One of the most annoying characteristics of my personality is that I am a worrier. I worry a lot and a lot of the time about the stupidest things, so it should come as no surprise that before I embark on a four month trip I have a lot of fears. None of them are huge fears that will stop me from enjoying my travels, but nonetheless, they are things that will be in the back of my mind while explore southeast Asia.
What am I so afraid of?
1. Getting robbed
This is by far my biggest fear while traveling, perhaps because I put too high a value on material things. I’ve read the hostel horror stories of people having their laptops or phones stolen and during my study abroad orientation a few years ago I was made forever scared of pickpockets. I’m traveling with a couple thousand dollars worth of electronic equipment and having it stolen is never too far from my mind. This makes me super vigilant, much to the annoyance of others I’m sure. I bought travel insurance before I left but even that doesn’t put me at ease much.
Plus, what about my home? I generally leave for long periods of time, leaving behind a lot of my valuables. The last thing I need is for some burglar to victimize my home. Although I did install a wireless alarm system last year to safeguard against just that. It gives me a little peace of mind. I hope I never need it though!
2. Planning too much
Over planning my trip to Taiwan bit me in the ass and I’m trying hard not to let that happen again. I have a general idea of what I want to see during the next few months and I’m trying my best to just keep it at that and go with the flow as much as my Type A personality will let me.
3. Running out of money
Thanks to my Korean pension and severance, I know that I won’t completely run out of money, but my goal is to make it back to the United States this summer with at least half of the money I saved. To do this I am trying to stick to a $30 a day budget. I am horrible with money and it can be easy to get stuck in the “but I’m on vacation!” spending mindset when you’re traveling so I’m quite nervous that a month or two into this I’ll have to cut my trip short after I realize I overspent.
4. Getting sick at the wrong times
I have a tendency not to consider what I’m putting into my mouth until it’s too late. I will eat just about anything, anywhere, at any time. I have a fairly strong stomach so this usually causes me no problems, but I’m sure at some point in Southeast Asia or China this will come back to haunt me in a pretty disgusting way. My biggest fear is that this will occur during a long, long bus rid with no available bathroom. Though, some might say this must not be that big a fear as I still continue to eat without much consideration for the repercussions.
5. Not putting enough time into blogging
I really like blogging, but when you’re on the road there about a million other things you could be doing. A lot of which sound a lot more fun than being chained to a laptop with a slug slow internet connection. I’m worried that I’ll get distracted and fall behind after I worked so hard on this blog this past year. Learning to prioritize and take a few hours a day to do some work is going to have to happen quickly!
What are your biggest fears while traveling?
Overspending is always a worry for me, so I’m making sure that I CouchSurf and make my own meals every now and again while I’m travelling – cuts down costs a lot! And getting robbed – that’s not something you can really prepare against, other than taking sensible precautions. I bought travel insurance yesterday, but more for insuring against health than electronics.
As for getting sick – if you do get the dreaded runny poo, cancel any bus trips unless you HAVE to be somewhere at a set time, in which case your core muscles are going to be getting a workout holding stuff in. I had a nasty situation in Turkey and knew I wouldn’t make it through a 3 hour bus trip, so I waited a few days. My stomach was still in knots but I had some level of self-control!
Blogging…sometimes you can’t do anything about lousy internet. I’m getting as many blog posts written as I possibly can before I head off on my RTW trip and will be taking the occasional day out to ‘power blog’ so that I have content going up regularly.
Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted..Shit My Korean Students Say: Part 2
Thanks for the comment Tom. You put my mind at ease! Especially about canceling the bus. Those are solutions that I never think of because I get so preoccupied keeping to a schedule…
I’m having a power blogging day now. It has to be done!
Good luck with your trip. Can’t wait to read about it!
I think we all have those fears Amanda, but I can tell you that in 12 months we weren’t robbed and I wasn’t sick, other than the odd “runny poo” as Tom so gorgeously puts it. My husband, on the other hand, was floored for a week in India and about the same in Cambodia ( weakling!). Blogging will have to fit in with what we’re doing, unless we start running out of money, then I’ll have to up my effort levels. Go, enjoy, stop worrying! I find that most of the worries disappear once you’re on the road, I wouldn’t be taking my ( small) children with me if I wasn’t fairly confident about all of the above. Have fun!
Alyson recently posted..Do you Have to be Rich to Travel the World?
Thank you Alyson! It’s always nice to hear from someone who has gone out before you. I know I’m being overly worried, but it’s reassuring to hear from other travelers. Enjoy your trip!
You already know me girl. Overspending is going to be the death of me. I have champagne tastes and a natty light budget. Sigh.
Sheryll recently posted..Date Night in Seoul + Spring is Coming!
Champagne tastes on a Natty Lite budget is my new favorite phrase.
Don’t let blogging worry you while traveling – enjoy yourself and write/edit photos while you can on trains/planes/etc. Soak up every moment and save the reflections for later! I ran out of money on my first trip, but survived
Alex @ ifs ands & butts recently posted..stamp of approval saturday #14.
That’s the kind of advice I need. Thanks Alex!
I’m exactly the same. I’m about to head off in 3 weeks and I genuinely can’t stop worrying. I get over-stressed about the silliest things and end up getting super emotional in the lead-up to a big trip/move.
Ceri recently posted..My Mexicanisms
I think the lead up is the worst. Once I’m there/on the road I am so much calmer.
All valid fears! #1 haunted me the most in South America. #5 always happened – I felt like I was blogging all the time but was still way behind. #4…that bit me in the ass a few times, too, but never in Southeast Asia.
Good luck and have fun! Hope you stay as long as you’re planning to.
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Well, I’ve already been sick and recovered once and am behind on blogging but luckily have all my belongings
I’m glad I’m not the only one who worries!
You’ll be fine!! Where are you heading to first? Come to Thailand quick…that will help put you in a calmer mindset
Everything’s sabai sabai (easy and comfortable) and mai bpen rai (don’t worry) 
Alana – Paper Planes recently posted..>> Say What?? Funny English Signs in Asia >>
I’m in Malaysia and loving it! Things are pretty easy here and besides a stomach issue earlier, nothing bad has happened yet