Definition of a Backpacker

December 3rd, 2001 at 12:00am

Definition of a Backpacker:

At Home: Someone who has HIKED in the WOODS and who uses a backpack to carry the necessary gear and clothes for backcountry survival.

In Thailand: Someone who uses a backpack as a glorified form of luggage with which to travel from place to place. Note: This person more than likely does not know the difference between a compression strap and a loading-bearing strap, and, if asked, would probably make the comment that The North Face makes really, really good packs.

Mentality of a Backpacker:

At Home: Someone who, having had to face all the many problems that the true outdoors present, would gladly give the clothing off their back or their last meal of food or their last liter of purified water to any other backpacker in trouble, no questions asked. That’s just the way it is.

In Thailand: Someone who is constantly racing against other backpackers to nab the last available spot in a guesthouse or train or bus or boat, always willing to stampede when necessary. The strong survive; the rest, well they just pay more.

Wisdom of a Backpacker:

At Home: Someone who, although having learned from his many mistakes, totally understands and respects the concept that ‘you’ve gotta hike your own hike’ and therefore doesn’t judge or push opinions on fellow backpackers.

In Thailand: The person who thinks he has one-upped every other backpacker by having been to 40 countries in the past 12 months and is constantly starting every sentence with, ‘Well when I was in..’.

Don’t get me TOTALLY wrong! I have definitely met some cool people along the way, but truthfully the majority of ‘backpackers’ here would not last ONE DAY on the Appalachian Trail. They are selfish, arrogant and loud, and have NO RESPECT for the local culture (just go to any Buddhist Temple and see how many tourists are not only showing their shoulders AND legs but are wearing bathing suits if you don’t believe me). If this is what a backpacker is then I never want to be called one again!!

Yesterday’s bus experience was a perfect example. It was quite a crazy hectic scene changing from one bus to another and even more so for me because I had to reassemble my bike and then get it and my duffle over to the other bus. Of course no one helped me. The ‘backpackers’ were too busy RUNNING to the other bus to claim a seat. Not a problem – I knew the bus wouldn’t leave without me. By the time I got over there though there was no space in the cargo area so they had to put my duffle in the aisle of the bus. And being as there were no seats left I had to sit up with the driver (which actually was pretty cool).

What really upset me though was to watch all these ‘backpackers’ walk ALL OVER my duffle during the 3-hour ride. Of course they could have easily hopped around it but they were too selfish and lazy to care, and besides their precious North Face backpack was safe in the cargo bin so who would care about a stupid duffle anyway?

Some days I long to go back into the woods for a REAL backpacker-thru-hiker-no-pansy-asses journey…

All of my A.T. buddies out there, you KNOW what I’m talking about! (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please fell free to cruise through the Appalachian Trail section of my site.)

I’m here on Phi-Phi island now – a very beautiful and scenic place. Completely over-run with ‘backpackers’ though, but it is high season so I had prepared myself for it.

If anyone has seen Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach, well then you have seen Phi-Phi because the beach scenes of the movie were filmed here.

My bike is back on Krabi locked to a tire in this Thai family’s house and my duffle is locked to their desk. I rented a room from them last night and was able to negotiate the storage for 50 cents/day. It is much easier to get around these parts with a small day pack.

I’ve booked an all-day snorkeling trip tomorrow which I think takes you to several good snorkeling spots around Phi-Phi and other nearby islands.

Goin’ down to the beach now for an afternoon snorkel/swim!

Sunset on Ko Phi-Phi

Daily offering of food made to the spirit house (seen everywhere throughout Thailand)

Entry Filed under: South,Thailand