has anyone travelled for an extensive period of time?

[gopunk]

i'm looking to spend anywhere from a month to 6 months travelling after i graduate... just wanted to see if anyone here has done something similar, and see if those people have any advice they feel is important.

also, i plan to take lots of pictures with a digital camera, what do you guys think will be the best way of making sure i don't run out of storage space? i'm not sure if i'll have a laptop by then, if so, i guess that'll be an option. or maybe one of those standalone harddrives with a media slot?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: gopunk
also, i plan to take lots of pictures with a digital camera, what do you guys think will be the best way of making sure i don't run out of storage space? i'm not sure if i'll have a laptop by then, if so, i guess that'll be an option. or maybe one of those standalone harddrives with a media slot?

That's your WinnAr right there. Just don't lose the damn thing. If you can get Net access, set up a home FTP server and fire them across periodically.

- M4H

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

I spent a month bussing my way through mexico and guatamala with a friend. It was fun, would of been more fun if I had spoke the language better. Pack light, wash your close out daily and you can get by with 2-3 sets of clothes. I can't imagine lugging around a laptop just for downloading pics. Use a regular camera or buy extra storage media.

 

[gopunk]

thanks for the advice anyone else?

also, do you think it's better to have a SLR or a supercompact for traveling? or something in between? or maybe both?

 

[Hubris]

I spent a good deal of time travelling through Europe, and an SLR might be good for a while, but rolls of film will pile up, and if you get the bag stolen, all the pics will be gone (as I found out). Of course, they can still steal the HD, but if you're uploading them from time to time, it might not be catastrophic.

Also, on a personal safety note, make sure you find out where the bad sections of cities are. I've got a scar on my right forearm from not knowing that while in Prague. Just be careful and try not to stick out as a tourist-y American. That's like Spanish Fly to criminals.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Hubris
I spent a good deal of time travelling through Europe, and an SLR might be good for a while, but rolls of film will pile up, and if you get the bag stolen, all the pics will be gone (as I found out). Of course, they can still steal the HD, but if you're uploading them from time to time, it might not be catastrophic.

Also, on a personal safety note, make sure you find out where the bad sections of cities are. I've got a scar on my right forearm from not knowing that while in Prague. Just be careful and try not to stick out as a tourist-y American. That's like Spanish Fly to criminals.

oh heh, sorry i meant a digital SLR... yea i'm pretty sure i'm not going to carry a film camera with me. did you find you get tired of hauling the SLR around, or was it worth it knowing you'd have good pics (barring theft)?

what happened in prague? :Q

 

[Hubris]

It didn't really bother me, carrying it around, but it would have been better to have a smallish digicam for the above mentioned reasons. Less tourist-y. If you walk around with a Hawaiian shirt on, you might as well just slit your own wrists.

Nothing too bad. Stepped into a domestic dispute when I shouldn't have, and got stabbed. Just glad it wasn't something vital.

 

[StageLeft]

I think going away for a long time I'd ditch the digital camera and consider a non digital. Maybe even send the film home (undeveloped) after each roll in case you end up having all your posessions stolen.

 

[ineedacomputer]

yep i too want to travel for a good period of time.
where would you like to travel 2?
my advise i have for you the less baggage the better!

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: ineedacomputer
yep i too want to travel for a good period of time.
where would you like to travel 2?
my advise i have for you the less baggage the better!

yes i am a very light traveller (one backpack)

i have a friend who's going to france for a while, so i might stay with her a bit. i was thinking also china, taiwan, england, italy, alaska (same friend might be working there packing fish).

 

[kag]

Although I guess I won't end up doing it, I'd love to be able to do it with a friend of mine... any websites with tips and tricks?

EDIT: Found an interesting link
EDIT2: Another one

 

[Willoughbyva]

Do you ever watch the PBS show Global Trekker (sp)? They only get to show a little of the places they go to, but it is kind of neat, though corny sometimes. Anyway they will give tips sometimes about different places and what one will encounter/carry etc..

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Willoughbyva
Do you ever watch the PBS show Global Trekker (sp)? They only get to show a little of the places they go to, but it is kind of neat, though corny sometimes. Anyway they will give tips sometimes about different places and what one will encounter/carry etc..

hmm i have not seen it, but i will set my replaytv to record it... thanks for the tip

 

[THELAIR]

i backpacked europe for 5 months by myself... that was kewl, but then again i had lots of relatives that i visited and stayed with, so i had accomodation and food taken care of most of the time i was out.

If you do europe, get one of those 3 month rail passes, you just jump on whatever train you want, with any destination...

i did that when i got bored... id just go to the central station wherever i was and randomly pick a train made for neat stories that way

and europe is pretty gentle on you for your first 'big' trip by yourself away from home.