Flash Pack itineraries are amazing. But I cherish the people most
My experience with Flash Pack started last year, on a group trip to Turkey. The dynamic was great, and I quickly felt comfortable in the company of other people around my own age. I followed it with a tour to Vietnam last November, and I’ve just returned from a Flash Pack adventure in Egypt. I have two more Flash Pack trips coming up this year alone, to Morocco and Costa Rica.
My childhood was very nomadic: I ended up at international schools all over the world, from China to America, the UK, France and Australia. I got used to my peers coming from different countries and cultures, and travelling with Flash Pack reminds me of that feeling. There’s a certain nostalgia to meeting people from all around the world; people who share an open-minded attitude, and curiosity in understanding each other.
I’m not the most outgoing person. In fact, I’m quite introverted. I think that’s also down to the way I was brought up. I had to start over a lot, and so I became used to occupying a middle ground in group scenarios. Personality-wise, I’m not overbearing, but neither am I silent. I tend to get along with most people, which again sits well with the open and accepting Flash Pack vibe.
I also like that you get to meet people from different lines of work – the kind you probably wouldn’t encounter in your normal life. I’m based in California and work in the renewable energy sector. I have come across Flashpackers working in similar roles, and it’s interesting to get their perspective on the industry.
People who travel with Flash Pack share an open-minded attitude
Yet equally, I’ll meet people from completely different worlds. For example, one woman on our Turkey trip was an artist who also happened to help transport organ donations from one place to another. It was really cool learning about her life.
I also like the way Flash Pack gives you a really local flavour in any given country. So, you’ll get a nice snapshot of what a place is about and its highlights (for example, all the ancient stories around The Valley of the Kings), but you’ll also go off the beaten track with unique experiences.
For instance, in Turkey, we took part in a pottery workshop with world-famous ceramics artist, Galip Körükçü. And in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, we were invited into a family home for a traditional Cha Ca meal. I remember one guide telling us, “Flash Pack is about travellers, not tourists”. That really stuck with me because it’s true of the many different experiences we get to try, and the people we meet on each trip.
Being in a group encourages me to be more proactive, too. I’m not worried about travelling solo (for example, after the Egypt trip, I did a few days alone in Greece) but I am a born procrastinator. If I’m flying solo, it might be around dinner time before I finally get around to doing anything. Having other people in the wings means you have to show up; and you experience so much more because of that.
The group dynamic is standout. It’s why I keep coming back
It’s also useful to have all the planning and logistics side of travel taken care of. When you don’t know the language, or where to go, it’s a challenge to map everything out. This is especially true since I can never truly turn off from my job. Even when I’m travelling, I tend to have to work a little bit – there’s a new project that comes in, or an emergency to attend to. So, it helps that you can just turn up and have everything arranged for you.
I loved seeing history come alive in Egypt. Being able to see the pyramids, and the tombs of the pharaohs, was the culmination of a lifelong dream. But, as ever, it’s the people who made the trip; we had an amazing group. Together in Cairo and beyond, we bonded well. It felt like we all had a chance to get to know one another, and no-one was left out. Even with free time, we chose to spend it together.
This is my third Flash Pack trip, and every itinerary has been impeccable. Yet what I cherish most from these trips is meeting and making new friends with like-minded travellers. It’s hard to say if I’ll ever see them again. But I’ll always have the moments we shared together, however short.
Because sunset sailing on the Nile was fun, and the temples of Luxor were beautiful. But if I wanted to, I could do these things by myself. From my time in Turkey, too, it’s the activities we did as a group – things like the hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, or wine-tasting in a lavender field – that I remember the most. It’s a dynamic that really stands out, and the reason I keep coming back.
Michel Nie is based in the Californian city of Anaheim, and works for a renewable energy developer. He’s travelled with Flash Pack to Turkey, Vietnam and Egypt.
Images: Courtesy of Michel Nie
