The Backpacker

A Backpacker’s tip to traveling

Okay guys, enough of the other stuff. Here are a few tips I wanna share with you, all this comes from my own trail and error method.

Did I mention anywhere how a backpacker must travel? I suppose not. In fact it never occurred to me until I was addressing a group of people during the International Literary Society of Dubai meet one day (long gone though) that wanna-be travelers did want to know few details about packing and traveling. Although I have written a book on the subject (which has not yet seen the light of the day), I thought it would be easier if posted here on the web log.

Quick tips:

Traveling light means packing light. There will be no fashion crisis if you wear the same trousers for a week.

Family albums, good luck charms and dogs can stay at home, always.

Travel with a backpack. Good to have your hands free (for any emergencies!!), it allows you to walk faster, everything goes into one place, easy to find space to put it, less time to worry about its maintenance and more time to enjoy.

Backpack at your own pace. That is the best way. If you appear soiled or crumpled, it is for the best. No one wants to mug a ragamuffin!! Believe me, it has worked for me!! No one bothers you when you rest in the train stations or bus stand or even park yourself on the beach. You will look as though you belong.

Carrying large amount of cash is risky, but it is a risk you have to take. Good idea would be to roll your money in dirty socks. Appear intelligent and observant yet laid back.

Carry batteries, a small knife, torch, safety pins (yes!!), a chord.

Trust your instincts. They will never go wrong. Know where you must go before you start. If you don’t care where you are going, keep going anyway. Someone is bound to come up with a good suggestion given a chance.

Be alert. Well, that goes without saying. Don’t get dragged into another man’s fight. You were not the cause of it anyway.

As a woman backpacker, it has been fun learning these things on my own. From getting lost to eating rats, I have perhaps seen quite a bit. Yet there is more to learn. Throwing caution to the wind is fine, but it helps to be careful.

Yes, even a backpacker like me needs to learn that!!

Listen when someone tells you something. They could be right.