After backpacking solo in 50+ countries for 350 days, I am on my last leg of the journey to Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina before finally heading back home in a few weeks.
This journey has been filling with experiments and self discovery – My perspectives have changed, while my personality has not. Despite being totally open to venture out and experience new things, I am still an introvert for the most part: I don’t need to be constantly surrounded by people to feel happy, and I enjoy reading a book in the evening more than partying the night away. On the other hand, I have a battery inside me that allows me to function socially for a certain length of time per day. Once it is drained, my social skills vanish, whether I have been having a good time or not, and I feel a tremendous need to be by myself and recharge. Having realized these pros and cons, I have learned to balance my group time with my quiet time, so that I can be truly “on” when socializing.
In addition to discovering myself, there are many useful lessons that I learned during this journey – Here are some of them:
1. Do what adds value to your life: We tend to compare ourselves to others, and forget what we truly value. At the end, we waste energy on things that seem cool to other people but add no real value to our lives. Here is the thing: I will never be replicating your experience and you will never have mine. There is no so-called “must-do’s”. Venture out, and create your own journey. At the end of the day it is YOUR journey and do whatever is meaningful to YOU.
2. Stuff is just stuff: We live in a materialistic society where we value “things” more than experience, and we focus so much of our energy collecting things that we don’t need. As a backpacker, I have learned to travel light and not to sweat the small stuff: I have lost count of how many laptops, iPod, backpacks, shoes, and sunglasses that got stolen or simply wore out over the past 12 months. Own only what you need and don’t sweat it – Things are replaceable. Collect memory, experience, knowledge, perspectives, and meaningful relationships – Not stuff.
3. We are in a paradigm: People around me back home tend to believe in one set of ideas and fixate their lifestyle toward that. As soon as I got out of the country, I realized that people don’t give a damn about things that were the most important in the world. Try, experiment, travel – Get out of the paradigm and explore the options.
4. Don’t chase relationship: Over the past 12 months I have met many people from all around the world. But let’s face it – Cultivating relationships takes efforts, especially when we are thousands of miles away. Many people that I encountered will inevitably become just names on my contact list. Some people will move on with their lives and stop responding to messages – I have been in both sides of the situation so I know the reasonings. If that happens, don’t feel rejected and simply move on. If a person wants to be in your life, he/she will show up even if it takes extra efforts. Thanks to social media, we are being fed with occasional updates from our friends and have the opportunity to reignite relationships when the time comes. Meanwhile, cherish the friendships and relationships that you already have.
5. Be spontaneous: When I first started out backpacking, I used to plan out every single detail and book all the flights and accommodations in advance. Then I realized that I didn’t have much flexibility traveling in this manner. Sure, if you only have a couple of weeks of travel time, it might be wise to plan everything in advance. But if you have more time, be spontaneous – You never know what countries you like more than others. By having no fixed schedule, I was able to stay only a few days in some smaller European countries, while spending several weeks in countries like India and Bolivia.
While my life is constantly evolving and I continue to search for my mission and purpose, I can definitely say that this will not be my last backpacking journey. There are many countries that I am yet to explore. Instead of just dots on the map with countries that I did not know exist, I look forward to further stretching my comfort zone and to fill those places with vivid memories and personal stories.
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Don’t ask me what is going on here. I don’t even know.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Me vs. T-Rex.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Messing around with some travelers from Korea.
@Uyuni
Chacaltaya, a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real range.
@Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya, a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real range.
@Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya, a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real range.
@Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya, a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real range.
@Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya, a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real range.
@Chacaltaya
Summiting wearing a pair of sandals! As a light traveller, I have exactly one pair of shoes, one pair of pants, and a couple of light jackets. Hiking show mountains requires simply throwing everything I have on my body (sorry toes for a few hours I didn’t feel you existed).
@Chacaltaya
We went through some adverse situations just to get to the base camp. It took the driver some mad driving skills to not fall off the cliff.
@Chacaltaya
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Crossed border into Peru to visit the Uros floating islands at Lake Titicaca. The islanders live on many layers of reeds, and they rely on hunting, fishing, and tourism for their livings. We had a chance to tour their homes and experience what it is like to live on the islands. Technology has improved their lives by providing electricity via solar power.
@Puno
Cholita wrestling, a Bolivian WWF-style wrestling where women dressed in traditional garb put on quite a show battling each other.
@LaPaz
Bolivian Carnival parade, where people holding spray cans of foam sprayed at each other. I took out my phone for about 30 seconds to snap some pictures and it almost got destroyed.
@LaPaz
Some pretty crazy stuff being sold at the Witches’ Market: Dried llama fetuses, love potions, and other folk remedies for the local rituals.
@LaPaz
Tiwanaku, a ruined ancient city near the highest navigable lake in the world – Lake Titicaca, which sits on thre border of Bolivia and Peru. The city has the remains of the Pre-Incan civilization.
@Tiwanaku
I was a little late, like a couple of decades late. The trains rusted out waiting for me.
@Uyuni
I was a little late, like a couple of decades late. The trains rusted out waiting for me.
@Uyuni
Typical Bolivian hat and hairstyle.
@SunIsland
Rock formations.
@MoonValley
Walking tour.
@LaPaz
La Paz is a city with staggering height (11,800 feet) and is surrounded by massive mountains.
@LaPaz
La Paz is a city with staggering height (11,800 feet) and is surrounded by massive mountains.
@LaPaz
La Paz is a city with staggering height (11,800 feet) and is surrounded by massive mountains.
@LaPaz
