Do you want to go backpacking? Or, have you ever gone backpacking? Many people in the world like to travel. And there are many kinds of traveling. Backpacking is also a kind of traveling. Going backpacking means you go traveling or hiking with a backpack. Especially many university undergraduates want to go backpacking. We can go backpacking in Korea and also in other countries. However, most students want to go backpacking abroad. So I want to share with you the three essential things you need to do before you go backpacking, that is, decide on a country, make a plan, and arrange your documents.
        Above all, you have to decide the purpose of traveling; that is, you have to ask yourself, "Why am I going backpacking?" The purposes for traveling are various. For example, you might go just for pleasure, or to study a language, or to take a rest, and so on. However, if you plan with a purpose, certainly, traveling will be better. Then, choose the country where you want to go. When you choose a country, you have to be objective. If you have a weak heart, for example, you won't be able to climb, even though you want to visit the Himalaya Mountains. After that, decide a good time for backpacking. It's a wise way to check the country's season and present situation. Finally, decide your method of backpacking. There are free backpacking and package traveling through a travel agency. These days, there are a variety of package tours available, so you can choose the best one for you.
        The second thing you need to do is make a plan. When you are traveling, you will know how difficult it is to follow a fixed plan. But it's good to make as detailed a plan as possible. When you make a plan, you need to consider some items. For example, you have to check your accommodations and think about what kind of transportation you will use. It's good to mix the use of hotels, inns, or youth hostels and night trains. If you sleep on a train for about two or three nights days, you'd better stay at a hotel one night. Also, draw up your entire budget before you begin your trip.
        The third thing you need to do is arrange the necessary official documents. Most of all, you need a passport. A passport is an official document which you need to show when you enter or leave a country. Your passport serves as an identification card, so you must have it with you all the time while you travel. The second document you need is a visa for each country you plan to visit. A visa is an official document or a stamp put in your passport which allows you to enter or leave a particular country. If you don't have it, you can't enter the country. You can get a visa at an embassy or a consulate. The third thing is an airline ticket. You have to have an airline ticket to board a plane, of course. You can buy it at a travel agency or airport, or these days, you can also buy it over the Internet. Besides these, there are many other useful documents, for example, an international student identification card, a youth hostel membership card, and an international driver’s license. An international student ID card is a useful document for student. If you have one, you can benefit from many discounts or free admissions. You can find cheap accommodations by using a youth hostel membership card. An international driver's license is often necessary these days. Also, it can sometimes be used as an identification card instead of a passport.
        These days, you can get information about backpacking abroad in many ways. You can ask someone who has done it before, or you can use the Internet or a guide book. Also, you need to study about the country you want to visit. If you know lots of things about the country, you can see many things and enjoy your trip more. As you can see, you can have a good backpacking trip if you just do these three things before you go: decide on a country, make a plan, and arrange the official documents. Then you can relax and enjoy your adventure!
        Thank you for listening.