RING! RING! RING! My alarm rings.

Groggy, I open my eyes, check my phone, and find that it’s 6:00AM.

As I wake up at Home Lisbon Hostel, I remember that I’m travelling to Madrid today. “Oh man”, I think. “I’m so freaking excited!” And with that, I climb out of bed, start packing, and brace myself for the journey ahead.

After eating breakfast, checking out of the hostel, and heading off to the train station, I realize that I’ve three layovers within minutes of each prior train’s arrival. “Oh well”, I think. “Guess I’ll just have to make do.”

At the station, the anxiety wells within me. I get onto the first train, hoping to G-d that I arrive on time to catch the next one. I have no backup plan if things go awry, and decide to play it by ear.

Well… after three successful layovers (the last one should’ve been a piece of cake since the next train wasn’t scheduled to appear until an hour after my arrival), I get off at the wrong stop.

Had I remained on the train, I would’ve arrived in Madrid within 4 hours. Instead, I wind up spending the next 20 hours homeless, alone, and scared sh**less - did I mention I was in a ghost town in the middle of the desert?

Me getting stuck in a ghost town in Spain.

It sucks … or does it?

Gentlemen, while travelling seems like paradise, it’s not. Backpacking isn’t an escape from life – it’s an acknowledgement of it. Despite your intentions, you will experience setbacks, and that doesn’t mean you’ve reached the end of the road – far from it: it’s the beginning.

Roadblocks are an opportunity for growth, learning, and maturity. If life were easy, everyone would be a winner. Heck, if backpacking were easy, everyone would be doing it.

So without further ado, here are 8 tips for turning challenges into opportunities:

1. Embrace Flexibility & Prepare For The Unexpected

As with all facets of life, solo backpacking means adversity. Whether it’s a missed train, stolen or lost items & documents, a flight delay or cancellation, extreme weather conditions, injuries, or the flu, the unforeseen will happen, and mess up your plans.

Even though I encourage preparation and organization, I also support flexibility. Why? Because things will NEVER go according to plan, at least not entirely. It is important to be open to change, and to be adaptable in the face of misfortunes.

Still, it’s never a bad idea to prepare for the unexpected, at least as best as you can. You could do this by reading books and blogs on travel and backpacking, watching Youtube videos, joining Facebook groups, networking with experienced backpackers, and purchasing travel insurance.

I’d also recommend having backup copies of essential documents (i.e. passports and ID), packing emergency supplies (i.e. a first aid kit, sunscreen, knife & repair or multi tools, life tents, food, water bottles and / or water purification systems, extra layers of clothing… the list goes on and on, and I think you get the point), and (in extreme cases) staying informed about local customs and safety measures.

As I mentioned earlier, travel (particularly solo budget backpacking) involves the unanticipated, and a flexible attitude can turn setbacks into opportunities.

So what was the opportunity for me when I found myself stranded in a desert for 20+ hours? Simple: growth.

That’s right, gentlemen, I used this opportunity to gather myself up, and to…

2. Stay Calm & Problem Solve

“S**t”, I think to myself. “I’m fucked.”

My gut tells me to pull out my phone and check the schedule for the next train. Except there’s one problem: I know that the next train won’t show up for another 4-5 hours, and when it does, it’ll only take me an extra two stops from here. In other words, I won’t be in Madrid by tonight.

I start to freak out. My breathing becomes heavy and shallow. “What the hell am I supposed to do?” I mutter. Then it hits me.

I pull out my phone, open up the Uber app, and look for a ride. Except… there’s no Uber service where I am. As a matter of fact, there’s almost no cell reception.

Back to square one. I realize that I must calm down before making my next decision. So what do I do? I sit down on the bench beside me, close my eyes, and I meditate for 5-10 minutes.

Although that doesn’t make the problem disappear, it soothes me, and if nothing else, I’m in a better place to make my next move than I was 10 minutes ago. Which is a piece of advice I think you can benefit from.

Gentlemen, when things go wrong, keeping a cool head is essential. Take deep breaths, meditate, listen to relaxing music, and do whatever is necessary to change your state (as Tony Robbins would put it).

Once you’re relaxed and accepting of your circumstances, you can assess the situation, and find solutions.

Here’s what I do:

I make a list on my phone of all the things I can do to try and solve the problem. My list for this incident includes:

· Go for a walk and see if you can find anybody to speak to; ask for help

· Find food & water

· Wait for the next train (which will arrive in 4-5 hours) and see where it takes you

· Find a bank and withdraw cash; find someone to call a cab and pay them

As you can see, my options are limited; I have to make the best with what I’ve got. Since I’m in a ghost town, choices 1, 2, and 4 don’t work out (although I did take interesting photos… more on this in tip 5).

I wind up having to settle for option 3, so I return to the train station (if you could call it that), and wait. It sounds bad, and I’m okay with it. I’ve accepted my circumstances, and I’m going to make do with what I have.

An hour passes by. Then another.

The weather is smouldering hot... thank G-d it’s not raining, and that I have sunscreen.

After a short while, a man arrives (a local) and joins me on the bench. Not knowing how to speak Spanish, I pull out my Iphone and type up a sentence asking for help on the Google Translate app. He reads it. Immediately he starts finding ways to help me (either by typing back, or by calling and asking his colleagues for advice on how to assist me).

It doesn’t work out, and after about 30-40 minutes, he boards his train. I thank him for his efforts and bid him adieu.

Alone again, I begin to laugh. Which leads me to my next point:

3. Maintain A Sense of Humour & Learn From Mistakes

Guys, once s**t hits the fan you need to joke about it. It works. When things are out of your control, you must accept your circumstances, and make light of the situation. It might feel like the world is ending, and trust me: it’s not. Someone out there has it way worse than you right now.

Plus, once you get out of this tunnel (and you will), it’ll make for a great story. For now, you must pinpoint & assess what went wrong, and then learn from it. Here’s what I do:

As I continue waiting, I meditate on why this happened. What did I do wrong? Well for starters, I chose to take the train from Lisbon to Madrid, meaning layovers, and potential screw-ups. “I should’ve just taken a plane. Who cares if it’s expensive?” I sigh. “Nice going, Michael.” And then it hits me: what if I didn’t screw up? What if this is part of the journey?

Once I start thinking this way, my experience betters. I start enjoying the sunshine and warmth. I write in my journal, and read. Waiting for the train no longer seems like a chore; it becomes fun.

My stomach grumbles and I realize I haven’t eaten for about 9 hours. “Who cares?” I think. “People in Africa starve, so why shouldn’t I?” And I continue reading.

You see, when you make light of your circumstances, doors open. Setbacks become opportunities. You stop taking yourself seriously, and realize that you’re a human being.

We all make mistakes, and how we deal with blunders determines our destiny. When you choose to see obstacles as happening for you instead of to you, you cease indulging a victim mind-set, and develop accountability. This leads you to accept your circumstances, and take action.

This skill is ESSENTIAL for all areas of life: business, sports, relationships, you name it. Because solo budget backpacking teaches you how to use humour to acknowledge your circumstances and take action, I recommend you make it a hobby.

It also doesn’t hurt to…

4. Connect With Locals

Much like I did with the Spanish dude in tip 2.

Of course, I had no idea how to speak Spanish, and I’m sure many of you are in the same boat. That’s why I encourage everyone to download the Google Translate app on his or her phone. It will help you, and in my opinion, it’s a much better app than the Apple Translate app (although the latter is better than nothing).

Connecting with residents gives you access to insider information, and you’ll receive tips on how to deal with your situation given the available options.

So if you find yourself experiencing a mishap, talk to a local (or – if you’re in a ghost town like I was – pray for one to show up, like I did).

You might also want to…

5. Document & Share Your Journey: Turns Mishaps Into Anecdotal Material And Use Them For Personal Growth

I’ll admit, when experiencing a setback, the last thing you want is to record it. Although (and this goes back to my point about dropping the victim mentality) when you think long-term and see your misadventures as opportunity, you realize the value in taking photos, drawing, filming, and / or writing down your mishaps. Here’s why:

As I walk around ghost town, it dawns upon me that I’m in the middle of a movie set. I love making movies, and this one hasn’t been produced yet, so why not create it? I don’t need to do this, but… what else am I going to do while I’m stranded in the middle of the desert for 4 1/2 hours? Might as well do something.

Besides, think about the money I’m saving on production design. Can you imagine how much it would cost to build a set like this? Hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of dollars.

With that in mind, I pull out my phone and start filming. I record the deserted roads, the boarded up doors and windows, the eerie, crumbling church with the creepy statue in front of it. If I ever want to make a horror movie, I’ll have all the footage I need.

See? I turned misadventure into opportunity. Even if my footage sucks, I could share it with friends and loved ones, making family time that much more fun and memorable. Remember: it’s not what happens to you – it’s what happens for you.

Bottom line guys, whether you’re filming, photographing, sound-recording, drawing, or writing down your misadventures, they’ll come in handy. You could use them for art (if that’s what you’re into), personal growth, or just plain old fun (imagine how cool it’ll be sitting at a campfire and recounting your stories to your clan?).

I wound up posting my accident – which I now see as an adventure or a detour – onto Facebook, and while you don’t have to do this, it’s insane how many people will connect with you because of your openness. Other backpackers will love you for this because it’ll make them feel inspired.

Which leads me to my next point…

6. Support Fellow Travellers

The reason I posted my escapade onto social media wasn’t to brag – it was to help others. Sharing your mistakes with fellow travellers allows them to learn from you.

Encouraging travellers to help each other during mishaps helps you and others avoid similar problems in the future. It’ll also help you network and build a group of likeminded people.

Engaging with kindred spirits results in kinship, empathy, and community, essentialities for survival.

If you – like me – backpack solo and get lost on your journey, reaching out to others who know the area and / or who’ve experienced similar plights could help you navigate your way out of the situation.

The best way to meet and communicate with fellow backpackers & travellers is to join reputable Facebook groups on the subject. I recommend you join as many as possible, including the following:

· Backpacking Europe (OFFICIAL)

· Backpacking Europe Alone

· Backpacking Europe

· Backpacking & Hiking Enthusiasts

· Backpacking ONLY

· Backpacking South America

· Backpacking Trips in BC

· Backpacking Southeast Asia (OFFICIAL)

· Beginners for backpacking, trekking, and hiking.

This list is the tip of the iceberg – there are TONS of groups out there, so go ahead and join as many of them as possible. Depending on your skills, interests, and location, they can all be useful.

Bottom line is that you want to support fellow travellers as well as gain support from others. Networking, sharing your experiences & resources, offering assistance, and showing empathy can turn a challenging situation into a heart-warming experience.

That said, some experiences require you to…

7. Seek Professional Help When Needed

Gentlemen, there’s no shame in seeking qualified assistance. Ever. No matter how skilled or experienced of a backpacker you are, some situations warrant professional help, such as injuries, medical emergencies, lost or stolen items, and / or legal issues.

You must know when to solve problems on your own, and when to obtain aid. This awareness is critical in your survival, both on and off the road.

I’ve said it about three times in various blog posts, and I’m going to stress it again: you MUST obtain travel insurance before setting off on your journey. Not doing so is the equivalent of suicide.

Guys, when it comes to your health, safety, and security, NEVER withhold money. If you’re reluctant to go backpacking because you can’t afford travel insurance, then I’m sorry, it’s not the time for you to go. Nothing is more important than your wellbeing – not money, not excitement, and not travel.

If you find yourself in a situation where professional help is required, you’ll be RELIEVED that you purchased travel insurance. Nothing is worse than being stuck in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, yet you find yourself in a critical state, need help, and can’t get it.

I’m going to reiterate my travel insurance suggestions from a previous article – they are:

Canada:

· Worldnomads.com/ca

· coverme.com

· https://www.travelguard.ca/

U.S.:

· imglobal.com

· go.digg.com

· sevencorners.com

International:

· visitorscoverage.com

· medical.travelinsurance.com

· travelinsured.com

Again, this isn’t the be all and end all list of travel coverage options – there’re TONS of alternatives, be it through your bank, credit card provider, or through word of mouth. I’m recommending you get started looking for the right option for you.

Remember: it’s better to allocate less money to fun, and more to welfare. After all, this isn’t the last trip you want to go on, correct?

Finally, gents, when faced with adversity, I encourage you to…

8. Celebrate Resilience

Ultimately, the train arrives at 7:00pm. I’ve spent hours waiting for it.

It drops me off at its final destination: a suburb in the desert. I won’t see the train to Madrid until tomorrow morning at 7:00AM.

Thankfully, there’s a café. It ain’t Jean-Georges, and it’s enough to sate me. It also has a wall outlet to charge my portable charger and phone.

After eating a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon, I head out, only to realize I forgot my phone and charger at the diner. I run back to retrieve them, and – after making friends with the owner – I hike up to a playground about a 5-10 minute walk from the station. As I sit down on a bench, and look up at the night sky, I realize how many stars are visible in the desert. It’s a sight to behold.

While the night is chilly and I’m grateful to be wearing layers, I must admit: this isn’t so bad. I sleep there for the next 5-6 hours.

By the time 5AM rolls around, I decide to go back to that café and have breakfast. A few hours later, the train arrives, and I get on it.

By noon, I’m in Madrid. It’s a stunning city, and a beautiful, sunny, clear-skied day.

As I explore, I think about the excursion I experienced in the last 24 hours. While I could see it as a calamity, I choose to see it as an unplanned, yet welcome adventure.

And when I think about the word that got me through it all, only one comes to mind: resilience.

Gentlemen, when experiencing a setback in travel or in life, it helps to rejoice the strength and toughness of backpackers. That’s another reason why I encourage travellers to join Facebook groups and network with one another: because through community, you build strength and resilience.

Share your stories, post photos, and show examples of how your resilience leads to unexpected adventures. It’ll inspire others, and before you know it, everyone’s catastrophes will become opportunities for growth, self-improvement, and maturity. Isn’t that what backpacking is all about?

All right, guys, that’s all I have for you. Hope you have a great day, and that you learned something valuable.

Please feel free to comment down below as well as on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) – we’d love to hear from you and learn from your travel stories, as well as see how you’ve turned misadventures into adventures.

Oh, and before I forget - if you found value in this article and want more solo budget backpacking tips, tricks, and insights, then consider liking our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to receive biweekly articles on all things related to solo budget backpacking and travel, from equipment, to best places & attractions to visit, to budget planning and overcoming mental obstacles – you name it, we’ll have it (and you can suggest articles that you want to see from us). Until next time, stay strong, safe, and resilient.

Navigating Travel Mishaps - Turning Setbacks Into Stories: Tales of Travel Disasters & How They Taught Valuable Life Lessons

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