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Author: Sean Keener

AnneMarie Welden – Around-the-World Traveler

  1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
    October 2003-September 2004

  2. How old were you when you took this trip?
    23

  3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
    £8000

  4. Nationality
    England

  5. Where do you live now?
    Isle of Man, England

  6. Occupation
    Before your trip: Child care worker

    Now: child care worker

  7. How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
    It didnt really, i was worried about employers not liking the fact i’d taken a year out but it wasn’t a problem, i think most people appreciate what a great opportunity it is to go travelling, and if anything respect you for having the guts to do it!

  8. What is the route you took/places you visited?
    singapore, malaysia, thailand, cambodia, vietnam, hong kong, australia, new zealand, fiji and north america (mostly california and out as far as the grand canyon and las vegas!)

  9. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Having a bad year, i live on an island which is tiny and after 23 years needed to see what else there was out there! A lot of my friends had been away and loved it, i wanted to see what all the fuss was about!

  10. Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:

    • Best Moment

      getting out of the tiny boat onto the first paradise beach

    • Worst Moment

      in cambodia, got over the border to be told not enough room in bus so the company paid for a taxi, got 3 hours along when taxi pulled up and there was another car waiting, guy comes out and says we had to change cars and go with him, he would take us to our hostel. me, my friend and 2 chinese lads, very scared! after 10 mins or so trying to sort out what was goin on, we had to go with them cos they took all our stuff out of the taxi and put it in their car, but worked out ok they took us to a nice hostel and everything was fine, but very scary half hour!

    • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?

      earning the money to pay for all

    • Biggest surprise?

      how easy it was to meet people and how friendly and helpful people were towards travellers

  11. Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
    a girl called abby i met in LA and spend the next 8 nights sharing a tent with on a trek round america. was totally unexpected as i was a bit reserved about doin a trek, and also cos it was my last week before goin home but had the best time!

  12. How much planning and preparing did you do?
    Just Enough

  13. What was your favorite piece of gear?
    my lonely planet guide book for australia and south east asia….would have been lost without them!

  14. What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
    just a few clothes that i never wore…smart trousers (wore jeans or skirts most of time when i went out)

  15. How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
    really opens your eyes, theres more to life than work and money. made me more laid back about life, whats the hurry to get things done or go places, more chilled out, know to relax bout things more over things i would normallu get stressed about.

  16. If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    time of my life, not one regret

  17. Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
    i would like to go round the world again but not sure when, planning to go to west coast australia for 3 mths as i didnt see any of that side, hopefully in a year or so.

  18. Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
    not long enough! Just think a whole 6 mths or year or however long, only really worrying about where to go next, or where to eat, what beach to see, do you go snorkelling or swimming?, do you go on a jungle trek or lay on the beach….the possibilities are endless, so much to see, do and be a part of, and you meet so many fantastic people. some of the places you go really suprise you and are not what you expect, its amazing.

  19. What is the most valuable thing you learned?
    you will never be alone unless you want to be, there is always people to meet, other travellers to share experiences with, and i felt that everyone who was travelling was like a big family, even if you’d only known someone a day they would do anthing to help you out, and be your best friend!

  20. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    i think a big worry is going alone, but you never are, and people remember bad stories more than good, so many good times you cant talk about them all so dont be put off by bad situations you here about!

  21. Why do you like to travel?
    you feel your really doing something for yourself for a change

  22. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    make sure you do everyhting you want to do, and dont change your plans for anyone, not even a close friend who you may be going with, you can always go your separate ways and meet up again later, it may be scary but you will love the experience!