I always find it exhausting to explain to people that I am a backpacker and not a tourist.
It's different to travel with a backpack, not knowing where I'm going tomorrow, moving around freely and getting to know the country and people rather than sitting in my little secure hotel, checking out attractions, shopping in department stores and getting a nice beach vacation.
But so often I am labeled as a tourist. I do not know how other backpackers out there are, but no, we are not tourists.
We go where we want, stay longer in places where we feel comfortable and the only time is our return ticket.
We use public transport, talk to locals about their country. There are many small, beautiful villages outside the tourist centers, the people outside of the big cities are so much friendlier and always more than happy to meet one of us.
As a backpacker, I have no suitcase full of make-up and a straightener with me. What clothes I wear I do not care. You have little with you and rarely buy something. Laundry is washed in the laundromat or in the hostel. With a 150 liter backpack that happens in 3 months often.
Traveling with a backpack is the absolute feeling of freedom for me.
I do not hunt sights, I want to get to know country and people. That's why I would never call myself a tourist.
