The Not So Disgusting Way to See The World

It's not that I don't have time to write anymore, it's just that all my effort is directed at my studies. I've decided to 'publish' some of my essays on the net. I have finally finished my English writing course via correspondence. It only took 7 months. Here's the first essay I wrote for it, back in October. Feel free to critique, that is if you actually read it.




“Didn’t you wear that yesterday?” This is an embarrassing question that backpackers must often face while traveling the world. Yes, they do get to experience parts of the globe that the average vacationer may never get to see; in fact, backpacking is one of the most rewarding full-time occupations that can pay off with beautiful scenery, great foreign friends, exotic foods, spiritual fulfillment and extraordinary anecdotes. On the other hand, its consequences can include dangerous environments, stressful planning, communication barriers, feelings of unsettlement, living out of a small luggage, and of course keeping a tight budget. There are a variety of techniques that a backpacker can put into effect while trying to see the world on a budget and with limited space. More specifically, the techniques that will be presented here pertain to your clothing and how they can be handled. Points that can be taken into consideration are; the amount of clothes at your disposal, where and how they will be cleaned, and once they’re clean, how they will dry.

Before venturing off, travellers are often drilled by guidebooks and friends to “pack light”, and in reality this means bringing less clothes. One way to reduce the amount of clothing you bring, yet increase the amount of clothing you have available, is to wear articles two, four, or even six times before washing them. There are a few ways to get away with this and not feel absolutely disgusting. For example, underwear is normally only worn once before washing; however, wearing them inside-out for a second day doubles the quantity of available underwear. Furthermore, wearing a pair of trousers or shorts a few different times before washing won’t kill anyone, especially if they are hung up before going to bed and aired out for the next day’s activities. Shirts, on the other hand, all depend on the type of climate that you’re in and your susceptibility to sweating and/or producing body odours. In a tropical climate it’s obvious that the heat will make anyone hot and sweaty, but if you are in an area where the weather is cooler, then perhaps body odours and perspiration may not emerge at all. In this second situation, it might be best to do the same procedure as with your shorts and trousers. The main point here is to wear your clothes repeatedly until you can actually justify washing them.

This now leads to the topic of washing, and it should be noted that there are different options for having clothes cleaned, such as laundromats, drycleaners, or a laundry service that may be available to wash, dry, iron and fold clothes for you. This all sounds wonderfully simple and convenient; however, when backpackers have that tight budget to keep it isn’t always feasible. Generally, the majority of travellers save their dollars, yen, pesos, etc., by hand washing their clothes at their hostel. It can be quite time consuming to do, but can pay off in the long-run. If you do choose this route, keep in mind that some accommodations encourage self washing and will even provide buckets or large sinks to utilize, but on the other hand, some places exploit the fact that laundry is a basic necessity and prohibit hand washing. Often, they remove their sinks’ rubber drain plugs to reinforce this rule and will post a sign quoting their laundry service prices.

There are a couple of ways to work around this if you’re feeling daring. The first choice is to carry around your own generic drain stop that can fit a variety of sinks or simply use a scrunched up plastic grocery bag to clog the drain. Secondly, instead of using a sink or a bucket at all, some travellers will bring a few articles of clothing with them into the shower and accomplish two tasks at once. Using shampoo or body soap to wash your clothes can eliminate packing detergent in your luggage. Some find this option to be the most logical, especially when they’re being devious and going against the hostel’s rules of conduct.

Although this last option may seem to be the most logical, there is also the component of drying your clothes which should probably be considered. Surely, you can wash your clothes on a daily basis and keep on top of your dirty situation, but how and where will the clothes be dried? There will probably be a conventional drying machine nearby, but again this might be an unnecessary expense, especially if you’re only drying a few items. If you’re at a place that actually promotes the do-it-yourself washing, then most likely there will be clothes lines and clothes pins outside for your convenience. However, if washing and drying is a forbidden act, then you may want to keep a roll of twine with you to tie up in your bedroom to hang your clothes on, but you must also consider how long will it take for the clothes to dry, for this may not be the best option if you are on a strict itinerary. Perhaps using a drying machine may sometimes be the wisest choice, because if you only have eight hours until your next flight or bus departure, you probably won’t want to pack away any wet clothes that could become mouldy. Some travellers will actually take their wet clothes with them on their journey and hang-dry them from their seats, armrests, baggage cabins or just about anywhere that seems probable. If you don’t have the guts to be this bold, then maybe it would be best to save all of your laundry for designated days where you hand wash all of your clothes and then fork out the money to pay for a drying machine. In some cases this may be well justified in your eyes, either way it’s your choice to make.

Whatever decisions you do make while venturing through the globe, remember that there are a number of options that can help you not only save room in your backpack but also save you valuable money. Whether it is wearing your clothes multiple times, such as your underwear inside-out, washing your sweat-stained shirt in the shower, or sprawling your lingerie out to dry in a bus, it can almost be guaranteed that the end result of your choices will be an ingredient in your comical tales upon arriving home.