Gayle Owens's Trip at a Glance
| | |
|---|---|
| Departure Year | |
| Duration | |
| Route | Multiple destinations |
| Budget | (~ in 2026 dollars) |
| Age at Departure | |
| Occupation | |
Route
Round-the-world journey.
2026 note: Route information from early 2000s travel planning; current conditions may differ significantly.
In Their Words
When did you go on your RTW trip?
June 2003-August 2003How old were you when you took this trip?
51Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
7,000Nationality
USAWhere do you live now?
Ferndale, MI, USAOccupation Before your trip: music therapistNow: music therapistHow did your travels affect your career when you got back?
My boss was very angry with me because I took some extra time off from work but she got over it.What is the route you took/places you visited?
Detroit,Thailand, Malasia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Argentena, Chili, Peru, DetroitWhy did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I wanted to do something with my girls (ages 11 and 13) that would give them a broad scope of the world. Something to focus on outside of themselves and our own little lives.Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:Best Moment
staying with the Karen people in ThailandWorst Moment
my daughter caughing around the worldBiggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
my other daughter being bit by a dogBiggest surprise?
Getting home relatively safe and soundWho is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
a nice young may at the corner grocery store who arranged for a cake for my 11 year old who was turning 12. He was so sweet and thoughtful and expected nothing in return.How much planning and preparing did you do?
Planning is for touristsWhat was your favorite piece of gear?
Our backpacks on wheels or maybe my vest I made with zippered pockets that I wore under my clothes.What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
We should have taken smaller sleeping bagsHow did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
We gained a lot of respect in our little community. At first people thought we were crazy but when we returned safely they were i
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This profile was originally published on BootsnAll. Budget figures have been adjusted for 2026 context.