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Author: Sean Keener

Mary Dowling – Around-the-World Traveler

  1. When do you leave?
    November 2002

  2. How long do you plan to be away?
    1-2 Years

  3. How much have you saved?
    €6000

  4. How old are you?
    25

  5. Nationality
    Ireland

  6. Where do you live now?
    Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

  7. Occupation
    Engineer

  8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
    It’s my career

  9. Have you traveled around the world before?
    No

  10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Fly to Bangkok, spend 2 months travelling around Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before heading down through Malaysia to Singapore where our flight leaves for Melbourne, a year travelling and working in Australia, some time in New Zealand on our way home and if funds allow, some time in South America.

  11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I’ve always loved travelling and living in other countries and am always planning my next journey. I’ve been wanting to do this for ages!

  12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Not having enough money and not being able to get work in Australia.

  13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    They’re envious as hell and most of my co-workers wish they could go to but mortgages etc. don’t allow. Family are a bit worried and gonna miss me but supportive too.

  14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Just Enough

  15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Em, not sure yet, sleeping bag, torch, Swiss Army knife, very few clothes, ehhhh??

  16. 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 think it will make me more open to other cultures, give me a whole different perspective on things. I think it will make me more eager to go travelling again!

  17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Just can’t wait to get away from cold wet Ireland and experience things that I’ve never come close to before. Am so excited I could pee my pants!

  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?
    Because you never get to see as much as you want to on an ordinary vacation, and you don’t get to meet people and experience the culture as you do if you spend more time in a place with less luxuries.

  19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That they don’t have the time or money to do it. You only have one life, you might as well enjoy it!

  20. Why do you like to travel?
    Because of the people I meet, the amazing places I see, the food I get to taste and just the fun and excitement of it all.

  21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Start saving as soon as the idea pops into your head!