I am an emotion-seeker rambling towards the rising sun. Left my steady jobs behind, I felt the undelayable urge to wake up a creative, asleep instinct…
I am wandering through Africa, Middle East, Asia and beyond to try to narrate ancient cultures in a new, intriguing way.
Below you may find MY peculiar Backpacker Decalogue:
- AVOID PLANES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE: try to always use overland means to fully grasp the enchantment of the planet.
- STEER CLEAR OF THE PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION (taxis, tuk-tuks, ubers…) AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE: walking is so cheap, healthy, exploratory and even environmentally friendly! Alternatively, catch the public services or even endevour to travel by hitchhiking (especially on less trodden roads). It will be definetely more challenging and gratifying.
- BE FRUGAL: this way you will be economically sustainable, locally respectful and, more importantly, a durable, long-lasting traveller! For example, in Asia, you shouldn’t spend an average of more than 25 EUR/day, all included. Remember this is a discovery trip, not summer vacations 🙂
- KEEP AWAY FROM ORGANIZED TOURS, unless it is really inevitable (e.g. North Korea). Embrace a unique perspective!
- BE INDEPENDENT: following from the previous one, but more focused on investigating info by yourself; getting fresh data from locals and other travellers; downloading all the relevant maps and apps; subscribing to the useful portals, etc. ..Do not plan too much either! Be relaxedly spontaneous and go with the flow…
- BE SOCIAL: make use of social networks to get in touch with locals and other travellers to share expenses, knowledge and experiences. Sign up for platforms like Backpackr, Flipthetrip, Travello, and more to join solo travellers like you in the whereabouts.
- Maximize COUCHSURFING to cut accommodation costs and live the real local atmosphere! Hostels are good too (mostly to liaise with other fellow-travellers and speak some familiar English :); but they miss the vivid and authentic experience of staying in a real, popular house as well as eating home-made, indigenous food. I did not register myself, but there are many more platforms to stay close to locals and help them out (e.g. Woof, Workaway, Worldpackers, Helpx, and so on).
- UNDERSTAND PEOPLE, CULTURE AND PLACES: be sensitive not to hurt and disregard the humble visited communities nor to display unnecessary Western pomp. Be as much low-profile as possible, also to exclude any possible security troubles.
- SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE: give some of your luck back by generating social contents through apps, blogs, photo stocks, travel forums, social networks, etc. to support other travellers and inspire people!
- BE “SABBATICAL” OR FREELANCE: take advantage of your “youth” ages as much as possible, since they quickly (and sadly) pass and although travelling at a mature or old age may still be interesting, physical force and dynamic spirit progressively dwindle, reducing in their turn the range of your travel options. Leaving aside the fact that many family and working hindrances could “break in” at any time after 30. I have personally discovered there are two main ways to undertake long (at least 3 months) journeys: by sedentarily working, saving a lot and quitting for sabbatical (what I did myself on an almost yearly basis for the last decade or so); OR, ideally and for more long-term purposes, by finding a freelance activity. The former demands more sacrifices during the working periods but rewards you with much freer time during your trip; the latter requires to have steady and “remote” income, constant internet connection, a minimum working schedule, etc., but truly offers a longer sustainable mix of wandering and career stability. Just pick the most suitable option for you !!
- ***BONUS*** GO TO AFRICA (SOLO AND INDEPENDENT): only after visiting the Southern Part (North is more developed) of Madagascar (as of August 23, third poorest country in the whole world), I could really understand what poverty, misery and loneliness are. I had honestly never even brushed with a country similar to that, not even in my previous 98 countries. After this solo independent trip (no agencies nor tours), all my long-standing certainties and values were completely reconsidered. Africa is where you are truly and helplessly on your own. All kind of services, transportation and people will project you decades or centuries back. Desperate, tattered people will beg you for money all the time. Your life is always in danger without much to do about. The constant fear of being robbed, conned or assaulted devoures you at any corner, any time. Ridiculous (in Western world) 200 km transfers might take even days on terrible dirt roads studded with deep craters and muddy rivers to cross on precarious rafts. Communication and information are forever borderline and incomplete. In short, the pure and ultimate adventure for real travellers.
Passion is action.
If you are gonna cross my path somewhere, please do not hesitate to reach out for a beer!
