[Cancuk]

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Got a few questions for ya:

1) The first time you left w/o your mother did you go alone?

2) Do you leave with a guideline of where you're going to go and when, or did you buy a ticket to a place you were interested in and just go from there?

3) If you leave with specific places to go in mind, do you plan things you'd like to do in each place before you leave? Or just arrive and go by recommendation?

4) First piece of advice you'd give to a potential first time backpacker?

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1. My first time w/o parents I was 17/18 w/ GF. First time alone 19.

2. Umm... I've never had a itinerary of where i'm going to go. I've had dates on arriving and leaving (flying into Buenos Aires, out of Quito 4-8 months later)... but i've also just bought a one way ticket to somewhere, and gone from there. That's what I did in my last trip. One way to Istanbul. I usually have an IDEA of where I want to go, but it never stays in tact and usually changes a lot along the way.

3. I don't really know what you mean... Usually if there's somewhere I want to go there's a reason for it, so there's things I have in mind that I want to do when I get there... but I never actually make plans until I get there and lots of the time I don't get to some of the things that I was wanting to... I find that the best things that happen are usually the unexpected... why would I want to have a full itinerary of everythign that i'm going to do for everyday? It takes out the best part of travelling: the adventure/unknown of it all.

4. Don't be afraid.