Backpacker Days

I am reading a book called "Maximum City". The book is a non-fiction story about the author's experience when he moved back to Mumbai (Bombay). The chapter I was reading was about various problems living in Mumbai like paying the gas man to get cooking gas cylinders.

While reading about these problems, I was overcomed by a wave of nostalgia. I could relate to these problems. I have encountered them often during my travels in India.

In those days I used to travel back-packer style. Nowadays this type of traveller has a more upmarket term coined by the tour companies - F.I.T : Free Independent Traveller. Back when I started to travel in the late 1980's , it was a back-packer , budget traveller or just "The Great Unwashed El cheapo, skinflint tourist". Yeah , I used to be one of these types although I did try to bathe at least twice a day and I did NOT try to always save every dollar.

I think ever since 1999, I have changed the way I travel. Now I stay at hotels instead hostels or guest houses. True, I don't stay at 5 star hotels (affordability reason) but now choose the more affordable 2 or 3 star. I take tours bought from travel companies going around in air-conditioned bus or vans. Usually there is even a tour guide to fend off the touts and unofficial "tour" guides.

There is a price to pay for these conveniences, comfort and security. I spend less time talking to the locals I meet and instead learn about the country from the tourist guide or books. I am surrounded by people connected to the tourist industry.

Discovering about a country, culture and people has been reduced to what I read from the Lonely Planet guidebooks and tourist brochures. The sense of discovery and wonder learning from direct experience is lost.

I resolve to return to my roots, the way I used to travel and enjoy travelling - as a back-packer.


This will be one of my new year resolutions.