Backpack blogger

Pun walks around the world

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos courtesy of Jirapat Puapipat and Geek Book

The Walking Backpack Facebook page has more than 100,000 followers. On the page, travel blogger Jirapat Puapipat (Pun) tells fun stories about his travel experiences, making readers feel like they're listening to stories from a friend.

Apart from his entertaining and informative writing, the 24-year-old blogger attracts followers with marvelous photos and videos. Wherever he goes, Pun takes his signature photo, in which he has his back to the camera with his backpack on.

Pun became a solo backpacker when he was a second year student at the National University of Singapore. After exams, Pun felt bored and wanted to try scuba diving. A fellow student encouraged Pun to travel alone to Tioman Island in Malaysia. Pun met an English traveller there who had been travelling the world for a year. Pun was inspired, and since then has visited many countries in Asia and Europe.

Student Weekly recently met up with Pun while he was visiting Bangkok to promote his latest book, The Walking Backpack: Europe Mai Dai Pen Muean Fun (Europe Was Different from What I Dreamed About). In person, Pun is more handsome than he looks in his videos. The young adventurer told us about some of his travelling experiences.

Student Weekly: Why do you like to travel without planning everything first?

Pun: I travel alone during my holidays, so I like to do whatever I want. If I'm on a train and I see a great view, I can get off the train and stay in that town for a night, then continue my journey the next day.

Student Weekly: What do you like to do when you visit a new town?

Pun: Before I visit a place, I read a lot about it. I like to try the local food, trek in a forest or visit a museum. I like to experience what the local people do.

Student Weekly: Have you ever experienced culture shock?

Pun: Several times. Paris surprised me. It was different from other cities in France. It was crowded and there were a lot of immigrants there. It didn't feel safe, and it was different from the romantic Paris that you always see in movies.

Student Weekly: Have you ever tried any particularly weird food?

Pun: In Kashmir, there was a big herd of goats, and during the journey, if people wanted to eat goat, the herder just killed one right away to cook. The dish was always delicious, though.

Student Weekly: Which trip has been your toughest so far?

Pun: My trip in India. I was there for more than a month and I experienced both extremely hot and cold weather. The northern area next to China was beautiful, while the part next to Pakistan was desert. Sleeping in the middle of the desert was an unforgettable experience. A lot of sand got into my face!

Student Weekly: Is it true that you experienced pickpockets in Europe?

Pun: Yes, I wrote about that experience in my book. In Barcelona, Spain, after I got off a high-speed train, I suddenly found that my mobile phone had been stolen. The details of my hostel were in the phone, so I couldn’t find the hostel. I walked around Barcelona until 2 am. A pub owner eventually helped me find the hostel. I ended up sleeping in the hostel's cafeteria.

Student Weekly: How did you come up with your signature photo with your back turned to the camera?

Pun: The first time I took a picture like that was trekking in Taiwan's Alishan National Scenic Area. I wanted a picture of myself, but my face looked terrible, so I turned my back to the camera. I just wanted to be a small part of the picture.

Student Weekly: How long does it usually take you to produce your great videos?

Pun: It depends on the video, but it usually takes about a week. I used to think that being a TV host would be cool. But making videos allows me to write my own script and edit the clips myself. I spend my spare time working on it.

Student Weekly: Have any of your fans done things that impress you?

Pun: I'm impressed when my fans have positive hobbies. I have a fan called Earth who likes to take photos. He created a page about travelling around Thailand and now has more than 10,000 followers.

Student Weekly: Do you have any advice for aspiring bloggers?

Pun: Start by figuring out what kind of activity you enjoy and are happy to spend a lot of time doing. It can be painting, music, sport or something else. Then, find a way to tell a story about it. If you can create video or take a picture that expresses your idea, it will be great. And if you expatiate on your chosen subject, you will gain a lot of followers.

 

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