Kissing The Sky - Some Thoughts On Seeing The World (1592 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 1.96 on 49 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by phuzzygish (View user info) at 2006-03-16 11:49:42 EST
I am a lucky, lucky bastard. Really, truly blessed.
A lot of people don't get the chance to see much of the world, and I have been fortunate enough in my life to have been to loads of amazing places, both internationally and within my own country.
It's a privilege, I recognise that, and as such I feel the need to give back as much as possible to anyone that also wants to experience the world around them. That's the reason for this post. It's also advice based on my own personal experience and opinion.
Remember - It's your life, your adventure.
~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~
Just some thoughts about what I've learnt about travelling and backpacking -
Something I feel quite strongly about is exploring your own country. Yes, going away to some exotic foreign destination is fantastic, but never underestimate the wealth of knowledge you can gain simply by checking out your own back yard. Every country has something to be seen, and what's the point of going to a million different countries if you've never left your own province? You get to learn about where you come from, and at the end of the day helps you appreciate YOUR country, appreciate other countries, and actually be a better ambassador for the place you come from. Know your home.
First things first, you need to choose a place to go.
Durr?
Trust me, it's trickier than it looks. You've got to have a type of trip in mind. Want wild and woolly? Africa. Dark and exotic? Let's go to South America. Surf and ladyboys for ten cents? Asia man, Asia. Just blowing cash on booze and cheap cigarettes? That's a whole different journey than climbing the Cordillera Blanca.
Decide what kind of holiday you're after, pick a general continent type area, and go from there.
Once you've decided the general corner of the planet you want to check out, you can narrow your search down. Get a rough idea of how much ground you want to cover , or where a good start and end point is. Try not do a circle, it's far more interesting starting somewhere and ending on the other side of somewhere else.
Then book it. Do it. Seriously.
Don't keep waiting until you've bought a new rucksack or new hiking shoes or for that special offer from lastminute.com to come through.
Just look at a map, get a rough idea of where you want to go, and then spend a week or two finding the flights. That's all. For example, you want to go to South America? Work out roughly when you want to go, when you want to come back, and then just book a your flight there and back.
Decide 'Peru, through Bolivia, a bit of Brazil and then a finish in Argentina.'
That's all.
Then buy a ticket that gets you to Peru on X date, and out of Buenos Aires on X date. Nothing more. It's the kick in the butt that seals the deal, and gears you up for getting ready.
REMEMBER - You will never have enough money right now. It will never be a perfect time right now. Never.
That's why you look around for a good or great deal, and snap it up. Just book the tickets. DO IT.
Then research, research, research.
Seriously, give yourself about two months-ish between booking flights and actually leaving, then take the time to find out where you're going to be travelling through and what goes on there. Speak to people, trawl the internet and learn as much as possible about the countries you're going to. You'll have a much better time and get a lot more from a trip if you have a basic understanding of how the place functions; and it makes it much easier to explore if you have a simple idea of what to expect.
Trust me on this - Go independently.
Do not take tours; they're for fatass Disney-land suburbanites you want to see the world through plate-glass windows. If you go to another country, area, town even - go TO it, not just through it.
Travelling independently means you have more flexible time to do what makes you happy, instead of being shunted around like cattle. You get to interact with locals, get more hands on within communities, and actually experience, rather than just see, wherever the hell you are right then. (There's few things more frustrating than trying to get powdered milk from a market stall in badly mangled Spanish, but I'd do it over and over again just to see the smile on that streetkid's face as they watched El Gringo Me-o buy old bread from their grandma.)
Once you know what country you're flying to, and what day you're flying there, you're set. You've done your research, checked out the Lonely Planet and learned one or two useful phrases in the main language of the country - you are sorted. That is the hardest part.
It is pretty important to try learn at last one or two words in that country's language, because even if you cock it up completely, people are more inclined to help you out with whatever you need if make the effort to ask them in their language.
Getting ready - Apart from researching where you're going to be travelling through on your trip, you'll also want to get a bunch of stuff. I know I do - no matter how much I bought for the trip before. There's clothes, shoes, backpacks, daypacks, stoves, travel towels, you can make a list fifty foot long and still want more stuff.
Just remember that it's nice to have lots of things, but it's not nice to be carrying those nice things around on your back for 6 weeks if you ain't gonna use 'em.
I have learnt that every country in the world has a place where you can wash your underpants.
You can buy a new tube of toothpaste everywhere.
Your hometown is NOT the only place that stocks Vaseline. I know this for a fact.
There are obviously a few essentials that are better bought before you leave though, and no traveller should be without. Just use your common sense, it's the most useful thing you'll ever take on holiday.
Some things I always pack first, and never, leave at home:
- Leatherman. With pliers, a small screwdriver and a sharpish blade. All you need.
- A sarong/kokoi. Not a fancy silk Beckhamesque dress sarong. A simple, rectangular cotton or linen sarong that will be your best friend, ever. It's a towel, a sunscreen, a dustmask, a blanket, and a lifesaver.
- Head torch. Get a decent LED one, small with a decent battery. You'll thank me.
- Dental floss, with one or two medium size needles tucked inside the plastic floss casing.
- Plastic mug. Not a thin crappy one, a sturdy pint-sized plastic mug. I'm serious.
- Deck of cards. These will save your life, and possibly even earn you money while you wait for that non-existant colectivo bus that was promised two hours ago. I have a deck of cards that have travelled literally everywhere with me, and being able to kill some time playing Shithead or Solitaire instead of staring at the wall is something I'm eternally grateful for.
- Patience. Lots of it. It's a foreign country, mistakes and miscommunications happen. If you missed the bus to Windhoek, there'll be another one. If the guy at the border is talking to his cuzzie about something, and not rushing to stamp your passport, just chill. You aren't on the Amazing Race. You're travelling. Stop stressing, take a deep breath and just sommer chill. Play cards or something. Talk to the hot Kiwi girl that just arrived in the line. Play catch with your sleeping bag. Anything.
Most of all, just enjoy being there.
Travelling, backpacking in particular, doesn't have to be particularly expensive. You don't have to have buckets of cash to enjoy it. I earn a very, very average salary. I'm no Shlongy. But instead of eating out three or four times a week, or blowing a couplel hundred a week on drinks on a random Thursday, I made a conscious decision to live a little simpler, wait a week or two for that DVD to come off the Just Released shelf. It's a choice I make, and one that has rewarded me millions of times more than buying twenty people a shot of Jager ever could.
I could go on and on about what to do, where to do it or how to go about doing it, but I won't Travelling is a deeply personal experience, while at the same time something that should be approached with an open mind, open heart, and lots of social interaction. Respect the people you meet and the places you meet them in. Dive headfirst into the cultural differences. Be alert, be observant, and make the most of every trip. You never know who or what you'll find, and most of all, you'll learn more about yourself than any life skills course could ever teach you.
It's a huge world out there, and it's there to be discovered...
~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~~+==+~
At the end of the day though, there's still nothing like going home. I'm a lucky, lucky bastard.
User Reviews
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2006-09-01 19:44:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Great picture.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2006-08-02 02:13:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-07-08 17:13:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2s all around for someone getting pissed at me enough for not one but two uberboard messages!
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-07-08 16:48:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
There are a solid 15 posts of +2 streaks with 30 or more reviews. That is stupid. I am weeding it all out by giving every one of them a +1; that way posts that have 1.99 with 200+ reviews gets best ever.
Submitted by no_one (user info) at 2006-07-06 18:34:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for playing up visiting your home nation too. Living in the US, all I ever hear from people in Europe is "You've got to see other countries" bloody hell. Don't get me wrong, I want to see the whole damn world, but the continental US is more than double the size of Europe (western at least) and is very geographically diverse. You can see all of Europe, and still not have "traveled" as much as if you've seen all of the US. I know, they're thinking culture, but I like the outdoors a wee bit more than I like people. I'm working on both though.
this is already too long, but: I have a hard time convincing my husband we can do things on our own in non-english speaking countries. I was able to talk him into it for Germany, only after proving it would be cheaper and we could do more. I'm trying to talk him into greece and italy after that.
Submitted by deedee (user info) at 2006-06-14 00:23:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good advice, where have you been already?
south east asia and south america are two areas I really want to see more of. I'm in the Philippines now, highly recommend everyone to visit, its amazing!!!
Also Prague is really cool but its getting more expensive, the towns outside it are also worth seeing, a little less expensive too! :)
Happy Travelling!!
Where was the pic taken btw?
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2006-03-21 12:15:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You lucky bastard. I am currently saving for a trip to Australia. It's going to take a long time.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2006-03-20 11:56:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-20 04:04:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-03-19 01:20:03 (#)
Ranking: 2
My dream is to travel the world with just a backpack.
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Make as much effort as you can to do it, or at least some of it. Dreasm are good, but they're easier than you think to make reality.
(Whoa. I sound like a fortune cookie.)
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-03-19 01:32:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Man... Just for a year... Kick around America in my Trooper, just being.
Not hippie like, mind you. Tourist-style.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-03-19 01:20:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My dream is to travel the world with just a backpack.
Submitted by Kidmc (user info) at 2006-03-17 08:11:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
LOL
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-17 04:21:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Shlongy - Get with it, old man. :) http://www.10years.gov.za/
GLALL - Prague, and the rest of the Czech republic is the one European country where beer is cheaper than milk or bread. Do you need another reason?
Apollo88 (MVA) - Cunt.
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2006-03-16 19:14:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck yes.
I'm young but I've got plans to travel the world. (Already got a head start from Canada to the Netherlands.)
And I know everyone says that when they're young but fuck I mean it.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2006-03-16 18:49:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It is pretty important to try learn at last one or two words in that country's language, """
Should take your own advice there saffa, drivelling on in afrikaans all day.
jeez.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-03-16 18:23:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
PF2, my good man.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2006-03-16 17:44:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Prague is in the Czech Republic, yes. From what I've read on Lonely Planet and elsewhere, it's beautiful and cheap and charming and apparently the closest thing there is to 1920's Paris and its Bohemian feel.
Which kind of fits because Prague is IN Bohemia.
Anyway. Go and take pictures and post them so I can be envious! I might make it next year though...
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2006-03-16 15:10:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah....thanks for the info, Dave. If Prague is supposedly as cheap as you say it is, I'll definitely consider it.
Submitted by Rocktsrgn (user info) at 2006-03-16 15:05:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Here's one more - go SLOWLY. There's no need to rush around, looking at everything. Better to really absorb St. Peter's Cathedral than to catch a glimpse of everything in Rome. Also, I've heard that Eastern Europe is much less touristy than Western, and more "old-world." So, yeah, go to Prague.
I got off the road in October after 5 months on. I miss the open road and the everlasting thought of "I wonder where I'll sleep tonight." Thanks for making me even more restless...
Submitted by pantsarestupid (user info) at 2006-03-16 14:59:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for that. You've reminded me of my plans.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-03-16 14:52:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You have the right attitude Phuzzy.
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Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:50:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
I've had Prague suggested to me by a friend as well, star. Isn't that in the Czech Republic? Someone told me that Greece is a great place to visit. Supposed to be really cheap, amazing shorelines, and over-sexed women for me to get shot down by.
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Prague is a great place, very cheap, but getting more expensive. I have heard that Riga in Latvia is the next Prague. Hookers, Beer and Hotels are plentiful and cost pennies.
I think you would enjoy it GLALL.
Barcelona is for me one of the greatest Euro cities. I fucking love the place.
London is good too, but bloody expensive.
-Dave
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-03-16 14:33:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hey send me postcards!!!!
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-16 14:23:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
yes
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-03-16 14:15:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You forgot extra money to bribe local officials, or at least never traveling alone so you are less of a target to said corrupt officials.
YOurs are not always over rated, I have been to places you can't find on your own, don't spend your whole trip on an organized tour, but they aren't all bad.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:52:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
As soon as you let the majority rule, I will visit South Afrika.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:50:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've had Prague suggested to me by a friend as well, star. Isn't that in the Czech Republic? Someone told me that Greece is a great place to visit. Supposed to be really cheap, amazing shorelines, and over-sexed women for me to get shot down by.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:43:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
GLALL, try Prague.
No particular reason, it's just that I've always wanted to go there.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:37:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow. Great post, especially for me. I'm doing the hostel thing for a month. Stops are going to be Amsterdam (try to act suprised), Switzerland (Zurich), Italy (heard about this great place called portovenere<sp> that you have to hike to), and another as of yet undisclosed location (maybe barcelona? any suggestions?). I've been to around quite a bit of the U.S., I've never been to europe, and i'm about to jump out of my skin from excitement at the thought of visiting another side of the world with so much history to it. I just hope my damn passport gets here in time!
Submitted by Mike00295 (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:18:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post.
Better picture.
Submitted by Mike00295 (user info) at 2006-03-16 13:18:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:40:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
yes.
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:37:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'll trade you. Pictures of my hometown for your'n...
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:36:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice guide.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that traveling make me appreciate home so much more than I ever thought I would.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:34:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:26:49 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:19:23 (#)
Ranking: 2
if you ever come to new jersey, you have a place to stay :) it's a nicer place than you might think.
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Don't lie.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/84382
:-P
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email me at uberleilani.at.gmail.com and i'll send you pictures of where i live. MUCH nicer.
yeah those ones i posted are DEFINITELY not where you want to go. they are near my work though :(
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:29:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:24:55 (#)
Ranking: 2
I want your life.
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I disagree lass. You should want YOUR life. But want it to be the best life ever.
Just go out there and take it by the throat, and you'll see. Anyone can have it.
:)
But thank you.
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:26:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:19:23 (#)
Ranking: 2
if you ever come to new jersey, you have a place to stay :) it's a nicer place than you might think.
-----
Don't lie.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/84382
:-P
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:24:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I want your life.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:19:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:14:52 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:10:59 (#)
Ranking: 2
i especially liked the part about it "never seeming like the right time" to do it-- so many people miss out on things because of this. There are so many people who miss out on LIFE because of their attitudes. I mean if you let everything you want pass you by, you look back and realize you haven;t really lived at all.
or something. :)
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I'd rather die tomorrow knowing I've lived a full life, than cash my chips in at 110 wishing I'd got round to a lot of things.
I refuse to join the 'Gonna' club... :)
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amen to that brother.
where i live it seems like everyone is trying to figure out how much EXPENSIVE STUFF they can collect. People are trying to have the BEST STUFF and the BIGGEST CAR and the BIGGEST HOUSE. At the end of the day, I can't see it as being very gratifying. Especially when you spend all your time working and planning for the future and never enjoying that selfsame STUFF.
if you ever come to new jersey, you have a place to stay :) it's a nicer place than you might think.
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:14:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:10:59 (#)
Ranking: 2
i especially liked the part about it "never seeming like the right time" to do it-- so many people miss out on things because of this. There are so many people who miss out on LIFE because of their attitudes. I mean if you let everything you want pass you by, you look back and realize you haven;t really lived at all.
or something. :)
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I'd rather die tomorrow knowing I've lived a full life, than cash my chips in at 110 wishing I'd got round to a lot of things.
I refuse to join the 'Gonna' club... :)
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:10:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i especially liked the part about it "never seeming like the right time" to do it-- so many people miss out on things because of this. There are so many people who miss out on LIFE because of their attitudes. I mean if you let everything you want pass you by, you look back and realize you haven;t really lived at all.
or something. :)
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:10:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:03:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Is that YOU in the pic?
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Nope, mate of mine from Varsity. I was belaying.
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:09:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was hoping that after reading all that there would be an invitation to visit at the end.
And thank GAWD I saw that pic BEFORE I ate lunch.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:06:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
lovely.!!
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:05:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn you for giving me itchy feet.
Wait, that's the athlete's foot.
Nice pic.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:03:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Is that YOU in the pic?
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-03-16 12:00:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Nah, we're actually like normal people, only with better suntans and a crappier exchange rate.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-03-16 11:55:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Remind me to visit South Africa.
I thought the only thing to do their was catch AIDS but after looking at the picture, wow.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-03-16 11:54:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Personally I've never enjoyed travelling. I'm a man of routine, a man who likes things 'just so'. A man who hates creepy crawlies and vermin. I am not cut out for travel. I do well enough at home, here in the good old blighty.
Kind of like British military equipment really.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-16 11:53:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm going to the World Cup and touring Europe afterwards, and this post made me remember that and I fucking love it.
Also, I do believe that was a Hendrix reference in the title...