Get that backpack on - and go!

CEBU, Philippines - While the call for healthy living is keeping a spot on the trends list, the penchant for outdoor exploration like hiking, walking and trekking among youngsters and like-minded individuals has also been a growing interest. The World Tourism Organization estimates that youth travel and backpacking now accounts for between 20 to 25 percent of international tourist trips.

Over the years, the emergence of backpacking has indeed changed the phase of youth culture. From being a loose sack with shoulder straps, then to being called as knapsack or rucksack, then to being Dora the Explorer’s ready companion, backpacks and backpacking have evolved the idea of youthfulness.

What is backpacking, anyway? The history of backpacking dates back to 1920 when Lloyd F. Nelson invented the camping backpack. Accounts say that in an effort to make his carrying “pack” more comfortable, Nelson tailored a rigid pack board that is both portable and sturdy.

In its strictest sense, backpacking is more than just travelling handy and putting everything in one huge bag. Backpacking, according to www.camping.lovetoknow.com, involves a combination of hiking and camping. Therefore, a true backpacker has to spend at least one night in the open-air, using only what’s inside his backpack. Less of this requirement, then the experience may only qualify as a day hike or a mere camping.

But for many, as long as it is fun, whatever floats their boats – that is backpacking.

Indeed, there are several reasons that make backpacking an interesting idea. For those who need some push, writer Sarah Kelly shares in the website www.exploremyworldtravel.com ten reasons why backpacking is a good idea. 

1.  The Learnings

This is a cast-iron guarantee, and the first reason to get out and see the world. One will learn something he or she never knew before, whether it’s something about oneself or the outside world. It would be incredible to find out that one could actually read maps and Chinese signposts or that a bowl of Vietnamese noodles is fantastic. 

2. The Sights 

Just seeing something in a photo or on TV will never equate to the real thing. There are certain things that need to be seen for real to get the full experience. Standing in the Sistine Chapel and just gazing up at the ceiling, watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat, seeing the lights of Las Vegas appear over the desert horizon in Nevada are incomparable experiences.

3. The Actual Travel 

This is what the traveler does in between seeing the sights and chilling out at his hostel. It’s the 16-hour bus trip, the overnight train and the unexpected flight delays. These are the times to read the book one has been meaning to dig upon, to write something, to revisit one’s old playlist, or to just sit back and take in the scenery in a new country. Isn’t it fun to go on a chess game with anyone who’ll play. Going backpacking is the time one learns it’s not about where he is going, but learning to enjoy getting there. 

4. Getting to Know the Traveling Buddy

When traveling with a partner, one does not only learn about oneself and the place, but also an opportunity to discover more about one’s other half. Getting caught in a sudden rainstorm in the middle of nowhere or having hours to kill when the two of them just got off a night bus and waiting for the room to be ready will try any relationship. In the end, whatever happens, the experience will allow the relationship to grow closer than ever before or be spared from making a very big mistake. 

 5.  New People 

Backpacking presents a multitude of opportunities to meet new people, from shared train compartments to the common area of one’s hostel, there’s always someone around to share war and horror stories with. 

 6. The Weather 

When one is travelling, chances are the weather where one goes will be better than what one gets at home. So it’s good to soak up the sun when one has the chance and get some Vitamin D, forgetting not the sunscreen, of course. If unlucky enough to arrive somewhere in monsoon season, it’s time to marvel at the pounding rain, and one might get lucky and have to take a couple of unexpected boat trips.  

7. The Food 

If the traveler is on a budget, he’s probably not going to be dining out in restaurants most nights, but that doesn’t mean that the food he eats elsewhere is not going to be great. The budget traveler has to take the time to find some quality street food, whether it’s a Turkish kebab, a German sausage, or healthy Thai vegetables and noodles, there’s a world of cheap yet exciting culinary experiences out there just waiting to be tried. 

8. The Exercise 

And here’s the perfect reason to enjoy all that good food. Backpacking involves a lot of moving around. First and foremost, the backpack weighs a bit already to carry around. Even if one is not looking for a particularly activity-filled adventure; he is going to be walking around a lot more than usual when sightseeing and going from place to place.

9. The Confidence 

The extra exercise and leaner look is going to make an impact on one’s self-esteem. The independence and self-reliance that develop in navigating strange cities and countries, transport systems, and different languages are enough to make even the shyest and most retiring person come out of himself at least a bit. 

10. Living Longer 

Looking back at the reasons above, one sees good food, fresh air, blazing sunshine, more friends, all making a healthy, optimistic, and popular person. The three things that any doctor will say are exactly what one needs to live a long and happy life. 

Lastly, one overriding benefit from backpacking is – it’s really a lot of fun. (Additional reference: www.academia.edu)