7 Lessons I Learnt Backpacking

Friends of the blog (read: me) will know that my foray over to Brazil will not be my first time on the South American continent. I went backpacking for 5 months with my bestie, straight after uni, and it was truly a fab experience.

That being said, it was the first time for me that I was gone so long and the first time I had done that type of travel. This meant there were lots of lessons.

But this time I am not such a novice and will be taking these pearls of wisdom with me:

1. Be less afraid of strangers

This is the absolute biggest lesson that I had to learn on our previous trip.

I am a big fan of True Crime and I've been watching Murder Mysteries since I was young. I liked to think that these habits have instilled a healthy dose of paranoia in me, but this paranoia definitely borders on the "too much" sometimes. I found it really scary to speak with new people on the streets and was generally super untrusting. Turns out, sometimes people are just friendly and want to chat.

Obviously, I am not advocating to get in the back of that man's nice white van. But being open for a nice conversation with a stranger will often be a positive experience and lead to a more enriching travel journey.

2. You can speak that language better than you think

Another big one! Doesn't matter if you can speak two words, or two hundred in the languagr of your destination. The minute you start trying to speak in the country's language, you start gaining respect AND confidence. Sure, the first few conversations might be tough, but if you keep practising the new words in each subsequent conversation, you'll truly improve in no time.

3. Bus travel: be prepared for any climate

On bus journeys, you are entirely at the bus driver's mercy. Maybe he likes it at a cool 5 degrees Celsius, or maybe he's looking to get his sweat on. Maybe the airconditioner won't stop blasting, maybe you can't get it to turn on. Either way, there ain't nothing you can do about.

However, comfort is important, especially on those long overnighters. So the key to this is wearing layers, to make sure you're at the right temperature for you. I'd recommend leggings, a t-shirt and then NO MATTER the outside temperature, bring a thick jumper and socks in addition. It could be sweltering outside, but if you've got a seat direct below a full-blast fan, you're going to require extra layers.

Typically, you'll stash your big backpack below the bus and once it's there, there is no way you can access it. So bring your little rucksack with your valuables, and with extra layers to make sure you have everything you need.

4. The best tasting food is often not in the best looking restaurants

The best tasting food that I've eaten has come out of a glass window, or been in a little restaurant with plastic stools for tables.

The restaurants that typically looked the most "Hipster" or the most well-decorated would be ostentiously for the gringos and therefore tend to have over inflated prices. Often, with the focus on this aesthetics, some love is lost on the food. But at least it looks good.

5. Private rooms are worth it

I am a dorm gal. I don't care if I'm sharing the room with 2 or 12 others, I am down for a shared, mixed hostel room, especially if it's a good price. That being said, sharing a room with others means limited privacy, limited storage and no guarantee of a good night's sleep.

This time around I will definitely be booking private rooms from town to towns, especially in towns where prices aren't as high. I definitely won't be doing this every night, and I'll probably still opt for a private room in a hostel vs in a hotel. But I look forward to being able to sprawl out on a double bed, or get up to pee at 3am and being able to turn on the main light. True bliss.

6. Be flexible with your trip time

Especially on extended trips, make sure you leave a little wiggle room. You'll get recommendations on the road from the people you meet, or bypass a cute looking place that you want to explore more. Obviously this is more difficult for those on a shorter timeline, but this is why I have planned precisely nothing for 2.5 months of my 3 month trip. Maybe in my next "lessons learned" post, I'll be changing my tune on this.

7. Sometimes, there's food at home

I'm saving the most important one for last. I am a foodie, I love restaurants and I love going out to eat. But during my last trip, I really experienced restaurant fatigue. After 5 months, it got to the point where I wasn't excited to go out to eat and where it began to feel like a chore. And I hated that.

After the first couple of weeks (and overwhelm), I will be focussing on bookings hostels where a kitchen is available. Because I'm more flexible with time, I'll be buying provisions for the few days staying in each place. This way, I can save a bit of money, but also ensure that I am eating healthier AND thoroughly enjoying each meal where I don't have to cook. Winning all round.

That's all folks

I can't wait to come back and update you all on the mistakes I make and the lessons I learn during my time in Brazil. Keep your eyes peeled for an update.