And the majority I look back on fondly and laugh (the unexpected traditional public bathing in front of two new friends in a Marrakesh hamam).
I stand by embracing spontaneity when you travel. It makes room for random encounters and experiences.
But there is something to be said for having a contingency plan and being organised if things go astray.
Here are seven of the handiest little backpacker tips I've picked up over the past decade - timely as I clock three-zero this month. You might nod at some and think they're a no-brainer, but they're all worth mentioning before you head off again.
They won't hinder your fun, won't cause you too much grief and will all pay off.
1. Organise emergency dosh
Always have a way to get back-up financials. I found this out the hard way when all of my personal possessions were stolen. I was alone and a kind stranger lent me US$200 to get home from Chile. I wish I'd had the foresight to put some savings into a Credit Union. You live and learn, and on my most recent trip I used the Visa cash passport system. This is one of the best travelling tools. It means you can convert currency easily and thriftily overseas, and you are issued two of the cards. If both go missing you can arrange for a new one to be sent anywhere in the world, free of charge. Also, they can arrange for some of your savings to be sent to a Credit Union while you wait so you are never left in dire straits.
2. Know where you are
Pick up the business card of the place you are staying. Grab two as soon as you walk in the door. This is particularly handy if you're in a country where English isn't necessarily spoken. If you get lost in a new city, at least you will know your return address and will be able to hand the cab driver the card. This will help you avoid ending up in the wop-wops of Buenos Aires, two train rides away from the nightclub where you left your friends in the wee hours of the morning (a friend's story, not mine).
Nicky and friend Caitlin on Peru's Lake Titicaca floating islands. Photo / Nicky Park
3. Photograph your name
Take a photograph of your contact details on any digital devices. Take a snap of your name, phone number and email address written down, and make it the first image on your reel. This way, if you leave the device behind in a cafe or on a bus you have some chance of getting it back. It's better than having no way to trace the device's owner - and I've seen this work.
4. Use Wi-Fi freebies
Make the most of free Wi-Fi. Most travellers tend to bring some of their trusty technology abroad. Smartphones and tablets allow easy access to internet, communication apps, an alarm clock, photos, video, a library of online books and mags and in-transit time-killing activities. But you don't want to chew through a million bucks in data and overseas fees (especially if you're on a tight traveller's budget). Pick accommodation that offers it, have a coffee at a cafe that will let you log on, and pack your charger in your hand luggage so you can go crazy at airports. Which brings me to ...
5. Use screen grabs
When you're trawling the net for travel tips at those free Wi-Fi hotspots, copy an image of them. Screengrab maps, walking routes, suggested bars and eateries, addresses of the landmark you're trying to get to, and a map of the Tube. You are probably going to take your iPhone for happy snaps (to Instagram later on the free Wi-Fi), so why not keep all this info on hand? It will also save you searching through scrawled lists and directions that you've made in tiny, bumbag-sized notebooks.
Nicky relaxing poolside in Marrakesh. Photo / Nicky Park
6. Rationalise your pack
Pack your intimates in separate mesh bags. My happiest time as a backpacker was when my pack felt organised (this has happened once, I think, for about an hour after I did my laundry in the hostel on departure from Peru, before I realised my shampoo exploded in the pack at the airport). But I have seen people do it well. As I would waste 10 minutes fossicking in my bulging bag, I saw other clever women dip their hand into their packs and, knowing exactly where to forage, pull out clean knickers with a flick of the wrist. These wised-up travellers kept the clean knickers and socks in one drawstring bag and the dirties in another. Of course, that seems easy, but order can turn to backpack mayhem when you settle into one room for a while. It's also best not to use plastic bags - the rustling will niggle your roomies, especially if you're up early.
7. Carry fun with you
Bring an icebreaker. I squeezed a frisbee in the front of my bag for a month-long jaunt - admittedly not the most practical icebreaker, but it did the trick. As soon as I brought out the disc and gave it a burl I'd have oodles of new random mates keen to have a go. A deck of cards or some clever brainteasers are probably better options for bonding over a beer.
