Round-the-World Traveler
Linh Altork – Around-the-World Traveler
- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
1-2 Years - How much have you saved?
Not much - How old are you?
33 - Nationality
USA - Where do you live now?
North Carolina, USA - Occupation
Dot com victim - Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
One more paycheck and I’m gone. - Have you traveled around the world before?
No - What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
Southeast Asia – Australia – India – Turkey – Europe – Russia – Transcontinental to China – side trips to islands. - Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
As youthful as I wish I’d stay, I know my eggs are expiring and I need to get the wanderlust out of my system before we settle down and have kids. My original plan was to visit a foreign country every year til I die, but then the thought of dragging little kiddies along everywhere made that seem less appealing. So I’m doing it in one fell swoop. As important is that I love different cultures and languages. I want to experience the interaction of societies around the world because people are such fascinating creatures. - What is your biggest fear about this trip?
That I’ll run out of money because I’m horrible with finances. That I’ll fork over my money to every little doe-eyed child I meet, especially in third world countries. - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Yes! Except my parents, who live in constant fear that I’ll be blown up by terrorists. Wanderlust runs in my family. - How much planning and preparing have you done?
Winged it a lot - What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
A couple of outfits and stuff here and there. I’m only packing a daypack and keeping it below 20 pounds, including our tent and sleeping bags, because we plan on alot of wilderness hiking where possible. - 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’m a very patient person except when I’m behind the wheel of a car and then my evil twin takes over. I’m hoping to understand people and have patience and appreciate everyone for how they are. AFter all, slow drivers in the passing lane couldn’t be slower than a camel caravan, I’m sure. - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it
be?
I’m about to pee my pants because I’m itching to go so bad. - 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 love the US, but man, people stay in their comfort zones and never experience anything outside of their own microcosm. I personally know people who’ve never left their city, much less their state. They have no interest in anything but what they know, which is a sad existence in my humble opinion. There’s just so much to see and not enough lifetime to see it. Sometimes the one-two week vacation can fall by the wayside when other commitments come up. - What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That the only way around is by air. - Why do you like to travel?
I’m fascinated by people different, yet so similar to me. I checked out a book from the library once on all the natural wonders of the world. The thought of all the different landscapes around the world amazes me and I can’t wait to see them! - What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Read other people’s experiences, take the sum of all their hints and tips, divide by 100 and you got yourself a formula! Keep peoples’ advice in the back of your mind so you’re aware, but don’t let the anxiety about all the things that could go wrong ruin your trip before it’s started. And if you could keep your mind open to all possibilities, then you can’t be disappointed.
October 2004