Backpack traveling is not just another luxury travel. While backpacking you want into the lives of the locals. You sit with them, eat with them, listen to them, share stories and a lot more. Which is why it is important that you learn how to handle any situation that comes your way. To help you do the same, here are some do's and don'ts of backpack traveling that I am hoping will make your journey smoother and more comfortable.
Blend in, don't stand out
So the first thing to discuss in the list of do's and don'ts of backpack traveling is to not look like you are superior or inferior to anybody. Doesn't matter what the reality is. Every place that you pick to travel to also has residents. You might be traveling, but for them, it's just another day.
Take care of your backpack, clothing, expressions and attitude. There is no need to look lost or troubled. Stay calm at all times. And yes, I said clothing. Not all the places that you visit might be frequented by travelers or tourists. Try not to make the locals uneasy. And, please don't act like changing the attitude of the locals, who are probably never going to see anything but their ancestral home, is your responsibility.
You are traveling to have fun. So focus on having fun. Interact with the locals and not argue with them. Don't turn your backpack travel into a social responsibility unless it involves building schools, providing shelter or procuring medical supplies for the ones in need.
Travel like a ghost, don't litter
Let's call it the need of the hour. Nobody wants to know what the people visiting there eat, drink or carry.
Travel like a ghost. Unless whatever you leave behind and be composted, you have no right whatsoever to leave it there. And if it can be composted, dig a hole, take a dump or throw in whatever you have to, cover it up and then leave. Like you were never there. Don't leave your waste to fly around with the wind, or the possibility of someone stepping on it, or worse, animals choking on it. We are humans. We are supposed to be responsible species. Being a traveler, even more so. Backpack travelers do what they do for the love of nature and the natural order of things. So act like it.
The only stuff that you might have to leave behind is - paper tissues (toilet paper, or pocket tissues. Strictly NO to wet wipes, they are not biodegradable), leftover food (excluding the wrapping) or feces. Easy to remember, right?
Read more : The thing I got wrong about backpacking Trips
Stay venturesome, don't be picky
If you are a newbie, then this section of the do's and don'ts of backpack traveling is for you.
Let's think of a scenario where you find a hostel to spend the night. You enter the dorm, keep your stuff and as soon as you lie on the bed, it's different than what you are used to. You don't feel comfortable, but choose to overlook. After a long journey, you are expecting to get a nice meal because the hostel has a 8.0+ rating online.
But so is not the case. Not only did you find the bed uncomfortable but also the food is not to your liking. What do you do?
Well,
No.1. Don't complain. Rather, request. Go to whoever cooked the meal and politely ask if they can re-cook the meal to your liking. If they do, great. In case they don't, just eat it because you will need the energy for later. It's for your own good. Missing a meal while you are backpacking is never a good idea. Especially if it's because of not being according to your taste. Grow up. The same goes for the mattress. Ask if they can offer you a different bed. No.2. You are backpack traveling because either you have limited money or you like the rawness of it. So think of everything that is new to you as an adventure. Trying new food, sleeping on different mattresses, sometimes in your sleeping bag, and sometimes under the stars. Just add it to your 'first time ever' list. Turn it into a fun story!
"Perspective makes all the difference."
Stay humble, don't pick a fight
Let's just say that it is wise to remember that you are in someone else's territory and you know nothing about it.
There is a possibility that you might initially find someone's way of talking, or greeting as offensive, even though it's their usual way. So, give it a chance and let it slide. But, in case you are absolutely not okay with whatever is happening, unwanted selfies, hugs, pictures or conversations, just politely say you are busy or you have to go.
Turning the tables, if you intend to greet somebody in a faraway land, the way you always do, stop and think,
choose neutral, polite and non-offensive words maintain personal space do not touch (not even hands) unless you are 110% certain that the other person will be okay with it. Just nod and greet with a hello, good morning or how're you doing instead. You never know what mind offend who.
Wait for the other person to make a move, and then follow the footsteps.
Keep an open mind, don't try to impose
Every part of the world, every community ever build, has it's own set of beliefs and their own way of life. Just because something wasn't taught to you while you were growing up, doesn't mean it's wrong. It's just a different way of life. Hence being a good listener is an important point on the do's and don'ts of backpack traveling.
Listen to the locals, understand their reasons and learn about their ways. Not to judge, not to conclude, but only to explore. Listen to it as if you were listening to a bedtime story about a mythical creature or the first elder.
Be selfish and have a good time. So you would want to travel more and come back home with enough stories to tell for a lifetime.
Stock up! Don't overestimate yourself
Even if you have lived through a day fasting in the past, there are no guarantees that you can do it again while backpack traveling. There are a lot of variables at play here.
Backpack traveling can get very exhausting. Whatever the circumstances may have been earlier, it's always different while traveling. So it's better to stay prepared. Whether you eat or you don't, you can decide later, but at least have the option to eat in case you get hungry.
The same goes for hydration. Keep two liters of water on you at all times. If you feel like it's too heavy to carry, train before you leave for backpacking.
Read more : How to prepare for backpacking trips
Follow minimalism, don't overpack
There are two ways of packing,
like a backpacker like a luxury traveler
If you want to go backpacking, don't carry a suitcase. Carry a backpack or a rucksack. Maximum 2 packs. One for gadgets and one for everything else. Learn to pack a backpack the right way so you don't have to consider reducing your water or food stock.
Priorities people! Get them right for your own sake.
Stay busy, don't complain
Especially if you are going solo traveling carry stuff to keep you busy.
Video games, movies, books, blogs, online courses, series, learn a new language, write, paint, or anything else that keeps your mind occupied.
Nobody walks around non-stop for 10-12 hours. And so if you are taking a trip for longer than 3-4 days, I suggest you be comfortable keeping yourself involved in one thing or the other. Otherwise, your trip will be far from being fun. There are 'n' number of negative emotions that will seep in and so will being moody. Trust me, I have been there.
So now my top favorite pastimes are reading, blogging (duh!), photo editing, video editing, and researching. It keeps me busy and productive. Staying busy helps stay in the real world and not cook up problems and thrillers in the make-belief one.
Smile, don't be grumpy
If you have seen Rise of the Guardians, there is a scene where a character says, "I have big eyes. Very big. Because they are full of wonder. That is my center." That is the attitude every traveler needs to have.
"Eyes that have always seen the wonder in everything! Eyes that see lights in the trees, and magic in the air"
Remember to record, don't regret
This part of the do's and don'ts of backpack traveling I have experienced way too many times. When I am surrounded by nature, I don't feel like getting anywhere near technology but I still look for it so I can capture it.
Sometimes I end up spending all the time that I have, enjoying where I am, tech-free. Which sometimes means that I miss out on capturing it. So, all that I am left with is my memory, words and expressions to relive it.
I would suggest not to be in that situation. Enjoy your surroundings, but also keep time to capture it. Find a balance between the two so you don't regret it later. Whether you paint it, write about it, take a picture, make a video, buy a postcard or get a fridge magnet. It doesn't matter how, as long as you have some memory of your most memorable moments of the journey.
This list of do's and don'ts of backpack traveling is based on my experiences. Some I have personally experienced, some I have seen other travelers struggle with. Nothing that's written here is rocket science. The only thing that I feel goes wrong is that we get too used to living in a certain way that everything else feels wrong.
All you gotta do is to stay fluid and follow the do's and don'ts of backpack traveling.