How NOT to backpack

No, we have not done it before. On our previous trip (to Australia) we dragged two big suitcases all around the country. Not sure what is more practical.. All I know is that after traveling with one big backpack each on the back and one smaller on the belly - we are more experienced on backpacking then we were six weeks ago.


So here are some things we did that you shouldn't do:

• don't bring a too big backpack
• don't have two backpacks (unless you really need it)
• and don't carry yet another big bag beside these two backpacks - it will be too much
• don't bring skinny jeans

• don't bring too many socks and too much underwear
• don't bring more than one pair of shoes / sneakers

• don't forget sunscreen
• don't be too spontaneous if you don't really have time to be (like for example if you want to go on the night-train from Hanoi to Nha Trang - you should not expect the train to have seats available for you when you try to book tickets at 9pm..)
• don't bring clothes you don't like / or that are not comfortable (right Anette?)
• don't believe everything will work out - it won't

• don't trust that the taxi driver knows where you are staying - even though he seems familiar with all the streets of this city
• don't buy too many souvenirs the first week

• don't expect it to be warm and summer everywhere in Asia
• don't take awkward photos (or at least delete them from your phone or camera again) - or you might suddenly end up showing the whole group on the bus trip your awkward poses (like we did in Vietnam - suddenly our Mac was held up in the air for all the passengers to see)

• don't order food that has "spicy" written on it (yes Kristine, the chili will make you cry - again!)
• don't book too many luxury hotels

• don't underestimate the valuta - it might not be as cheap as you calculated in your head
• don't expect to get a cheap hotel room without animals or snails on the wall behind your bed

• don't be over-dramatic when you find insects in your room (in Cambodia the staff will probably just tell you that: "all animals inside the house are considered to bring fortune and good luck - and we do not kill animals in Cambodia)
• don't be surprised if you always wake up to the sound of hens making noises in the morning
• don't bargain on the wrong places - they will dislike you

• don't believe you will ever be seen as anything but a tourist
• don't think you are a local. Ever. 
• In Angkor Wat they actually have one price-category for Cambodians and one for "non-cambodian"

• Expect to be laughed at
• Expect to spend more time than you had planned
• Expect to have many conversations in a language where you don't even know the word for "hello".

All photos: KMG / Anetteg