Riding, technology and adventure

[andrewmclagan]

I have been reading this forum for about 6months now, im an Australian currently on a 3year journey around the world. Im in Malaysia at the moment living with some friends

I plan to ride from KL to Hamburg on a Honda XR400.

I do not intend to say what im about to say to stir anger but rather as a helpful hint from a well travelled person.

I get the feeling that allot of people are obsessed with getting every peice of their kit perfectly right and having all the latest GPS systems, cameras... even right down to making a huge fuss over sleeping bags and eating utensils... you name it... If one is putting so much time into this they are also most likely thinking, fantasising, idealising and creating expectations about their adventure.

if you prepare to such a degree you create expectations in your mind and have idealised fantasy's. Playing out in your mind how its going to be in a unrealistic manner.

I say dont concentrate on these things so much. If things dont go as planned to those expectations it creates fear, frustration, anger and disappointment if one does not have expectations they dont expect anything and are able to adapt and live in the moment rather then in the future through their expectations.

Do you really need a GPS system? or is it more interesting to just ask locals? get lost and have fun doing so? it puts you more in the real world and having to deal with it is the true sense of adventure. Asking familys if you can stay at their house often leads to some unforgettable experiances. not taking so much luggage to prepare for every tiny little misshap and making yourself seem like your carrying your house.

anywy im sure i will get allot of strong replys to this as teh first thing people usually do is feel attacked and defensive when someone points something out. I dont do it to do this or to seem like i know everything. Its just something i have learnt through allot of travel and other life experiences. this thinking can be applied to anything: friends, relationships.. anything. Expectations always create disappointment and an inability to adapt and enjoy the potential fun of the way things "never go as planned".. dont try tt plan life to much just enjoy the twists and turns.