We do and we be, we travel and we see, but theres nothing quite like being free. Free from criticisms, free from persecution, free from ridicule. If someone choses to flashpack their way around the world, are they really missing out on the 'adventure' aspect of backpacking travel? If someone choses to stay in one destination because they don't want to see their carbon footprint spiral out of control, are they any less of a traveler? Who am I to critique this valiant Eco-Warrior? This Eco-packer. This is their style. Their spin on backpacking. Their perception on how they should travel.
Under the umbrella of backpacking exist many styles of travel. What I have been reading on the internet of late has been concerning me. I touched on it in my last blog post but felt compelled to write more as I trawled more and more comments on this distinction between "tourist" v "traveler" and even to some extents this "flashpacker" v "real backpacker".
Over 100 years ago, G.K. Chesterton laid it down, his distinctions on this issue were summed in one of his famous lines - "The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see”
One of my favourite authors Paul Theroux’s famous line, “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” touches on the contentious issue many young travellers ponder over.
I believe it can be all whittled back to one word. Respect. I respect your style of travel as I respect your personality. The cliche "Live and let live" is ringing in my ears.
I believe the diversification of travel styles and personalities is a progressive one. Embrace it, don't fight it. After all, wouldn't this world be a boring place if everybody looked the same, if there was only one language, one way of doing things, one 'type' of backpacker. It would deny the very existence of what this world is - a mysterious unity held together through the web of diversity.
Amen and goodnight.
Donkey or Camel - Your choice....
Couldn't agree with you more.
ReplyDeleteI'm going travelling in March for three months but for now my blog it just an 'every day' kind of thing but the amount of blogs I have read where people have criticsed each other is ridiculous.
It's almost as if you're criticised if you don't 'slum it' with the bare minimum but a travelling can be whoever or whatever they want to be, however they choose to be.
I for one will be staying in hostels and couch surfing etc but I might spent a night in a luxury spa to relax but it's my choice and 'my way' of travelling.
Well done you for making people realise that we can 'travel' in the way we want :)
cheers for the feedback, yeah its so important not to loose your identity whilst on the road, we all travel for different reasons it would be a tragedy to loose that special something that makes us all unique.
ReplyDeleteWhatever style floats your boat, run with it.
Backpacking comes in all sorts of flavours, there is no right nor wrong way to go about it. As long as you respect the worlds your travelling through and the people you come across - happy days.
Happy travels.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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