1~28~02
Travel Advice
I learned a thing or two on this trip. Here are a few little things I'd like to pass on.
1. Don't travel with a full pack. You re-pack it almost every day. A little wiggle room is invaluable.2. Shoe bags are not as frivolous as you might think. Your shoes get really dirty, and it's a good idea to protect the rest of your stuff from them.
3. If you keep money in a secret place (like your shoe), make sure you cover it with some paper or plastic. Without protection, you can wear holes in your bills (like I did).
4. Don't worry about getting exactly everything in your bag you need right away. You'll pick up things as you need them.
5. And don't get attached to the specific items you have in your bag - things get lost and discarded along the way.
6. Buy as few tickets in advance as possible. Your plans will change, and you want the flexibility to be able to go where the whim takes you. In most parts of the world, it's fairly easy to get a plane/boat/train/bus ticket at the last minute (or with only a few days' notice).
7. Carry a few little things to give as gifts to people who you get to know.
8. As far as toiletries go, don't skimp on what you need. Don't get a travel razor to save a little space (they're terrible). I found I couldn't live without conditioner, and I ended up getting my usual brand. Cut back, but keep in mind that toiletries provide some degree of comfort and familiarity.
9. I brought a month-at-a-glance calendar with me and every night (or at least every few days), I wrote down where we were and the highlights of the day. Each day only has a 1.5" by 1.5" square, so it's not a lot of work. But it has been so valuable to be able to go back and see what I did each day. You do so much when you travel that you often can't remember what you did the week before. I also recorded the hotel where we stayed that night, and how much it cost. It has also been very helpful in retrospect, to find out how much we spent and to be able to recommend hotels to people.
10. Bring clothes you like. By the end of the trip, I could hardly look at my convertible pants (they still make me shudder a bit). Practicality is certainly important, but have at least one thing that you think you look good in. Several months is a long time to feel dorky/practical/plain/ugly every day.
11. Take lots of Ziploc bags.
~ * ~ Bigger Advice
1. On a daily basis, you will have to rely on people to get the information you need to get around. So you have to be able to figure out how to decide whether to believe someone:
a. Motive... Think about whether the person stands to profit from the information they are giving. If someone says the public bus is too slow, is it because they have a private tour they want to sell?
b. Tour Hype... Very often, the description of what you will do on a tour is exaggerated. Even little things like not being dropped off at your hotel (where you were picked up) can be aggravating. We found there is very little you can do to prevent this, and it's just best to do the best research you can, then enjoy what you get.
c. Yes or No Questions... Be careful to avoid yes or no questions in Asia, where someone who doesn't understand you will usually nod and say yes. Don't put words in their mouth; ask them a question whose answer will prove they understood as well as provide information. For example, ask "which way is the temple?" instead of "is the temple this way?"
2. If you plan to write about your trip, whether just for yourself, for your friends, or to publish, write right away. Even scribbling some notes is better than nothing. Not only is it hard to relive something a month later, but often you can't even remember the details anymore. It takes some discipline to do this because you're busy and tired from travelling. But otherwise it may never get done!3. Decide before leaving what exactly you want to get out of travelling and the kinds of things you are interested in seeing. It is too easy to get into the backpacker trail in a country and dutifully check off each place that is deemed important. That can get boring and make travelling much less inspiring. Figure out what you are interested in: archaeology? history? outdoorsy stuff? adventurousness? partying? meeting locals? beautiful landscapes? Then find those things and skip the other stuff.
4. Just go. Don't be too wrapped up in worrying about money, or plans, or preparations. You could leave tomorrow and get by okay. If you don't have enough savings, you can work as you go (read this excellent book). If you haven't done enough research, buy a book when you get there, or go online there. Don't have someone to travel with? Go alone to an easier country (like New Zealand or Australia) and meet another backpacker who will go along with you to other places. The point is, nothing you're worrying about is important enough to keep you from travelling if you want to go.
