As much as I love to write about travel, another thing I enjoy to do in my spare time is read other traveler’s articles, blog posts, stories, advice, and experiences. So that is why I have added a new “Guest Nomad” feature on my site starting today. Each week I will showcase someone that is just as obsessed with packing up and globetrotting around this beautiful world as yours truly.
My debut “Guest Nomad” is Grant Lingel. Grant is a fellow New Yorker and the author of a new book entitled Imagine: A Vagabond Story. I read this book over the summer and highly recommend that you check it out.
5 Steps to Becoming A Better Backpacker
By Grant Lingel
"I figured this picture would work because it is what almost every picture from every hostel looks like!" - Grant Lingel
The road can be extremely welcoming if you travel in the right mindset. A faraway place can feel like home and a stranger can feel like family. But before going off on a backpacking adventure, there are a few things you should probably keep in mind to make the transition from your world at home to the world on the road that much easier. At first, your new found freedom may seem quite overwhelming, especially if you have no plans set in stone. Take that freedom and ride with it because you’ll never feel so alive! If you follow these five tips throughout your journey as a vagabond traveler, you will without a doubt have the adventure of a lifetime.
1 – Free Your Mind
Nothing is more important than going into a trip with an open mind. A hostel can be quite intimidating to someone who has never stayed in one before. Like walking into class on your first day of school, all of the new faces and activities can likely put someone with a congested mind into overdrive. Just remember that abroad, no one knows who you are. No one knows about the time you wet your pants in third grade or tripped on stage at graduation. No one knows your big brother, your little sister or your ex. Because everyone is in the same boat, you really can’t find a friendlier place than a hostel. Be friendly, ask questions and smile! Most importantly, check your inhibitions and negativity at the door and you will find yourself in a world full of like-minded folks who, like yourself, are all looking to make new friends and have an amazing time.
2 – Open Your Eyes
You’re not in Kansas anymore… or New York, or London. Wherever you may be, you are going to want to take it all in. Back home it’s quite easy to let the same old things pass you by and hardly give them any notice, but when you are out on the road you better keep your eyes peeled and suck in everything you can – your time is limited and who knows if you’ll be back; it is indeed a big world out there and there is a lot to see. Bring a camera and a journal and relish in the fact that you can learn anything you want. From new and colorful cultures and languages to exotic cuisine and unparalleled nightlife, the world has quite a lot to offer. It would be a shame to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity because you weren’t paying attention.
3 – Pack Light
There is nothing worse than trying to find your hostel/train/bus on a sweltering hot day with a full pack on your back. Only pack the essentials, and I can’t stress that enough. If you leave home with a full pack you can’t very well add anything to it can you? Sometimes people give out their old clothes or other knickknacks once they run out of space but it is nice to have as little as possible to sift through while living out of your bag. If you have a bloated pack with clothes, shoes and souvenirs busting at the seams, you are going to get quite annoyed, especially when you find hostels with small lockers or need to share a tuk-tuk with little storage space. Anything you realize you’ve forgotten can most likely be picked up along the way. So remember, besides some clothes, camera, journal and toiletries, take it easy. There will be plenty of other things to occupy your time more exciting than sorting through piles of nonsense you should have left in storage back home.
4 – Do Some Research (At Least a Little)
Researching a new travel destination is incredibly easy in today’s world of crazy technology. There are countless resources on the Internet for the budget traveler. With websites like hostelworld.com and couchsurfing.com, it’s never been easier to meet up with new people and find the best deals and the most popular hostels. Try to have an idea of what you want to do at your next stop before you get there. Whether you are traveling by bus, train, or car, bring a Lonely Planet or other travel guide along so you don’t have to waste time at your destination figuring out what to do. Ask the people working in the hostel what they recommend and find out about tours and trips offered there. Contrary to what you may think, it is quite easy to plan on the go… a must-have skill for any nomadic traveler.
5 – Don’t Worry, Be Happy
You didn’t leave home to have a miserable time, and don’t you forget that! It is pretty hard to find yourself in a bad mental state while out on the open road with amazing new friends, seeing new things. Obviously there will be times when you miss your family and friends, and that’s to be expected, but know they will be there for you when you get home. Down the road, you will find yourself missing those who you meet on your travels as well. So don’t waste too much precious time with your travel mates daydreaming about home (it’s not going anywhere).
The trip you’re about to take or are already on may very well change your life. It’s very likely you will meet people who you will keep in your heart forever and see things that will blow your mind. It’s a big and beautiful world out there and only a few get to go out there and not only see it, but experience it. Be one of those few, and be prepared for anything!
If you would like to be a “Guest Nomad”, please email me for more information.
