We’ve just started putting together our Festival Feature Guide, so I thought I’d start it off with something very topical at the moment;
It’s that time of the year again, where surfers all over the globe are glued to their computer screens, or for those in Australia they head to Snapper Rocks – that’s right, it’s the Quiksilver Pro!
Once you’ve decided where you’re heading, how you’re getting there and how you’ll be carrying your life around you’ll need to start deciding what you actually need to take with you!
When preparing for my trip to Oz I passed a kit list – a kit list which had originated sometime before it got to me, had been rewritten, edited, edited some more and then I added and took away some additional items.
Over the last week or so the news has been filled with the civil unrest in Cairo and across Egypt. We have been bombarded with the usual media images of make shift hospitals and tales from locals on both sides of conflict.
What made this more poignant for me though was the fact one of my life long mates and fellow travellers Luke was currently on a working holiday visa teaching in Egypt, living in Cairo city centre. Luckily he’s back on UK soil now so I caught up with him to ask how it all went down in his eyes and if it’s altered his perception of travelling the middle east.
If you go into any travel agent or speak to any person who has travelled themselves then the main defining feature of planning a gap year will almost certainly come back the same – money.
Despite what you may believe about the ethos of backpacking money is a central part. Without it there aren’t any flights.
Without it there aren’t any parties.
Without it there isn’t going to be a gap year!
It’s that time of year again – the cork hats are being dug out, the Tooheys is in the esky, the BBQ’s are warming up and the whole neighbourhood is heading to the beach.
That’s right – January 26th is Australia Day!
Ok so we’ve dealt with where you might head and how you’re going to lug all your kit there – but what are you going to do once you’ve got there?
Another massive divide amongst the backpacker world is how much planning you should actually do. And that’s what the third part of our Gap Year Planning feature is focussed around – do you plan it or wing it?
I’ve been back in the UK for nearly 3 months now – and to be honest I’m getting slightly itchy feet for warmer climates again. Sure the snow was fun but I do love relaxing in the sun a fair bit more!
There’s also been a distinct lack of surf on my part too. A horrible combination of work and lack of swell…so I’m in dire need of some salt water therapy.
So you’ve finally decided where you want to head, and you no have a millions and one things to sort (don’t worry I’ll be guiding you through them over the next few weeks) but like many people you’re drawn to cementing your decision to travel, wanting to make your first impression on fellow travellers and making a statement to all those that know you that this isn’t just a pipe dream anymore, this is really going to happen.
And what’s more encompassing of your life on the road than the item you will be living out of – your backpack?
An Aussie Icon
One of Australias great draws is the sheer variety of wildlife and animals that inhabit the equally vast types of environments found across the country; from dry arid desert to lush tropical rainforest. Many of which are unique to Australia itself – the kangaroo is undoubtedly the most recognisable of these. And with random animals comes an abundance of equally random roadsigns – from Roos to Echidnas! A great slice of the unique Aussie landscape.
So you guys might have noticed a slight few changes to the site over the last few days – mainly the revamping of the web address and the title of the webpage.
Cat Nap, Ecuador
aliceedwards
curiouscheese
Backpacker Banter 