Mary Weatherburn
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
In terms of practical advice, budgeting is important. You need to have a decent amount of money to set off with and have an idea of how long it will last you; flicking through the relevant sections of a guidebook like the LP will help with this. When you're away, it's a good idea to jot down what you spend everyday so you can plan ahead and establish whether you need to cut down on your spending, get a job, cut down intended travel time, or whether it's time to treat yourself!
November 1999-June 2000
18
£5000 Sterling
English
Kumamoto, Japan
Not really applicable. I always do temping work during holidays from uni to earn money from travelling – usually working as a secretary/PA through employment agencies.
London, Los Angeles, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, India, London
Wanted adventure and gap year before university seemed excellent time to go, before I had any responsibilities which might tie me down. Not that this will probably stop me from travelling now – I'm hooked!!
We arrived in Darjeeling late at night, having just crossed the boarder from Nepal. There was something big going on so ALL accommodation was full-up with Indians. A kind family (guy from Mumbai, wife from Tibet, babe in arms, little girl) took us into their tiny tiny dingy little cupboard of an apartment, even though their parents were staying there too and there was no room AT ALL. (In the end their friends managed to put us up in their guest-house but it was the sincere gesture that stuck out).
Just Enough
Toothfloss. I recommend it to every traveller. It's strong so is much better than thread for repairs, e.g. backpacks; it can be used for a whole range of other useful things such as washing line etc. – even flossing your teeth from time to time!!
A universal plug. Useless.
It made me more broadminded and gave me so much more confidence – exactly what I needed at 18 years old. It made me see my potential future with a much wider view and gave me the ability to relate more easily to people.
It's horribly predictable but: the best thing I ever did with my life.
I'm already on my second RTW right now, stopping off in Japan for 10 months to study Japanese for my uni degree. Came from London via Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and will return via Thailand, Cambodia (maybe more of SE Asia) and Amsterdam.
Because it's just utterly and completely not the same and an entirely different experience. A vacation is equal to a brief escape from your life to something better. Travel is MAKING your life something better. To me anyway.
To relax, enjoy life and – it sounds affected – but to be true to myself.
That it's hard to organise and execute. All you have to do is leave.
Because it enables me to escape the monotony that awaits me at home. A new setting means that you can continue to learn about your surroundings, so even if you're working as you travel and therefore get into a routine, it doesn't get boring.
It's not as hard or as daunting as it may seem the first time you do it. Everything falls into place – all you need to do is to leave; after that the momentum gathered by this action will carry you to wherever you want to go.
