Backpacking Philopshy 2

Backpacking is a the ultimate test of endurance and sanity.

Endurance

You might think running a 42km marathon is a test of endurance,
Try walking,running,hiking, for 4 months and about 4000km..
That's what a real backpacker does, and that's endurance.

Sanity

If you have been alone before, you know what it feels like.
Alone for 1 hour, you will feel nothing.
Alone for 10 hour, you would feel lonely.
Alone for 1 day, you would start to imagine things.
Alone for 1 week, you would be afraid of the littlest sound.

That's what you might encounter during a backpacking trip.
Some people might be alone throughout their trip, that's 1 month, 2 months or even more.

That's really a test for sanity.

Increase your endurance and you Sanity level.
Go BACKPACK!!

Couch Surfing

Want to go backpack but have a low budget?
Run out of money but need a place for the night?

The best place for you to go is www.couchsurfing.com

Couch Surfing Project is a Non Profit Organization founded by Casey Fenton,Sebastien Giao Le, Tuan Daniel M. Hoffer and Leonardo Bassani da Silveira.

This project is simple. You can register as their member at their website, get connected with the members in the place where you are traveling. With their permission, you can just sleep on their couch for the duration of your travel. What's more, they mostly would also offer to be your tour guide. That's the best idea I have seen in these few years.

It will be great if you could join in and grow the numbers of couches available every night for fellow backpackers and travelers.

How did it started?

Well, the idea solidified when founder, Casey Fenton, got a cheap ticket to Iceland for a long weekend one April. With his ticket in hand, there was one problem: he had no place to stay and no desire to rot in a hotel all weekend and play Mr. Tourist. So, he came up with the 'brilliant' idea of spamming over 1500 Icelandic students in Reykjavik and asking them if he could crash on one of their couches. After exchanging emails with many of the students, he had several groups of friends offer to show him 'their' Reykjavik. So, after spending an amazing, crazy weekend just south of the Arctic Circle, Casey decided he would never again get trapped in a hotel and tourist marathon while traveling. From that point onward, it was all about crashing on exotic couches and cultural exchange. And, thus, the CouchSurfing Project was born.

For further understanding of the project, please visit their FAQ

What are you waiting for??? Let's COUCH.. SURFING!!!

The Metro - Paris

Click the above for a clearer picture

Same as London, to backpack you have to know "The Metro" of Paris
The above is a small map of The Metro, Click here for a bigger map
The ticketing system is a big difference dough.. read the below for more information.

Ticketing

Tickets are valid on either the métro, buses, or the central Paris RER trains (zones 1 & 2), as well as certain select venues, such as the funicular at Montmartre. Single tickets (€1.60) may be purchased at the station counters each time, but the better value is a carnet of 10 (adults: €11.40; children ages 4-9: €5.70), which will save you queuing. Ticket books (and certain passes) may also be purchased from a network of 1,500 retailers approved by RATP — including bookstores, newsstands, and tobacconists.

Another option for frequent travel during a short visit is the Mobilis unlimited 1-day pass, available in various denominations according to the zones of travel (not valid to, or from, CDG and Orly airports). The pass may be purchased in advance; its day of validity starts upon the first use, and ends at around 12:45 or 1:00 a.m. the following morning, when métro service ceases.

Parisians themselves rely on either monthly or weekly passes (coupons) which are carried in a gray plastic slipcase with the Carte Orange. They are the most economical tickets to use on the entire RATP network, provided you are in Paris long enough to benefit from them. Although some station ticket agents may balk at selling these to tourists, anyone is permitted to buy them.

The weekly pass (coupon hebdomadaire) is valid for unlimited travel from Monday to Sunday; it may be purchased until Wednesdays for the current week, and starting on Fridays for the following week (no passes are sold on Thursdays). The monthly pass (coupon mensuel) begins on the first day of the month and may be purchased starting on the 20th of the prior month. You'll need a passport photo to place on the pass; be sure to bring extras from home or purchase one for about €4 from machines in the main stations.

There are also special passes offered only to foreign travelers, called Paris Visites, which are valid for either 1, 2, 3 or 5 days' unlimited use on the entire RATP network, and may be purchased online before your departure to France. For métro travel alone — within Paris city limits — these are not as economical as the coupon hebdomadaire, but they can begin on any day of the week (rather than just Monday to Sunday), and provide 20-35% discounts (or 2-for-1 tickets) on Paris boat trips and certain other attractions. Another advantage is that they can be purchased for certain travel zones, either just within Paris, or for trips as far away as Versailles, Disneyland-Paris, or the airports.Fares vary according to number of days and travel zones selected; children 4 to 11 years old are half-price (kids under 4 ride free of charge).

Have fun backpacking in Paris!

The Tube in London

To backpack in London, you must know the Tube lines.
The above is a small version of the map of line, for a clearer view please go to The Tube Map

The transportation payment card (smart card) in London is called OYSTER .
You would have to pay £3 as deposit for the card and Any amount additional as your transportation cost.

else you could choose to buy the
Oyster Visitor card,
The cards are sold with an initial £10 or £15 balance on them.
The cards cost £2 each (i.e. a card with a £10 pay as you go balance will cost £12)

But there are limited places to purchase the card.



For more information please visit
Transport for London

zuji.com.sg -->London Hotels

Mastering Public Transportation in Europe

Backpackers need to master public transportation. It’s a little overwhelming at first. However, most likely you’ll settle into it after your first few days as a globetrotter. Besides from dealing with transportation schedules, knowing how to get the best value on ticket prices is the biggest obstacle. I keen traveler will also have a grasp on what modes of public transportation are available in a specific region.

Especially in Europe, most major travel destinations have extensive public transportation systems that include buses and a metro system. Alternatively, taxis are usually available but are almost never worth what they cost. Taxis drivers are also known to take advantage of travelers by charging higher fares. Tour buses are another option. In addition to a lift to key tourist attractions, you’ll usually be provided with an overview of the sights. Of course, tour buses cost a little bit more. Further, backpackers, working off a limited budget, are usually better off exploring on their own.

Most metro systems are divided into zones. Therefore, you should be aware of what zones you will need access to. Metro tickets that permit travel in multiple zones cost more. Therefore, only purchase tickets for zones that are necessary. Pocket size metro maps are typically available for free at tourist office and metro station information desks. We recommend that you pickup one of these as soon as you arrive. Large wall maps are also on display at metro stations and act as a good reference when you’re on the go.

Depending on how much ground you plan to cover, multi-day passes might save you money. However, weighing the costs is advisable. If you only need to use public transportation a couple times a day, you’re probable better off purchasing single trip tickets. When purchasing single trip tickets, be sure you have the correct change. Ticket machines often do not give change and/or require exact change.

When you first arrive at the train station or airport, your first trip should be to the tourist office. Here you can pickup the all important tourist map. This map usually includes all the main tourist attractions and main metro stations. Backpackers often find themselves on foot quite a bit. The tourist map is a vital guide.

Wanderweg

"Wanderweg" , that's Tracking in German

The have a nice tracking system in the Alps
They have something like a road signAll the places on the sign could be reached by tracking,
and the time needed for tracking is beside the name of the place.

Let's think if one day, the same is done for backpackers,
then there would be road sign like this all over the world

You can learn more of Wanderweg at Wanderweg Holidays

Tips to saving on flights

Backpacking doesn't means you would be living a cheap to dirt life, but we as backpacker do save as much as possible.

First on the list of saving would be, you flight!!

Tips number 1, Do not travel by air if you could travel by other means

Got it?
Which one do you think cost more? travel by plane or by bus? by bus or by hitchhiking?

A normal bus service would cost you about 5 to 10 times less than your flight.
But the extra cost to pay would be time, time is abundance to most backpackers.
and trading time for money, is something we could afford. (we aren't rushing anywhere rite?)

Tips number 2, Budget air

You don't get plane food (who care's?)
You don't get a broad sit (let's just stretch the leg after and before the flight)
Most importantly, you still get to your destination in one piece, and the price is at least 1/2 of the normal planes.

Tips number 3, Online booking

If you just have to have a 5* flight to start off your backpack.
Book online from some places like.
Great flight deals >Zuji.com.sg
<-- if you live in Singapore
Great flight deals >Zuji.com.au
<-- if you live in Australia
Great flight deals >zuji.com.hk
<--if you live in Hong Kong

Will increase the list when I get in touch with more.

Remember!!!
The first law of backpacking,
Save for a longer path

Backpacking Philopshy

What is Backpacking????
Why people love it???
Why people just want to go for it???

Backpacking is the representation of a search for Freedom.

Backpackers doesn't want other people to determine their travel route,
they want to decide where to go, when to go, and how to go.

That's Freedom!!

We could see some backpackers go for short backpacking trips like 7 days, 10 days or other odd number of days...
Some instead like to takes months or years in their search for the freedom they desire.

There's no right or wrong in the world of Backpacking,
just you have your way and i have mine,

We are in search of FREEDOM,
may we go continue to hold this idea and believe and walk through seven continents and swim through the seven seas.