Hiking, walking, cooking, laughing, relaxing, reading, planning, and chatting. The life of a backpacker. Is there such a thing as a more worry-free and fun lifestyle? I have found backpackers/hostels to be an environment full of people on a similar path who live healthy and always have fun. Looking around my hostel here in Wanaka, I only see relaxed and smiling faces. Some read on the futons, others greet the newcomers who just arrived on the buses, and another group is anxiously chatting away on Skype. I don’t know what language they are speaking, but I can tell that they are sharing an exciting story with family and friends back home.
We don’t know what day it is or even what time it is. Breakfast is eaten whenever we wake up, and snacks and meals are made as we get hungry. Most meals are healthy with fruits and veggies dominating the refrigerators. We can’t afford to go out and eat, so we cook in the kitchen and eat at the tables together. No one knows each other, but we sit around and share life stories like we’ve grown up together. Some of us will meet up in other cities days or even weeks from now, and some of us will never see each other again. But everyone exchanges emails and Facebook details and promises to stay in touch.
One aspect of backpacking that I have enjoyed so much is meeting so many people who share a similar story. Many of us have given up jobs and big screen TVs to fulfill a dream and to challenge ourselves. We have found that our travel experiences have opened us up and enriched our lives. We crave more and feel attached to the lifestyle that has improved us and taught us about ourselves and other people.
I read a quote on the bulletin board at my hostel the other day and thought I would share it. I think it’s very relevant and also has a lot of truth behind it. There wasn’t an author mentioned, but hopefully I haven’t butchered the quote!
“The world is like a book. If you haven’t traveled, then you’ve only read the first page.”
