Backpackers and tourists

Backpackers and tourists -

Along the backpacker trail, you hear it. The conversation. The chatter. The growls. The attitude.

That's right. I speak about it, feel like backpackers on tourists. Backpackers tourists than non-travelers - those who are going for the pictures and the hotel, but never the place. Backpackers, on the other hand, consider themselves true travelers - they go for the cultural experience to meet the locals and immerse themselves in distant lands. Or at least, that's what they think.

Add to travelers lexicon, a backpacker's usually a young traveler on a long journey, sleeping in hostels, cooks his / her own meals, living cheap, is hard on a budget and parties. Take the transport and hang out with the locals. A tourist, on the other hand, is always going somewhere, follow the Lonely Planet trail stays in nice hotels, eating at nice restaurants, bus takes tourists (which is not really authentic local food serve), buy silly gifts, and usually sticks like a sore thumb.

I always thought this distinction a bit ironic, since so many backpackers down while talking "tourists" bear their Lonely Planet, visit the same cities and stay at the same hostels and keep on the same path, the set 30 years ago by the hippies before she was. While I consider myself part of the backpacker set (although more of a nomad), I do not subscribe to this line of thinking. When I hear this argument, I shake my head and find joy in hypocrisy to some naive fellow traveler pointed.

But let us be clear. "Tourists" do sting as sore thumb. They could not hide if they tried. Many make no attempt to learn cultural norms, mix, or respect the local way of life. These are tourists, people talk about. And I can not stand either they - the tourists who come to a place, do not bother with the locals to communicate and stay their whole stay in place. What is the meaning to come to a new country, if you never see it really go?

For me, it is not traveling. The flying to a resort. But at least they made the effort. Baby steps, right?

But I think we all our tourist moments. We all stuck out sometimes. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that! We all get an A for effort. What is ironic is that, instead of trying to promote a better traveling, - the travel, the people of all travel Styles interact with the locals get - say Backpacker superiority, because they do it cheaper and for a longer time. You get off the beaten path from, say, and live like the locals.

they do not except.

means

Experience a new culture, that it will remain long enough to get into the flow of life. Most backpackers do not. Simply go to the latest party venue and call it off-the-beaten path, until someone (else) comes with a Lonely Planet. They eat at roadside stalls and claim they are just like the locals, but they never learn the language and only eat looking confidently. I am often asked where to go to see the "real" Thailand, and I always say that there is no such thing - every part is just as real. " Now we want as a local to live", they respond. "To get an apartment and a job " is my answer

I like to call this "The Beach syndrome" -. This idea that cheap travel is better and more authentic (because the locals are happy that your money and do not save to give it to them), and that there is a place off the beaten path, the true, authentic part of a country. Backpackers think how the characters did in the book The Beach - that there are some travel great out there. This authentic, mysterious place that exists supposedly where everything is real and you're the only stranger there, and everyone is friendly and melt directly into local life. What a place that would be! Too bad it does not exist. It is a myth. It is "The Beach syndrome."

I'm not a fan of package holiday tourists, but that does not mean that I am better than them. No trip is really better than any other travel. What matters is that we are moving on the backpacker / tourist debate and recognize that the important part is that we Travel . We're not just for fun and pictures, but about another culture and break out of our comfort zones to learn - even if just a little. Is not that the point, why are we going?

A by another name rose is still a rose. And no matter what we call ourselves, we are really all just tourists.

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