Here I share what how I am backpacking around Malaysia whenever I am in semester break.
Backpack is not always by foot , heard before "Car Backpacking" ?
-Backpacking doesn't necessarily mean that we need to go by foot, even by car it is considered a backpacking activities for me. Once, I had a friend who travel around in his car doing a survey on educational in his own car for every states in Peninsular of Malaysia. Hence if got a car to spare , why don't use it ? Malaysia aren't known to be nice to pickup hitch hiker. ALWAYS service the car by the authorized mechanist before on the big ride. Also you can eliminate the need of travel light since you are traveling by car. :D
( : ) This is the grand example of "Car Backpacking" )
Get a travel bud
-A buddy in need is a buddy in need, hence find a buddy who is almost same level of macho-ness, cool attitude and pattern as you , as you don't want to have a nocturnal as problems arise when you share the room. Travel buddy is indispensable because they can share the joy of discovering something new, split cost , extra sense of security , someone to help you carry you out in case of drunk moments . ;) . Hence before starting out, PLAN the trip TOGETHER as the trip doesn't lean to one side preferences and also agree on the BUDGET either spend on shoestring or extragavently .
( Getting a travel bud is easy but finding the RIGHT bud is difficult as different people have different preferences )
DSLR Camera ? Keep it at home
-In any of my backpacking trip, I NEVER brings them out because it is a way to scream you are rich making you the thief magnet and also it is cumbersome to travel around with it on foot. Travel light using 5 MP/8MP phone camera with 8GB memory card should be suffice to take photos since most of us post our travels pics in Facebook and not some travel blog or agency. I only use DSLR for family photograph and some important functions.
(No offence to Nikon, they produce good quality DSLR . :) Just to show my points)
Bring plenty of cashes as possible
-Not in every place you go , the credit card will be accepted, hence be prepared with extra cashes in hand in case of emergencies arises especially in rural areas where the green speak louder than the card and also some rural area do not have ATM. Or not having enough cash ? Try bartering with the unusual goods like rokok kretek , chocolates , colour pencils (you brought from home) if you are really interior places like Sarawak Bario Highlands.
(As a general rule , keep RM 500 in yourself and another RM 500 in the car, diversify the $ in different storage places :If you that had much $ to spare in first place :P : ...)
Train the stamina
-Although you are traveling by car, there are in time you need to fix the blown tires , call for PLUS truck pulley by running to nearest booth toll to make a call or sidetrack to do a short trekking/bicyle trekking , you still need have the stamina to do it. As rule of thumb, build up your stamina daily either by gym or jogging or taichi or whatever the sports to build up your strength for at least 3 months before the actual backpacking .
(I love having big strong muscular biceps arm ... )
Enjoy the Journey
-Although reaching the destinations is a priority itself but the journey along to that places makes it count such as tasting local cuisines, sight-seeing and other wonderful kinds of memories. It is better to make MISTAKES in a journey so that you know the enjoyment of being lost in somewhere and sometimes and enjoy part of the journey itself.
(A typical exaggerated scenario: Oh no I over turned at last junction and now I arrived in China . :) Never mind I see what China offers to me)
I will add more points from time to time in case I remember at all
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