Kate and Paul Smyth

Round-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   February 2004

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   1-6 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   $20,000 CDN

4. How old are you?
   50

5. Nationality
   Canada

6. Where do you live now?
   Toronto, Canada

7. Occupation
   Education/Government

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?
    Not really “around the world”…but Toronto to Vancouver to
    Singapore…then Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam…then the
    South Pacific, back home.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What
    got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    We simply love to travel!

12. What is your biggest fear about this
    trip?
    No real worries…we can’t wait to get going. “The trail is the thing!”

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc.,
    supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the
    world?
    Our friends and family think it is hugely exciting.

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)?
    Oh, we’ll pack light…we are “old” and are not willing to carry much.
    Indispensable? Only required documentation.

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?
    Likely just want us to travel more!

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings
    about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it
    be?
    Awesome!

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?
    To explore and to learn…to be real travellers instead of only tourists.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have
    about round-the-world traveling?
    That it is one big “vacation” . Vacations are for tourists… travelling
    is a way to appreciate all another culture has to offer!

20. Why do you like to travel?
    Same as above. We are very curious and love to learn.

21. What is your advice for people planning
    their own RTW trip?
    Have a blast! And remember that if you travel too quickly, you miss all
    it is that you are travelling for. “The trail is the thing.”

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