Part 90: The other side of backpacking...
As much as I'd enjoyed exploring the mountains, it was nice to be back to some of the comforts Makati offered - like hot showers for instance, and the social vibe of the hostel with all my friends here, plus there was always something going on every night to keep me occupied. From the movie nights, or the games, to drinking out the front with the guitar playing staff, and food we would all take turns to prep in the kitchen - it was never dull.
Although backpacking sometimes means you have to take the rough with the smooth. Firstly excuse the cliche (more on that later) but the good thing is that travelling alone has meant I've gained great opportunities to meet new people. With no one to rely on, it means you have to work a little harder in social situations to make friends.
Luckily I've been able to meet a huge amount of cool characters, especially in the Philippines who I can now call friends for life. Yet occasionally I have crossed paths with individuals who just rub me up the wrong way. The type of people who only have to say one thing that tests your patience – mainly because it's not the first time you have heard people desperately trying to cling on to the notion that they are, indeed, the best travellers on the planet - that is the flip side of hostels unfortunately.
The starry eyed enthusiasm I had at the beginning of my travels 18 months ago is slowing dwindling now, to be replaced with an ever so slight tinge of cynicism, and you tend to hear the same conversations which are beginning to become tiresome. Although most of the time it just blows over my head and I go along with what ever is said. That is of course until people are just plain rude. One such incident sprang to mind when a young American guy, who claimed with absolutely no uncertainty whatsoever, that the only good thing in the Philippines happened to be Krispy Kream donuts! He was also (by his own admission) deliberately trying to start up debates to annoy people and just seemed to revel in winding people up for no reason other than for his own amusement. Sadly I took the bait and found myself in a pointless argument with him. Of course I'm not suggesting all Americans are the same but this particular guy was as annoying as they come.
From bearded travel hipsters to country tickers, 'boho chic europeans' and 'gap yah' students, to people who reminisce about the good days and compare it to the terrible, ruined present (yet they continue to visit), then those who just always moan about the most ridiculous things - we have all come across those travellers who quite simply annoy the hell out of us. And so, after months solid on the road, I feel the need to vent a little. In that time I’ve noticed a predictable pattern of quotes emerge from the many great explorers I’ve had the displeasure of meeting, and it’s usually one of the following...
1. "It's way to touristy there".
2. "You should have seen it 10 years ago, it used to be so much better. Shame you didn't see it back then before it was ruined".
3. "But, how many counties have you visited. Im on like my 74th one now".
4. "Why is your backpack so big, I only travel with a 3 kilo bag".
5. "What do you mean you didn't see the rare white mountain tigers in Tibet!!".
6. "I can't believe they didn't speak English!"
7. "You've only been travelling for a few months????"
8. "I want to travel to find myself" (what does that even mean?)
9. "Volunteering was soooo fulfilling" (usually means they've spent 2 days working for an agency)
10. "The service was terrible (at the street food counter!!)
No matter where you are there will always be at least one person who is going to ask the same default questions as well, which are - 'where are you from?' 'where are you going?' 'where have you been?' and 'how long are you travelling for?' Even I do it, simply because it's almost second nature, although I do try and mix it up a little bit otherwise you'll be having the same conversations over and over again. And hearing how people want to 'find themselves' is a firm favourite of mine too.
We've all met those backpackers who after travelling through Thailand for a few weeks, suddenly think they own the world declaring themselves spiritualists with the ability to meditate for days and feel enlightened. Also, I'm not exactly sure why, but very little bugs me more than seeing backpackers wander around the streets of South East Asia barefoot!!. Maybe it's because they are on their seemingly endless quest to be real travellers in touch with their native side. Especially when you really do see homeless street kids, genuinely to poor to actually own shoes for real - it seems so contrived and ignorant. Whilst any rational person would feel sympathy, but what do my favourite backpackers do? Mimic them!! Fair enough they are on the road living the dream, and that’s great, but there’s no need to go all hippy, because to me they just look like they are trying way to hard to be cool. So do us all a favour and put your bloody flip flops back on ok!!
But the one type of traveller who is by far the most annoying is the 'know it all backpacker'. This particular individual doesn't hesitate to brag about their own awesomness, or about how long he or she have been on the road for, and all the amaaaaaaazing places they've been too before they became 'to touristy'. Usually found spending most of their time frequenting hostel common rooms just waiting for the chance to interrupt conversations, belittling less experienced travellers and loving the sound of their own voices, they don't hold back in letting everyone around them know about all the years they've been away.
Im aware when I first started traveling that I was a bit of a backpacker cliche myself, which was mainly down to me being naive then after a while the realisation suddenly hits you that you've had exactly the same idea as everyone else. That you're just here doing the same things as everyone else. That you haven't trodden a single path which hasn't already been trodden by someone else. But that's fine - I have come to the conclusion that there is actually very little about backpacking or travel which isn't cliched right now. I've really enjoyed sometimes looking back at my pics or reading some of my blog to remind me how I have changed since I decided to get off my butt and travel. I'm always respectful to other people's cultures, never act like a jerk and genuinely absorb everything around me with a sense of wonderment, especially since I thought this was something I would never have the courage to do. And that's why I live with all the annoying people I meet, the bad habits, the lack of privacy and stereotypes - it's a small price to pay. In the last two years, due to some pretty drastic circumstances in my life, I have been blessed with the mindset and confidence which enable me to live everyday, as best as I can and travel. If that is Cliche to some, then that's fine by me, it won't change the way I choose to live or see things. Ok rant over.
The Typhoon season was approaching fast in the Philippines, and unlike last year when I decided to head south to Borneo to escape the rain altogether, I decide to stick around in the Philippines for a few more weeks, although I did have a difficult decision to make wether or not I extended my visa, which is turning into a big expense - or leave the country for a while. Filipino Immigration states you can come and go as many times as you please, and on re entry to the Philippines you automatically get issued with a free 30 day visa, and occasionally there are return flights cheaper than the visa extension.
So after a bit of thought I decided to visit Taiwan - even though I must confess I knew very little about the country (Taipei was a 2 hour flight from Manila.) I could kill 2 birds with one stone here. Stay longer in the Philippines and instead of the extra expense of extending my visa whilst I was still here, travel to Taiwan and experience a new country before coming back - plus two of my really good travel friends had the exact same idea and decided to join me too. It was a win win.
In the week leading up to the trip, the World Cup had started, although you would never have known for two reasons really. Firstly, most games kicked off at 5am, and secondly, no one here gave a damn about it which was actually quite refreshing to escape all the hype and flag waving back home. After attempting to watch some of the games I found myself so unenthused until a really funny group of Dutch guys checked into the hostel and I shared a great experience of seeing Holland annihilate Spain. Watching them celebrate was really funny.
Then in no time, me and my two friends were planning our trip to Taiwan, by not actually planning anything at all, other than booking a nights accommodation. I was excited to be visiting another country, and happy to have great company with me, to share not only the experience, but some of the travel costs too.
Next stop, Taipei....