| Here's the choice: bus or plane. After a short | | | | conditioning. Spend some time napping: that'll kill a |
| deliberation you find yourself perched on top of | | | | few hours. Also pack a sick bag just in case the |
| your backpack waiting for a seven hour local bus | | | | windy mountain roads leave you feeling green. |
| to roll up. The plane would've taken 45 minutes | | | | Pack tasty snacks and bottled water. Some long |
| but the bus is a tenth of the price: it's a no-brainer | | | | distance buses stop for a lunch break but not all. |
| for the budget-conscious backpacker. Plus on the | | | | Coach-style buses will generally have a toilet |
| road you get to experience life with the locals. | | | | onboard: pack some toilet paper and hand gel and |
| However, any long journey is going to leave you | | | | you'll be sorted. |
| twiddling your thumbs. Here are a few tips for | | | | Smile and chat to locals and other travellers. This |
| beating the boredom and surviving those | | | | is one of the best places to pick up travel tips |
| never-ending journeys: | | | | such as what hostels should be avoided and which |
| Load up your mp3 player. Hum your way closer | | | | food needs to be sampled. |
| to your destination. | | | | Sit back and enjoy the view. You may journey |
| If you can manage it without feeling travel sick, | | | | around towering mountains and through remote |
| make sure you've got a good book to hand. In | | | | villages and this is a fantastic chance to admire |
| the backpacking hotspots around the world, you | | | | some untouched regions. |
| can normally buy and sell a range of novels and | | | | If all else fails there's always "I Spy", with your |
| guidebooks. | | | | fellow travellers! |
| Be prepared. Have a warm jumper for the air | | | | |