Marlo Perry

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   January 2002-February 2003

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   23

3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
   AU$15,000

4. Nationality
   Australia

5. Where do you live now?
   Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Coffee Maker
   
   Now: Coffee Maker
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   Obviously didn't. Am still looking for the right career for me. First must pay off some bills then will get settled into the 'real' jobs again.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   Focused on South America: New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia.

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   I had lived in Peru as a teenager and wanted to return. I don't have all that much money but I have lots of time. So travelling slowly through countries where my money (Aussie dollar) is worth a bit was the best way to see the most I could.

   Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
   

   • Best Moment
     Meeting people I would never have met otherwise.

   • Worst Moment
     Having a gun pointed at me.

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Readjusting to the 'developed' world.

   • Biggest surprise?
     How easy it actually was to get around and see and do the things I wanted.

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   The local people. Seeing how they live and what they do each day made me reassess my life and what I wanted.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Winged it a lot

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   Footwear. I travelled in one pair of hiking type boots (no ankle support), they got me through everything and all situations: city walking, bush hiking, clubbing, weddings but not the showers, I invested in a $1 pair of thongs (flip flops) for that!

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   I was quite good in what I packed. The only things I didn't really take were some of the medications in my first aid kit, but I think you still need to take them 'just in case'.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   Having travelled heaps before but not for such an extended period of time, I was quite aware of what I was getting myself into. I think I am definitely much more accepting of people, definitely more patient (prepare to spend time waiting for buses, trains, daylight). I know I have to keep travelling, there's so much more to see and experience. It can't stop here.

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   The best, worst and most intense experiences of my life... so far.

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Yes, yes, and yes. First must save up the money again. Am planning an extended trip through Africa. It will take a couple of years to get the funds, but I always need something to look forward to.

   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?
   In one or two weeks you see so little of what a country and its traditions are about. It really is just a staged tourist show. You need to get to know the people and experience all the ups and downs to discover the community and yourself.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   You can't have control over everything.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   It is hard.

   Why do you like to travel?
   There's so much more to the world than my local shopping centre.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   Don't plan too much, be flexible, and always smile!