The Backpacking Logic, Spirit and Culture
A backpacker’s fantasy is to become at one with the earth. They prefer to pack their bags and head out to a land where they will find similar minded people. They prefer not to converse with the real people but rather want to have an adventure with other backpackers while relaxing and eating in on pizzas and milkshakes. It is a form of “institutionalized tourism”, says Heba Aziz in the Focus magazine. She goes onto say that backpackers live in a bubble with shared values and behaviour patterns of other backpackers. They are not what the common understanding is of them, of being avoidant to encounters with tourists but they share a similar mindset.
Tony Wheeler, who is the founder of the Lonely Planet series, has been known as “the patron of backpackers”. He says that many backpackers are like sheep and more aware and perceptive in nature. He goes on to say that backpacking brings money closer to a ground level, whereas tourism with the international tour operators makes money go back to the sending country. It is a forerunner to tourism but is not a bad thing.
Sarah Long of the Lonely Planet advises backpackers on doing a thorough research before setting out on the adventure, to purchase guides, read up on the net, converse with other travellers and go completely informed of the place. Be sure to know what to pack as well; something like Snugpak the Sleeping Bag and a tent could be essential if you ever travel to a place without proper accommodation. “Doing your homework before you go is one of the undoubted ways of helping to make a more positive impact on the environment you’re travelling to” says Sarah long.
