My mom went to NYC last year (and I recently went in October) she would talk about how there’s garbage on the sidewalks in bags (not in cans like we’re used to out west); again I thought NYC had it bad! NOPE!!!

I want to experience it someday so I can say “i’ve been there” “you have no idea” “we are fortunate” in other words I’d rather get out of my unsheltered US environment as we’re so sheltered here in the US.

Who doesn’t know that India is poor, or Africa? Many of us know that, but we just don’t visualize it and you do a GREAT job of visualizing it.

You’re right, without being prepared I’m not sure if I would crap my pants or freak out. No amount of preparation can really prepare you for what I’d be about to see if I choose to cross this path; so my question is HOW do you deal with it? Have someone that has done it go with you for a few hours?

I noticed the car fumes last week when we were in the Dominican Republic. Every time we went into town, I felt like my lungs were being coated with pollution. I don’t think I’ve ever been that sensitive to it before, even in cities like Hanoi.

“Travel is more than seeing of sights;it is a change that goes on,deep and permanent,in the ideas of living”-miriam beard

Regarding the litter thing, we had a very interesting conversation with a man who was a big fan of Osama Bin Laden. Probably the only thing he said that made any sense to me was his dismay at the Tunisian government’s pro-Western policies and the price he saw his country paying for “development”. Quite simply the more Tunisia “develops”, the more stuff is consumed and discarded and the result is a litter strewn country. True, they haven’t established the infrastructure and systems to deal with rubbish yet and that would help but that’s a secondary issue – collecting it all into nice neat little piles we don’t have to look at is better, not generating it in the first place is best.

Early on in the planning stages we decided that we wanted to travel long-term and didn’t think we could do this if it meant subjecting ourselves to dodgy, barracks-like, drunken gap-year adolescent-filled hostels. We decided to buy a motorhome and this has meant we have all the comforts of home (and car) and an oasis to retreat to if it all gets a bit much. Also, we still consider this “budget” travel as we save on accommodation, food and transport. Yes, there is the initial large outlay but we’ll resell at the end of the trip, hopefully when the pound is a bit stronger, and even with depreciation it won’t have cost us very much at all.

Our time in Tunisia was pretty depressing and it would take something special to get me to spend any real length of time in a developing country again. We’re very open about the less salubrious aspects of our time there and sometimes it feels like we’re the only travellers who’ve been somewhere and haven’t had “the time of our lives”.

I think this article should be published in the National Geographic or on Lonely Planet’s blog. It was very refreshing, a must-read for any newbie travelers… actually all travelers!

When it comes to this subject, I can understand why the bad and ugly would bother you. I don’t want to appear heartless by writing this reply. But I share the same experiences as Cris Campos, living in a third world or developing country those things don’t bother you. It’s very sad to admit, but we see poverty on a regular basis and abused animals that we somewhat become immune to it. When you leave your hometown to live in a developed country, you have a chance to see your country from the outsiders point of view it makes you uncomfortable. Like Cris said, we know what is going on but we don’t fully grasp it until we are out of it for a while.
The good thing about it is that when you go back home for whatever reason, you have a new and better perspective of the situation and you will find a way to make a difference even if it’s for one person.

You guys have an amazing blog, great job on it =)

However, while the “ugly” truly is the ugly part of travel, I don’t think the “bad” in this list is all necessarily bad. In my experience the discomfort and confusing aspects of travel sometime to turn out to be some of the most enjoyable parts of the experience. Flying by the seat of your pants, getting lost, being confused, sitting on the floor of a bus – those things are all part of the fun. If you let go of the worry that these things sometimes create, they often morph into the “excitement” and “discovery” part of travel!

Also, I would add one thing to the “good” list: “Inspiration”. I’m always amazed at how inspiring travel can be, pushing you to travel better, travel more often, learn new things, take more chances, and start to inspire others to do the same.

While there are some bad things in travel, I think they are outweighed by the massive amount of awesome things. Great post!