Comments on: Is Travel The Easy Way Out? http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/ Backpacking is cutting travel costs, but not cutting the exciting elements of adventure. Travel in style; to distinctive places and to have fun doing so! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SamRoberts http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-7118 SamRoberts Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:35:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-7118 Couldnt agree more! The amounts of times ive had the 'You're so lucky' and 'I wish i did it at your age', really bugs me. The people that think it is easy should give it a shot, but the majority wont because theyll be too scared to leave everything they know behind. If its that easy then go for it, why would anybody want to choose the harder more stressful path. Im only 18, and three days after my 18th i started travelling. Ive been to 4 places soo far, and have worked my ass of in each country, just so i can earn enough money to carry on travelling. A fare few have asked me why not college and university? Travelling teaches you so much about the world and more importantly yourself, more than any college or university can ever teach you. College and University will always be there when and if im ready to choose that path. Taking that first step into travelling was the best choice i have made so far, it was very hard leaving my friends and family, and leaving the place i knew and all my belongings, and even though i still work ridiculous hours,  ive given myself an opportunity to see the world, and i enjoy everything so much more. (note 'ive given myself the opportunity' not luck at all). Anyway had my say... Happy Travelling :D Couldnt agree more! The amounts of times ive had the ‘You’re so lucky’ and ‘I wish i did it at your age’, really bugs me. The people that think it is easy should give it a shot, but the majority wont because theyll be too scared to leave everything they know behind. If its that easy then go for it, why would anybody want to choose the harder more stressful path. Im only 18, and three days after my 18th i started travelling. Ive been to 4 places soo far, and have worked my ass of in each country, just so i can earn enough money to carry on travelling. A fare few have asked me why not college and university? Travelling teaches you so much about the world and more importantly yourself, more than any college or university can ever teach you. College and University will always be there when and if im ready to choose that path. Taking that first step into travelling was the best choice i have made so far, it was very hard leaving my friends and family, and leaving the place i knew and all my belongings, and even though i still work ridiculous hours,  ive given myself an opportunity to see the world, and i enjoy everything so much more. (note ‘ive given myself the opportunity’ not luck at all). Anyway had my say… Happy Travelling :D

]]> By: Richard http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-6846 Richard Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:26:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-6846 Why spend your whole life worth working and stressing, by the time most people feel they have made it in life, its too late for them to travel and see the world. Ive worked 2 years out the last 4, im sat on a remote beach in the Philppines writing this, most people would say I'm lucky, im not I just made the decision to go, the rest was easy, its all about choices. Why spend your whole life worth working and stressing, by the time most people feel they have made it in life, its too late for them to travel and see the world. Ive worked 2 years out the last 4, im sat on a remote beach in the Philppines writing this, most people would say I’m lucky, im not I just made the decision to go, the rest was easy, its all about choices.

]]> By: Seven Links in #AOB History http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-6746 Seven Links in #AOB History Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:08:32 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-6746 [...] the most traffic to Art of Backpacking out of all the other articles.My Most Controversial Post: Is Travel The Easy Way Out?This article drew a lot of attention and went into multiple conversations going into replies of [...] [...] the most traffic to Art of Backpacking out of all the other articles.My Most Controversial Post: Is Travel The Easy Way Out?This article drew a lot of attention and went into multiple conversations going into replies of [...]

]]> By: Tony Bermeo http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-6452 Tony Bermeo Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:53:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-6452 sometimes unconventional is key sometimes unconventional is key

]]> By: Tony Bermeo http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-6451 Tony Bermeo Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:51:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-6451 This article is great insight. I completely agree. While getting a job and starting your career is without a doubt important, it's those who think outside the box and explore uncharted mental territories that learn to define themselves. This article is great insight. I completely agree. While getting a job and starting your career is without a doubt important, it’s those who think outside the box and explore uncharted mental territories that learn to define themselves.

]]> By: Michael http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-5696 Michael Mon, 02 May 2011 00:56:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-5696 It really is a cultural thing. Even after two years of travel, back at home people still think what I'm doing is a bit out there and that eventually I'll "snap back to reality". In Australia though I found people were really laid back and interested in what I was doing instead of asking me what I was going to do after. It really is a cultural thing. Even after two years of travel, back at home people still think what I’m doing is a bit out there and that eventually I’ll “snap back to reality”. In Australia though I found people were really laid back and interested in what I was doing instead of asking me what I was going to do after.

]]> By: Michael http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-5694 Michael Mon, 02 May 2011 00:53:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-5694 Very nice. Good to hear you didn't let others fears attach to you. Very nice. Good to hear you didn’t let others fears attach to you.

]]> By: Jamie http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-5676 Jamie Sun, 01 May 2011 01:44:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-5676 Great insight! When I divulge that my husband and I are moving our family to China for the next two years, and we plan to begin a life of travel, we are met with utter disdain! I've felt the harsh glances that accompanying the "You're a bad parent" thought. But, you are right! It is fear! Why must be so afraid to experience the world? I am tired of living under the veil of sitcoms and 9-5 life. I want my children to develop a real understanding and appreciation for life! We are lucky, we are lucky that fear won't stop our motivation to experience life! Great insight! When I divulge that my husband and I are moving our family to China for the next two years, and we plan to begin a life of travel, we are met with utter disdain! I’ve felt the harsh glances that accompanying the “You’re a bad parent” thought. But, you are right! It is fear! Why must be so afraid to experience the world? I am tired of living under the veil of sitcoms and 9-5 life. I want my children to develop a real understanding and appreciation for life! We are lucky, we are lucky that fear won’t stop our motivation to experience life!

]]> By: Sasha http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-5675 Sasha Sun, 01 May 2011 01:00:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-5675 It's an interesting notion this "travel is the easy way out" of course it's stupid because travel can be damn hard! It's not exactly a walk in the park when you realise you're running out of money, or loose your passport, get mugged, all sorts of things can go wrong with travel, it's not like it's just some big relaxed holiday on a tropical island. That being said being an Australian I was never told I was "taking the easy way out" when I took a two year gap year, I was never told I was stupid for not going to university and instead working and saving to travel and I was never told I was wasting away my life by moving to China. I wasn't really aware that there was an anti travel/gap-year stigma until I met other foreigners. Even some of my American friends in China who are the same age of me constantly bang on about the fact I didn't go to university, "why wouldn't you go to University? You realise now it's gonna to be harder to find a job!"....etc Well big deal, I was working my arse off then travelling Europe. What I've realised It's a cultural thing. For Aussies, Kiwi's and Brits we're definitely encouraged to take a gap year if we're not sure about a future career or just want to have a break after 13 years of study before diving back into study stress again! At the careers fairs there are heaps of programs encouraging people to go see the world, not rush into a career. Even many careers advisors tell us in high school that the universities/workplaces found that people who had taken a gap year and travel or lived abroad were much more mature and focused. It makes me happy to be Australian, I never had to put up with people saying I took "the easy way out", in fact so many of my friends took gap years that if you were the one who didn't then you were the odd one out! It’s an interesting notion this “travel is the easy way out” of course it’s stupid because travel can be damn hard! It’s not exactly a walk in the park when you realise you’re running out of money, or loose your passport, get mugged, all sorts of things can go wrong with travel, it’s not like it’s just some big relaxed holiday on a tropical island.

That being said being an Australian I was never told I was “taking the easy way out” when I took a two year gap year, I was never told I was stupid for not going to university and instead working and saving to travel and I was never told I was wasting away my life by moving to China. I wasn’t really aware that there was an anti travel/gap-year stigma until I met other foreigners. Even some of my American friends in China who are the same age of me constantly bang on about the fact I didn’t go to university, “why wouldn’t you go to University? You realise now it’s gonna to be harder to find a job!”….etc Well big deal, I was working my arse off then travelling Europe. What I’ve realised It’s a cultural thing. For Aussies, Kiwi’s and Brits we’re definitely encouraged to take a gap year if we’re not sure about a future career or just want to have a break after 13 years of study before diving back into study stress again! At the careers fairs there are heaps of programs encouraging people to go see the world, not rush into a career. Even many careers advisors tell us in high school that the universities/workplaces found that people who had taken a gap year and travel or lived abroad were much more mature and focused. It makes me happy to be Australian, I never had to put up with people saying I took “the easy way out”, in fact so many of my friends took gap years that if you were the one who didn’t then you were the odd one out!

]]> By: Nick Berggreen http://artofbackpacking.com/is-travel-the-easy-way-out/#comment-5593 Nick Berggreen Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:57:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=3108#comment-5593 People will find any way to rationalize the mistakes they've made so they can avoid admitting to themselves that they've led a wasted life. For those who do have the "wander bug," it's not the easy way out--it's the ONLY way out. People will find any way to rationalize the mistakes they’ve made so they can avoid admitting to themselves that they’ve led a wasted life.

For those who do have the “wander bug,” it’s not the easy way out–it’s the ONLY way out.

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