As I head towards the end of my 2nd year of backpacking, this got me thinking about everything I learned during my first year. Between September 2015 and September 2016 I had traveled through South East Asia and onto Australia and it's safe to say it taught me a heck of a lot! I discovered a lot about travel and even more about myself!
Here are 17 lessons that I learnt and I'm sure most travellers can relate to!
You become a better person!
Traveling has taught me how to be an overall better person, to myself, to others and to the world! It's taught me how to be independent and confident on my own, how to be more patient, how to thrive in foreign cultures and communicate in other ways than just verbally! It's also given me a greater appreciation for the world around me!
People are the greatest!
Traveling allows you to meet a huge amount of people from all parts of the world. I have met so many kind, hilarious and genuinely great people along the way and they have been what makes my journey better! Locals and fellow travellers will go out of their way to help you and make you feel welcome.
Don't pack too much!
The difference between my backpack now compared to when I first left home is incredible. I packed way too many things I never needed and never used. I've learnt that all you need are the essentials, the rest you either don't need or you can find along the way. I.E. Passport, clothes (not too many), shoes, toothbrush, towel and soap. Honestly, you don't even need a phone!
There’s nothing wrong with not knowing!
Throwing yourself in the unknown is a very daunting thing. Flying half way across the world to distant lands and foreign cultures might seem like something that needs a detailed itinerary but it really doesn't, trust me! Before I left home I gave myself a plan of action and within days of starting my journey I had already met people who made me want to abandon my itinerary! It's easy to travel without a plan. It forces you to think on your feet, making you incredibly adaptable! Your confidence grows and the fear of the unknown vanishes.
Put your phone down!
It's undeniable that you will see countless things that you want to take a snap of and be able to show off to your folks back home and on your social media pages but I urge you to put down the phone or camera and experience it! Don't get me wrong, I take heaps of photos. It's the best way to create everlasting evidence of your trip but make sure that you actually exist during the moment. Don't allow your one and only memory of it to be from behind a phone or through a lens!
People come and go!
When you're living on the road, staying in hostels, you are going to see a lot of faces! Most of those people are just like you, bounding from place to place for a few days at a time and are leaving just as fast as they arrived. As strange as it may seem, friendships can be very temporary while traveling. People come and go, give you an incredible time, make you laugh, make you smile and then a day or two later, you're parting ways because your paths don't align. It's a difficult feeling to grasp but it makes you cherish people more. At the end of the day, people are what make your trip memorable! It makes you appreciate the time you spend with them, no matter how little time it is.
But stick with the ones you like!
That being said, if you meet someone that you really like, stick with them! There's nothing wrong with changing your route in order to keep a friendship or relationship going. The first group of people I met on my travels actually shaped the majority of my South East Asia trip. A large group of us ended up traveling together for a few weeks and eventually as the group thinned out we were left with great friendships that are still strong today! I have adapted my journey many times in order to stick with friends or reunite with people that I've met on the road!
Respect the country you are in!
Learn the do's and do not's of the country you are visiting and abide to their etiquette. I personally find it interesting and enjoyable to immerse into another culture! Of course, locals will be forgiving and understanding but don't push your luck!
Learn the lingo!
Now, I'm not saying you should be fluent in Mandarin or Portuguese for a 2 week trip or anything! However, you should try to learn the basic lingo to help get you through! Locals will always appreciate a traveler who is trying to speak in their native language, even if you are terrible and saying everything wrong! I once tried to order a burger with extra chips in Thailand, said it so badly that they gave me a burger for free! See what I mean? Beneficial!
It’s okay not to miss home!
My friends always ask me, "Do you not miss home?" and i always give them this answer. "I miss my family and friends but I don't miss my life at home".
Life on the road moves so quickly and you will be doing new and incredible things as you go! You'll be constantly making new friends, hopping through countries, living the life you've dreamt about and creating memories. It's perfectly okay to not miss being home! You'll miss your family and your best friends but those types of bonds don't break just because you're thousands of miles apart!
Enjoy the little things!
When traveling around the world there's a lot of expectation from yourself and others to be doing life changing things 24/7 and always be doing something adventurous! But it's actually very important to take a step back and enjoy the little things as you go. You're traveling, you're already doing the life changing thing so make sure you don't take anything for granted! Watch the sunset from the beach, talk to the locals, try new foods, explore every place you visit because you might never get the chance to do it again! It took me too long to stop and realise, "I'm on holiday, I need to relax and stop pressuring myself".
Life-long friendships!
There's no question that some of the friends you make on your travels will last a lifetime! You'll share amazing stories, visit beautiful places, get lost together and so much more! In fact, the majority of my best friends are people that I've met whilst traveling. It also gives you an excuse to visit their countries and stay with them for free!
Always have an open mind and an optimistic attitude!
Any place that you visit, do so with an open mind and an optimistic attitude! Culture changes from country to country and some parts of it will be unfamiliar and probably crazy! It's important to let go of any presumptions you may have and readjust with your experiences. Realistically, you are in control of your trip, being closed-minded will only affect how enjoyable it is.
Don’t doubt yourself!
No matter where you are in the world, there will always be pessimistic, misanthropical and cynical people who will make you question your decisions. When it comes to traveling, this cynicism usually comes from people back home who are jealous of your experiences! I have learned to trust myself and the choices I make. Every decision you make, whether the outcome is good or bad, is still a decision that YOU made and counts towards your experience and your ability to grow. Never doubt yourself.
Don’t worry!
It's practically an unwritten rule that you will find yourself in a predicament or two whilst traveling! Things don't always go to plan but it's vital that you don't let it get you down! I lost my travel credit card the first day I arrived in Thailand, Oops! Of course I freaked out for a few minutes but after a couple of transactions the problem was solved and it was like nothing even happened. The important lesson I got from this, as well as multiple other dilemmas, is 'don't worry!'. Anything is manageable so just chill out!
Its okay to be cliché!
Be the cliché traveler! Awkwardly ask a stranger to take a photo of you looking into the distance, buy the loose and baggy trousers, wear the head band, drink cheap beer. Who cares if it's a cliché thing to do? Just do it! You're probably only going to be there once!
You are more than capable!
This is possibly the most important lesson from my first year of travel and it's something I'd like every aspiring traveler to learn. Most people have the attitude that they can't travel for reasons X,Y and Z but the truth is, anyone can do it. You are beyond capable of living any kind of life you want. You are more than capable of saving money, booking a flight and leaving your life behind! I'm not saying it's easy, you have to work hard for the life that you want but once you take the first steps, it gets easier and easier!