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Early Summer 2002
Spotlight: Backpacking

Classic Backpackers
by Richard Dobbie

Mount Kenya: Equatorial Highs
by Adrian Walsh

Once in Ljubljana
by Matt Falcus

Annie in Amsterdam
by Jim Marquez

Monsoon Trekking
by Julie Vick

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Early Summer 2002—Spotlight: Backpacking

Classic Backpackers
by Richard Dobbie

I have trouble working out what is a "backpacker".

Those that now embark on low budget independent holidays are often toting credit cards and wheelie bags - so the notion that you have to make do with the cash in your pocket and carry a bag on your back to be a backpacker seems to most to be a waste of energy and effort.

So let's get rid of our bag hang-ups (and I can tell you that a bag that rolls can make a journey a lot more enjoyable) and consider other qualifications that allow us to proudly announce "I'm going backpacking!"

The first back-packers were pilgrims, those ancient travellers who undertook long journeys to places of worship or cultural significance. These "backpacker" journeys were, for the most part, low-budget. The pilgrim carried a few personal possessions and slept outside or in sub-standard accommodation. Sometimes, great personal danger and exhaustion were accepted as being part of the journey and even, perhaps, added to the experience. Sounds just like backpacking, doesn't it?

So maybe we should consider undertaking a pilgrimage journey to truly qualify as a backpacker.

We tend to think that the more modern religions of the world invented pilgrimages. But in fact, the practice goes back to very ancient times when river and mountain gods were thought to be the providers of bounty and salvation. In these times when gods were somewhat localised, a follower in need, who was away from his usual place of abode, would make a pilgrimage back home to ask a favour of "his" god.

Modern religions tend to have places of pilgrimage, especially religions that are centred on a single character. It is only natural, as a follower of a faith, to want to visit spots made sacred by the birth, death or the deeds of significant prophets of your religion.

Especially famous perhaps are the pilgrimages that Buddhists make to Kapilavastu (Lumbini, in the Nepalese foothills) where Gaukama Buddha began his life, or to Mecca and Medina, where Islam draws hundreds of thousands of white clad pilgrims each year.

For Christians there are destinations like the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain where there is an established 1000 year-old walking route that will lead you through cobblestone paths, villages and country lanes to the burial place of St James. An older and perhaps more frequently visited destination for Christians is the city of Jerusalem. The earliest recorded Christian pilgrimages to this ancient city go back to the third century. Eventually, Jerusalem became sacred also to Moslems.

Hindus will pay their homage at diverse destinations in the high Himalayas and on the plains of the Ganges. And Jews, despite being one of the ancient religions of the world, have more modern places of pilgrimage regrettably associated with ignorance and lack of tolerance rather than enlightenment.

One of the most curious places of pilgrimage is Adam Peak in Sri Lanka. On the summit of this mountain is a certain impression which causes confusion among different faiths. Followers of Islam say this is the footprint of Adam, the Brahmins say it is that of Rama, the Buddhists that of Buddha, the Chinese that of Fu, and the Christians of India say that it is really the footprint of St. Thomas the Apostle. With all of these claims to fame, it must be a unique place, certainly worthy of a classic backpacking journey whatever your religion.

Do you need to be religious to make a pilgrimage, to be a "classic" backpacker? No, I don't think so. As long as your journey has some significance to you and you do it in an appropriate style (carrying a few personal possessions, staying in low-budget accommodation, and with perhaps a bit of exhaustion), then making your own personal pilgrimage will enable you to claim the title of "classic backpacker".

Most of the classic pilgrimage destinations are now overflowing with packaged tourists. There are tour companies that specialize in "making it easy" (at an appropriate price) for pilgrims to pay homage. These packages tempt you to do it the easy way—but to be an honest pilgrim then surely there must be some self-effort in the journey.

Like the Moslems' approach to the Hajj, everyone should do a pilgrimage at least once in his or her life. So plan your own pilgrimage. It may be to an old family heritage, or to some other place of significance. Maybe it is to a place where you can have some time-out to consider life in general. Whatever your reason and wherever you go, make sure you do it in the classic backpack/pilgrim style:

• spend your dollars on experiences, not fancy accommodation;

• do your own research, don't rely on a tour guide;

• walk don't ride, meet the locals.

This way your pilgrimage will be one of life's journeys that you will remember, and you can say with pride: "I've been backpacking!"

Visit Sacred Sites to read about other pilgrimages around the world.