Reflections

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it's not open. - Frank Zappa

The backpacker lifestyle can often times move at a frenetic pace. Early morning sunrise hikes, meetups for lunch with recently made friends and late night motorcycle rides fill up one’s itinerary rather quickly. Experiences come and go and the emotions associated with those moments are fleeting. That’s why I have always made it a priority to sit down and journal on all of my trips. I find the transposition of heart and soul onto paper by pen to be greatly meditative. This practice serves a twofold purpose. First, taking a break every now and then will help prevent travellers burnout. This lifestyle will take its toll physically and mentally on even hardened veterans. A mandatory reprieve is necessary to recharge the mind and body. Second, this is also a time to reflect on what has transpired throughout your trip thus far. Where you have been, who you have met and all the emotions that have been attached to those moments. More importantly, this could also be an opportunity to ruminate on things at a much deeper level. This will mainly apply to individuals that are travelling for some form of personal development, but I wholeheartedly think that every traveller is on some form of an intrinsic journey. You just need to be open to the teachings that being on the road can provide for you. Lessons are constantly present, albeit abstract at times. You just have to go and seek them out. They are hidden in the conversations you have with the locals, the setbacks that may arise on the journey, or bartering at the local market. It can come from profound conversations during late night sessions by the fire or from moments of quiet introspection on solo motorcycle rides. The world is a classroom and the teachers can come in many forms. Take the time to reflect and contemplate about what travelling has taught you.The knowledge and wisdom imparted unto you may prove invaluable in the future growth of your inner self.

Impermanence

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light - Dylan Thomas

Time. The certainty of its existence is undeniable; a law of physics that, at the present day, cannot be broken. Yet, the perception of time is something that can be altered and perceived differently by the individual. Backpackers have a unique outlook on this concept as they often go through their journey in a world where time seemingly stands still. The accumulation of memories grows with each passing day, yet there seems to be no expenditure of this precious resource. No longer needed is the notion of what day of the week it is. Weekend transitions seamlessly into weekday and vice versa. Any agenda that you may have can be accomplished in whatever timely manner you see fit. There are no deadlines. No time constraints. A complete polar opposite to the normal Monday to Friday 9-5 that average society participates in. Time seems infinite in the mind of a backpacker. It is when you reach the end of your trip that you come to comprehend that the time you had really was limited. Regardless of how long your journey may have been, there will come a time where that figurative chapter will come to a close. The ephemeral nature of the moments that you experienced will become unquestionably evident; fleeting just like time itself. Understandably, the sudden realization of detachment from this lifestyle can be depressing in the beginning and can prove difficult to address. But really it’s this distinction that makes it so special. The limited amount of time afforded to experience those things will make you appreciate it that much more. Understanding this concept will enhance your interactions with the people you meet along the way, whether it be the locals or fellow backpackers. Friendships will generate with a heightened sense of intensity. Conversations will flow with increased focus and engagement. Sunsets will be seen through a lens of gratitude. Sunrises will be welcomed with energy and vigor. You will laugh a little louder, hug a little longer and dream a little bolder. This all occurs because a thorough understanding of this concept is really a fight against impermanence and entropy; our attempt to extend this given moment to infinity. While it may be a futile attempt, our lives and experiences are forever enriched because of it.

Auditory Retreat

Music is the shorthand of emotion - Leo Tolstoy

If there was one piece of gear that most backpackers can’t live without, many would probably say it would be a portable music device. Ipods, cellphones, tablets. Anything that contains music that can be listened to on the go. I personally find it my most essential piece of gear when I go on any of my trips. Music, in my opinion, can greatly enhance the experience by setting the appropriate mood through sound. The auditory complement to the visuals is like having a fine wine match with an exquisite piece of steak. Sometimes it can be used to accentuate the excitement for the day's daily activities. Other times it provides a personal momentary reprieve, especially during times of fatigue or frustration. It really is a piece of gear that can appropriately be deemed as “essential”. Unfortunately, sometimes the overuse of such devices can actually take you out of being in the moment. There have been instances where I would spend the majority of the day exploring a new city listening to music only to realise at the end of the night that I don’t remember much of what I did that day. Lost in a land of daydreaming. Therefore, whenever I was aware of myself doing this, I would take off my headphones and make a conscious effort in paying attention to all the subtleties around me. I would listen to the buzz of people in the markets. The roar of the motorcycles and automobiles during rush hour traffic. Sizzling of vegetables and assorted meats at the street carts. Conversations flowing in a foreign language. The sounds of the surrounding environment are unique everywhere you go. This momentary digital auditory retreat can be a chance for self-reflection; a moving meditation. Listen to the orchestra of sound that a city, village or town has to offer. This is music in itself.