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September 28, 2006
why Packaged Tours is a bad word
it's a case of one man's meat being another man's poison. packaged tours offer a lot of pros - everything is almost paid for, you only need to bring a little money for food and souvenirs, there is certainty in your plans, you're well taken care of. to sum it all up - you're safe. you're a tourist.
but that's not how i want to travel.
i want to backpack. i want the unsettling sensation of being somewhere unfamiliar. i want to be a stranger feeling about in the dark. i want uncertainty. i want to not know what to expect so that i could be surprised. i want curveballs. i want to hunt down the best deals. i want to be whimsical.
how i see it, the way i travel has got these things going for me:
- if i like the place, i can stay another night, or two. if i hate it i leave
- i decide where to go next on a whim, based on intuition or even astronomy for all i care. wherever the feel good factor lies
- choices are at hand - i can take a combo of minibus + boat, or train, or charter a trishaw
- i can slowly stroll down the street and be very picky about my accomodation. maybe i want to stay in a red building today. maybe i want a balcony. maybe i want a crazy guest house keeper
point is - with packaged tours, i'm not afforded with the above "luxury". but there are cons to my travelling style. you have to be street smart for one. and you have to be in love with uncertainty. sure, you might have a bad experience - someone tries to pull a fast one, or you're brought around for a ride. think of it this way though - they make good stories to tell when you get home :)
posted by nyx at September 28, 2006 8:44 PM
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