- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
1-2 Years - How much have you saved?
Enough - How old are you?
28 - Nationality
USA - Where do you live now?
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - Occupation
Television Producer - Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career - Have you traveled around the world before?
No - What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
South from USA though Mexico and Central America to South America. Fly possibly Buenos Aires to Johannesburg Spring 2003. Overland to Ethiopia. Fly maybe to east Africa somewhere. Overland (?) through Mauritania and Morocco to Europe. Overland through much of Europe to Istanbul, fly to Delhi. Overland through India, Nepal. Fly Kathmandu to Yangon, maybe? Do Myanmar. Yangon to Bangkok, live out rest of money in SE Asia.But that’s all shot to hell from day one, probably.
- Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I’d always wanted to take a couple of months off and travel through Europe. Then I realized I could just quit my job and take as long as I wanted. - What is your biggest fear about this trip?
I won’t be as happy as I hope. - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Mom, Dad are worried but are very supportive and know I should go. Friends/Co-workers’ opinions vary depending on their knowledge of the world. - How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough - What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
I like hiking and camping, so I’m taking a tent and sleeping bag. Maybe I’ll get sick of lugging them and send them home. Not to be (too) sarcastic, but I suppose the most indispensable item would be money. - 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?
I dunno. I don’t think you can know. When I finished hiking 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail a few years ago, I didn’t think I’d changed much at all. With a few years’ perspective, now it’s very clear how I changed. - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
After saving for two-plus years, it’s about damn time. - 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 don’t know that all people should. In fact, it’d kinda suck if that happened. For some, the regular old one- or two-week vacation is great. If that satisfies one’s urge to travel, great for them. They’ll have nicer cars, clothes, and houses than me. Some of us, though, aren’t satiated by 10 days in Orlando. - What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Since I haven’t gone yet, I can’t speak with authority. But everyone seems to think I’ll be killed. I hope that turns out to be a myth. - Why do you like to travel?
That second-and-a-half after you wake up in a strange place and have no idea where you are. - What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Decide to do it now. Or you never will.
November 2002
Learn more about John’s trip at his website, www.theregoesjohn.com.