what I knew now — that there are tons of great acoustic guitars under $100. In my ignorance, I bought a horribly used 3/4 size piece of junk off Craigslist for $60.

Although it kept me playing, I would have been much better off with one of the new guitars from this list.

If you’re in a similar pinch of needing a super low cost acoustic fast, take it from me and choose from among these top 7 best acoustic guitars under $100.

Our Recommendation

The Rogue Starter is going to be my best recommendation for when you’re really in a financial bind.

With $100 you can get this guitar and still have money to spare, so although it may not be the best in terms of sound or playability, it’s a great bargain, earning it our #7 spot.

When your budget truly maxes out at $100, you can upgrade all the way up to a beginner’s acoustic-electric such as our #1 choice in this category, the Jasmine S35. It’s pretty decent all around and comes with a bundle of accessories meant to kickstart your musical adventures.

The Top 7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $100 – Overview

#7 Rogue Starter Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Unknown Tonewood

Neck – Maple

Fingerboard – Rosewood

Pros

Pinless bridge for easy string changes

Smooth-playing rosewood fingerboard

7/8 size great for kids or smaller players

Cons

Can have sharp fret edges that need filed down

Tinny sound, weak low-end

Review

There aren’t many acoustics at a lower price than the Rogue Starter, and those that you find for cheaper will be of significantly lower quality.

We’ll take a look at it’s better points before I tell you what’s wrong with it…

First, the Rogue Starter is a 7/8 size guitar, bringing it right between the 3/4 kids size and a full-scale dreadnought. This is a perfect design for smaller bodied adults or for kids around the age of 10 and up.

It’s not very loud, so parent won’t be driven nuts by their children’s lack of skill. A big point in its favor, it has proper intonation, so every fret sounds like it should.

The few weak points of the Rogue Starter are pretty common issues in guitars at this price point.

Its most grievous problem are its fret edges that can snag and nick your fingers as you move up the neck. This is fixable by taking a file to these overhangs and (gently) grinding them down. There are detailed instructions on how to do this here.

It’s a bright guitar with a pretty weak low-range and highs that can sound glassy and harsh when you play them loud.

Despite this, it’s a fun little guitar to play and will definitely hold you over while you save up for a better acoustic. We have a full review of the Rogue Starter you can read here.

#6 Rogue RA-090 Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Whitewood (basswood or poplar) Laminate

Body – Whitewood (basswood or poplar) Laminate

Neck – Nato

Fingerboard – Maple

Pros

Lightweight construction reduces player fatigue

Comfortable C-shape neck profile

Strong mid-range

Cons

Sharp fret edges

Extra-bright tone

Review

I used to be fully anti-Rogue, but after playing a few of their models and comparing them to my own emergency-purchase acoustic, I’ve come to admire them in a way.

Rather than the Starter’s rosewood fingerboard, the RA-090 is equipped with a maple piece, which, somewhat unfortunately, adds extra brightness to the tone.

This overabundance of high-end isn’t all bad, as the crispness really lets you hear where your technique is going wrong so you can learn to adjust your mistakes.

Judging by its lightweight build and full mid-range tonality, I’d guess its generic “whitewood” build is actually basswood. This tonewood choice keeps it low in cost and in weight, adding to its benefit for beginner players.

Like the Rogue Starter, the RA-090’s frets need filed, but aside from this there are no major problems to talk about.

All in all, not a bad guitar for the price.

#5 Martin Smith W-101-BK Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Unknown tonewood

Body – Unknown tonewood

Neck – Unknown tonewood

Fingerboard – Unknown tonewood

Bonus – Gig bag, guitar stand, tuner, picks, strap, extra strings

Pros

Great accessory bundle

Loud, full-size dreadnought

Available in different finishes

Cons

Completely unknown tonewood composition

Unstable tuning machines

Review

Martin Smith makes an array of entry-level instruments, but there’s not a lot of information available about what they’re made from.

Without an official company website and extremely vague specs listed in their sales pages, I can only guess at the tonewood combination based on feel and sound.

So, after a bit of time with Martin Smith’s W-101, I can tell you that, like most guitars in this category, it’s made of laminate basswood.

Its tone is very “basic acoustic,” with not a lot of special points to mention, but totally pleasant and not too tinny like guitars in this price point tend to be.

It has good action, a standard neck, and fine intonation.

The reason the W-101 is one of the best acoustic guitars under $100 is that it comes with a great beginner bundle of accessories. This includes a strap, a gig bag for transporting your instrument, a digital tuner, picks, extra strings (always smart to have on hand), and a guitar stand.

By itself, the guitar is pretty average, but they give you everything you need to start on your way to acoustic mastery.

#4 Jasmine S-35 Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Agathis

Neck – Nato

Fingerboard – Rosewood

Pros

Easy to play slim neck with smooth rosewood fingerboard

Big, bold tone

Stable tuning machines

Cons

Flat harmonics, not very complex tone

Review

Getting into our higher-end choices in this category, we have the Jasmine S-35.

Jasmine makes finely crafted entry-level acoustics that have better attention to detail than many guitars at this price point.

They lack the problems such as sharp frets, poor intonation, and low-quality tuning machines that plague other low-cost models.

The Jasmine S-35 uses Jasmine’s “Advanced X-bracing” to boost tone and volume, and its spruce + agathis tonewood combo gives it a well-balanced sound equally powerful in all ranges.

However, it doesn’t have much in the way of overtones, so I find the tone a bit boring and basic.

It has a slim neck profile that makes playing fun and easy, reducing finger strain and allowing beginners to practice for longer stretches of time.

Overall, the S-35 is built strong and solid, making it a great low-cost beginner or travel guitar.

#3 Squier SA-150 Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Lindenwood Laminate

Body – Mahogany

Neck – Nato

Fingerboard – Maple

Pros

Squier by Fender means trusted quality

Punchy tones

Fast and fun slim neck design

Cons

Flat sound

Review

This is the steel-string cousin of the SA-150N that made our list of the best classical guitars for beginners.

Squier is a trusted name in guitars, and even though they’re not necessarily known for their acoustics, they deliver a fine model in the SA-150.

Laminate lindenwood is used for the top and paired with mahogany back and sides. The result is a tone that responds well from the low to the high end, but lacks in the complex richness you’ll find in solid top acoustics.

Nonetheless, it’s a fun guitar to play, with a Fender-slim neck profile that has enough backing for solid chord progressions but a narrow enough radius to make riffing smooth and easy.

The SA-150’s maple fingerboard makes it highly responsive and extra bright and articulate, so you can hear each note truly and really fine-tune your technique.

It’s great for all acoustic genres but really shines in flatpicked bluegrass and fingerpicked blues.

With smooth frets, a solid build, and stable tuners, the SA-150 is one of the best choices for acoustics under $100.

#2 Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Basswood

Neck – Okoume

Fingerboard – Unknown (probably rosewood)

Bonus – pickup + preamp, padded gig bag, picks, strap, extra strings, instrument cable

Pros

Acoustic electric design allows you to plug and play with tons of extra tones

Sturdy construction is warp resistant and withstands bumps and bangs

Players pack with a great padded gig bag and other accessories

Cons

Desperately needs a good set up

Can benefit from new tuning machines

Review

Here we have the only acoustic electric on this list, and it’s a great value!

The accessories included in this pack could cost you $100 alone, but you get a ton of extras plus a good acoustic all for a very low cost.

Ashthorpe’s Full-Size Thinline is a nice sounding acoustic electric that is really comfortable to play thanks to its reduced body depth and thin neck profile.

They chose a great tonewood combo of spruce and basswood, with a tone that’s warm and pleasant and just bright enough to really shine.

It’s got a simple electronic system that includes an under-saddle piezo pickup and a basic preamp with 4-band EQ. The electronics aren’t great, but they do the job of allowing you to play through an amp and experiment with your tonal controls to find the sound that’s right for you.

Interested in more acoustic electrics? We’ve covered the best affordable models in this article.

The cutaway design means you can play in the highest regions of the fretboard with no problem and really lets you explore the whole neck comfortably.

At such a low-cost, you might have money leftover for a cheap amp and effects pedal, so you can play around with effects, looping, and more to bring your musical experience to the next level.

Like most acoustics, it needs a set up out of the box, and its tuning machines are pretty low quality, so if you don’t want to tune up every 10 minutes you will want to change these out for higher grade pieces.

#1 ARTALL 41 Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Solid Linden

Body – Linden

Neck – Maple

Fingerboard – Maple

Bonus – Gig bag, strap, picks, extra strings

Pros

Great beginner’s bundle with extra accessories

Solid linden top for added tonal complexity

Cutaway for easy access to upper frets

Cons

Wide neck can quickly tire beginners

Review

ARTALL is an obscure Chinese company that makes a wide range of different products, from bed sets to plush toys, so it’s a bit surprising that they also make a high quality beginner guitar.

Fact is, the ARTALL 41 inch acoustic is one of the best guitars available under $100.

The thing that sticks out the most to me is that it’s a rare non-electric cutaway acoustic.

Typically, a cutaway will mean an acoustic-electric model, and on low-cost guitars this means that the manufacturer skimps on basic construction points to add low-quality electronics.

With the ARTALL 41, you get the benefits of a cutaway and the upgraded quality of a solid top, sturdy build, and dependable hardware.

Plus, it’s a beautifully finished guitar that you’ll look good playing!

Its one downfall is that its neck is on the wider end of acoustics, so beginners might experience a bit more playing fatigue than with a slim neck design, and it’s a bit too big for smaller kids.

All things considered, this is a great acoustic at an amazing price.

Buyer’s Guide

Is it Worth Buying a Guitar for Under $100?

Worth is generally a subjective idea, and you’ll have to think about what you want out of a guitar and how long you can save before making your choice.

I’m an acoustic addict, and to go without a guitar for any stretch of time makes me really uncomfortable. When I found myself without an acoustic and with barely enough money to afford rent, I had to get the first thing I could afford.

For me, my $60 Craigslist guitar was totally worth it. It kept me from boredom, depression, and songless despair, while allowing me to afford the basic necessities of life.

If you really want to play a guitar, NOW, and you don’t have much extra cash, a guitar in this price range can be 100% worth the money.

Who Should Buy a Guitar in this Price Range?

I wouldn’t recommend a guitar in this price range to a professional, but they’re perfect for beginners.

If you’re like me, that is, an upper intermediate player, and you really need an acoustic, these are all great choices in times of desperation.

Parents who want to enable their kids to explore a musical hobby can’t go wrong with these models and don’t have to worry about a sunk cost in something your kid might wind up with no interest in. You can check out more great guitars for kids in this article.

Can Acoustic Guitars for Under $100 Be Upgraded?

Some of these guitars have substandard tuning machines that almost need to be upgraded if you want to avoid the frustration of coming out of tune mid-song.

Changing your tuning machines is a great way to learn the basics of guitar maintenance and repair.

There are some other things that can cause tuning problems, so read here first to find out if it’s really your tuning machines that need replaced.

Aside from that, I wouldn’t focus too much on upgrading these guitars.

They’re meant to be entry-level guitars, and outside of changing the tuning machines I wouldn’t invest much more money in them, but rather save up your cash for your next new guitar, like something in the under $300 range that we’ve covered here.

What Are Guitars Under $100 Good For?

$100 guitars are great for when you need guitar fast. They’re playable, sound okay, and aren’t going to destroy your financial life.

When all you want to do is play at home or maybe jam around campfire, or if you’re planning a hiking trip and know you need an instrument with you, these are great models to choose from.

That being said, they do have their limiations. For sure, if you want to start playing live, you should take a look at these acoustic guitars under $500, and for any serious recording sessions you’ll want to see the best acoustic electric guitars for the money.

Guitars under $100 are intimate, personal instruments that are best suited for private practice, for students, or for throwaway instruments when you have rough travels ahead. Intersted in more travel guitars? Check out this review.

The Final Word

There’s no shame in buying a guitar for under $100, and if this is the price range you can afford, any of the models listed above are guaranteed to meet your needs.

In this category we’ve got guitars for kids, acoustics for students, and full-size acoustic electric models for when you really need to check out some amplified effects.

Whether you choose the 7/8 Rogue Starter or the full-size ARTALL 41, you’ll have a great time playing with the comforting knowledge that you can now start saving for the next instrument companion on your life-long musical journey.

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