- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
1-2 Years - How much have you saved?
A Fair Bit - How old are you?
29 - Nationality
Scotland - Where do you live now?
Bathgate, Scotland - Occupation
Marketing Assistant - Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
I’ll come back if they’ll have me - Have you traveled around the world before?
No - What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
Across Russia on the Trans-Sib Railway, through China into Hong Kong. From HK through SE Asia and on to Australia. I’ll then be spending a year in New Zealand with a working holiday visa, not sure which way I’m heading back yet, might see if I can get a holiday visa for OZ once I’m out that way! - Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I’m fed up with the 9-5 lifestyle. Want to experience some of what the world has to offer and hopefully figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life before I come home! - What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Creepy Crawlies! - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Everyone is very supportive. Everyone wants to come with me and they all say that I’ll never come back! I’m not sure if that’s a hint! - How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough - What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
I’ve got a 55l rucksack and I’m hoping to have less than 10kg in it. I’d like to leave space for shopping along the way! - 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?
Hopefully I’ll come back more confident and less materialistic. I take a lot for granted just now and I’m sure this will change. I also hope I can make up my mind about what to do with my life after my travels! - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
I can’t wait to leave and experience all the world has to offer! - 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 think when travelling for longer than 1-2 weeks you can relax more, see a lot more and interact more with the locals. At the end of a 1-2 week holiday and you’re just beginning to wind down properly and you have to go back to work. - What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That it can’t be done, it’s too expensive and it’s too dangerous! - Why do you like to travel?
To make new friends and have new experiences. See different places and cultures and learn more about myself in the process. - What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Just do it! Read other people’s travelogues on the internet – this is where I’ve got most of my information.
June 2003