Whilst waiting in the interim of checking out from our resort and waiting to get a boat to Chumphon, I read this article in the 'Backpacker. South East Asia' and I thought it just hit the nail on the head.
"The most important lesson that travelling has taught me is that there are many different ways to live your life. The longer I stay in Asia the more open minded I become and the more I lose grip on what I want once considered to be the path to aspire to.
Many people in the West tend to follow a similar route - we leave school, go to university and get a job. Student loans, mortgages, relationships and careers are the committments that keep us on the straight and narrow. Stuck in the day to day bubble of routine and security, it becomes harder and harder to break free.
In the Western mindset, success is measured in assets and achievements. It can be scary and daunting to imagine life that strays from this structured ladder. Stuck in the office in the UK I kept thinking - what is at the top of the ladder?
Backpacking is a once in a lifetime experience. Its a time when you break away from the regimented order of Western society and get a taste of a different way of life - adventure, excitement, spontaneity. Once sampled it may be hard to get back to "normal life".
There are all types of people I meet everyday in South East Asia. I am constantly inspired and intrigued by life stories I hear that would make page turning novels.
Ambitious entrepreneurs, enthusiastic journalists, designers, artists, photographers, DJs, Founders of NGO's, Adventure companies, passionate volunteers and teachers. Not millionaires but people who make a difference in the world in their own way, however big or small. There are many young people who have discovered Asia as a place where they are able to forge their own paths and pursue their dreams against the convention of their home countries.
With the recent downturn in the economy making it difficult to find a job in places such as the US, UK and Europe, there is a growing trend of young people escaping overseas to seek out new challenges and exciting opportunities. Fed up with selling themselves short, working long hours, paying high rent and saddling themselves with debt; this new group of pioneers head East with open eyes. What begins as a backpacking adventure becomes a whole new way of life.
At times life can be bound by what you 'should' do in the eyes of parents, peers, teachers, employers and by society itself. It takes initial courage to step back, ask yourself why you 'should' do something. You might just realise to your astonishment that you actually don't HAVE to do what you think you do!
Going against the grain and doing things just a little bit differently than everyone in your home town may not be as difficult or as scary as you may think. In fact, once you get started it can be easier!
For those of us that are lucky enough to have been born into a free and safe country with access to clean water and food let along the freedom to travel - the world is an adventure playground.
We must never forget our biggest privilege is choice - something that millions of people in the world do not have. It is up to us to make the most of it - by living your life to the full, helping other people along the way and being part of something that you are proud of.
When people say to me that they would love to travel the world, be a travel writer, live in Thailand or own their own business, I say "You Can!"
(Nikki Scott)
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