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How to be an intrepid traveller |
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Casey Ng
Mindset is the key to being an
intrepid traveller. CASEY NG offers tips on how not to end up looking like a
fake with the IQ of a goldfish
WHAT´S
intrepid? Being fearless, my man, fearless. So are you an intrepid traveller or
are you a mere tourist? In the travelling world, the word intrepid is measured
by mindset, not by how many places visited.
Winging a
trail and not knowing where or how it will end is being intrepid. In intrepid
mode, you are gutsy, sometimes reckless even. No one starts out as an intrepid
traveller naturally but some tips won´t harm. So here goes:
Money Issues
Stop feeding
on your parents´ hard-earned cash. Get a real job, set aside money and then
spend it on real adventure. Don´t ask for mountain treks, reef diving or polar
expedition followed by "my budget is RM50 per day". It´s irritating.
To go where
few have boldly gone before isn´t going to be shoestring. If you don´t have the
money, stay at home. Watch National Geographic instead.
Who You Travel With
Everyone
fantasises that Indiana Jones lives deep inside one´s body somewhere. But who
says adventure is all about gawking at historic sites or basking on a
sun-soaked beach?
People say
a great destination is only half the deal. We say a travel mate is the other
half. Go with your grandma. A trip like that will test what you are made of. It´s
good training too.
Personal Hygiene
The
intrepid traveller isn´t sexy when he is filthy. You know ... shower, brush
your teeth, wash your clothes, trim your fingernails. If you intend to travel
with a woman friend, they should feel clean when sharing armrest with you on
train seats.
They don´t
want to be afraid of catching a communicable disease from toilet seats, or from
cups used by you or feel disgusted by nostril hairs that you left in the
bathroom sink.
Not being
clean does not mean being macho.
You´re What You Eat
Now that
you are big enough to travel without mummy holding your hands, you´ll have to
fend for yourself.
Avoid food
that comes in disposable containers. Going green means more than just eating
vegetables. Burgers and fried chicken do not count as ethnic food. Learn to eat
what locals eat and drink what locals drink. Better yet, learn how to actually
cook local food.
Substance Please
A slick The
North Face jacket doesn´t make you a traveller. It only makes you look like a
hobo dressed with thick clothing in hot tropical weather. Like Donald Trump´s
comb-over, fakes are easy to spot. Logic is the key.
We know it´s
a holiday, but wearing a pair of sunglasses while trekking through the dark
forest floor says a lot about your IQ (we see this happening all the time).
Lug It
Backpacking
is cool but don´t ask (in Lonely Planet´s e-forum) where to leave your luggage
somewhere for a few days. That´s not "backpacking". You are supposed
to travel with all your belongings. Your backpack is your single most loyal
companion and it deserves respect. Where you go, it goes.
Personal Virtue
An intrepid
traveller goes with the flow. He shares with everyone, regardless of skin
colour, religious leanings or pedigree. He passes along expertise and good
advice. Most importantly, an intrepid traveller looks out for women and
children and makes them stand behind him in times of danger.
Know It All
Understands
the basics of planet Earth. Learn how to squint, look up at the sun, and tell
what time of day it is.
Smell the
air and know when a storm is approaching.
You should
understand how eggs grow into tadpoles or why in certain countries people eat
frogs. Observe and see things below the surface. A traveller who has answers
for everything invariably scores with the girls too.
Never Stop Learning
You have to
have a pea-sized brain to get lost nowadays. Make use of the Internet,
guidebooks and e-forums. Read.. a lot.
Don´t be
fazed by places with locals who don´t speak English. Learn Sanskrit if you have
to. And for Pete´s sake, pick up some foreign profanities. Use one on your
annoying boss back home. He wouldn´t know what hit him.
Slow Down
People
always rush into things. That´s how first marriages screw up. Travel to fewer
places but travel them well. Feel the wind in your hair. Do some voluntary
work. Learn local crafts. Stay in a jungle village for a week or two. If you
can´t stand leeches and squat toilets, then... oh well, are you an intrepid
traveller?
Source : Travel Times, New Straits Times – 10 November 2009
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