Quick Read: “Expedition Happiness” is a Netflix documentary film of a couple who decided to drop everything back home to go for an epic adventure on a road trip. What they didn’t realise are some of the problems they encountered and logistics nightmares – all of which are important traveling lessons for us.
I’ve recently watched a show called “Expedition Happiness” that features a couple who put everything down back home, to do a really long road trip in a bus.
More specifically, they traverse from Alaska to Argentina.
What’s really interesting and inspiring is their ambitious plan of refurbishing the bus they bought, and made it into a camper-van bus.
The film also did manage to show the process of them looking for the ideal vehicle, re-constructing the inside out and turning it into a – quite surprisingly – beautiful camper-bus!
Road-Tripping is the best way to enjoy traveling
I think this would be the first point that I would challenge, if any.
Don’t get me wrong. I love roadtripping.
But to say it’s the best form or way of traveling to experience the most, I don’t think I can agree with it.
And the simplest reason for that is, it’s tiring. It’s claustrophobic. It can be boring.
And to me, it’s all of the not-so-nice things about an agency-booked tour combined together.
When you’re constantly driving for hours and hours and hours, even the scenery outside can become dull.
I mean, seriously. We can’t expect the scenery to be changing every minute in a location right?
And because you’re moving in a tight, confined space, the whole nauseating part of become trapped in a defined area becomes too real to handle. And for some, the claustrophobic effect kicks in.
I never thought I would enjoy such a trip. While watching the film, I was partially cringing at how the couple spent days in the bus for both moving about and resting.
it’s no wonder half way through the trip, the couple had some reserved thoughts about it.
But don’t mistaken it as regrets. I don’t think they did. Neither would I too.
After all, they all became part of an experience and memory you’ll never forget.
Optimal balance between moving and staying in one spot
It’s perhaps more about reflecting on the mistakes and lessons we learn along the way that counts.
In my opinion, the best experience I’ve had is spreading the driving apart, as decently possible as you can.
Trust me. I know this well.
I’ve done it in my previous trip, and I must say it isn’t exactly nice.
And if you’ve driven for 5 hours straight before, you would know and agree too.
I have to admit, at one point I was getting really sleepy and it’s hard to focus on the road ahead.
And that’s not what you really want. It can get very dangerous, especially with foreign roads on cliffs.
So what works really well for me when constructing a road trip itinerary, is two general rule of thumb.
One, never try to cover more than 2 drives in a day or exceed 3 hours of driving straight.
Two, between each drive there’s always one day apart for ample rest and time on each site.
If you’re going to try it, or had already done your own plan, let me know how it all works out for you.
It’s always interesting to know what others would experience and that you can learn from.
A little unplanned adventures can be fun. But some, are just not worth it
In most of my recent trips, I never really planned them that thoroughly anymore.
To share the perspective, when I started traveling I was really uptight about being in the know.
I insisted on having a plan, a time-bound itinerary and a way back home.
But now, I’m beginning to enjoy little adventures that were unplanned for.
I’m not really sure what changed. But my best guess is that I got more daring and a strong sense of wanting to see, explore and feel.
It’s the freedom that’s so captivating. The exciting feeling of discovering something new. The relief that your day is not yet another routine.
But the film showed the other (extreme if I may) side of adventure.
One that is largely uncalled for and no one would ever truly wish to encounter.
It’s through the film that I learned what my boundary of adventure is.
There’re certain limits of what can be fun, and what can be dangerous or even life threatening type that I would avoid at all costs.
For example, border controls can and are likely to be tricky. Considering they aren’t locals, you might find yourself in a tight situation.
If I had decided to do a big adventure like this, I would certainly want to look up on the various borders that we will be passing through.
Taking this as a good lesson, I would always keep that in mind from now on.
Want to know more about what they encounter? Watch the film on Netflix to find out!
Check out: Expedition Happiness on Netflix
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