6 Things You'll Learn from 'Pack Your Bags and Go' Travel

Travel blogger Stephanie's experiences and the lessons she's learned from her travels may just inspire many wanderlust souls to hit the road!

In 2009, I made the decision to quit my job and spend a year traveling the world.

Feeling unhappy at home, I believed that dedicating time to pursue my passion for travel might help me discover my life's purpose. I spent over a year living with my mother, working tirelessly to save every penny I earned. Each night, I dreamed of the exotic places I would visit and the adventures I would embark on.

But as I began my long journey, things didn't unfold as I had imagined. Here are some of the things I learned in my first year of travel.

1. Fear will not impact your journey

I've endured countless sleepless nights trying to calm myself, while truly being terrified of missing my job and also afraid of traveling alone. When I boarded my first flight to Japan, I cautiously took each step. But strangely enough, it turned out not to be a big deal at all.

You don't have to be very brave to travel. I was quite anxious about how to carry out my journey. But gradually, everything worked out. Adversity breeds heroes, they say; fear forced me out of my weak shell, making me braver.

2. Plans won't unfold as expected

I meticulously planned a around-the-world trip spanning 12-14 months with stops in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. I had a plane ticket to Japan in hand, but then everything suddenly changed before I left.

I met a guy at a travel event just weeks before my trip. He said he was going to teach English in China for a year and invited me to visit. I immediately agreed, and back home, I started applying for a visa and rearranging my plans. This was just the beginning, and eventually, my journey unfolded differently from what I had initially planned, and I felt very happy with this unexpected decision.

3. Bad things will happen

It's entirely natural during a long journey, yet I was quite shocked to find myself alone in a guesthouse in Vang Vieng, Laos, feeling profoundly sad. I missed home, detested this town, and then detested myself even more. Why was I in such agony on the journey I deemed to be the greatest of my life?

When you're traveling, especially for an extended period, you must not weaken in the face of discomfort, self-doubt, and the blues over bad days. All those negative feelings will make you want to give up and return home. When travel is your life, behave as you would in normal life – sometimes it's fantastic, but sometimes it's downright terrifying.

4. Everything is not as peaceful as home

On the road, you may encounter similar issues to mine. In Australia, I lived in a camper van without internet for many months. In China, I breathed polluted air and ate unclean street food. I spent 8 hours on a stuffy bus crossing mountains and slept in some of the worst guesthouses. Nevertheless, these things no longer bothered me.

Alongside those dreadful places, there were times I got to live beside stunning beaches. Traveling for an extended period is an exercise not only in endurance but also in thought and feeling. Long journeys can easily tire you out, but it's crucial not to forget how much effort you've put in. Believe in yourself; you can do things you once thought were impossible.

5. Love for travel will only grow stronger

Anyone who has ever planned a long trip only to encounter mishaps knows how frustrating it can be. Travel hiccups aren't a disaster; to me, they're more like an addiction. The more I travel, the more motivated I am to keep moving forward. Each new destination opens a door to countless other places you simply can't afford to miss. I can only tell you that I can't stop traveling anymore.

6. Things don't always go according to plan, but with what has happened, it's truly worth it.

I'm writing this piece while basking in the sunlight of a small beachfront apartment in Mexico, with my husband sitting across from me typing away (he's the guy who dragged me to China).

Nothing is perfect. Life is still life with its unexpected ups and downs, but to me, it's still pretty good. When things don't go as expected, travel has helped me brush it all aside. Four years later, my life is completely different from what I dreamt of. It's much better and more beautiful.

San San (Source: twenty-somethingtravel)

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour