Backpacking is a term mainly associated with travel, whether it be hiking or travel short and long term domestic or abroad. It is a lengthy sized backpack with many strategic pockets and compartments that sits right on your back wherever you go. If done so correctly and appropriately, you can practically live out of this backpack. You can fit about a weeks worth of clothing, electronics and accessories, toiletries, documents, finances and more (hopefully not the same weight as you or heavier). You may see these backpacks across major travel destinations across the globe in airports and city streets.
Prior to my days as a backpacker, all I knew of was suitcases within my desires as a vacationer. As my lust for travel grew more and more, I found myself desiring nomadic styled traveling wanting to go from one place to the next instead of the usual “comfort” stay ‘on the beach’ or ‘in the hotel’ trips I took all my life. I realized that my first “nomadic” styled trip around the island of Jamaica with a suitcase wasn’t doing me any justice. ESPECIALLY, in Jamaica! I never really understood the concept of walking around with a large backpack as well as the term “backpacking” and its concept very well until after I read online threads and viewed Instagram photos. Eventually I realized that a trip to Belize and Guatemala couldn’t be done smoothly rolling around and hauling a suitcase and book bag so eventually I purchased my first rucksack.
 |
 |
 |
 |
My first two backpacking experiences successfully took place through those two countries in Central America as well as in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, Canada. Considering my growing nomadic symptoms of travel, I realized something:
Backpacking is not just a way to travel, It’s a lifestyle
Backpacking is by far a way of life and enriches the possibilities of exploring places you want to see and more, meet new people you naturally connect with, and enjoy experiences of a lifetime. Although I do not have those freedoms and privileges quite yet of traveling destination to destination on my own time without putting in for “time off”, Just the simple fact that I can pack more than a dozen of necessities into one bag and in return see the world is the most amazing thing in imagination. It is this feeling within my constant wanderlust that makes me realize that all of this is a beautiful lifestyle and or realm I am hugely a part of.
As a backpacker, you can easily pick up and go at your own pace, learn to appreciate more with less, and best of all, escape the comforts of home and make the world your home.
