Why I Regret Travelling: Honest Reflections on My Backpacking Adventure

The year was 2017 and I was 24 years old. Fresh from ending a nine-year relationship, I had my classic “Eat, Pray, Love” moment. My best friend, (also navigating a similar life change), and I decided to bugger off and do some soul-searching. We had an amazing time—truly liberating in many ways. However, looking back, there are several reasons why I feel a twinge of regret about that journey, along with some advice I wish I had swallowed before going.

1 – Letting Others Dictate My Journey

I had always dreamed of visiting spiritually rich countries like Bali, Thailand, or even Japan. But before I knew it, I quickly found myself on a flight to Australia because it was deemed the Mecca of backpacking. We scrolled through the pre-planned itineraries online, gawping at pictures of it all, and booked it without so much as a second thought.

In hindsight, I was probably more naive about it all because I saw it as a necessary compromise when traveling with a friend. I was too nervous to travel solo, so I thought it was better to have company than to push for visiting other countries.

Don’t get me wrong, Australia is stunning in its own right and I genuinely fell in love with its scenery, diversity, and culture whilst I was there. My point is that I let myself be swayed by a travel agency rather than following my original dreams and goals.

Advice: Follow Your Own Path

When planning your travels, listen to your heart. It’s easy to get caught up in what others say you should do or where you should go, but your adventure should reflect your passions and interests. Don’t be afraid to stray from the beaten path and carve out your own unique experience instead of being sold an off-the-shelf, ready made experience that ends up being a ‘one-size-fits-all‘ trip.

2 – Obsessing Over My Image and Social Media

For about six months before our trip, I was obsessed with losing weight, buying fancy clothes, and planning the perfect the Instagram posts. I had envisioned arty shots of a tanned and “skinny” me jumping around in the ocean and #livingmybestlife.

Of course, the reality didn’t match my expectations and this obsession of copying others’ photos just left me feeling like I hadn’t fulfilled my “purpose” for the trip, which was initially supposed to be about self-discovery and healing. So all in all, a total cock up.

Advice: Forget About Perfection

To me; travelling isn’t about looking perfect or curating the ideal social media feed. It’s about the experiences, the people you meet, and the personal growth you undergo. Don’t let the pressure to look a certain way detract from the real essence of your journey. Embrace the imperfections and be immersed in the moment.

Time away can feel like it moves at the speed of light. You want stories to share and moments to cherish—not the agonising memories of yourself sweating in 37 degree heat while taking hundreds of photos, desperately trying to contort yourself into the perfect pose, suck in your stomach, crop out every blemish and inch of visible cellulite, capture the beautiful beach, AND look totally natural and candid. Only to slap a crappy filter on it anyway and caption it “How’s your Monday?!✌🏻” …Seriously, stop doing that.

3 – Not Being True To Myself

My ongoing obsession with social media resulted in me never truly being present. I missed many opportunities to take it all in and check in with how I was feeling. I was too busy posting on socials, forcing myself to be this new trendy version of myself, getting swept up in what others were doing, and ending up in situations that just felt uncomfortable and off.

For instance, as someone who doesn’t drink much, I found myself reluctantly dressing up and joining a grimy bar crawl around the Gold Coast. Throughout the evening, we were harassed by a group of 19-year-old boys from Liverpool, high on cocaine (massive “ick”), attempting to invade our girl group. When in reality, if I had stuck to my guns, I could have been exploring a cool art museum or enjoying delicious food on the beach with new friends. *Sigh*

Advice: Stand Your Ground

Take some time to reflect on what truly matters to you. Is it meeting new people, exploring art, experiencing a new culture, trying new food, engaging in meaningful conversations, or connecting with nature? Understanding your core values can guide your decisions and help you stay true to yourself during your trip. While it’s great to step outside your comfort zone occasionally, don’t feel pressured to engage in things that don’t resonate with you.

In other words don’t shy away from experiences just because they aren’t on your “list”. But if something doesn’t feel right for you, then don’t waste your time forcing it to be – and that applies in all areas of life.

And please pay no attention to what brands you are wearing, or if your eyeliner is “on-fleek”. Because when the 80-year-old you looks back on life, you won’t care that your hair was ‘a bit flat’ when you were diving with sharks or hiking an incredible mountain. Focus on the experiences, not the superficial details.

Final Thoughts…

Travelling can be a beautiful and transformative experience, but it’s important to stay true to yourself and your intentions. By letting others dictate my journey, obsessing over my image, and not being present, I missed out on fully embracing the “adventure”.

So if you’re planning to explore the world, remember to follow your own path, forget about perfection, and try your best to be present in every moment. Your journey should be about your growth, not about living up to others’ expectations or creating the perfect Instagram.

I’ve learned valuable lessons about authenticity, presence, and self-discovery and this is something I will carry with me forever.

Now, get your fine ass out there, and most importantly just be YOU when you do it. 

Safe & happy travels!

Wholeheartedly,