Backpacking around Asia
Cheap flights to Bangkok - but there's a lot more to think about!
So you've successfully completed the first year of university. And you've found student life is a bit of a slog. But you've worked hard and reaped the benefits. Now it's time for some fun, fun and more fun, not to mention bags of sunshine, too. The cheap flights to Bangkok are booked, the backpack has been dusted down and you're ready to go!
Thailand, a country filled with mystery and beauty, where glorious islands and empty beaches of golden sand abound. Spoilt for choice doesn't describe it. Then there's Bangkok itself, its noisy streets teeming with life and the hustle and bustle of markets and street sellers at every turn. And temples seemingly everywhere, from the spectacular Temple of the Reclining Buddha, where Thai massage is said to have been born, to the Golden Pagoda at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Spectacular sights and sounds and a holiday you'll not likely forget – hopefully, for all the right reasons, too. Because you'll need to calm down a bit and take stock before you leave. After all, you're backpacking it, not going on some frenetic, excursion-laden, week-long package tour, where everything bar the kitchen sink is taken care off. Time to take a bit of a strategic overview.
Going alone? That's fine. However, backpacking with a friend is twice as exciting, especially if your buddy happens to be a member of the opposite sex! There's nothing better than having someone to throw ideas at, especially when the going gets a little tough and you're 200 miles from the nearest village or town that goes under the guise of civilisation. Two minds are better than one, and two people travelling in a strange country together is also much better from a safety point of view. Worth thinking about.
Information is power. So empower yourself! The more you actually know about a country prior to arriving there, the better you'll make use of your limited time. Common sense, surely. So beg, steal or borrow a copy of Lonely Planet, or some other quality guidebook. Time studying it is time well spent.
Yes, your backpacking it, carrying everything you'll need on your back. No need of accommodation then. Or is there? Perhaps it might be worth thinking about spending a day or two out of each week in some cheap but comfortable hotel, you know, to tidy yourself up a bit and maybe catch your breath? Make up a little list of possible places. Might also be worth checking out their web sites, if they have them, and then booking in advance?
Now, we're assuming here you've got a passport? Good. Checked out any visas required? Got the necessary vaccinations and maybe some travel insurance? Purchased a practical, lightweight, quick-to-put-up little one or two-person tent? Excellent. Decided to bring just enough clothing to get by and no more? And bought some good footwear, too? Give yourself a pat on the back. You've done this before!
So you'll have no problem packing. Heavy items to the bottom of the backpack. Valuable items buried deep within, certainly not in the outside pockets where they'd make easy targets for thieves. Use tiny combination locks to keep pockets secure. Buy a bicycle combination chain lock. Use it to attach the backpack to something solid when it has to be stored out of your sight.
Finally, use a bit of common sense. That'll get you as far as you need to go, and probably a lot further. And, of course, have the time of your life!
