As an answer to some rumors, his time just a short story to defend something I still believe in…

A real backpacker.

A backpacker use to be someone who travels around with a backpack and not a lot of money, trying to find undiscovered spots.

Nowadays however most places are already well explored and lots of people who travel with a backpack call themselves backpackers. All backpackers see themselves as the best travelers and most look down on other tourists. However some backpackers are not such welcome visitors anymore. Some of them think that they have to be as cheap and dirty as possible to be a ‘real backpacker’. Others hardly carry their backpack on their back anymore, but take taxi’s from airport to bus station, to hotel and back… The first may argue with an old lady who wants to sell them a bread for 10 cent while they drink coffee in her restaurant and eat their own yogurt (I have seen it…).  The others complain if their hotel is noisy and doesn’t have hot water. Both call themselves ‘backpackers’, but to me they are both a disgrace to this title. No maybe it is time to redefine a real backpacker again.

In my opinion a real backpacker can be anyone who travels with a backpack and the right mind. He or she of course, but to keep the story easier to read, I revere to the backpacker as a male, is flexible and adapts to most situations without complaining. He accepts and respects his surrounding and tries not to disturb. In return he also wants to be respected.

A backpacker travels economical, but not cheap. He doesn’t mind to pay more for better service, but not just because he is a foreigner. He looks for fair price and quality arrangements. He understands well that the lesser he pays the lesser he gets. He doesn’t complain soon and understands that he needs to pay more if he wants to travel, sleep and/or eat more ‘luxury’. If he pays only 5US$ for a room, he knows he must be happy to receive a mattress.  If he doesn’t want the bus to stop at each corner, he pays more for a direct bus. Sometimes he does this for a bit more luxury, often for security or to be able to sleep and save a night in a hotel.

He travels around out of curiosity for the world around to places anywhere in the world. He finds it interesting to meet other people/travelers and sees this as part of the experiense, but he doesn't like like to meet too many of them at the same moment, as it distubs the feeling of being on a real adveture.  He observes, experiences, adapts and learns. He doesn’t bother others and tries to preserve the surroundings where he travels for others who follow him. He feels at home where his backpack stands, but never stops caring about the people he loves. After a week, a month, a year or any time he will arrive back home, wherever this is, rich but with no money. His mind filled with special memories never to forget.

I still hope to be one of these backpackers and I’m sure there are many more, but unlike the fake ones real backpackers travel so careful they might be hard to notice.

Saludos,

Martijn