Julie MacArthur

1. When do you leave?
   January 2004

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   $10,000

4. How old are you?
   24

5. Nationality
   Canada

6. Where do you live now?
   Vancouver, Canada

7. Occupation
   Student

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?
   Yes

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Vancouver, Sydney, Malaysia, Delhi, Kenya, London, Toronto and back to Vancouver. Lots of trekking around in Oz, India and a trip through Masai Mara, and down through Tanzania to Zanzibar.

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 travelling on and off my whole life, but never so many countries back to back. I've always lived in countries, as opposed to just travel, so this is really new for me.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Going by myself. But that's the point, isn't it? A benefit and a drawback, I suppose.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    They all think it's perfectly in character for me, so they're not exactly fighting the outlay of cash. This has been a plan of mine for a few years now, so I suppose they're happy I'm getting to finally go.

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)?
    My convertible pants and Macabie skirt (which I'm completely attached to) a couple t-shirts, tank tops, basic first aid, camera, walkman, journal, tevas and runners. OH, and sunscreen.

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 really not sure, there are the obvious 'better sense of myself' things, but you never really know, do you? I hope I'll gain a few more perspectives to see with - that's always handy!

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

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 test yourself, and get out of your comfort zone - vacations aren't enough time to let go of anything, you just get over your jetlag and then you're back.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    Expense. Compared to a hefty Christmas, or a European 2 week 'family vacation' they're relatively cheap, for what you get. Especially these days with all the airline deals.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I like the sense that it's just me, that my days are so flexible and there's no schedule. There are always challenges, surprises, and most of all frustrations. I love that. I love not feeling obligated, and the freedom of travel.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Just buy a ticket, the rest sorts itself out....