8 BACKPACKING TIPS

Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Keep your dreams alive. 
– Terrell Davis

Thursday, December 5, 2013 (DAYS 640 - 644)
There are just a few things that I continue to add to my already growing repertoire of backpacking and budget travel tips that have saved me money, saved me time, and have given me a better piece of mind knowing my important belongings were secure in their placement of abandonment. Understand that, just as in life, we are always growing and learning, and this ideal should never be short lived, but embrace the wonders of every day life by dreaming, big. “In reality, long-term travel has nothing to do with demographics–age, ideology, income–and everything to do with personal outlook. Long-term travel isn’t about being a college student; it’s about being a student of daily life. Long-term travel isn’t an act of rebellion against society; it’s an act of common sense within society. Long-term travel doesn’t require a massive ‘bundle of cash’; it requires only that we walk through the world in a more deliberate way.” This is a quote from the book Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts. While I know several people are wondering why I’m reading about something that I’m already living, but I think it’s always great to receive an extra dose of encouragement and inspiration for the sake of motivation, even if the material is slightly outdated. So without further interruption, here are 8 backpacking tips that I use on almost a daily basis:

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LOCK IT UP: 
I’ve found numerous uses for my cable lock (which is actually a snowboard lock), when it comes to security. Everything from hostels or guesthouses that fail to have lockers, stitching up bags together (for weighted security), or a handful of other reasons, a cable lock or even a bike lock that has a relatively thick gauge is extremely useful.

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PILLOW FIGHT: 
Yes, they may look lame when you’re taking a 70-minute flight from Denver to Las Vegas, but when traveling long-term a neck pillow is a lifesaver! Even without long bus rides, I’ve used my neck pillow at a variety of places I’ve called home around the world, because most of the cheap accommodation places I’ve stayed at typically had very flattened pillows to rest your head.

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BE FLOSSIN': 
I had heard that using dental floss as a substitute for thread for sewing was an excellent choice because of the strength and durability. This is true. In April or May of 2012, I had my room broken in to in Guatemala and since there were no lockers available I locked up my money, passport, credit cards, etc in my backpack and the thieves noticed this and cut the inside of my bag to get to my money (yes, this really sucks) and I temporarily sewed it up with dental floss and over time I forgot about it. Over a year later, and I noticed that the original stitching was just now beginning to become undone, and so I went for another shot at it and took more time. Since the damage was done to the inside of the bag I’m not concerned with the appearance, which has become true in many cases, and a great travel tip or tip in general I suppose. 

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RESOURCEFUL LIKE MACGYVER: 
Everything to save some money helps: from hand washing at places that have free soap and decent size sinks to using things like fans to hang dry clothing, be creative. 

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SLEEP: 
Another great way to save a few bucks–if you’re game–is to utilize all of the free things around you and sleep in safe locations when arriving late or early morning. For example, my flight from Colombia to Ecuador arrived just after 1am and my friend Char and I made the decision to just sleep at the airport and used the free blankets that were given to us on our flight, so boom goes the dynamite!

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CARABINEER, I HARDLY KNEW HER: 
You will find a million and a half uses for carabineers, I’m sure you’re bright enough to figure this out. I will suggest having at least one locking carabineer though.

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FAKE ID’S LIKE A TEENAGER: 
So in spite of carrying my actual identification cards with me, I also have brought along a variety of fakes. Everything from the fake Walmart Visa giftcard my uncle Bruce and aunt Linda gave me before leaving that carries a zero balance, to my expired driver’s license. If you have a student ID card or other expired ID cards bring them with you because they not only beef up your dummy wallet, but also can be valuable if stopped without a copy or your actual passport. 

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50 SHADES OF ME: 
It never hurts to have a fun pair of shades. 

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CURRENCIES TO SPARE: 
Always keep some small US Dollars tucked away that are not torn, faded too badly, or have any writing on them, as many borders will only accept US currency or are willing to change only US currency. It still baffles me that neighboring countries will often reject the other’s currency, but they will always change out US dollars. 

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MY RTW PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
Today is a celebration. Today, I have the pleasure of celebrating exactly 21-months of ‘life on the road,’ just 90-days short of two years since I left Colorado and the smile has not faded, friends. In honor of this celebration I’ve decided to go tubing down the Nam Song River, which is surrounded by the karst hill landscape, and the most popular activity for Vang Vieng. The luxury of time that is accompanied with extended travel has allowed me to relax for a few days and review the forecast for the week and it just so happens that this particular day is the warmest and sunniest of the week. Adjusting to a turtle’s pace of movement and taking in each day, I find myself slowly walking the dirt road towards the rental station for the large black inner tubes that are spray pained yellow. After paying 55,000₭N ($6.87) along with a 60,000₭N ($7.50) deposit, which includes renting the tube for the day as well as being driven in a tuk tuk about 3km upstream, I’m the last to climb aboard with about seven other people. Straddling the tailgate of the tuk tuk where I have half a cheek on the bench, my concerns of falling out are minimal since I have a firm grip on the interior railing and our maximum speed is about 20mph. 

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The short 8-minute drive allows some of us to get to know one another as we yell from across one another over the sound of the engine. There are three different stops along the riverbank where men toss you a rope attached at the end with a plastic bottle to pull you in and stacks of inner tubes are piled together almost guaranteeing that you will not be receiving the same one when you’re ready to get back in the water. There is already a bustle at the first stop as groups of people are sitting at tables soaking in the sun while others are actively involved in games that vary from volleyball, basketball, and Polish horseshoes.

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Climbing into my tube I meet a few guys from Australia, Canada, and Holland as we are making our way down the river. I think I have a defective flotation device as I can’t manage to keep up with their pace and wonder if they are using the same current I am. At one point I’m spun around and drift towards the riverbank and have to paddle my way out. First world problems strike again. Even before experiencing the notorious tubing in Vang Vieng, I am taken back to my college days of floating down Boulder Creek with friends and can’t help but feel younger in age. 

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Kicking my feet back and enjoying the ride of the current, I can’t help but wish that other friends from the States could experience both the same type of freedoms and life lessons that can be learned from foreign travel. “I remember a conversation with a professor on a train to Sicily, discussing the need to travel. He said, ‘You can read everything there is in the world about a place, but there is no substitute for smelling it!’ He was right! So make plans, but be happy to abandon them, if need be. Kurt Vonnegut once wrote: ‘Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.’ I like that. Do as much research before leaving as possible but certainly don’t let fears keep you away. On a given day, Los Angeles is far more dangerous than any place I’ve traveled. Take normal precautions, use common sense if you have any, and you’ll be fine.” This is another quote from the book Vagabonding, another traveler from California, Bill Wolfer, 48.

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Due to the recent deaths of two young Australians, Lee Hudswell and Daniel Eimutis, there has been an overhaul of precautions on the Nam Song. While the zip lines are still fixtures flung across the river, they are no longer in use because of the tragic deaths from last year and have brought attention to the negative side of this popular backpacker destination. At first glance–when searching the web–Vang Vieng had been quite notorious as a party hot spot along the ‘falang trail,’ where a total of 27 travelers lost their lives in 2012, and this reminded me of how often I would see people renting motorbikes with absolutely no idea of how to ride one of these but there were no questions asked when wanting to rent one. My word of advice is that just because places are willing to allow you to participate in activities, does not necessarily mean it’s a good idea.   

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As the afternoon fades in to the evening and the sun is beginning to set, I’ve acquired a few castaways in the form of two local children that were jumping in the river from the banks with a group of their friends. They float with me down the river, almost tipping us over, as they abandon their friends and we attempt to communicate through hand gestures as they chatter back and forth. A great day in celebrating 21-months of backpacking for sure.

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