| For both students and people in work, the | | | | and dangers. Many countries in Europe, Asia, |
| option for taking a gap year for travelling | | | | Africa and South America have well laid out |
| or working abroad is proving to be a very | | | | backpacker routes which are used by thousands |
| popular life choice. Making the decision to | | | | of men and women travelling in groups or on |
| take a gap year and following it through can | | | | their own. The vast majority have amazing |
| be difficult to achieve. For a student taking | | | | experiences and return home safely. You will |
| a gap year before or after taking a | | | | be hard pressed to find an individual who has |
| university degree, a gap year can have a huge | | | | taken a gap year and regretted the |
| positive effect in terms of boosting | | | | decision.For some, travelling solo may pose a |
| confidence, increasing maturity, developing | | | | major problem if they have never tried it |
| social skills, gaining experience and | | | | before. They may be worried about feeling |
| knowledge of different cultures, helping the | | | | lonely and unable to cope with situations by |
| environment and feeling independent by taking | | | | themselves in a strange country far from |
| the opportunity of working in a different | | | | home. Fortunately there are thousands of |
| country.For a student or individual with no | | | | people in exactly the same situation and |
| financial or family commitments, a gap year | | | | travelling solo is the ideal way to meet |
| can seem like the perfect way to experience | | | | people and build confidence. People often |
| life before joining or returning to the world | | | | meet in hostels, bars, trains, airports and |
| of work. However, like many things in life, | | | | the list goes on. It is much easier to meet |
| there are major hurdles to overcome. Firstly | | | | people while travelling than it is in your |
| there is the question of financing the gap | | | | home country and in most cases, people will |
| year. If a person is lucky enough to have | | | | only be alone if they choose to be. Also the |
| funds available or will be working during | | | | ability to cope with new situations will |
| their gap year, this poses very few problems. | | | | improve over a short period of time as you |
| For many people who are hoping to travel | | | | gain confidence through each experience. |
| during their gap year, it may mean taking a | | | | After a while, you will be booking |
| temporary job or asking parents to help out | | | | accommodation on the internet, travelling |
| financially. With student debts at an all | | | | long distances and communicating with people |
| time high, gaining the necessary funds can | | | | in a different language without a second |
| prove to be very difficult and delays may be | | | | thought.The options for people taking a gap |
| inevitable.The second hurdle to overcome is | | | | year are huge and include travel, volunteer |
| the fear and excitement of travelling to the | | | | work, contract work, seasonal jobs, adventure |
| far corners of the world and surviving to | | | | travel, teaching English and much more. A gap |
| tell the tale especially for those travelling | | | | year can be a once in a life time experience |
| solo for the first time. Parents, friends and | | | | and as long as you plan well and use your |
| family will also be very worried with stories | | | | common sense, it can be year that will change |
| of crime, natural disasters, unstable | | | | your life for the better.Lalit Rastogi is |
| governments and disease ridden areas making | | | | editor of and he has a background in |
| the news on a daily basis. In the vast | | | | photography, IT and travel. He completed his |
| majority of cases, most countries are just as | | | | first gap year in 2003 and 2004 by travelling |
| safe as your home country. With the wealth of | | | | the world and visiting Asia, Australasia, |
| information available on the internet and | | | | South Pacific and North America. He has since |
| through travel guides, there is no excuse not | | | | travelled to Asia in 2005 and will photograph |
| to plan a trip beforehand in order to make | | | | Japan, Taiwan, Hong kong and Thailand in |
| the most of it and to avoid unnecessary risks | | | | early 2007. |