Why Become a Backpacker?
Well in reality I don’t think I ever asked myself that question. I believe it was just a bug that streamed in my blood and would always keep pinching me to do adventure after adventure. I just could never get enough of exploring new cultures, places, and countries.
Being a backpacker is really wanting to be free and creating your own adventures. However, you need to have it in you in order to get the freedom you want because really most individuals are scared to travel solo or to travel to another country at all.
Beijing, 2007
You must be a free-spirit individual who can take any occasion and turn it into an eventful one. Since backpacking is really about creating stories and discovering new things. A backpacker is also someone who stays in hostels – the cheapest ones, budgets everything including food, and takes the cheapest transportation paths. Now all backpackers have different styles, but really this summons it up in who we are. We are missing one thing though; we have an obsession in stumbling over to country to country and never getting bored of adventures.
San Fran, 2006
My backpacking love, started when I traveled Europe for a year in 2005. I traveled with a good friend for a month, lived in Ireland for about three months, and traveled solo for the remaining. Now, most people and even backpackers thought I was crazy in traveling as a solo-women traveler. Yes, there were moments I was freaked out and had to make quick, smart decisions, but really they made my adventures more interesting. I explored new places, party when I wanted to, met lots of people in whom are great friends to this day. Out of that entire year I traveled 17 countries in Europe including a little hike over to Morocco, Africa. It was a year of amazing adventures especially for an 18 year old who just left high school. I was young, but eager to create my own experiences, and still has not stop. Every year I now take a backpacking trip to somewhere in the world.
Border of Chile & Argentina, 2009
So why become a backpacker, while when reality hits and the day to day job can be a little boring, why not spice it up a little? Grab your backpack, book a flight and find yourself in another country. Trust me once you start you will never want to stop. Plus life is to short, so make the most of it!
i want to become a back packer but dont have any money and hate life i want to get out and just go and never stop
The same as you Phillip, I also want to become a backpacker but it involves money so it would take years for me to experiences that. Nevertheless I have high hopes and wishing that I could experience such adventures and journeys in life.
once you start backpacking you will never want to stop, no matter how much money you have or not. You will see…..
Its a great feeling!
Backpacking is one of the best experiences, you can really understand the meaning of freedom when you do it. It doesn’t take a whole lot of money, don’t let that stop you.
It really doesn’t take much $. Requires independance, a touch of adventurousness and a little bit of money!
It’s really nice to see a female perspective. I am trying to plan a backpacking trip solo…leaving the hubby and kids at home. But still know in the back of my mind how leary I am because I am female. I have no qualms of roughing it or even sleeping outdoors if I have to. The problem is only other men bothering you. Quite scary to be a single female on a supposedly deserted beach in a foreign country and finding out your not actually alone. But it’s definitely something I am working on overcoming.
Hi Jessica!
Great to hear you are trying backpacking solo. You will love it! Yes at first it can be a bit scary, but soon it becomes a routine to figure out how to really travel the solo part. At times it can be challenging but overall it’s the best way to travel freely. Plus most of the time you will find that you will never be alone, there are always backpackers who are doing the same thing. Safe travels and enjoy your backpacking trip!!!!