Anyone been backpacking solo?

[Ignis Fatuus]

Take less stuff than you think you need. As Wanderer says, don't take anything you don't want to lose. That stops you worrying so much about your stuff. (By the time you come back, stuff will be less important anyway)

Take photographs. I was advised to keep a diary (which I never did before and don't do in home life). That was a great idea.

[Ignis Fatuus]

I'd recommend leaving the contractor lifestyle behind for the trip though. Slum it for a while, it's a lot easier to meet people in a hostel than a nice hotel, and it'll be more fun too I reckon.

WHS. Definitely.

[OwlHoot]

True that. The backpacking trips with a gf were not half as much fun.

No wonder - She ordered Sas to carry her backpack on top of his

[Mich the Tester]

Take photographs. I was advised to keep a diary (which I never did before and don't do in home life). That was a great idea.

Be careful with that one. You might later discover that that ravishing beauty on the beach in Sicily was not so ravishing after all.

(remembers Lady Tester's immortal words after she saw my backpacking pics; 'you shagged THAT munter?')

[Basil Fawlty]

GO GO GO GO !

I travelled round SE Asia and Oz alone 10 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I also think it's best to travel alone - you'll have less pre-conceived ideas about the experiences you encounter.

A friend of a friend of a friend wrote this book about his experiences in SE Asia - he seems to have got a bit intoxicated with the local ladies, and has quite a stamina for non-stop drinking - but overall he captures some of the experiences and feelings rather well :

I OF THE SUN | The new novel by Richard Arthur

[Basil Fawlty]

GO GO GO GO !

I travelled round SE Asia and Oz alone 10 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I also think it's best to travel alone - you'll have less pre-conceived ideas about the experiences you encounter.

A friend of a friend of a friend wrote this book about his experiences in SE Asia - he seems to have got a bit intoxicated with the local ladies, and has quite a stamina for non-stop drinking - but overall he captures some of the experiences and feelings rather well :

I OF THE SUN | The new novel by Richard Arthur

Oh I meant to mention though - the one drawback of travelling is coming home.

After spending my days floating down the Mekong in an inflatable tyre being fed cold beers along the way, it was a hell of a shock to the system to find myself back in the office when I got back...

[Ketchup]

GO GO GO GO !

I travelled round SE Asia and Oz alone 10 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I also think it's best to travel alone - you'll have less pre-conceived ideas about the experiences you encounter.

A friend of a friend of a friend wrote this book about his experiences in SE Asia - he seems to have got a bit intoxicated with the local ladies, and has quite a stamina for non-stop drinking - but overall he captures some of the experiences and feelings rather well :

I OF THE SUN | The new novel by Richard Arthur

thank you, will read that, the sample looked quite interesting. Floating down the mekong in the sunshine with a cold beer sounds perfect at the moment. Although SE Asia isn't at the top of my list, i have always wanted to visit Eastern Europe and the former soviet block, then possibly take the trans siberian to Mongolia and China.

Also really want to visit much of south america, but think that will have to be another trip

[Ignis Fatuus]

thank you, will read that, the sample looked quite interesting. Floating down the mekong in the sunshine with a cold beer sounds perfect at the moment. Although SE Asia isn't at the top of my list, i have always wanted to visit Eastern Europe and the former soviet block, then possibly take the trans siberian to Mongolia and China.

Also really want to visit much of south america, but think that will have to be another trip

By chance I checked the weather report for Outer Mongolia last week. Night-time low of -33C. That would be the 4-season sleeping bag, then.

[KentPhilip]

Ok they were ladyboys

..

[xoggoth]

Did you find any problems with Holland - seemed to be not the done thing to hitch hike judging by the lack of lifts I got there...

Don't think hitching is the done thing now, this was a long time ago. Only seen one hitchhiker in the UK in about 5 years. Mostly found no problem getting lifts back then. Fending off groping Italians was the main problem.