Amy Minton - Around-the-World Traveler
- When did you go on your RTW trip?
- How old were you when you took this trip?
- Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
- Nationality
- Where do you live now?
- Occupation
- Before your trip: IT Consultant
- Now: Unemployed and travelling
- How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
Will advise when I re-enter workforce. But my bosses and co-workers were very encouraging before I left and offered to help with "re-entry."- What is the route you took/places you visited?
Visited: Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, LaosDefinitely will visit: China, Amsterdam, France, UK
Will possibly visit: South America, Australia, Alaska
- Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I took this trip because I wanted to see the world and couldn't manage to do it on 2 weeks vacation a year. I was also tired of the corporate routine and wanted some time off. Ed Hasbrouck's The Practical Nomad was a huge influence as it encouraged me to take more time to travel and visit Asia. BootsnAll travelogues were also a big influence – reading about other people who quit their jobs and took off is very reassuring.- Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
- Best Moment
- Worst Moment
- Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
- Biggest surprise?
- Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
A tour guide from Ho Chi Minh City. He used to work for the US Army during the Vietnam War and fought for South Vietnam. After 1975 he was forced to be a cyclo driver and didn't dare speak a word of English for 15 years. When tourism opened up, he became a driver and later a tour guide. After a difficult life, he was extremely gracious and thrilled to show us his country.- How much planning and preparing did you do?
To the Nth Degree- What was your favorite piece of gear?
LL Bean backpack- What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
Clothes – only need a couple changes.- How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
Realizing that I am fortunate to have many opportunities and choices in my life. Many people in Southeast Asia do not have choices and must live difficult lives.- If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the keys" – The Eagles- Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
I plan to travel more in the future than I did before the RTW trip. Would definitely consider another RTW trip.- What is the most valuable thing you learned?
I don't need much to survive. A backpack with a few clothes, first aid kit, tennis shoes and peanut butter can go a long way.- What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That they can't ask for extended time off from work.- Why do you like to travel?
Seeing the sites, learning about other cultures, meeting people.- What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Just do it. Save your money and go. Your life, a job and friends will all be there when you return. - Now: Unemployed and travelling
November 2001-September 2002
30
Estimate 40-50K
USA
Still on the trip
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