Backpackers in 2013: The only people who will travel half way around the world to experience other people and cultures be on Facebook. Likely while sitting next to someone from another country, who is watching YouTube. Eish.
At some point in my childhood I discovered that my mother had a life before I came along (yep, really!). As a wee one, this both surprised and fascinated me. Her travel adventures were especially exciting.
As I'm writing this blog, I am continually asked by both hostels and fellow guests "So, what have you found? What are the best things a hostel can do?" There are certainly details I've seen that make places stand out, which I will continue to write about.
So far with these blogs I have been highlighting various 'best practices' that I've seen in hostels along the way.
Not all in life is as it seems. If you've ever been enticed by a fast food burger commercial you know what I mean. Forget that the meat actually looked real through the magic of HDTV. What really got me was the crispy lettuce and juicy tomato, so fresh out of the garden they bore water droplets.
It's true, I'll admit it. I thought this job would be pretty easy. Write about something I know? Sure thing. Do it while traveling? Even better.
There's no question travel can be fun, rewarding, and exciting. However anyone who's traveled will tell you it can also be frustrating, lonely, and exhausting. Sometimes missing certain comforts of home can cause some unusual behavior.
My admiration for Hekerua Lodge on Waiheke Island as described in my previous post was very much from a guest perspective.
There are a lot of aspects about my life that I consider very fortunate, if not lucky.
You know those guests who show up and are clueless about the area because they clearly didn't look up a single thing before arriving? Yea, that was me a few days ago. I admit it. I flew to Sydney without having looked up…anything. There's a famous Opera House here, right? And a cool bridge?