Aussie Mel

Melanie Horlbeck

Female

Arizona, USA

About Aussie Mel

Budding Member | Member since 20th Jul 08

Citizenship: USA
Marital Status: Single

Activity : photos (141) forum (6) guide (0) blog (27) diary (0) trips (1)

Latest Blog Entry

The Backpacker's World

Posted by Aussie Mel | 14th November 2008

“I wonder how you can exist without a piano. It almost seems to me a necessary of life.”
-Fanny Thornton (from the novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell)

Fact: It only takes two words to make a backpacker’s eyes light up with delight: “free laundry.”

Fact: It only takes two more words to make that backpacker your friend for life: “free food.”

Living out of a backpack really does make one realize how little is needed in life. With the obvious exception of my book collection, I’ve actually missed very few of my things since I’ve been on the road. It’s a little unsettling to realize that all I need to survive day to day can be stored in one decent-sized backpack. I was especially shocked to realize that I hadn’t had Starbucks for over a month and was no worse for the wear. And with only two pairs of shoes (trainers & flip flops) and limited clothing options, it’s freeing to not have to deliberate over what to wear each day. It quite simpl

Continued | Melanie Down Under