Take The Path Less Ordinary

When you show good manners, you’re an intrepid traveler. When you’re annoying, you’re a tourist.

The word intrepid is measured by mindset, not how many places visited. Winging a trail and not knowing how it will end up is exciting. In intrepid mode, you are gutsy, sometimes reckless even. But let’s admit, it’s hard to be an adventurer with only 3 weeks of holiday a year. No one starts out as an intrepid traveler naturally, but some tips won’t harm …

Tip 1 - Money

Stop feeding on your parents’ hard earned cash. Get a real job. Don’t ask for mountain treks, reef diving or polar expedition followed by “my budget is $50 per day”. It’s irritating. To go where few has boldly gone before isn’t going to be shoestring. If you don’t have the money, stay at home. Watch National Geographic on TV instead.

Tip 2 – Who you travel with

Everyone fantasizes that Indiana Jones lives deep inside him somewhere. But who says adventure is all about gawking at historic sites or basking in a sun soaked beach. People say great destination is only half the deal. We say a travel mate is the other half. Go traveling with your grandma. A trip like that will ask you what you are made of. It’s good training too.

Tip 3 - Personal hygiene

The “intrepid traveler” isn’t sexy when he is filthy. You know … shower, brush your teeth, wash your clothes, trim your fingernails. If you intend to have lady friends as traveling mates, they should feel clean sharing arm rest with you on train seats. They not want to be afraid of catching communicable disease from toilet seats, cups used by you, or be disgusted with your special hairs on the bathroom floor.

Tip 4 - You are what you eat

Now that you are big enough to travel without mommy around, you’re going to have to fend for yourself. Mc Donald’s happy meal doesn’t count as ethnic food. Avoid food that comes with disposable wares. Going green means more that vegetables. Learn to eat what locals eat, drink what locals drink. Better yet, learn how to actually cook local food.

Tip 5 - Substance please

A slick The North Face jacket doesn’t make you a traveler. It only makes you look like a hobo dressed with thick clothing in hot Malaysian weather. Like Donald Trump’s comb-over, fakes are easy to spot. Logic is the key. We know it’s a holiday, but donning a pair of sunglasses while trekking dark forest floor tell a lot about your IQ (we see this happening all the time).

Tip 6 - Keep the spirit

Let’s admit backpacking is cool but don’t ask around in Lonely Planet’s e-forum where to leave your luggage somewhere for a few days. That’s not “backpacking”. You are supposed to travel with all your belongings. Your backpack is your single most loyal companion and it deserves respect. Where you go, it goes.

Tip 7 - Personal virtue

An intrepid traveler goes will the flow. He shares with everyone, regardless of skin color, religious leanings or pedigree. He passes along expertise and good advice. Most importantly, an intrepid traveler looks out for women and children and makes them stand behind him in time of danger.

Tip 8 – Know it all

Understands the basic mechanics of planet Earth. Learn how to squint, look up at the sun, and tell what time of day it is. Smell the air and know when a storm is approaching. You should understand how eggs grow into tadpoles or why in certain countries people eat frogs. Observe and see things below the surface. A traveler who has answers for everything always scores with the girls.

Tip 9 – Never stop learning

You need a pea sized brain to get lost nowadays. Make use of the internet, guidebooks and e-forums. Read a lot. Don’t be fazed by places with locals who don’t speak English. Learn Sanskrit if you have to. And for Pete’s sake, pick up some foreign profanities too. Use it on your annoying boss back home. He won’t know what hit him.

Tip 10 - Slow down

People always rush into things. That’s how first marriages screw up. Travel less places but travel them well. Feel the wind in your hair. Do some voluntary work. Learn local crafts. Stay in a jungle village for a week or two. If you’re not meant for leeches and squat toilet, it’s a lesson too.

Good reads after this

1. Malaysia leech rule no.1 - Don’t scream for your guide
2. Dodging danger in Malaysian jungle