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Author: Sean Keener

Jake Stroudley – Around-the-World Traveler

  1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
    October 1989-August 1992

  2. How old were you when you took this trip?
    22

  3. Nationality
    England

  4. Where do you live now?
    Thailand

  5. Occupation
    Before your trip: IT Sales

    Now: On another RTW trip (no job)

  6. How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
    I started my own business

  7. What is the route you took/places you visited?
    Last time: India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Home…

    This Time: India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Tibet, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Chile, Peru, Belize, Caribbean, South America and onwards… 4-5 years maybe…

  8. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Last trip: Fell out of a long-term relationship. It was something I always wanted to do, an adventure.

    This trip: Because I got the bug, and I can. I don’t like the UK… there are other places in this world I would rather be.

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

    • Best Moment

      Camping by Chandra Tal Lake in the Spiti Valley North India, without another soul or sound about, The beautiful views of the Indian Himalayas surrounding us.

    • Worst Moment

      Getting on that final flight home! Even the bad times we can learn from to make our future life better, from having things material stolen, to seeing a traveller badly injure himself on a motor bike because he was stoned.

    • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?

      Sorting things out at home before we left.

    • Biggest surprise?

      First trip: how much so little can change your life, just to experience the smile of a kid from a hill tribe village when you give him a sweet – that will stay with you forever!

  10. Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
    Last trip: The Dali Lama

    This trip: Chris the mad Dutch bloke

  11. How much planning and preparing did you do?
    Planning is for tourists

  12. What was your favorite piece of gear? What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
    My Teva Sandals, can’t do without them. I brought too much, dumped some, sent more back home, lost a few things too. Don’t bring too many clothes, mostly they are not practical out here unless you are doing something specialist, and they are SO cheap to buy and replace here. My Maglite torch was very useful, however so far I have lost and replaced 3; I guess other people like them too.

  13. How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
    Can I ask a friend? I was more open-minded, free of all this materialistic ownership crap, I had more “have a go.” My outlook was so much more chilled, you couldn’t get me stressed or angry for anything! It didn’t last though…

  14. If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    It gets under your skin in a way you can’t shake it.

  15. Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
    I am on my second long-term travel now, and probably will do so for the rest of my life.

  16. 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?
    You can’t experience a place, a country, the people, the environment properly on a 2-3 week holiday, and this world has too much to offer to miss. In one life if you travelled continuously, you could not scratch the surface, but you will be an enlightened person.

  17. What is the most valuable thing you learned?
    Humility…

  18. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    “I couldn’t do that, I have too much to lose here at home!” Bollocks!

  19. Why do you like to travel?
    The experiences you have are invaluable, I want to live my life, and this is how I do it.

  20. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Quit your job, sell everything, buy a ticket, pack some clothes and do it before you have second thoughts!