Backpacking is not for everybody. If you are one of those people who think the world will end if you ever drink tap water, then backpacking is certainly not your cup of coffee. Backpackers are highly adventurous, risk takers and have the ability to survive anywhere. Although most backpackers know that it is necessary for keeping themselves ready for any difficult situations, but by following some simple do’s and don’ts rule, you can easily save yourself from a lot of trouble:
Do’s
- Plan your budget in a realistic way. Don’t get carried away by the stories of some friend who lived only on $10 a day in a foreign country for an entire month. You don’t know how they actually lived in $10 and so, make your budget which will prevent overspending but will also allow you to have a lot of fun while travelling.
- Do serious research about the place where you are planning to travel with your backpack. Having information about the place you are going will save you from a lot of unnecessary trouble.
- Backpacking is also a great way to meet different people from different backgrounds. You will learn a lot of new culture, languages, customs and tradition of foreign places. Always have the courtesy of introducing yourself politely to strangers and you will certainly learn a lot of new things from them.
Don’ts
- Don’t make your backpack weigh more than 15kgs. Remember, it’s your backpack and you will have to walk with it hanging on your back for almost half of the day. So, make sure you have packed in such a way that you can lift it without any difficulties.
- Don’t take offers from strangers which might seem too good to be true. Always trust your instincts and better judgment and prevent yourself from getting conned by the local thieves.
- Don’t engage in serious conversations with the local people on topics associated with politics, religion, cultural stereotypes etc. Make sure you remain neutral on any heated topic that they bring up and don’t express any biased opinions.
- Don’t expect that everything will go according to your plan. Backpacking is an adventure and adventure never goes according to plans. So, don’t waste time in making useless plans and go with the flow. See new places, try different foods, make new friends and absorb the beauty of nature as much as possible.