The Backpacker's Path

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Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor - Alexis Carrel

Two hours riding a motorcycle in a torrential downpour while not even at the halfway mark. Mountain biking 90km through the Cambodian countryside in mid-thirty degree heat. Fighting off a host of various ailments including infections, colds and food poisoning. The backpacking lifestyle is a far cry from the type of experience one would expect from an all-inclusive resort. It often means that you will be tested during the trip and will be placed in very uncomfortable situations. That’s just it really, it was just an uncomfortable feeling. It is inevitable in this form of travel. It’s just part of the process. Really ,without it, backpacking would not be the same. It’s not that I find pleasure in the masochistic aspects of this, but more that hardship will bring out certain traits of the trip that wouldn’t arise otherwise. It’s the hardships that truly shape the experience. Constant highs may seem like paradise, but it’s really when it’s contrasted with occasional lows that will make you really appreciate the moments. Like a pulse that has both high and low peaks, it’s a fitting metaphor for what travel life is all about. What truly living is all about. Travel can and should bring you out of your comfort zone. Let it. Experience it. Flow with the spontaneity and surprises that the drama of travel can bring you. Amidst all the trials and tribulations that you might come across on your journey, it might come as a surprise the amount obstacles you’ve overcome along the way. May knowing that bring you the confidence to continue on without hesitation and fear. Adventure awaits.