Whats your pre-backpacking ritual? - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**buzzingtalk** · 04-19-2007, 07:33 AM

never stepped in a gim in my life!! dont intend on doing so either.

i usuallly lose a bit more than a stone every summer in asia, through eating proper nice fresh food and walking everywhere cos i dont have the fear that someone is going to mug me. its wicke.d the more time i spend in asia, the more i realise im a skinny person dying to get out of the fat suit, but i jus cant maintain a healthy life in the UK.

pre trip well i tend to throw a massive house party, get as fucked as possible and see all my mates before i go away. on the morning of the flight (i ALWAYS get night flights) ill rummage through my stuff and find a weekends worth of stuff, i dont care if its sirty or not cos i always go to my dads in kl first and use the washing machine there. plus i have some travelling stuff over there (towel toiletries swimming stuff slippers) which i dont use in the uk. my bag is usally so small when i go over there, its like a bag inside a bag!! i get talkin to people at the airport and they cant believe im going away for 3 months.

then i try and distract myself as much as possible - ill be well excited but scared cos im well scared of flying!!!

one thing i try to do as well is tramp it up as much as i can, i get free business flights to asia and find it funny to look like a scab cos people judge you, its hilarious to pull out your ticket and have a laff

lemlern · 04-19-2007, 09:54 AM

Before this trip, I have been making copies of all my documents (1 extra to take with me and one to give to my mom), packing little things here and there I know I will forget when it gets closer to departure day (like safety pins to deter thieves, little roll of tp, ziplock bags, a few disposable cameras for the beaches). I called all my credit card/debit card companies to let them know I am leaving. I post on facebook under my status little blurbs to rub it in that I am leaving. I play my online video game a lot because I will not be able to for an entire month! I also have been pigging out on good ole americana food and taking vitamins. There are a few magazines that I refuse to read because I know I will want to on the plane and train. I also have been starting my journal (I taped in all my hostel information, phone numbers, etc.)

**Brookers13** · 04-19-2007, 10:03 AM

i generally pack for things like weeks ahead of time and unpack and pack again until it feels right...meet up with friends the night before i go and then im off...

i lost 17 lbs on my 2 month trip. granted i put it all back on, but it was like amazing. haha

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-19-2007, 10:20 AM

Actually one other ritual I have is to gather a few close friends to a trip to my favorite ghetto Chinese restaurant... where I order the "220" aka. black pepper pork chop on rice.

Probably because I know I won't be eating Chinese food for a month or so.

And I do the exact same thing when I get back.

**marc873** · 04-19-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemlern

Before this trip, I have been making copies of all my documents (1 extra to take with me and one to give to my mom)

I would also suggest scanning them and storing in your email inbox.

lemlern · 04-19-2007, 11:07 AM

Excellent idea marc! My hostel confirms are in their own little folder in my inbox; I guess I didn't even think to scan in my other stuff. Then I wouldn't have to have the hassle of calling up my mom, praying she is there, to save my butt.

**joe7f** · 04-19-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc873

I would also suggest scanning them and storing in your email inbox.

I would suggest encrypting that information

If you ever leave your account logged in on a cyber cafe you are screwed (btw, I actually emailed someone from their own account telling them that they left their account logged on to a cyber cafe in Vienna and to be more careful...I bet that was weird to receive)

--Joey

**BelfastFlyer** · 04-19-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe7f

I would suggest encrypting that information

If you ever leave your account logged in on a cyber cafe you are screwed (btw, I actually emailed someone from their own account telling them that they left their account logged on to a cyber cafe in Vienna and to be more careful...I bet that was weird to receive)

--Joey

I've just realised that I NEVER do any of this... strange! I guess I'm asking for trouble

**buzzingtalk** · 04-20-2007, 02:15 AM

ive never scanned my stuff

how do you scan things and where??

**joe7f** · 04-20-2007, 05:09 AM

Just go to a cyber cafe, they can do it for you (unless you want to buy a computer scanner)

--Joey

**florencia9699** · 04-20-2007, 06:16 AM

How do you encrypt that information?? I'm very interested in doing that as I'm about to scan everything.

Also, Lemlern, how do you use safety pins to deter thieves??

**kiwichick** · 04-21-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by florencia9699

Also, Lemlern, how do you use safety pins to deter thieves??

Im guessing pinning zips to bags?i'm probably just gonna use cables to tie them together anywher dodge or in transit (will they get get cut at airports???)

**kiwichick** · 04-21-2007, 02:43 AM

make that "cable ties" to hold them together- i swear i get dumber the more i study and considering i've left it all to the last minute.with a test and assignment due monday..

**buzzingtalk** · 04-21-2007, 06:46 AM

i got a pack arrive yesterday and theres so many little bits of string and things hanging off it, i have no idea what they are for

gaffer tape is going to be my freind when i travel

**joe7f** · 04-21-2007, 08:43 PM

Oh wow, I never responded. Anyway, Flo, assuming you are using Windows there is an encryption/password protection feature built in to the OS I think (or maybe a plugin). I used gpg (Gnu Privacy Guard) on Linux (but there are windows versions)

--Joey

**freespiritz** · 04-24-2007, 04:31 PM

Scanning stuff in is always a good idea, or even taking a digital photo of it has worked fine for me.

As for pre-backpacking rituals, I should start some...the closest thing I have is that right before I leave on a trip, I've already started planning out the next one.

**worldwidemike** · 04-25-2007, 03:33 PM

This may sound corny, but I make sure my Thomas Dolby "Astronauts and Heretics" CD is in the car. Then, on the drive to the airport, I play the song "I Live in a Suitcase"...

Preparation-wise, I photocopy maps from the guidebooks of all the towns I'm going to visit, and the historical sites I'm going to visit. Juggling a guidebook as you're walking around is a pain in the butt and also marks you as a tourist if you're more interested in blending in (especially in the towns). I make a packing list (I love lists), and check items off as they're moved to the "Staging Area" (the bed in spare bedroom)...

worldwidemike

HEWSINATOR · 04-25-2007, 09:17 PM

Ha, I have had the staging area going for the last month.

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-25-2007, 10:09 PM

Man, I was gonna wait until the day before my trip to shave my head... but my hair is really growing long. And the only barber in the world that I trust is in Toronto... thinking of shaving my head now... but no! can't... break... pre-backpacking ritual....