FACT 1 : It only takes two words to make a backpacker’s eyes light up with delight: “free beer.”

FACT 2 : It only takes three more words to make that backpacker your friend for life:"are you hungry"?

Going backpacking really does make one think how little it takes to survive. With the obvious exception of my school friends, I’ve actually missed very few of my things since I’ve been a snackpacker. It’s a bit of a worry to realize that all I need in life can be stored in one decent-sized backpack. I was especially shocked to discover that I hadn’t had McDonalds for over a week and was OK. And with only two pairs of shorts  and limited accessories, it’s cool to not have to deliberate over what to wear each morning.

The backpacker’s challenge is this: You have to carry everything. Too many bags, and you won’t get anywhere. Too heavy a bag, and you'll end up looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Therefore, you give yourself a set amount of size and weight, and you stick to it. It’s like physics – if you buy an article, something else of equal or greater size and weight must be thrown out. It certainly makes you think twice about unplanned purchases. Personally, I think it's easier this way – I think I’ll make an experiment of it next time I'm at home. One thing bought, one thing tossed. It would definately cut down on clutter, don't you agree?

Some dangers of the travellers life:

My brand joggers now look like I’ve worn them continuously for five years. Australia’s Uluru with all the clingy red dust is probably the culprit.

I managed to get so sunburnt scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef , that I had to postpone my Daintree Rainforest tour.

I’ve lost either my shampoo or my conditioner I think a total of a thousand times by leaving it in the shower long enough for someone else to claim it. Oops. I’ve yet to experience bed bugs, thank goodness, but just barely. My travelling buddy was not so fortunate. I felt itchy the whole day just watching her.

24/7 company is cool but can be too much at times. I imagine long term backpackers must daydream about just one night in a hotel room.Towels never get fully dry. Damp towels = mouldy. Smelly towels + dirty joggers = musty smelling possessions. I have learned quickly that backpacking is not a way to impress people with your high sense of fashion. The true (female) backpacker wears zero makeup, hair tied haphazardly into a ponytail-ish bun, unironed clothes...and a huge grin on her face because she’s more excited about the free food at her hostel than the shopping center accross the road. And on to the primary joys of the backpacker life:

Flexibility! Halfway through my travels from Adelaide to Cairns, I decided I wanted to experience in Melbourne with some of my new friends. So I did. Easy as that. I love it!

I’ve met backpackers from all over the world! I’ve had long conversations with backpackers from Australia, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Scotland, Ireland, China, Canada, and the USA. (And those are just the ones I can remember in this drunken mess.)

While in , I made new friends every night, even conning a few of them to join me hanggliding.

While scuba diving in Cairns, I made friends with a Frenchman who invited me to visit him in Paris. I think I’ll pass on that one, but it was fun to be invited , all the same. I’ll always be able to say that now.

I’ve met friends in one part of the country, only to meet them again somewhere totally different! Case in point, I met Maike first in my Jillaroo class in Glen Innes, again two months later in Cairns, and again several weeks later in Sydne.All in all, I'd say that I rather enjoyed my try at backpacking Australia!