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Author: Sean Keener

Henry Becker – Round-the-World Travelers

  1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
    August 2000-July 2001

  2. How old were you when you took this trip?
    31

  3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
    US$26,000

  4. Nationality
    USA

  5. Where do you live now?
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA

  6. Occupation
    Before your trip: Personal Finance

    Now: Personal Finance

  7. How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
    We left on our trip during the boom time but returned to massive layoffs, struggling stock market, and a dot-com blowup. The job search took three months to land a solid job in my field. As for the affect on my career, I pretty much picked up where I left off. I guess you could say my career was held in suspense. The only adverse affect was incomes have decreased due to the lay-offs.

  8. What is the route you took/places you visited?
    Our route was westward from Baltimore. The countries visited were (in order): Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Spain.

  9. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    The short version of why we took this trip could be summed up as 50% wanderlust and 50% hating being chained to a desk.

    I guess the biggest influence would be that I had someone that shared the same dream. What got me into this type of travel was a prior backpacking trip through Europe. I met great people and had a ton of fun learning about the world, other people, and me.

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

    • Best Moment

      On the plane ride home when it hit me that we went all the way around the world.

    • Worst Moment

      Losing my passport.

    • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?

      Changing beds every few nights.

    • Biggest surprise?

      Realizing how long I could go without food.

  11. Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
    Gerard, the owner of the Funky Green Voyager hostel in Rotorua, New Zealand. Besides being cool as all get-out and a great talker, he helped us get tickets to the Auckland v. Wellington Rugby match in “The Tank” in Wellington. As well, he helped with the play-by-play at the game.

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

  13. What was your favorite piece of gear?
    My 1-liter Nalgene bottle that made it through hell with a ton of scratches. Didn’t break!

  14. What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
    Wool sweater, wool socks, the 1 or 2 extra t-shirts, the water filter, mosquito net.

  15. How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
    I feel more in tune with the world. I have a better understanding of diversity in practice, not in lip service. As well, I realize how fortunate I am for my family, friends, and the gross amounts of excess we Americans call necessity.

    The trip has made me a more self-assured and assertive person. There was not a day that our little team of two did not have to get up and work together at understanding ourselves, each other and our surroundings. This kind of environment fosters personal growth.

  16. If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    The best single decision I ever made.

  17. Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
    We are not currently planning a trip but have the idea that in a few years we want to see South America and Antarctica. As for another RTW, not at the moment but perhaps as a retirement plan.

  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?
    People should hit the world long and hard because when you are on your death bed you will probably not be wishing for more work or your corner office.

    People should RTW for the experience, the bragging rights, and the reality that the person with the most experiences wins. Wins what, I do not know.

    One- or two-week vacations are too touristy by nature of the fact that time is short. With a desire for maximum fun one- or two-weekers tend to have too many package deals.

  19. What is the most valuable thing you learned?
    There are necessities and there are wants. The difference became crystal clear.

  20. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That it cost so much or too much.

  21. Why do you like to travel?
    Because I always wonder and I love movement. I am kinetic.

  22. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    GO!! No matter what your budget. Pack light. Bring the best rain jacket you can find. Don’t let a possible regret come to fruition.