Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Let's see if this get's any interest.

My first independant/backpacking trip was when I was 11 years old for 6 months through central and South America with my mom. Since then i've been back to South America, as well as western Europe, the middle east, and Asia.

I would love to answer any and all questions about this kind of travel, or any of the places that i've been (country list below)...

Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Holland, Belgium, France (Paris only), Germany, Czeh Republic (Prague only), Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Nepal, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos.

Ask away!

edited to add: Guatemala

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

You have possibly the coolest mom ever. Have you kept this up as you've gotten older?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Do you ever get tired of the backpacker "scene?"

How long are your dreadlocks?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Do you ever get tired of the backpacker "scene?"

How long are your dreadlocks?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya, some people are a little much. There's definitley some real pretencious neo-hippy [censored]... I found most of them in India actually, either way.... but, when I didn't like someone/some place I would just leave. That's the beautiful thing about travelling, you have zero responsiblities (to an extent, of course). Do whatever you want, whenever you want.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
You have possibly the coolest mom ever. Have you kept this up as you've gotten older?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure wht you mean by, "kept this up"? For the record, i'm actually quite young... low 20's.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

did you ever get robbed/ripped off? how safe is backpacking through asia?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

What advice would you give a new backpacker?

I'm on my first trip through Europe currently and was curious about any tips or ideas you might have.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
did you ever get robbed/ripped off? how safe is backpacking through asia?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never been mugged... I have had things stolen.. and a girl I was travelling wiht in south america had her bag stolen in the Buenos Aires bus station which really sucked (passport, camerca, credit cards, etc). As far as getting scammed: it happens quite often.. paying way to much for something, etc. but.. you get used to it.. your bargaining skills definitley get way better as time goes on and you just get a whole lot more savvy.

Asia is a very large place. But the more touristed areas: South East Asia specifically, are very safe when it comes to your personal safety. I mean, there are places in Indonesia and Cambodia that you shouldn't go, and places in Myanmar that you can't go, but besides that, it's pretty safe for your personal safety... I would say most SE asian cites are much safer than the vast majority of western cities (there might be some exepctions: I spent a week in Jakarta waiting for a boat... definitley seemed pretty dicey)... but, all in all, that part of the world is a pretty safe bet.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
What advice would you give a new backpacker?

I'm on my first trip through Europe currently and was curious about any tips or ideas you might have.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm going to assume you don't mean logistical tips.

This is going to come out as kind of flaky, but whatever: My favourite moments while travelling haven't been hiking the great wall or seeing the pyramids etc., but times when you're not really doing anything and you realize where you are and what you're experiencing... that didn't come out very clear... but, some of my favourite memories are those where nothing outstanding happened, I just realized how awesome it was that i'm doing what i'm doing:

eg: waking up in the Bolivian jungle, being the only white people around at some tiny nature reserve in the middle of nowhere...picking a couple of grapefruits off the tree outside and enjoying them while sitting in the sun and watching the baby monkey's in the tree's around me play.

Or hitchiking through Tibet only to get picked up by some Tibetan motorcycle riders who have to take side roads (which ended up being paths that crisscross a river) because they weren't allowed to pick up foreigners. They drove us for two days, so awesome.

And countless other stories like that.

So, my tip is to just go and experiance as much as you can. Don't just eat banana pancakes where all the other backpackers are going, or just take "tourist buses" or go wherever everybody else is going... it's funny how pretencious some backpackers get when they talk about "tours" and "organized travelling"... but a lot of them are doing the exact same thing, just without the guides: going from one town to the next with everybody else, seeing hte sites, then getting drunk.... and don't get me wrong, that [censored] is all fun, but I find that when i've been doing that for awhile I feel like i've potentially missed out on a bunch of stuff that would have much cooler... that's all.

/rambling

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
through central and South America

[/ QUOTE ] How did you cross between the two?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
through central and South America

[/ QUOTE ] How did you cross between the two?

[/ QUOTE ]

Flew from Panama city - Quito... i was young then. I would love to trek through the Darrien Gap, although i've heard it's pretty dangerous. I know there are boats from Panama to Cartegana, Colombia (which is supposed to be an awesome city).

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would love to answer any and all questions about this kind of travel, or any of the places that i've been (country list below)...

Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Holland, Belgium, France (Paris only), Germany, Czeh Republic (Prague only), Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Nepal, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, awesome list.

I am particularly interested in Honduras. Did you ever feel 'threatened' there? A couple of travellers told me it isn't the safest place to visit.

Also, did you visit the Bay Islands there? I hear they are spectacular.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Have you ever backpacked alone or in rural Canada or the United States?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Have you ever backpacked alone in rural Canada or the United States?

[/ QUOTE ]
Fixed my post [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img].

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would love to answer any and all questions about this kind of travel, or any of the places that i've been (country list below)...

Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Holland, Belgium, France (Paris only), Germany, Czeh Republic (Prague only), Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Nepal, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, awesome list.

I am particularly interested in Honduras. Did you ever feel 'threatened' there? A couple of travellers told me it isn't the safest place to visit.

Also, did you visit the Bay Islands there? I hear they are spectacular.

[/ QUOTE ]

Outside of a select few countries, most of the countries south of Canada aren't the safest place. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

We didn't have any trouble in Honduras, but I have also heard some less than plearsurable stories.... yes, we spent most of our time in the Bay Islands (Roatan mostly). Unblieavably beautiful... best snorkling i've ever experianced (I have terrible ears = can't dive).... also the cheapest place in the world to eat lobster (supposedly). Delicious.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Have you ever backpacked alone or in rural Canada or the United States?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never actually "backpacked" across either Canada or the states. I have done camping roadtrips across both though. Vancouver - Florida and back. and Toronto - Vancouver. Also in the summer so we always camped, no hostels.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Ok, well than let me rephrase my question so we can talk about what I'm really getting at.
Have you ever been backpacking (alone or in a very small group) in a rural area and had to contend with big, unleashed, aggressive dogs? If so, how did you deal?
I ask because I would like to do some rural area hiking, and this seems like the biggest threat.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, well than let me rephrase my question so we can talk about what I'm really getting at.
Have you ever been backpacking (alone or in a very small group) in a rural area and had to contend with big, unleashed, aggressive dogs? If so, how did you deal?
I ask because I would like to do some rural area hiking, and this seems like the biggest threat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have defintiley dealt with some very aggressive dogs, although not in Canada or the states... lots in South America.... are aggressive dogs really that big of an issue in Norht America? I haven't done that much hiking up here, but it seems like bears and other, larger wildlife are much more of an issue than dogs.

But, just don't look at the dogs in the eyes and carry a stick with you. If it's just one dog it's usually easier to deal with than a group. And don't show fear.

I'm not really an expert on dog attacks though.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Well, in Canada lots of rednecks let their big dogs run around... The dog sees you on the highway and basically assumes that you're on its territory and comes at you. I've always had plenty of warning (like the dog was a more than half a football field away when it saw or smelled me and got aggressive) so I've been able to just walk away unscathed. Of course the time will come when I have to go toe-to-toe.
So you are really saying just a big stick will do the trick? What do you do? Swing it and yell? Just kind of brandish it and remain calm? Actually bludgeon the dog? I was thinking about carrying spray dog repellant. This could come in handy for the dogs owners too. In a way I'm not even joking about that last part, sadly.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Well, in Canada lots of rednecks let their big dogs run around... The dog sees you on the highway and basically assumes that you're on its territory and comes at you. I've always had plenty of warning (like the dog was a more than half a football field away when it saw or smelled me and got aggressive) so I've been able to just walk away unscathed. Of course the time will come when I have to go toe-to-toe.
So you are really saying just a big stick will do the trick? What do you do? Swing it and yell? Just kind of brandish it and remain calm? Actually bludgeon the dog? I was thinking about carrying spray dog repellant. This could come in handy for the dogs owners too. In a way I'm not even joking about that last part, sadly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, you're really worried about dogs, eh? From your first post I wasn't sure if you were just [censored] with me...

Um... I think you're definitley worrying about this way to much... but since you are worrying about it, I guess dog spray would work... I think smashing the dog in the side of the head with a stick would work to. If he's just barking at you and staring at you, don't get aggressive. But if you think the little bastard is about to attack, I would start yelling and throwing [censored] at it and if it came close, smashing it as hard as I could. Get your shots as well.

But, again, I really don't think it's as big as a problem as you're making it out to be.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Thanks, that helps. I guess I am overreacting... these are after all domesticated animals. They are just reacting to a stranger in their territory, not necessarily going to rip your face off.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Just a question :

Why do backpackers spend so much time in cybercafes? like a few hours a day i suspect and usually with their huge ass backpack next to them.

Second question why do most backpackers have that awful holier than you "I've been to everywhere and I sleep in the jungle so don't even talk with me" attitude? Is it a problem being a normal tourist that like nice hotels and hot showers?

Third one : Most backpackers i've meet in Thailand hate to see farang guys with hot thai bargirls, but why you can find so many of them crying in KSR hotels lobby because their passport and money has been stolen by a ladyboy?

thanks

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just a question :

Why do backpackers spend so much time in cybercafes? like a few hours a day i suspect and usually with their huge ass backpack next to them.

Second question why do most backpackers have that awful holier than you "I've been to everywhere and I sleep in the jungle so don't even talk with me" attitude? Is it a problem being a normal tourist that like nice hotels and hot showers?

Third one : Most backpackers i've meet in Thailand hate to see farang guys with hot thai bargirls, but why you can find so many of them crying in KSR hotels lobby because their passport and money has been stolen by a ladyboy?

thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

1: I would guess that usually their leaving on a bus at somepoint soon and need to kill some time.

2: Yes, they suck. I found a lot of them in Thailand as well. I think this might be because this is lots of their first jaunt into the "3rd world" (if you can call having a 7/11 on every corner the 3rd world) and they want to think their cool. Their not. We're not all like that.

3. No answer.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

How much total money have you spent backpacking in what total amount of time?


What place would you visit if you had to pick the spot where "affordable" and "beautiful scenery" and "hot women" all met on a graph

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
we spent most of our time in the Bay Islands (Roatan mostly). Unblieavably beautiful... best snorkling i've ever experianced (I have terrible ears = can't dive).... also the cheapest place in the world to eat lobster (supposedly). Delicious.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. One further question on the Bays, can you snorkel off the beach, or do you need to jump on a boat to get to the beauty?

If you ever get to Western Australia I recommend ningaloo reef, you can basically swim 5-10 meters off the beach at Coral Bay and you're amongst the most amazing diversity of sea life. (Turtles included), the coral isn't colourful though. The snorkel hire was the best $2 I ever spent.

And where are you planning on heading next?!

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
we spent most of our time in the Bay Islands (Roatan mostly). Unblieavably beautiful... best snorkling i've ever experianced (I have terrible ears = can't dive).... also the cheapest place in the world to eat lobster (supposedly). Delicious.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. One further question on the Bays, can you snorkel off the beach, or do you need to jump on a boat to get to the beauty?

If you ever get to Western Australia I recommend ningaloo reef, you can basically swim 5-10 meters off the beach at Coral Bay and you're amongst the most amazing diversity of sea life. (Turtles included), the coral isn't colourful though. The snorkel hire was the best $2 I ever spent.

And where are you planning on heading next?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Off the beach in Roatan. Maybe 10 meters out the reef starts. So beautiful.

Next trip: Capetown - Istanbul over land (or opposite) and/or Istanbul - Bombay overland.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
How much total money have you spent backpacking in what total amount of time?


What place would you visit if you had to pick the spot where "affordable" and "beautiful scenery" and "hot women" all met on a graph

[/ QUOTE ]

1: Not sure... my first trip through South and Central with my mom I have no idea... subsequent trip all together: 24ish months, 20,000 CND or so. Maybe a little more. Europe wasn't that expensive because I have lots of family there and didn't have to pay for a lot of things.

2: If they were all to meet together, it would probably be either Argentina or Turkey.... I liked Turkey better between the two of them... but it's a litlte more expensive. Women are close to equal, especially in the more liberal western Turkey. Eastern Turkey is a whole different world. Both countries are visually stunning (except for in the beach category: turkey win's by a landslide). Both cusine's (which is always a big factor for me; i'm a huge foodie) are awesome... some of, if not the, best steaks i've ever had in my life have been in Argentina... while if you don't like charcole grilled chicken kebab's wrapped in freshly made flat bread and stuffed with grilled eggplant, feta cheese and rice in the middle of a bazaar there's something wrong with you... Argentina get's the nod on beverages because of their great wine's (but I like Turkey's beer better (Efes)).

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

is there anywhere ican go with almost no money where people go to work and experience a new country.?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
is there anywhere ican go with almost no money where people go to work and experience a new country.?

[/ QUOTE ]

Isreal working on a Kabutz. if you have your PADI it's pretty easy to get work anywhere where diving is available.

Teaching English in China is super easy, as you don't even need a degree or ESL training and they pay you really well (20/hr + in Beijing. More for private tutoring and if you have a certificate: more) especially if oyu have a North American accent. IF you want to teach English in Korea or Japan, you'll need a certificate and the cost of living is more (but, from what I understand, they pay you more as well).
It's super easy to get work in any tourist destination along the Medi. (atleast it was in Greece and Turkey) if you show up in April or May and say you'll work till the end of August. Usually bar work, but really good fun.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Yeah, Im seriously considering working in a kibbtutz. Have you stayed at one before? I started a thread about them a minute ago because Im unsure if they are any good anymore.

Dont think i'd be too suited to teaching (im 18) but I will look into work in Greece or Turkey.

Thanks

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

Dude this is awesome what your doing, figures ur Canadian since most Americans are scared to leave their backyard.

$20 an hr for teaching in Beijing area? In the area I live in Guangzhou, you will most likely get $13-$15 n hr, but they also cover your housing. He is right, it is pretty easy to come here and teach english, especially with an American or Canadian accent. Anyone thinking of coming here hit me up, I do not teach but maybe be able to help u find a job. Peaaaace

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
through central and South America

[/ QUOTE ] How did you cross between the two?

[/ QUOTE ]

Flew from Panama city - Quito... i was young then. I would love to trek through the Darrien Gap, although i've heard it's pretty dangerous. I know there are boats from Panama to Cartegana, Colombia (which is supposed to be an awesome city).

[/ QUOTE ]Ah. The Darrien Gap is supposedly one of the world's most deceptively difficult treks, and I was wondering if you somehow did it.

What kind of expectations do you have for lodging normally (mainly in first world places like W Europe)? Do you just roll up into small towns and hope for the best, or try to at least have a phone number in advance?

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dude this is awesome what your doing, figures ur Canadian since most Americans are scared to leave their backyard.

$20 an hr for teaching in Beijing area? In the area I live in Guangzhou, you will most likely get $13-$15 n hr, but they also cover your housing. He is right, it is pretty easy to come here and teach english, especially with an American or Canadian accent. Anyone thinking of coming here hit me up, I do not teach but maybe be able to help u find a job. Peaaaace

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya, no housing provided in Beijing from the schools that I was looking at.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
through central and South America

[/ QUOTE ] How did you cross between the two?

[/ QUOTE ]

Flew from Panama city - Quito... i was young then. I would love to trek through the Darrien Gap, although i've heard it's pretty dangerous. I know there are boats from Panama to Cartegana, Colombia (which is supposed to be an awesome city).

[/ QUOTE ]Ah. The Darrien Gap is supposedly one of the world's most deceptively difficult treks, and I was wondering if you somehow did it.

What kind of expectations do you have for lodging normally (mainly in first world places like W Europe)? Do you just roll up into small towns and hope for the best, or try to at least have a phone number in advance?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya, Darrien Gap sounds badass. Might have to do that. My dad just bought a bunch of land in Panama... so i'm going to be close, eh?

Ya, I pretty much never have pre arranged accom. usually you're recommended places to stay in such and such a place or guidebooks can help you out in certain places... but actually calling ahead and booking a place is very rare... really only if I know that it's super busy somewhere (christmas time, festivals, etc)...

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

I wouldn't recommend Darien Gap. There's lots of ways to die there including being kidnapped by wayward Colombians. It happened to Robert Young Pelton, who is a semi-famous danger travel writer.

Pelton Darien Kidnapping

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't recommend Darien Gap. There's lots of ways to die there including being kidnapped by wayward Colombians. It happened to Robert Young Pelton, who is a semi-famous danger travel writer.

Pelton Darien Kidnapping

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya, i've always heard it's rather dangerous.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, Im seriously considering working in a kibbtutz. Have you stayed at one before? I started a thread about them a minute ago because Im unsure if they are any good anymore.

Dont think i'd be too suited to teaching (im 18) but I will look into work in Greece or Turkey.

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

I think teaching would be fine... really.

I met some Romanian girls who barely spoke English but were teaching it... crazy... basically: they want teachers and will hire anybody.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

What are your three favorite countries that you've visited.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are your three favorite countries that you've visited.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have no idea. Most of my favourite places are more the experiances that happened there more than the country itself. It really depends on who you meet where and where that leads you. Eg: I thought Chile, as a country, was awesome... but I didn't have that great of time there because of some other circumstances... on the other hand, I thought Thailand was dogshit with every place I went to a complete tourist trap.. but I had an awesome time there and [censored] loved it (I know that there are a lot of Thai fan-boys on 2p2, so i'll make sure to say: Thailand is beautiful and there are lots of places that don't have 7/11's on every corner... and to be fair, I loved Bangkok and considered living there for awhile)... Basically, there is no way I can pick my top three countries.. but some of my favourite experiances have happened in the following places:

Bolivia
Tibet
China
Lebanon (Beirut)
Syria
Laos

There's more that i'm leaving out..... hard question.

Re: Ask Cancuk about backpacking/independant travel.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, Im seriously considering working in a kibbtutz. Have you stayed at one before? I started a thread about them a minute ago because Im unsure if they are any good anymore.

Dont think i'd be too suited to teaching (im 18) but I will look into work in Greece or Turkey.

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

This place rocks: http://www.kadirstreehouses.org/

Spent threeish weeks there, was going to stay and work but couldn't bring myself to do it.