Buzz
You've probably heard a lot of people talk about backpacking, maybe you've even read some stories from those who have 'been backpacking' recounting their experiences throughout the journey. So what is backpacking? Where does the youth's passion come from?
1. What is backpacking?
Currently, there isn't an exact definition of 'backpacking.' However, you can understand backpacking as a form of adventure travel. Backpacking is all about spontaneous trips, no fixed itineraries, no tour guides, not knowing where you'll end up, just the passion and desire to explore new places.
Even though spontaneous, lacking a fixed itinerary, it still follows a certain organization. Backpacking not only saves costs but also allows firsthand experiences, touching and seeing with the purpose of learning and discovering.
Backpacking is truly no different from roughing it. It's not fussy about clothing, means of transportation, just needing a motorbike, essential items, a camera, or a phone to capture moments throughout the journey. It's not just about that; roughing it extends to eating and sleeping. There's no concept of eating well, resting in cozy beds; backpackers' sleeps are simple, sometimes camping, cooking a chicken together, sometimes sleeping under the 'million-star hotel' next to a blazing fire.
Similar to tourism, backpacking is about exploration. However, when backpacking, one can reach the most pristine natural landscapes, the beautiful scenes that tourism cannot reach. The more rugged, the more rugged, the more attractive to backpackers. What they always crave is to see and touch with the purpose of knowing and learning. So when they reach it, they will feel extremely happy.
Many people believe that 'Backpacking is torture,' and that's not entirely wrong. If it's not torture, then it's tourism, it's vacationing gone. To touch the beautiful scenes, they have to endure hardships, traverse forests, cross waterfalls, endure rain and scorching sun, driving through the night is all very normal. In exchange for this torture, for that passion, is the beautiful natural scenery bestowed, the cultural values in strange places.
Backpacking is truly arduous, but if given the choice again, many would still choose backpacking. Backpacking to discover oneself, to rediscover oneself. The hardships, the somewhat risky ventures, help the traveler expose all hidden abilities, utilize all survival skills available, or learn from those traveling alongside. Backpackers, they must be responsible for themselves, forcing them to become courageous, resolute. Each journey, you will discover a capability of yourself that you wouldn't normally realize.
If traveling, you can go alone or with a group, but when backpacking, you must go with a group or have companions. Because, you never know what awaits you ahead, will there be unexpected events compared to your plans?
2. Who loves backpacking the most?
Those who love backpacking, who participate in backpacking trips, are called backpackers. They are the most ordinary people, belonging to any class. They could be a businessman, a shop owner, a journalist, an ordinary laborer, ... or a student, all sharing a passion for roads, a love for nature.
Those who enjoy backpacking often live by the philosophy of wanderlust, liking to go off the beaten path, explore the unfamiliar. The fewer people know about a place, the more enticing it becomes. To satisfy that wanderlust. For these individuals, sitting still for too long feels like stagnation, they yearn to break free.
3. Trends in youth backpacking
In their backpacking journeys, they never set goals, standards, or specific itineraries.
Some backpack for the pure passion, known as authentic backpacking. Some travel in the form of backpacking but it's merely budget travel.
There are longstanding backpacking groups, always together wherever they go, but there are also temporary groups. They meet through backpacking communities, arrange to meet on a certain route, as long as they enjoy participating, those capable of joining will form a group known as a temporary backpacking group.
Some backpackers simply want to have a special adventure with their friends, loved ones. Sometimes it's to refresh and challenge themselves, to satisfy their own passions.
4. The significance of backpacking
So why choose such hardship for exploration? Because after each backpacking trip, participants will gain a lot of meaning. Specifically as follows:
Exploring geographical and cultural diversity
Backpacking is not just about enjoyment, relaxation, and relieving stress after life's pressures but also brings participants new sensations, new discoveries about beauty, nature, and people through each region they set foot in.
Building self-determination
When deciding to go backpacking, you must take responsibility for yourself; no one can take care of you now. When participating in backpacking, you must take responsibility for your actions, existence, safety, and that of your teammates. The pressure of survival will help us develop independence, perseverance, team spirit, unity, and mutual assistance.
Stress Reduction
Think about why people tend to go backpacking when stressed, isn't it said that backpacking effectively reduces stress? The tensions, deadlocks in work, daily life will be left behind as new sensations come in, bringing you a better life.
Above are all the shares about what backpacking is? Hopefully through this article, you will have a more accurate, profound understanding of backpacking and genuine backpackers. Those who are labeled as backpackers but tarnish the image of genuine backpackers should reconsider.
