- When do you leave?
September 2006
- How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months
- How much have you saved?
$8,000
- How old are you?
22
- Nationality
USA
- Where do you live now?
Los Angeles, USA
- Occupation
Research Scientist
- 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?
LA to Bangkok; overland through Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia; Bangkok to Kathmandu or Kolkata; overland to Delhi; Delhi to Athens or Istanbul; overland through Eastern Europe; overland(?) to the south of France; overland northward through France (maybe on foot?); Paris to Dublin; overland through Ireland; Dublin to London; London to LA (all subject to change of course - what's the fun of having everything planned out?)
- Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Last fall I took a 2.5 month trip to Europe and absolutely fell in love with traveling. After hearing other travelers' stories about their rtw trips, I decided that that Europe wasn't enough for me - I wanted to go on a rtw trip too. Why be jealous of other peoples' trips when I can take my own?
- What is your biggest fear about this trip?
That I will run out of money and have to come home early.
- Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
My friends are super supportive (and jealous!). My parents, not so much. They think that I have spent enough money "gallivanting" overseas already and that I shouldn't be putting off graduate school "just for a vacation."
- How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough
- What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
2-3 sets of clothes, 1 pair shoes, 1 pair sandals, first aid kit, soap, journal
- 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 not really sure how this trip will affect my life. I hope that I am able to gain a better understanding of different cultures and the problems other people face.
- If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
I can't believe I am actually doing this.
- 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?
What can you do on a 1-2 week vacation? Spend time on the beach working on your tan? Read a few good books? Visit all of the "must-see" attractions in one city? While those are all fine things to do when you are on vacation, they don't compare to the type of experiences you can have on a rtw trip. RTW-ers have a chance to immerse themselves in the local culture. They have the chance to spend more then a few hours at the "important" places. They have the chance see the "miss-able" (or wholly unknown) places. They are not consumed by the need to escape their life back home and are better able to experience life wherever they are because of it.
- What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
It's too expensive and out of their reach.
- Why do you like to travel?
I like meeting people and learning new things. I like exploring new cities and photographing interesting architecture. I like speaking foreign languages (or trying to!). I like people saying "I wish I could do that" when I tell my travel stories. Really, there aren't many things I don't like about travel.
- What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Start saving now. Even if it's just a little bit. That little bit could go a long way to getting you food and a bed in an inexpensive country.