Fact: It only takes two words to make a backpacker’s eyes light up with delight: “free drink.”
Fact: It only takes four more words to turn that backpacker into a a friend for life:\”do you want dinner?\”
Living out of a backpack really does make one realize how little is needed in life. With the obvious exception of my book collection, I’ve actually missed very few of my things since I’ve been a world traveller. It’s a little unsettling to realize that all I need to survive day to day can be stored in one decent-sized backpack. I was especially shocked to realize that I hadn’t had Wendy\’s for over a fortnight and was OK. And with only two pairs of shoes and limited shirts, it’s a good feeling to not have to worry about what to wear each day. It quite simplifies the process of getting ready in the morning.
The backpacker’s constant struggle is this: Everything necessary for daily living must be able to be carried all at once. Too many bags, and you won’t get far. Too heavy a bag, and you won\’t make it. Therefore, you give yourself a pre determined amount of size and weight, and you stick to it. It’s like physics – if you purchase an article, something else of equal or greater size and weight must be thrown out. It certainly makes you think twice about unplanned purchases. Personally, I wish most things in life worked like this – I think I’ll make an experiment of it next time I make a purchase at home. One thing bought, one thing tossed. It would definately remove the clutter, don\’t you agree?
Some dangers of the travellers life:
My brand trainers now look like I’ve worn them every day for three years. Australia’s Ayers Rock with all the clingy red dust is mainly to blame.
I got myself so sunburnt scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef , that I had to miss my Daintree Rainforest tour
I’ve yet to experience bed bugs, thank christ, but just barely. My roommate of one night was not so lucky. I felt itchy the entire day just out of sympathy for her.
24/7 company is good but can be a bit much at times. I imagine long term travellers must lust about just one night in a single room.|Towels never get fully dry. Damp towels = disgusting. Smelly towels + dirty trainers = musty smelling possessions. I have learned quickly that backpacking is not a way to impress people with your high sense of fashion. The true (female) backpacker wears no makeup, hair tied haphazardly into a ponytail-ish bun, wrinkled clothes…and a huge grin on her face because she’s more thrilled about the free food at her hostel than the shopping center down the street. (She couldn’t fit new stuff into her backpack, anyway.)
And on to the primary joys of the backpacker life:
Flexibility! Halfway through my travels from Adelaide to Sydney, I decided I wanted to visit in Melbourne with some of my new friends. So I did. Easy as that. I love it!
I’ve seen a Swiss and Belgian discuss the best source of chocolate…and the same Belgian debate the best source of beer with a German.
While in Cairns, I made a new friend every night, even convincing a few of them to join me for dinner & the movies.
While snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, I made friends with a Spaniard who invitred me to meet him in Madrid. I think I’ll pass on that one, but it was fun to be asked to meet someone there, all the same. I’ll always be able to say that now.
I’ve met friends in one part of the country, only to meet them again a few weeks later! Case in point, I met Helen first in my Farmhand class in Tamworth, again two months later in Darwin, and again several weeks later in Sydne!|I helped a Japanese girl work on her English in Newcastle , and in return she made me an origami crane out of beautiful Japanese paper, which I still had when we met again in a bar in Adelaide
All in all, I\’d say that I rather enjoyed my try at backpacking Australia!
This blog entry is dedicated to my lovely brother in law, John, for lending me her beautiful, sturdy backpack for my trip.