Kirstin Mooney
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
Kirstin manages to hold on to her camel as she rides to the pyramids in Giza, Egypt.
April 13-July 17, 2001
34
USA
California, USA
It hasn't so far. Except that I have a lot of great photos that I use for research materials.
Tahiti; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Wiseman's Ferry, Gold Coast, Australia; Hong Kong; Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Bombay, New Delhi, Agra and Benares, India; Cairo, Egypt; Istanbul, Turkey; Lesbos, Greece; Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy; Paris, France; London, England
I hadn't taken a vacation in 3 years and, after a particularly arduous project, decided to take a big break. Actually, planning the trip is what got me through the last 4 months of the project. It started because I was going to visit a friend in Australia. And then, I thought, as long as I'm going this far, I should go see my cousin in Tokyo and then another cousin who is in India. Pretty soon I was going half-way around the world so, why not go all the way? It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I took 3 months and every day was wonderful. I can't think of any other 3 months of my life that I can say that about.
Just Enough
Backpack that has pull-up handle and wheels
Lots of clothes
While I was traveling, I read a book about an American woman who was living in New Delhi. She moved there thinking it would change her but she found it "made her more herself". I definitely found this to be true. Although there is nothing like seeing, touching, tasting and experiencing other countries for yourself, still, you end up confirming yourself, in a way. Perhaps the change in myself is not just feeling more myself but feeling more substantive. It's a little like turning 30.
It was everything I ever dreamed a trip like this could be.
I want to make travel a habit now. And I would go RTW again in a heartbeat.
Traveling from culture to culture gives a perspective on the world that can't be seen in a couple weeks. Also, you can get a sense of the flow of cultural influences, both historical and current ones.
To convert currencies in my head.
That it is difficult. I booked my air travel and all my hotels through the internet. It was really easy. The hardest part is deciding where to go and what's going to have to wait for next time.
I love being on my own, meeting people, seeing new and old things. I think the better question is why would someone NOT like to travel?
Give yourself plenty of time both in the planning and on the trip. It is certainly easy to book hotels etc. from the road (just stop in any internet cafe), but I think it's better to have an itinerary and reservations in advance. I left things very loose while in Western Europe, and now wish I had planned in advance because by the time I got there, I was really tired of planning!
