ADVENTUREATANYAGE.BLOG

I went backpacking around South East Asia and Australia for 10 months with a good friend in 1994/95, (hi Chris), so I am keen to see how places have changed and how my ability to cope stands up, especially as I know Pip will be a lot more particular about things than Chris and I ever were aged 24.

Physically there is a noticeable difference, and I don’t just mean the lack of hair that makes a hat essential rather than a choice. Back then I was in pretty good shape. At 56 the shape has changed somewhat so despite keeping my rucksack to 11kg (although 15kg after Pip discreetly added 3 bags of toiletries), the same as 32 years ago, I have unfortunately devdloped an extra 2 rucksacks worth of weight around my waist which could prove troublesome.

On a more cerebral level I remember leaving for my first trip after 6 years of working but still being a relatively naive individual. Returning to the UK I felt full of confidence and that I could survive and thrive in any situation. As you get older you get more and more confident in the world you operate in, but that world is often getting smaller with less and less situations where you go out of your comfort zone. I am looking forward to more randomness and challenges.

Finally, I will share a few stories from travelling all those years ago and try to offer some thoughts on how places and people have changed this time around.