Keiron Burchell
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
Keiron feeling pretty short with the Head of Zeus Statue in Mt Nemrut Dagi, Eastern Turkey.
June 1999-January 2000
30
South Africa
London, England
In South Africa my industry was in decline, unemployment was high and I wasn't able to find a job. In London the market was in boom. I had a few offers and eventually added one-third to my salary. On the whole, things turned out better for me.
Technically I haven't yet completed my RTW trip. The plan is to travel around the world over land and sea. So far, and apart from the 1000km between Papua New Guinea and Queensland, I have travelled from London to Sydney overland, traversing 21 different countries en route.
Decided to do the trip after catching the bug while travelling around Europe in a VW Combi van in 1994. My route was influenced by my reading at the time (Tony Wheeler, Michael Palin and Paul Danziger) and by the routes that were available to me.
Bernard, a Belgian guy who hitch-hiked from Chengdu to Lhasa across Eastern Tibet, disguised as a local.
Control Freak
My favourite travel gear is generally dictated by its usefulness. My Saloman Boots and my Macpac are first among these. In retrospect I would have left a lot of things at home and hired them as and when required them. My sleeping bag is the first thing I leave at home now.
My RTW hasn't changed my life in any major way. I still hate getting up on Monday mornings. I still meet my mates for a drink down the pub on Friday evenings and I still hope that someday Penelope Cruz will realise I am the only man for her. But my life has changed in small ways. I stress less about work and the cost of living. I feel more secure about my choice of work, country and home. I am more able to see the humour when someone shoves in front of me in the grocery store, or when the plumber over-charges me.
There will always be another time to buy a house.
Always. Unfortunately I am restricted to annual leave at the moment, but have just returned from a holiday trip to Peru. If it's the last thing I do, I intend to complete my RTW overland trip.
Vacations and travel should not be compared with one another. They are different in every way apart from that it involves you going somewhere. Vacations are used to rest mind and body from the stresses of every day life. Travel should be undertaken for different reasons.
Life and personal happiness are more important than $500.
"I always wanted to travel but..."
Culture shock, mostly.
In order of importance:
