Traveling means leaving the comfort of your daily routine and taking up experiences, adventures, and challenges you have not experienced before.
All these new experiences, changes, discomforts help you grow emotionally, mentally, culturally and spiritually.
However, while traveling, different situations arise and most of these situations are out of your control.
In case you are faced with a tough situation, it is best to tackle it with calm, practicality and common sense. Panicking or getting upset only worsens the whole situation.
During my backpack trip, I was faced with several situations that were difficult to imagine. Sharing some of my experiences below.
1. Natural disasters
2 of my craziest natural disaster stories are from my backpack trip. I experienced a tropical thunderstorm and an earthquake in Mexico.
Everyone has a different risk appetite when it comes to difficult situations. However, with natural disasters, it is best to not panic and be decisive with whatever you choose.
Tropical thunderstorm
My Mexican leg started in Cabo, the westernmost part of the Mexican peninsula.
Along with 2 other friends, I was supposed to go diving in the eastern part of the peninsula.
However, due to advanced weather warning systems, our Airbnb host advised us against traveling.
It turned out to be one of the most severe tropical storms to have hit in the recent years.
The Mexican army was called in to evacuate people stuck in different parts of Cabo. We were one of the the lucky few to be moved to a new place.
The car that we had rented got stuck in silt and couldn’t be moved out, approx. 20 people lost their lives, a lot of animals died and were displaced and the roads had caved in, in different parts of the city.
Thankfully, all of us were flexible with our plans and had to make small adjustments. Otherwise, it would have been a lot worse for all of us.
Earthquake
I was in Mexico City, when one of the biggest earthquakes to have ever been recorded hit us. It killed more than 300 and injured over 1000s.
At the time I was volunteering in a hostel and was supposed to be stationed for about 6 weeks in the city.
The whole city was in a shock and by experiencing so much devastation around me, it was hard not to get effected by it.
I was constantly battling my own thoughts on the best way forward and advice from friends and family was only making it tough.
The whole situation was challenging, mentally exhausting and stress inducing. I also ended up falling ill during this time.
This was the 2nd earthquake in 2 weeks. So I was constantly wondering if I should move out to a different location.
Thankfully, I was still able to keep a calm head and decided based on what was best for me at that moment and I decided to stay put. It helped me retain my confidence in myself and my travels.
2. Hidden fees
Ever thought “Wow, that plane ticket is really cheap or this hotel stay is costing me next to nothing” and then had to pay for the most basic services?
This is one of the most common marketing gimmick used by travel companies to attract and hook customers.
Usually, the terms and conditions are hidden, making it tough to realise this.
In such cases, it is best to be extra cautious especially when it sounds too good to be true.
Another thing to remember is that you are bound to make some mistakes and that such instances will form approx. 5-10% of your whole journey.
Remember to enjoy and not spoil the other 90-95% of our trip due to this.
3. Getting robbed/Mugged
One common theme while travelling is getting robbed/mugged. In Central & South America you will consistently hear stories about how people had to give up all their belongings on gun point.
It is one of those experiences that can leave mental, physical and emotional scars for a longtime.
Near impossible to predict but you can definitely take certain precautions and avoid situations more than 95% of the time. Some safety tips:
• Do not walk in dark alleyways and always take walks in crowded places
• Leave expensive things in your locker and avoid flashing phones
• Use a reliable source of transportation even if expensive
• Carry the amount of cash you are comfortable losing
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times
• Avoid walking drunk on the streets
• Blend in with the crowd, dress according to the culture of the place that you are in
• Do not be loud or garnering attention to yourself
• While walking at night, it is best to walk with others if possible
• In case someone does threaten you — do not resist and always hand over your things even if they are expensive. Your life cannot be replaced
• Unnecessary confrontation must be avoided — this goes without saying even in your own country
4. Visa Issues
While some passports do not need a visa for travel, there are some that still do.
While it is one of the biggest stress inducer while travelling there is usually no way around it.
It can lead to multiple complications and end up causing a lot of financial stress if not managed properly.
I had to change my entire plan and let go of my bookings in Salvador when I was not allowed to enter due to some stupid rule and misunderstanding.
In the process I lost a couple of days, a few hundred dollars and gained a few grey hair.
Thankfully, my financial condition allowed me to manage this unexpected expense and situation. Barring my ego nothing much was hurt.
Traveling truly shows what life is all about, uncertainty. If you are prepared for it. You will be able to deal with the toughest situations.
5. Baggage issues
Baggage issues such as lost, damaged, broken, delay or exchange of baggage with another traveller are common.
In one such instance my baggage got exchanged with another travellers since both our bags were identical.
While I went to Costa Rica with another persons bag, my bag went to El Salvador – both in opposite direction.
However, the other person, whose bag I had, had left some important medicines in his backpack and returning his stuff had become important.
Luckily, we were able to trace one another and also were able to make arrangements to exchange our bags.
Thankfully, I made it a point to carry all my important stuff in a different hand bag that I was carrying the whole trip. This was my biggest takeaway that ALWAYS carry important stuff like cash, papers, passports, etc. in a separate bag.
6. Language barriers
Knowledge of the the local language comes with a lot of perks. You can connect with the locals better, you are respected, locals can trust you far more and make you feel a lot more inclusive.
Gathering information becomes simpler and faster, you would end up making fewer mistakes, bargain better, etc.
However, in our busy, fast paced world it is not always possible to familiarise ourselves with the local language everywhere we go.
For several folks, who like to be in control, this can be a huge pain point. It can affect your morale and also stress you out while trying to deal with people in a different language.
Once again train yourself to be prepared for such uncertainty and try to pick up some of the basic, regularly used words and greetings to enhance your experience.
7. Delayed transportation
While traveling in different modes of transport, a lot of the outcomes are not in your hands. Issues like bad weather, technical or operational issues, traffic, etc. are some of the common problems plaguing our generation.
These instances can eat into your vacation time and bring about a lot of stress.
While there is no sure-shot way to avoid such instances, you can take some decisions to help you avoid some of these issues.
• Ensure enough buffer time between connecting flights and your next set of activities
• Keep an eye on the weather and book your flights accordingly
• Carry books, neck pillows to relax while you wait
• Explore airports and stay calm in case your flight gets delayed unexpectedly
8. Falling ill
This is one of the worst things that can happen to you while you are on your vacation in a foreign country trying to soak up as much as possible before you head back to your daily, mundane life.
I experienced this first hand right after the second earthquake hit Mexico City and besides feeling that I would die, it was also hard to explain to the doctor how I was feeling since I barely spoke any Spanish back then.
Since this is beyond most our control, the best way to prepare for this is to carry medicines for your regular illnesses and some common issues that can happen while traveling.
This will keep you comfortable since you will be consuming medication that you are aware of and not a new composition in a new country. Besides, you might not know where to look for them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, most of the things that we know or think of as being in control over – we are actually not.
Test your self, your character, your mental strength, your creativity and your limits.
So prepare yourself for a journey of a lifetime and new experiences every time you step out of your house and your regular routine as this is what travelling is all about.
Your turn, have you ever been in an experience that I may have missed here? Do share your thoughts!!
