Air Travel Discount
Links of interest for your travel plans
Backpacking
Once the preserve of
college students on a shoestring budget, backpacking has become a
fashionable way to travel. Many tour operators who conventionally only
offered plane-train-bus-cruise tours have of late started offering
backpacking tours to cater to the changing needs of the travel
industry. Backpacking is adventurous, backpacking is exciting and best
of all, backpacking is a great way to go off the beaten track and
discover lesser known areas, even in popular tourist spots.
I once went on a guided tour to Goa in Western India. I saw the popular
tourist attractions, stayed in the regular tourist hotels and went to
the exorbitant tourist markets. I had a fairly decent time and thought
it was a good trip. Some years later, I again went to Goa. This time
around, I went with a few adventurous friends who decided to go
backpacking through Goa. Believe me when I tell you that the trip was
an eye-opener! I discovered an altogether different side of Goa
– far removed from the done to death, regular tourist trail.
I had the opportunity to visit exotic, lesser-known spots, meet and
interact with the local populace, try delectable local specialty
cuisine and even attend a rave party or two! And this adventure
backpacking trip cost me a fraction of the high-priced tourist trip I
had earlier been on! Since then, whenever I decide to travel to a new
destination, I always ensure that I explore the backpacking option
first.
Through the years, I’ve developed my own approach to
backpacking. I’ve found the Lonely Planet guides a good
source of information. And backpacking sites online always have great
tips and backpacking tricks. I especially learnt a lot from the
backpacking forums, from people who are similarly inclined to go
backpacking through various countries and regions, and who have actual
experiences to share. Since they’ve been there and done that,
and lived to tell the tale, I tend to trust their judgment and respect
their accomplishment.
Backpacking.net’s Jim for instance, offers a list of ten
essential items that any backpacker needs to have in her/his back
packed for a safe backpacking trip. This list includes a map of the
area, a compass, a flashlight (or headlamp), extra food, extra clothes,
sun glasses, a basic first aid kit, a pocket knife, waterproof matches
and a fire starter. He also mentions that the most important item is
not on the list – and that is common sense. I
couldn’t agree more! When you are back packing, a number of
situations could arise – from confrontation with unfriendly
elements through danger from wild animals to accidents. There is no
simple or easy way to predict such things and to be prepared for them.
One can however, carry loads of common sense around and think on the
feet to deal with the situations the way it needs to be dealt with.
Trust me. If you follow simple guidelines and go prepared with an open
mind, a backpacking journey can turn out to be the best vacation
you’ve ever had. It’s inexpensive, adventurous and
best of all enjoyable! Happy backpacking!