I'm low level, probably like 4-5. I have completed the rat cave, the mushroom forest, the mausoleum in the first city and the beach. I have one currently active quest and that is to kill the ogre blocking the north west path out of the first town (Velgarn?). His threat level to me is "titan"...
I have been to the arena and killed what I can kill there. I sat for an hour trying to get through golden woods but was unsuccessful, and that drained all my food and most of my money. On my way back to the town, I was ambushed by two thieves who stole a lot more of my money (and then fled the fight). I keep losing a lot of money to the town guards wanted me to pay toll every time and enter the town and also quite often when I exit it.
So now I'm at like 100 gold and I have food for one day. I can't kill the ogre, I can't find my way through the golden woods, I can't open the gate to the temple in the north east (next to the rat cave), I can't open the door to the tower to the east (right south of the rat cave) and I can't find my way through the golden woods.
I love the game but it's really frustrating that food is so expensive and that you run out of it so fast. I would like to explore more but I'm constantly forced to go harvest the plants in the town.