travelling advice....

The number one thing conveyed is that backpacking is in no way esoteric, and in pretty much all countries, very easy. It is not really difficult at all. Frustrating at times, yes - difficult, no. All you really need is a measure of gumption and you are away. Of course travelling and place names like Lhasa and Istanbul, sound adventurous, but my grandmother could find her way round most of them (backpackers don't have to be young) and would not be alone in doing so.

Tourism is the world's biggest industry and all but a very, very few places (normally the ones of no real interest or recently struck by war or a natural disaster) are well on the beaten track with the subsequent support industries plentiful. The information on this site is not what you would normally come across in often ambiguous guidebooks. It consists mainly of tips, backpacker relevant information and details on more alternative subjects avoided by published guides. Anyway, trying to duplicate information that is found easily in guidebooks would be rather pointless.

Second to that, demonstrated is just how accessible the world has become - perhaps heading solely to Australia/Europe to work for a year with a stop-off in Thailand or America on the way back is not exactly travelling and a little bit of a cop-out. It's your choice but those who do so are missing out on so much. Let's face it - how often in your life are you going to have the chance, time or money to do this? Did you want to travel or have a holiday? Please, please, still do that (Oz, Thailand et al. are great places) but be aware that so much more is available to you and there is no reason why you should not give it a go. Even if it is not for you, at least try getting to some interesting places, talk to some interesting people and do some interesting things. At worst you will save some money and leave early. The world really is your oyster: you can go pretty much anywhere you like. Try to understand that repeatedly the less appealing a place seems at home, the more appealing it often is there - because you are doing something unique for yourself and have limited expectations.

 And the independent thing? So often abroad, you see groups on tours - and they are always a certain type of people - sure China sounded really exotic at home, but now you're here its not exactly the wilderness - and maybe you think why did they bother? Well the succinct answer is either that a tour really is right for them (for whatever reason), that they are a little lazy or that they didn't know what is being shared here! (don't take my word for it - readers comments). This is the essential, no holds barred information you need to get going - so hit the subject title links to the left, read on and be enlightened.... or in the words of Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.