Confessions of a bag packer

Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent international travel. It includes the use of a backpack that is easily carried for long distances or long periods of time; the use of public transport; inexpensive lodging such as youth hostels; often a longer duration of the trip when compared with conventional vacations; and often an interest in meeting locals as well as seeing sights. (Wikipedia)

Why do people want a break? Why are they prompted to just drop everything and get away for a few days? Different people, different motives I guess. My motives have largely been emotional and the driving force behind every adventure that I ever embarked upon has been my inner torments. I either wanted to move on from a break up, or gather inner strength before a rough patch or just wanted to have some time by myself. Now how it all began is a different story. Before I went on first solo trip I never knew I had it in me to do something like this and like most things I just discovered my passion for travelling.

The period between 2007 and 2011 had been a particularly rough time for me. It was a period of many firsts; I got my first job, moved to a different city for the first time in my life, fell in love and moved in with my boyfriend. These were all brand new and extremely exciting but terrifying experiences when I think about them now.  However in 2009 I had a rather painful break up that not only made me move back with my parents but also turned me into a lost soul.

For about a year and a half after my break up in Sept 2009 I just didn’t know what to do with my life. I was depressed and had a severe case of insomnia. I used to roam around the house like a ghost in the night and sleep through the day. I think my plan was to sleep through it all but then I had a job to go to and bills to pay so I couldn’t really do that, but the hours that I was awake, I was pretty much a zombie.

Luckily I had some very good friends who managed to pull me out of it. That and a chance visit to my ex’s Facebook page which had a picture of him and his wife having fun. The day I saw that picture it suddenly hit me that he was happy, having a time of his life in the US with a great job and a hot wife and where the hell was I? What was I doing with my life? After writing an angry email full of expletives which by the way made me feel so relieved like I was finally able to let go (and also incredibly stupid after a while).