Basics:
1) This is probably obvious intuitivly to most intelligent people with or without any experience treking but:
WEAR YOUR SOCKS!!
2) LOOK UP! PAY ATTENTION!
3) ASK QUESTIONS! This is something you should never be afraid of doing while traveling or really any point in your life. You will never know until you ask. Didn't people start telling us that in, let's see, KINDERGARTEN? Yet I many a time I find myself reluctant to go up to people and ask them for help or an explaination. One feels nervous perhaps in a location where we don't know the language but getting over the fear of questions and opening up to communication with strangers is one of the key elements of travel that can really make a trip something memorable. It can also help you get around a lot faster and easier then if you had just struggled through the directions to the train station/ hostel/ park/ resaurant/ pub all by yourself.
4) Don't plan to much and don't be afraid to abandon plas midstream and do something else.
5) Traveling is a state of mind.
