International Mankini Challenge

The changing face of backpacking – travelling in 2009

by malph on Oct.28, 2009, under Other Mankini News

Having backpacked around South Africa, South East Asia and the USA three years ago and now 11 months into travelling around Latin America as an STA Explorer, I was asked by the folk at STA Travel how things have changed and how I think backpacking may change in the future. My views, and those of other travelers, are a small part of them celebrating their 30 year anniversary of helping send young people to the far reaches of the earth.

It maybe surprising to some that in the three years since I last decided to grab my backpack and head to pastures new that the way people travel has changed significantly. There’s the obvious changes in technology that keeps everyone up to date with your latest adventures, but there are subtler changes too in terms of the kind of people you meet, where they are from and which countries they are going to.

Equally as there are noticeable changes, there are also a number of things that seasoned travelers will only be too familiar with that haven’t altered at all! In no particular order I’ve listed below what I think’s changed, what hasn’t and what I think the future may hold for backpackers. Id be interested to hear your comments.

What’s changed?

  • Technology – mini laptops and SLR cameras are everywhere. Add to this the array of iPhones/iTouches being used to take advantage of free hostel wi-fi and I would say this is the single biggest change
  • Internet – twitter, Facebook, Flickr, WAYN, Skype etc has changed the way we let the people at home know what we’re up to
  • Old codgers – round the world tickets are no longer the reserve of the late teens and early twenties. An early thirties (eek) traveler myself, I’ve noticed a much larger proportion of travelers in their thirties and beyond. Often, like myself, the older traveler is on their second big trip
  • The world seeing the world – Canadians, Aussies, Israelis, Dutch, Irish and the British can be found in pretty much every hostel in the world. A much wider spread of traveling nationalities has been evident this time around. I’ve met a lot of Finns, Icelandic people, fisherman from the Faroe Islands, Belgians and Africans.
  • Flashpackers and backpacking barbies – as the quality of hostels increases, those who would never have dreamed of sharing a bathroom with strangers have come around to the idea. Flashpackers may still have all the gear … and stay in private rooms, and backpacking barbies may have more personal care products and accessories than you can fit into a day pack, but at least they’ve made the first step
  • Where you travel – I bet 30 years ago STA Travel would never have dreamed of selling packages to places like Colombia, Cambodia, China or … (anywhere else beginning with ´C´) … El Salvador. They’d have sent you to Iraq, Aden (now the Yemen) or Sierra Leone. How times change
  • Swimsuit design – mankinis have replaced the budgie smuggling Speedos as the swimsuit of choice for men (OK, so this isn’t strictly true. But you didn’t think I’d write a whole blog without mentioning the mankini did you)

    Still true in traveling today

  • Opening questions – “where are you from?”, “where have you been?” and “where are you going?” are still the standard questions people ask to break the ice and get to know their fellow travelers
  • Transport – buses driven by crazy men and break neck speed are still the staple mode of transport to get around a country or cross over to neighbouring ones
  • Robbery – it happens in our own countries as well as those we visit. Unfortunately having your bag snatched or being mugged will be a facet of travel as long as there is a gap between rich and poor
  • Dorm ‘relations’ – the drunk/confident still don’t mind having sex with 9 others in the room
  • Banging tunes – It doesn’t matter where you are, Bob Marley will be with you
  • I read good – with busy lifestyles at home, travelers love to take the chance to read. The book exchange at a new hostel is one of the first places you still visit
  • Delhi belly – only it’s not just constrained to India. Diarrhoea tablets are as essential as ever
  • Off the beaten track – travelers that claim to have been, and those that want to go ‘off the beaten track’ still think that you can do this by booking a tour. The truth is that very few travelers go to ‘undiscovered’ places anymore. If there’s something of interest to see then you can bet your bottom dollar a local tourist company will be trying to sell you a tour there

    • The backpacking of tomorrow – the next 3 years

  • Internet – new and useful websites will continue to appear
  • Technology – new devices and the decrease in size of current gadgets will continue to be put in the backpack
  • Locations – as wars start and stop and the climate of the planet changes, the places we travel will continue to change
  • Guidebooks – the number of people using Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Footprint etc will decrease as routes get better known and people turn to the Internet for their guides
  • Nationalities – as developing nations develop further, travelers from these nations will venture beyond their borders. With people in the USA now waking up to the outside world the number of Americans who backpack will increase too I think
  • Age – the backpackers average age will continue to increase as more people appreciate that quality of life and getting away from the rat race are key in maintaining your sanity
  • Ecotourism – you see ecotourism signs everywhere in Latin America at the moment, however few places actually go beyond separating their rubbish. With travelers’ social conscience and concern for the planet increasing, eco-friendly hostels and tour companies are set to increase and thrive

    • N.B. As a caveat to what I’ve said above, traveling around South East Asia as opposed to South America is a completely different kettle of fish. Therefore some of these changes I’ve noted maybe influenced by location rather than time.

    To close, while reading Between a rock and a hard place (the true story of Aron Ralston cutting his arm off to survive when it gets trapped by a falling rock) I came across a quote Aron likes from Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild that I think sums up what those who have backpacked have realised.

    “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

    My hope is that those that haven’t yet traveled have the good fortune to realise this too. I’m sure STA Travel would only be to happy to help you realise these great new experiences. With 30 years behind them they seem to be fairly successful at it!

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    12 Comments for this entry

    • Andrew
      April 15th, 2010 on 16:35

      Backpacking is definitely changing. Though some things never change.. like losing your luggage etc. or someone nicking it. I started tracking my bags with the tag’n'track just in case, i feel much safer knowing i can always track my bag down if it disappears ( here’s the link http://bit.ly/lostluggage )

      Reply
    • Rolf
      November 9th, 2009 on 22:53

      Hey Malph!
      Well done! Totaly agree with your article…
      keep rockin’
      rolf

      Reply
    • barbara
      November 6th, 2009 on 00:18

      Interesting article! I agree that the Iphone/ Itouch has changed the way people travel. There are so many applications for languages, maps, guides etc. The only problem I found however were the data roaming charges. I just got back from backpacking Costa Rica…before I left I called ATT and you wouldn’t believe how much they charge for data when you’re not in the US. If you can afford it the iphone is great tool but beware if you’re on a budget.

      Also, as mentioned above, EcoTourism and sustainable travel does seem to be a new trend…I’d like to see if and when it will catch on in Europe and how it will develope in a more conscious 2010.

      Reply
      • malph
        November 6th, 2009 on 06:38

        Thanks for your comment. One way I find to get around the charges was to use the wifi available in seemingly every hostel now or in the widespread Internet Cafes. Also there seems to be a lot of unprotected networks in Latin America you can tap into on the sly.

        Reply
    • Malph
      November 1st, 2009 on 00:41

      We`ve reinstalled the comments function so hopefully that has fixed any problems now guys!

      Reply
    • Paul Bumgarner
      October 31st, 2009 on 03:53

      Good Morning just thought i will let you know that i also had a issue with your blog appearing blank as well. Might be monkeys in the system.

      Reply
    • Fuzu
      October 29th, 2009 on 06:43

      Ooh gosh i just typed a huge comment and when i hit post it come up blank! Please tell me it worked right? I dont want to write it again if i do not have to! Either the blog bugged out or i am just stuipd, the second option doesnt surprise me lol.

      Reply
      • malph
        October 30th, 2009 on 02:19

        Sorry, it seems like your first comment didn´t work out. Really keen to hear what you have to say though so if you have the time … cheers

        Reply
    • Twiggy
      October 28th, 2009 on 14:55

      Nice piece captain!!

      There has never a truer phrase spoken: “..Nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.”

      Never thought that you’d still be the trailblazer amongst us all, how times change indeed!

      Keep up the good work and the mankini – Twigs x

      PS – May see you in Florida…?

      Reply

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