On layers and ogres. A pinch of philosophy.

 - ... ogres are like onions!

 - Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers. (c) Shrek

Once we eventually face this question - from somebody or from inside our own mind - are all places the same, or are they hugely different? Is there really any difference for us travelers between the mountains in Sapa and Chiangrai, between travelling the Mekong in Laos and Cambodia, between the million-and-one-temples near Siem Reap? Some will say "yes" in agitation, while opening the guidebook or Wikitravel or talking to the fellow travelers and discovering how many new points are still unknown to them! Some will grunt something like "yes, but..." with a strong non-verbal communication of "no". What's the trick? I suppose both answers are absolutely correct. The trick is about layers that we uncover! For dealing with it I wanted to understand what kinds of travelers exist.






I've met several travelers and am one right now (and speaking about traveler I mean anybody who leaves the place where he/she lives/works for any amount of time). The following classification just provides my view on the subject and nothing more - and this is not the characteristic of the person but his current state-of-being! I want to underline this to avoid the mutual snobby attitude between backpackers and package tourists frequently present although often well-hidden.


So...


Layer 1. Business trip. (1-6 days) In this situation the quest is to reveal at least anything - the strict schedule doesn't allow much during the day when business activities take place, and rarely in the evening - when informal -and sometimes even more important- activities take place. If there is time to explore it's usually the key tourist attractions - one or two - and the key eating/drinking places. However: 1) it might be a good way to scratch the upper-medium class - level of living - in cafes and restaurants - since the company pays... and 2) it might be the interesting opportunity of digging deeper in case if your company sends you to the same place (affiliate company?). You will most likely be on your own, but you can get a weird but sometimes fun cocktail of "favourite places" in a very touristic/business-district part of town/city.


So this is the layer of Eiffel tower in Paris, or Petronas in Kuala-Lumpur. It can also include the favorite dish in local cantina or the favorite drink in the hotel bar.

Layer 2. Package tourism (7-14 days).




However it shouldn't always be like this. Phuket, Antalya and Cuba surely have something deep within. But they are typical destinations for package tourists. And package means not always being chained to 5- or 4-star hotel. Some package tourists can rent a motorbike (which is definitely not my cup of coffee) or car and search the surroundings and reveal the layers hidden from backpackers because of the latter lower budget and limitation to hitchhiking/public transportation. However this usually happen to person who is a backpacker in soul and a package tourist due to circumstances. Package tourists usually reveal the layer of key tourist attractions and sometimes dig deep enough to uncover not-so-well described places within the former.


Layer 3. Backpacker (14-28 days).

With a backpack, hippy and happy outlook (yes, they (we?) still often look this way: beards, dredds, LP guidebook, tattoos...). And freedom in deciding where to go. However the decision is whether to fall into the backpacker isolated "Khao San Road" community or "hang out with the locals". The backpackers use the special vocabulary: "do smth" is very popular - like "do climbing in Krabi" or "do diving on Koh Tao", travelers' talk which was extremely enjoyable to me in the beginning of the journey, became unbelievably boring and predictable later, and is "treasure hunting" now. Backpackers usually reveal the cheaper layer most successfully - and this layer includes authentic - which occupies place on Wikitravel - and "cheap because it's simply bad!" places.

Backpackers are easily attracted to each other, which is great, but may be an obstacle for researching the country and places around - because we sometimes are focused on the miracles of tomorrow and yesterday in the other peoples' stories and forget about today.





Layer 4. Lifechanger (28 days -...)

The people who moved out to "search for the answer", quitting the job, changing everything and searching for new things, skills, views, ideas etc. The time can be various, but is definitely longer than normal vacation - to make the body and soul understand that you are up to something different.

Lifechangers discover the hidden gems more frequently than backpackers, because they simply have more time for it. However they are often more limited in their resources, because the adventure takes time and everyday resources slip away. Usually hitchhiking and couchsurfing helps and these two are great ways to find the new stuff and meet great people who are open enough to welcome you to their house or car.




Layer 5. Travelliver/Nomadic people (more than 1 year). These people live in some place for 3-4 months and then move elsewhere. The key point is about working far from home - freelancing or following the local opportunities. Moving from one place to another with minimum amount of luggage. Slowing your life, getting accustomed to the sun. And finding your dream elsewhere. On this stage you reveal the layer of best bakeries in town, getting to know your neighbors' stories, where to buy stuff for a house, local real-life features (supposedly medicine, schools - if with children, etc).


Layer 6. Permanent place of living. I can't say much on this actually. But probably eventually you can dig as deep as you do back home.




What's the point behind this all? There is a lot to be researched in every place. Every single place. But one life is too short for this. And it's good. You will never reach the point of "I've seen it all." Just do your best in revealing the layers!



PS: I really mean "layers" and not "levels"!