I have a confession to make. Despite being a travel blogger, I've never stayed at a hostel before. There, I said it!
Despite all the research I've done, I know nothing can really prepare me for a journey this big other than to experience it firsthand.
How can I find out if I'm really going to use all the stuff I bring? Maybe I'll forget to bring something? Can I still work on blogging while I travel?
With so many questions, I figure there is really only one way to find out! I purchased tickets to Chris Guillebeau's 2016 World Domination Summit, and took a trip to Portland three weeks ago.
A Pre-Trip, Trip to the World Domination Summit
Since I was curious to see what is was like to backpack, not only did I only bring my 44L backpack, I also made sure to book my accommodation in a hostel as opposed to using a hotel or Airbnb to get a feel of what dorm life is like. Of course, I also brought my laptop to test drive working on the road.
And man, I am sure glad I made the decision to travel for a week to prepare for my one year journey!
Here's what I learned:
- I need to make sure I am wearing shoes while I'm traveling with my heavy backpack. Wearing flip flops while backpacking is a sure way to hurt my feet and back.
- I never wore my jeans once. I ended up wearing the same shorts for an entire week (and surprisingly it stayed clean)
- Working on my blog during the evenings, after exploring the city during the day, proved to be effective. Even if I was tired during the day, I found that I can still get about one hour of work done every evening.
- Taking one or two day off during the week from moving around or checking out the city really helped me recharge. I will definitely remember to implement the same strategy when I leave for my year long trip, just so I can take the time to either work on my blog or relax.
- Because I was walking so much (20,000 steps a day minimum), I didn't really need to exercise at all. I went to the gym once during my entire one week stay in Portland.
- I didn't bring a daypack with me but I could see how having one would be useful if I want to take pictures or make videos.
- Your hostel roommates can be loud and obnoxious. I was lucky that I got along with everyone but I remember some individuals in the hostel didn't like each other and was actually verbally fighting with one another. Good thing I brought ear plugs!
- Long bus rides sucks, I took a 10 hour Greyhound from Portland to Vancouver and that was a painful experience. Taking the train is a much more pleasant experience.
- I definitely need to buy a lock for my backpack to prevent theft and for some peace of mind.
While traveling to Portland isn't the same as traveling abroad, being able to experience hostel life and commuting with a heavy pack gave me a good sense of what life may be like once I am on the road during the year.
I still have yet to experience the more challenging aspects of travel: commuting to sketchy areas, no internet, or even getting extremely sick while on the road. But at the very least, I am a bit more mentally prepared now than I was a few months ago.
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