These Malaysians want more people to give backpacking a chance

For most of us, having a thirst for adventure is the reason why we explore foreign lands.

Regardless of what stage of life we are in, there’s no denying that deep down, there’s always a yearning to see and experience something new, and to escape whatever stressful situation we constantly find ourselves in our daily lives.

Backpacking, for some people at least, is said to be a good way to temporarily relieve stress, as it helps one to unload any negative thoughts by replacing them with good feelings and fresh experiences.

This travel style is fast gaining popularity again in today’s post-lockdown world, as more people begin to embrace the world as is, without all the frills and curated experiences of luxury tours. Not to mention, backpacking usually costs a whole lot less than that of other travel styles.

Apart from that, some folks also feel that backpacking adds that extra “zing” to their lives. Perhaps, this is the reason why a lot of younger travellers prefer to travel this way.

Backpacking gives you a sense of freedom to explore as you pave your own way, without the constraints of a dull routine, says artist Lisa Anthony, 27, who loves to backpack.

“Backpacking simply means ‘living out of a backpack’. I find thrill in not knowing what my next step is, where I’m going to sleep or what I’m going to do at the destination,” she says in an interview.

“I’ve spent years living away from home, both to study and work. In fact, my interest in backpack travelling stems largely from having an independent lifestyle,” Anthony explains.

Anthony enjoyed backpacking through parts of Europe, where she visited Ghent in Belgium, a university city.

Backpacking involves less planning, too, Anthony says, and the flexible schedule allows one easily make decisions on where to go, what to eat and where to stay. “I can set my own plan without the fear of disappointing anyone for not meeting their expectations,” she adds.

“I find enjoyment in the spontaneity of on-the-spot planning. I’d usually only have certain things set and confirmed, such as the duration of my visit, flight tickets and how to get around. This was what I did for almost all of my backpacking trips – I would take public transportation or rent a car to travel around the place,” shares Anthony, who has visited 15 countries so far around the globe so far. She prefers to backpack alone, but has no problem travelling with a small group either.

Free and easy

Senior account executive Michelle Chang, 27, also prefers to backpack on her own. She feels that while going on holiday with friends is fun, it doesn’t always give her much freedom to do what she really wants to.

“You get to visit the common tourist spots, but usually not anything beyond that. That’s why I very much prefer to travel on my own or with maybe another two people, as this allows me to see more of the ‘untapped treasures’ and experience more of what the world has to offer,” she says during our interview.

Chang prefers to travel solo or in small groups as this gives her the freedom to visit what she really wants to see, like this Pink Cathedral in Da Nang. — MICHELLE CHANG

Having the freedom to explore also gives one the freedom to eat whatever and whenever one wants. Chang recalls her trip to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam with her sister. After spending an entire day exploring the city, the siblings wanted to visit a local restaurant that served snails, or “oc dao” in Vietnamese. With the help of Google Maps, they found one shop hidden in an alley.

When it was time to order, they realised that the menu did not have any pictures, or any English description. “It was all in Vietnamese. We tried to use Google Lens to figure things out but to no avail, as the results we got were ‘bicycle’ and ‘slippers’. The waiters were friendly, but they weren’t able to explain or understand us.

“So we just tried our luck and pointed to a bunch of things on the menu! It was exciting but also a little nerve-wracking at the same time,” Chang said.

When the waiter brought their orders, the sisters were relieved and happy that none of the dishes was too extreme.

“Every part of the experience was memorable and worth repeating. We ordered eight dishes and each one was marvellous. Even the price – we only paid RM60 for everything,” she said.

Going to a place you have never been before warms your mind up to trying new things and learning about new cultures and traditions. Anthony points out that travelling can also promote tolerance and understanding among people.

“You’re more willing to accept other people’s views, even when it doesn’t align with yours. People can have completely different ways of doing one thing, but that shouldn’t stop us from engaging with them,” Anthony shares, adding that after seven years of backpacking, it is…