Melanie Rae

Round-the-World Traveler

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Melanie in October 2002, when she reached Everest Base Camp.

1. When do you leave?
   December 2002

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

3. How much have you saved?
   £10000

4. How old are you?
   34

5. Nationality
   England

6. Where do you live now?
   Scarborough, England

7. Occupation
   Navigator

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   One more paycheck and I’m gone

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Moscow/St Petersburg, Trans-Mongolian Train to Beijing, teaching in Chang Chun for 6 weeks, overland into Tibet then Nepal, trekking in Annapurna region, India, after that who knows

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Talked about doing something like this for the past 15 years, though it’s about time I got round to doing it.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Feeling lonely

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Yes, very.

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)?
    I plan to pack as light as possible but will definitely take my sleeping bag, head torch, camera and walkman.

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?
    Not sure, but hopefully any changes will be for the better.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Can’t wait!

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?
    If you really want to experience a country, instead of just scratching the surface, you need to spend more than a couple of weeks there.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    Everyone is doing it.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    To meet new people, see new places and have new experiences.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Save a bit of money and just do it.

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