A Not So Lonely Planet

The idea of setting off on an adventure around the world with just a backpack and a pair of hiking boots appeals to many. And why not? Escaping the rat race, experiencing new cultures, witnessing amazing sights and meeting diverse populations is a fascinating and immensely enjoyable way to spend a few months. Backpacking has become an international phenomenon. But has backpacking's leap into mainstream travel diminished its appeal somewhat, perhaps even devaluing the overall experience? On a recent trip around South America I considered this question. Like many fellow travellers I was armed with my Lonely Planet, ready for whatever the continent had to throw at me.

A Lonely Planet guide book is often described as a traveller's bible'. Full of useful information on local attractions, accommodation, transport, tours, places to eat, drink and shop, they certainly can be a great asset in getting to know a country or region. However, undoubtedly guide books of this nature can bring some negative consequences too. เธขย Following any guide book too closely will lead you along a well-trodden route, usually busy tourist Mecca's comprising of large hostel chains, noisy bars and familiar looking backpackers (probably from the previous town you visited). In South America The Gringo Trail' is particularly famous amongst travellers, thanks greatly to Mark Mann's entertaining book of the same title. I read Mark's book along with Che Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries' as part of my pre travel research.

My experience in South America has thought me to always forge my own route. While it is exciting and nostalgic to visit some of the places travelogues and novels encounter, following someone else's journey robs you of the opportunity to have your own unique adventure. No matter how good a book or story, that is not a trade-off I am willing to make. In Danny Boyle's 2000 movie The Beach' starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this very theme is explored as DiCaprio's character, Richard, sets off in search of something completely different. He seeks to escape from all the other foreigners who appear to have travelled around the world to watch TV in Thailand (a familiar sight I had also experienced in Colombia).

This desire leads him to a paradise island and a truly unforgettable adventure. While I would not recommend all of Richard's actions, I applaud his appetite to do something different and have a unique adventure. While more people backpack today than ever before, these types of experiences are becoming increasingly rare. A solo trip without a guide book, to remote areas, without WIFI access, without other English speakers or hostels or home comforts is more challenging and invariably involves more risk. But nothing worth doing is ever easy. เธขย  Robert Frost in his famous poem The Road Not Taken' wrote; Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, เธขย  And that has made all the difference. I bet taking a route less travelled will make all the difference for you too.