You are out in the middle of the Arabian Desert, standing on a huge rock that sits balanced atop a canyon. You look out across the horizon, a constant wind blowing against your face. You have travelled 30 days, thousands of miles, met dozens of people and have witnessed great things. Your legs hurt, your body is covered with sweat and dirt, and you have little money left in your pocket. But none of that bothers you, because you seek adventure and beauty. You seek something different, and the view that confronts you makes it all worth it. You are at peace, and you are truly home.

If Singaporeans were to write travelogues on countries they have visited, destinations such as Mongolia and Russia are highly unlikely to be mentioned by many.

Not in Sangeetha Yogendran’s case however. The final year law undergraduate has already travelled to countries many Singaporeans would not even consider venturing to for a holiday.
 

A growing number of local university students like Yogendran have been challenging the archetypal Singaporean conception of a vacation by journeying to more exotic destinations, and for longer periods of time, by backpacking; a mode of independent travelling that involves a tight budget and little or no creature comforts.

Funding her travels partly by taking up various temporary jobs whenever she has free time, Yogendran, who usually travels with two to three friends, said that more exotic destinations win her vote when she ponders where to travel to next.

“I don’t think budget travel necessarily means a small amount of money to work with,” Yogendran said.

“To me it implies making the most with whatever resources one has, so you can still travel as far away and it’s still budget travel, basically stretching a dollar as much as you can. Sometimes it means roughing it out, saving money where you can on things like food and accommodation, if it means a longer holiday.”

While relatively popular among students in North America, Australia, Japan and many European countries, few Singaporeans have traditionally expressed an interest in backpacking, especially if it involves journeying with uncertainty.

It would not come as a big surprise that Singaporeans embarking on trips to less-popular holiday destinations would probably ensure that even the most minute detail of the trip is well planned in advance.

Fears of a potential language barrier, a lack of knowledge of the local culture and other concerns such as dietary requirements and restrictions may induce them to take various precautions to ensure that the trip is smooth sailing.  

While it is common practice for many to seek advice from travel agencies, such as the increasingly popular Contiki, before their big trip, there are also thrill seekers who prefer to rough it out on their own.

Armed with his trusted Lonely Planet guidebook, fourth year political science major Sashikumar Jaichandra would rather save the money that is “wasted” on a travel agent and expand his itinerary for the trip.

Jaichandra, who has travelled as far away as Eastern Europe and South America, said, “It’s a trade-off. I would rather see as much and spend as much time as I can while I am there. South America isn’t exactly the type of place I can go back to frequently.”

More than anything else though, it is the experience and adventure that persuades these students to travel the way they do and visit the places they venture to.

Jaichandra said that travelling with an extremely sketchy, tentative itinerary makes a trip more exciting because, other than basic information he has about a place, he does not know what to really expect.

Recalling an encounter with immigration officials at the Peruvian land border with Brazil, he said, “I guess my friends and I are the first Singaporeans they have ever met, so they did not believe our documents for identification were legitimate. They made us all separately write down our national pledge to prove that we were indeed Singaporeans. I still can’t believe we had to do that.”

Jaichandra said he recommends spending enough time in a country to interact with the locals and understand their way of life to enhance the journey.

Melvin Chen, a fourth year literature major who has travelled to many parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and India, shares that view.

 “Travelling in foreign countries has made me more outgoing and adept in terms of relating to strangers and opened my eyes to the cultural nuances which may only be guessed at in the case of whistle-stop tours.

“A sign of acclimatization, in my opinion, is when one is able to queue for groceries alongside the locals and not attract that many stares or gaping mouths,” said Chen.

A lack of money is not an excuse for travellers like Chen. He makes use of his artistic talents to sustain his passion for travelling in a way that may seem incredulous for many Singaporeans.

Recounting his time in Europe, where he spent many months travelling, Chen said he had to come up with a bold plan when he realized he did not have enough money to travel for the duration he had intended - he set up street-side booths in cities he visited and drew portraits of passers-by, charging them a small price for his efforts. 

Two main factors have facilitated the growing trend of backpacking among students here.

One important factor is the affluence that an increasing number of Singaporean families have gained over the years. Yogendran, Jaichandra and Chen have all managed to travel extensively because at least part of their budget was funded by their parents.

In addition, the emergence of several budget airlines with expanding routes and decreasing fares has made air travel an attractive and affordable option for all, including the frugal backpacker.  Budget carrier Tiger Airways, for example, now operates flights to destinations as far as London.

Even so, budget travel still remains an uncommon facet of Singaporean culture.

If not going on short, luxury trips, many students prefer to spend their breaks from school doing internships to boost their chances of landing well-paid jobs as soon as they graduate. For many others, the fear of uncertainty and the unwillingness to break out of their comfort zones prevent them from setting off on such adventures.

Yogendran, Jaichandra and Chen all agreed that they had gained very much personally from their trips. As a political science student, Jaichandra said, “travelling has helped me flesh out what my academic study has taught me.”

Nevertheless, for some students such as Darren Neubronner, also a political science senior, it is not fear that keeps him from travelling on a small budget without confirmed plans.

“For me, I like experiencing different cultures, but I also like to be in control of my trip, and so I want everything to be organized and in order,” said Neubronner.

“I don’t like to go on a holiday and feel like a poor man. I want to feel like a king.”

While the backpacking trend appears to be picking up and more students are becoming bolder with their plans and destinations, there are still relatively few who are willing to embark on unpredictable journeys.

Business undergraduate Alastair Lim is one student who is stalling on backpacking trips to China and Europe because none of his friends want to join him.

 “I can’t find companions that share my interest in backpacking,” said Lim.

More than just about sightseeing however, backpacking affords a traveller a unique experience overall. It allows one to learn much about different people with different lifestyles from vastly different cultures. Minds also broaden, perspectives change, and more mature individuals return. 

So, if you have already confirmed your itinerary for that next holiday or long awaited graduation trip, you may want to change your plans after all.