That's the way to travel, backpackers style... learn more, experience locally, extremely exhausting, save more money...
I love to travel especially when you have to handle everything... instead depending on your travel agent. You get to control your holiday financially & freedom. These are the guidelines to follow if you wish to start travelling backpackers style:
1. do thoroughly research on the country you want to travel to : their history, political issues that currently happened, currency, tourist spot, architectural, place to spend night to, a few to mention...
2. save money for travel : if you work with monthly salary, you might want to save money for few months to buy flight tickets, booking hotel, shopping spending and food. If you have money saving with your bank (good for you!), then plan smart how to spend that money or you might over spend.
3. get the country maps : this is very important before you reach your destination, have your map ready with places you wish to go with highlighted them on your map. This might changed when you reach there, but better plan ahead than later..
4. get a small group to travel with : for me, it is better to travel with your friends than being alone or in bigger group for easy control... it is also better to have people who have been to that country before who can guide the group.
5. booked hostel instead hotel : if your budget are tight, than it is better to stay your nights at the local hostel. They are cheap, quite convenient complete facilities such as dormitory with bunk beds, toilet & shower, laundry, pantry, lobby with tv, etc... anyway you are gonna spend most of your time travelling than sleeping..
6. used backpackers beg for travelling : it is convenient everything can fit inside with only necessary things to bring. With only one beg to travel without hassle, easy to walk for long distance.
7. don't forget your passport : make sure they are not expired yet and keep them in your pouch beg together with money or somewhere safe.
8. wear an appropriate attire for travel : backpackers style of travelling is never a luxurious one. We will sweat a lot with never ending walking. Wear something comfortable like t-shirt with jeans and a-must-wear snickers or comfortable sandals.
9. experience the journey with local transportation : use their public transportation such as buses, train, subway, taxis, and even peddlers for better understanding with the culture and people.
10. most important is to make sure your holiday is an enjoyable one with good companion...respect the people and their culture... don't be rude... and always positive.
The idea of backpackers travelling is that you travel with the help of local maps and local people's hospitality. You must be an adventurous guy, having guts to experience something new and friendly to others. Getting lost is normal but be smart to find way back.
Sometimes it is best to get local guide to help with the rest of your journey. But then of course you have to fork out some money. Hey! like I said before, the holiday must leave some memories to keep and bad incident is something we want to avoid. If you can't get to the places, ask help. Sometimes the help is to get an expert (like travel agent) to show you the way...
*the reason I wrote this blog is that recently I went to Singapore in backpackers style and it was a wonderful experience. But I have already experienced the backpackers style when I went to Spain, Venice and London in year 1992 with my sister. Actually I learn a lot backpackers style when I traveled with my sister since she studied in UK for 6 years. She was a Brit Backpackers....
