Bear Falugo

1. When do you leave?
   February 2004

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

3. How much have you saved?
   As much as possible.

4. How old are you?
   27

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   North Miami Beach, FL., USA

7. Occupation
   Baker

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   I'll come back if they'll have me

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   Yes

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    I intentionally have no route. The Countries I plan to visit are Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines (maybe), Myanmar (maybe), Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I've been traveling my whole life and the last few trips I've been on I really thought about just staying (on vacation). There are too many reasons to go on this trip and just one reason to stay - my steady job. Enough said!

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Having to come home!

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    They've all been great! I was bracing for some negative feedback but it never came.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Winged it a lot

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    All the regular stuff. My mini disk player, my sandals, and my tabasco sauce.

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?
    I'm not sure, but I can't wait to find out! It will definitely slow my pace down and it will expand my mind. When you live on the road you learn things everyday, and find out that you don't need much to live and be very, very happy. Just a backpack!

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

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 taking a RTW trip won't hurt someone else's life (children or spouse) then I think everyone should find out what they're made of. Otherwise, go ahead and take that one or two week vaca, it ain't that bad!

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    You will destroy everything you've worked for. You need $50,000. You have to plan every single step of the trip. You can wait till you're retired (how depressing).

20. Why do you like to travel?
    Alone, and when something sounds like fun just do it. If I like where I'm at I'll stay till I don't.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Just friggin' go! Don't try to see too much. If you like where you're at then stay longer, the next place isn't always better and you don't always go back. Start planning now!