18 countries, 28 cities in 5 months? Wow! That's a lot! It's nice to see that you were able to stick to your budget oh, went even below it. If I were on that trip, I probably will go way beyond my budget, sticking with a budget isn't always the easiest things for me to do, especially when I have the money at hand. That shopping stuff might end up getting me, and I will end up stuck with huge stuff to carry. Lol!

Your budget might not necessarily work for some people but I think it does help give some sort of a guide even for people that want to go a bit higher or lower. Its all about finding what works for one really. And oh you really are great for being able to keep a tab of all your spending, I wouldn't have...

The food up there looks appetizing! One of the great ways to get a taste of one's culture while traveling is definitely to get a taste of their local cuisine, thanks for pointing out the fact that some places tagged "local cuisine" might not really be local. One gotta do some extra digging....

Great post!