Round-the-World Traveler
Round the World Travel Guide
Your One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
August 21-January 1, 2000
29
USA
Tel Aviv, Israel
My extensive overseas experience (both working and travelling) helped me obtain my current work with a large engineering/architectural firm that does a lot of overseas work. I am currently a resident project manager in Israel. Companies who do a lot of international work are always looking for single men and women who have a proven record of being able to adapt easily to other cultures.
Additionally, an RTW trip of at least 3 months’ duration will allow you to gain new insights into your life, career aspirations, and personal goals. My outlook on life definitely changed during my trip – travel is such an important part of my life that I am now reluctant to tie myself down with too many long-term professional responsibilities that would prohibit travel.
Starting in the United States (all travel legs were by air unless noted otherwise):
- Chicago-Mexico City (Mexico)
- Guatemala City (Guatemala)
- Lima (Peru)
- Santiago (Chile)
- Buenos Aires (Argentina, Uruguay)
- Cape Town (South Africa)
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
- Overland to Singapore
- Denpasar/Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
- Sydney (Australia, Tasmania)
- Auckland (New Zealand)
- Honolulu (Hawaii)
- Anchorage (Alaska)
- Back to Chicago
An RTW trip had been a dream of mine for several years. After the military, I knew I had an opportunity to take several months for travel before I switched careers.
- Best Moment
- Worst Moment
- Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
- Biggest surprise?
Ten days in the Cape Town area
Almost drowning in a river in New Zealand
Not leaving enough time to see each country
The honesty and friendliness of the South Africans – black, white, colored and Cape Malay
Musta’in Kerto, a batik artist and student in Yogyakarta. He is one of the kindest and most generous people I ever met, and he has taken many travellers in Indonesia into his life and shown them the beauty of Java.
Just Enough
A PacSafe – I never worried about the safety of my backpack and its contents.
Nothing. I packed light.
The answer to this question is sprinkled throughout this interview.
It was the best and most intense travel experience of my life… until the next long trip!
Absolutely!!!
I plan to spend several months in specific areas of the world… while an RTW trip is a great smorgasbord, it whets your travel appetite for a more intense travel experience in the places you enjoyed most.
First of all, 1-2 week vacations and RTW trips are completely different animals. We Americans have absolutely no idea how to take a REAL vacation, and two weeks isn’t enough.
RTW trips (in my humble opinion) should last 3-12 months (or more). It takes that long for a person to really relax, change his or her viewpoint on the travel experience, and to remove himself from the trials of everyday life for a long and significant period of time. This is the greatest benefit (and in many ways, largest concern) of an RTW trip.
However, you’ll return with an understanding of the world, of yourself, knowledge that you don’t need to have many possessions to really enjoy life to the fullest (when you spend 4 months living out of a 50-lb pack, you learn this very quickly), and it will change your life. Guaranteed.
We place far too much value upon material possessions, and not enough value upon experiences and learning from others.
I don’t know what the myths might be, but anyone with a sense of adventure and an open mind can take an RTW trip.
It challenges me in every way, allows me to learn more about the world I live in, and gives me opportunities to write about and sketch the most amazing people and places.
- Get to know the Airtreks.com people.
- Plan your itinerary, and set a budget. (You’ll probably break it if you’re not careful).
- Be realistic in the amount of time you need to see a place.
- Don’t rush.
- And Enjoy!
