10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Backpacking

Booking a one-way ticket was the easy part. The real adventure began when I landed, wide-eyed and with a backpack that was, I soon realized, twice as heavy as it needed to be. My three-month journey through Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia was the most incredible experience of my life, but it was also a steep learning curve. To save you from some of my rookie mistakes, here are 10 things I genuinely wish I had known before I left. 1. Pack Less. Seriously, I brought multiple outfits "just in case." You know where they spent most of the trip? At the bottom of my bag. Laundry is cheap and widely available. A lighter pack means happier shoulders and more flexibility. 2. Your Smartphone is Your Lifeline. It is your map, your translator, your banking app, and your bus ticket. Get a local SIM card with a data plan as soon as you land it is inexpensive and a total game changer for navigating chaotic cities. 3. Embrace Street Food Wisely. The best meals I had cost very little and that...