Bad Smells, Cell Phones and Snoring Galore (but there is a lot of good stuff too!)

But before i get into that title...another thing for ya:

Solitary Entertainment = Journal Writing

It's amazing how time to oneself or perhaps even loneliness.... when all you want is to go and have a beer with someone....inspires journal writing. But don't feel bad...this is only some of the time! And it gives me opportunity to reflect on my time traveling...or just plain reflect on life...it's healthy. Something i feel that we often forget to stop, take time and just write. Casually and relaxingly dump thoughts or aggressively scribble onto the page... things we've been holding in for weeks...even years. I recommend it. It's amazing how much you have to say to yourself! Frightening perhaps? Only if you start muttering along... Or how much you want to say to others! Hence...my sharing of this new found knowledge. Perhaps this is why kids are so happy go lucky. Well, of course they don’t have house payments and groceries to buy..but besides that..they are content to shout out exactly how they feel. Maybe a little too often. And that's what journals were made for!Shouting out feelings without sounding too crazy...in public anyway. Right. So...now to share some fun quips of things i've realized about backpacking along my way. very academic.

The Positives and Negatives of Being a Backpacker! (a comprehensive guide)

We'll start with the not-so fun

• Going off this title you may realize that the snoring in hostels is definitely a downer! I have decided that when you book a room there should be a snorer/non-snorer, peaceful sleeper option. Thereby gathering all these noisemakers into one room to let them battle it out for the loudest snort, sniffle, or snot rattling outbursts of noise during the night. I want sleep!

• Oh the smells...the stench of dirty laundry, b.o. and all other things unidentifiably disgusting. I'll share one little piece from my journal. Mind you this was after a day in incredible vienna. there had to be a smell powerful enough to drive me to write, not on the city, but the wretched fumes that surrounded me! "What is with the smelly people?! do they not smell it themselves...because i mean when i smell...i take a second...sniff sniff...yep...shower time or wash my clothing time. I get that we're all backpackers here, but jeez! That smell is just not normal and certainly not sanitary for that matter. It seems like wherever i go there is one person just infecting the rest of the room...they finally leave and someone else arrives with there very own brand of stench that is so pungent it should actually have the green cartoon rotting smell lines steaming out of it. Example, last night some girl sleeping below me came into the room and went to retrieve her luggage out of the locker (i'm not sure what compels her to lock up this smelly sack of filth...) and wham! that smell came out with a vengeance. As she pulled it closer I literally leapt for the window. You know a smell is bad when it can get your attention, hold it and then actually become a distraction. I thought getting out of the mixed dorms would solve this problem...apparently not."
• Another issue is the cell phones going off in the middle of the night. I think some girl set the record...three nights in a row this thing would go off and she wouldn't wake up! I kindly helped her to find the off-switch...but this involved me slowly locating which bed the noise was coming from. It would go off every minute. So i would get a little closer on every attempt. I must have looked so creepy just hovering over people...waiting for the next vibrating ring. haha. Another time the cell phone was locked in a locker...
• One friend i met commented that he "just got tired living out of a pringles can" of course referring to the ever-popular backpack. haha...well yes...it does get a little tiresome packing and unpacking the dang thing. i have lovingly nicknamed mine "the beast". but all in all...not so bad.
• The Death Cough: highly contagious and frightening lung infection you don't want to get anywhere near but can't seem to get away from. near or far...it sounds like the person may be dying...or slowly and painfully delivering pieces of their snotty lung to the world. the only thing between you and the death cough is a germy hand...and sometimes not even that much. uhhhh. It seems that wherever i go..i can hear it following me "coohooowhhahahahooozzz" i don't even know how to spell that awful noise. On the plane? Of course right next to me. In the bus? surrounded. Train compartment? Yes...and we're enclosed. Internet Cafe? Keyboard of disease. Dorm room? naturally. On the streets? Quick! Turn and run!
• Same old story: you will tell your travel story about 1000 times before the day is over. I've decided that what i really need to do is create some sort of handout or perhaps just start wearing a sandwich board that easily informs others of the information they will assuredly be after. Where are you from...where have you been...for how long...how much longer....where to next...what do you do at home...what will you do when you get back...traveling with friends...anyplace you think i should go? single? haha. it goes on. you get pretty good at spilling it all out into a couple of sentences. but yes, i think a nice bulleted handout would be great.

• And yes...travelling alone...you do have the lonely moments or i wish i had a close friend/family member to share this with...but i still believe that going alone is an invaluable experience and it is quite nice to do whatever you want when you want! learn so much on you're own...and you're forced to make friends!

• Being on the move for a few months can take its toll but i really haven't been burned out yet...maybe a little tired but that's about it. How can you complain with all the amazing things surrounding? Plus...there's always that trusty journal...

The Yays and Hoorays! i.e. the good stuff

• You have the opportunity to meet all kinds of people! From all over the world...and so many speak english that you can have some very interesting conversations. and i'm on my way to breaking all stereotypes of the U.S. and admitting...that yes...some of them are unfortunately true...but hey! don't judge me! i'm working for change kids...
• Adventure! You never know what's next. One of the most exhilarating experiences is turning a corner and looking up...woahh! or looking out of the bus/train window and thinking...unbelievable...a mountain range, a green field, golden leaves appearing for the frist time for your eyes.
•  The flexibility to wander a country and feel boundless. This place looks cool...let's go!
•  The free food/food left behind shelf in hostels (bagged rice!)
• You realize that a good pair of walking shoes and the sights and sounds of every new place are all you really need
• Embracing new things and loving it...not to mention all the interesting locals along the way
• a good internet cafe is something to get excited about...but i don't want to think about how much i've spent for internet time
• there is a good reason for the holes worn into your clothes
• Travel bears no end...so many places in the world...i'm only just beginning! I saw a woman the other day who was at least in her 50s...hauling a huge backpack and carrying a map....awesome