Angela Weller
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
After her first RTW, in 1995, Angela (red hair) decided she had to go again.
January 2003
I Ain't Never Comin' Back
US$20,000 (or I will have)
30
USA
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Course Developer
I'll come back if they'll have me
Yes
Working itinerary: Thailand, India and Nepal, Kenya to South Africa, Israel, Greece, Turkey, London
I've spent the last 2 years trying to cram European vacations into 2 weeks and decided that I'm tired of doing "short" trips to far-away places. It was really time to do another long-haul jaunt.
Running out of money.
My family is very supportive. My friends are all jealous of the trip. They view it as a natural extension of what I enjoy.
To the Nth Degree
I'm very small, so I can't take as much stuff as the big guys. I'm taking a moderately sized internal-frame pack with a light sleeping bag and solo tent. The most important item is your pack. Get the most comfortable one you can. The most indispensable item for me is always my Swiss Army knife. It comes in so handy! I also carry my Egyptian tie-dye "sarong" everywhere. It's doubled as a curtain, a sheet, a scarf, a head-covering and a pillow.
I'll know more when I complete it! I view the trip as a chance to center myself again. Doing a long trip solo requires really knowing yourself and accepting the good and bad in who you are. I believe that life perpetually changing, whether we travel or not. When I come back from the trip, I'll be changed in ways that I can't anticipate now, but hopefully changed for the better.
A trip of a lifetime.
I think that RTW travel is not suited for most people, actually. In order to reach a financial and social place in life where such a trip is practical, sacrifices are necessary. I think it is possible to have just as worthwhile experiences on traditional vacations. I feel RTW travel is best for those who view travel as a lifestyle, not as a hobby or a break from the 'real' world.
That everyday is going to be a life-changing experience. You will have those days, but there will be plenty of days where you are cold and tired, just like at home.
I like to travel because it gives me freedom to create my own schedule and to experience the world on my own terms. I can be the master of my own fate and meet some amazing people at the same time.
Don't try to do too much. On my first trip, I spent most of my time in a very small region (the Middle East) and was able to enjoy the people and sites at a pace that kept me healthy, both mentally and physically. If you're new to travel, I would recommend choosing areas of the world that are more developed, at least at first. Ease into the 'hard' stuff.
