Graeme Boyd & Celeste Cicchini - Around-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   February 2003

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   up to $50K

4. How old are you?
   30

5. Nationality
   Australia

6. Where do you live now?
   Karratha, Western Australia, Australia

7. Occupation
   Building Supervisor

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   It's my career

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Perth, Singapore, Johannesburg, Cape Town, J-Berg, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, New York, Miami, Mexico City, LA, Vancouver, Hawaii, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Perth.

    The above are our booked flights, however we are undertaking a lot of other travel on our own especially throughout Europe. We are also going to Alaska and Northern Africa whilst moving around.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Have been talking about it for a couple of years but decided definitely about six months ago. Everything with our lives at present just fell in together to make it the right time to go. We both have leave from work for twelve months, so have our jobs to come back to and others to look after our home and pets.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    My old dog passing away while we are gone. All the flying (not much of air travel people).

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    They're all either very supportive or jealous. A lot say it will be the best thing we are ever going to do.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Control Freak

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    A few clothes, not too much. Tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, travel towel, travel pillow, CD player. Most indispensable would have to be my Lambswool-insulated stubby holder, then my Rossi boots (both very Aussie).

16. How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
    It will definitely make us broke for a while. I think if anything as a person I will become more open-minded about people's ways and styles and also their views on life. I can't wait to meet new people and make friends.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    An anxious direction towards the most rewarding time of my life.

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?
    I have done plenty of short trips and although you get to see some wonderful things you still don't get to really, I mean reeaally experience them. Do not reneg on short trips though, they are great.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    I guess I'll find that one out. I'll get back to you.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    The freedom to experience life. An escape from the entrapment of the ever-changing technological world.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Start planning early so as to cover all bases. RTW airfares are a nightmare to arrange so that they suit what you want to do. Be flexible and prepare to change your original plan a number of times.

You can also follow Graeme and Celeste's adventures through their website.