the pros and cons of backpacking

backpacking this extensively has been an experience in itself. most of my previous abroad experiences have been settling in one place. i can't decide which i like better...

on one hand, this constant traveling is exciting. always in new places, seeing and experiencing new things in rapid succession. i mean to see three countries in about a month is ridiculous!

being part of the backpacker scene also means meeting a lot of other backpackers from around the world. for the most part, we've met some great people and have made friends along the way. sharing traveling stories, learning about other cultures, new drinking/dancing buddies. my favorite conversation is trying to explain what a fraternity is and how it's not like the "revenge of the nerds" and in the end agreeing that it's kind of a weird (borderline stupid) concept.

of course, there are always a few bad apples. particularly the pretentious backpacker who has travelled everywhere and makes it quite clear to everyone, rattling off countries in every topic of conversation (ie "when i was in ______ i wiped my ass this way - i kid, i kid). it just irks me when they talk shit about other travelers who party or don't do things their way. hey, if someone wants to spend their money to party in turkey, then so be it. as long as they're enjoying themselves. sure, they miss out on some great sites and experiences, but that's their prerogative. i'm just glad they travelled in the first place.

*start sympathetic side note* - i hope i don't come off like one of these people in my blog. sure, i've traveled a lot, but that's just my thing. it makes me happy. if you want to prioritize eating corndogs, more power to you. i want this to be a way for you to come along for the ride, while i pile up the debt! *end sympathetic side note*

on the other hand, what backpacking lacks is sense of community. when you travel so fast, you forget to slow down and take it all in.

some of the most memerable times in turkey has been not what i've seen. it's been:

• sitting outside in small town turkey with siva drinking beers, playing chess, and smoking apple tobacco out of a sheesha (hookah) while old men walk by and try to give us tips in turkish.
• abruptly waking up at 4 am to the islamic "call to prayer" that is blasted across every city, every morning.
• briefly talking to a turkish tv news reporter on "holiday" about his experiences in eastern turkey and how slanted the u.s. media is.
• drinking raki (turkish black licorice hard alcohol) with aytu, a young turkish student, about his mandatory service in the turkish military.
• hanging out with the cabin boy of our sailing trip, both ogling at one of the hot, MARRIED australian passengers, and realizing that hormones are hormones no matter the nationality and language difference (and also learning later that "finike" is a port town in turkey, not the turkish word for "sex." whoops.).

those times are too far and few between for my liking. that's where the advantage of living in a community comes in. you get to rid yourself of the tourist stigma...plus the fact, you learn more of the language. i feel like such a jackass knowing only how to say "hello" and "thank you" in each country. it's pitiful.

so what does this all mean? not sure. but it may mean i'll come back to turkey some day and stay put...for more than a couple days at least. you can't just scratch the surface with this intriguing blend of islamic culture shaken and stirred with a modern and westernized twist.

shooting the shit at a hookah lounge with joe, a british backpacker, in kaş.