- When did you go on your RTW trip?
- How old were you when you took this trip?
27 - Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
CDN$15,000 - Nationality
Canada - Where do you live now?
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada - Occupation
- Before your trip: Seasonal Contract Worker
- Now: Remote Wilderness Fisheries Researcher
- How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
When we got back from our trip, we had hardly any money. We didn’t have a career. We decided to write a book (however we are still editing it). My wife and I took jobs selling travel gear at an outfitters, and I started teaching climbing courses. We eventually landed a couple short-term contracts, and Mari (my wife) went to teacher’s college.- What is the route you took/places you visited?
We started in New Zealand, flew to Australia, than to Singapore. We went overland to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Laos. We went back to Singapore and flew to Nepal where we spent two months, before moving on to India. We flew to Turkey then to the U.K. and finally ended up in Norway.- Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I had been travelling a lot before I met Mari. She and I met while working a contract for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. While we were dating I worked contracts in Alaska, Mexico, and one in Madagascar. When she finished her university degree we decided to get married, save some cash and travel the globe.- Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
- Best Moment
- Worst Moment
Three weeks of diarrhea. - Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
Coming home and trying to find a job. - Biggest surprise?
Sleeper buses in China.
Being two feet from a swordfish in the South China Sea.- Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
James and Nancy. Two Canadians living in Singapore who gave us a place to stay for a week. It was completely out of the goodness of their heart. Other travellers will always make your day.- How much planning and preparing did you do?
Winged it a lot- What was your favorite piece of gear?
Petzl headlamp. Very light, very durable, batteries last a long time, and can always fit it in a pack.- What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
Snorkel gear for New Zealand. We had great plans for lazing on beaches and snorkeling. We did the first part, but the water was freezing, so we carried the gear and sold it in Australia.- How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
I think the biggest change was the way people want to talk to us about travel. Many people want us to summarize our trip in 5 minutes or less. I think the biggest change is how I see life. I always want to be back on the road, and I get really, really restless if I see a travel film or read a travelogue.- If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
I would do it again in a heartbeat.- Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
Yes, we are. In fact, we just got back from a road trip to the American Southwest. We climbed in California and hiked in Texas and Arizona. We want to travel overseas, and are looking to see Russia, Mongolia, and maybe more of Europe.- 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?
Going on an independent trip is the only form of travel that will leave you feeling fulfilled. Taking a two-week package vacation will provide you with a taste of home in different surroundings. You will never be so happy, as when you are on the road, enjoying the way the locals live.- What is the most valuable thing you learned?
Never take another human being for granted, and learn to cherish every moment with your fellow travellers.- What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
There is a myth that you will have a very difficult time getting around, and you have to book all accommodation from home before you leave. This is nonsense. Just go, meet other travellers, eat and sleep wherever you end up.- Why do you like to travel?
I don’t know, it just seems to be a part of me. I have an insatiable curiosity. Every time I travel, I just want to see more. Why, Why Not!- What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Don’t worry about money and planning, just buy your tickets and go. Drop me a line while you’re there. - Before your trip: Seasonal Contract Worker
October 1999-September 2000