One thing I learnt whilst travelling is that you really don’t need much to survive.
On my first trip around the world I took a 50l rucksack and backpack that was jammed full of items I thought I would really need. It didn’t help that I was planning on going for a whole year so packed for every option…
- Fashion Jeans
- A number of pairs of shorts
- Cargo Pants
- Hoodies
- Rainmack & Coat
- A host of T-shirts
- Underwear
- A number of smart shirts
- Trainers
- Sleeping Bag
- Hiking Boots
- Ipod
- Speakers & headphones
- Full wash kit
- First Aid Bag
- Penknife
- Lonely Planet books
- A Paperwork folder
- Hat
- Sunscreen
The list went on and on…
And that is just what I remember… What I soon discovered was that I really didn’t need the majority of what I had… essentially it was all dead weight. The further I travelled the more I left behind. It all started with my 3 pairs of jeans, then my smart shirts, then my sleeping bag and went on and on.
It is amazing how little you can actually live with. It was also amazing how easily I forgot about the commercialism that had previously become an integrated part of my existence. At home I drove a company Porsche, I ate out, I bought designer jeans and t-shirts. However it was such a quick transition. I only bought what I really needed – what a liberating experience.
Although it lasted for a number of months after returned, I soon fell back into my old ways. However the one thing I never returned to was the designer part – I no longer see the need to purchase jeans that cost £40 more just for a label! I suppose that’s a plus…
My recommendation to anyone going backpacking is pack lightly and only the essentials – you will soon realise that you don’t need much to survive, and it’s a very liberating experience.
A Wandering Memory 