Deborah Busch

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   February 2004-May 2004

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   44

3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
   $10,000

4. Nationality
   USA

5. Where do you live now?
   Atlanta, GA, USA

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Sales Rep, Book publishing
   
   Now: Still deciding, probably my own business
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   I knew before I left that I would probably want to change. Researching ideas currently for my own business. Travel related?

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   Seeking an endless summer; in order: New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Czech Republic and Italy.

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   Hey, I'm a pretty happening chick but, I dare any of you to hit your mid-40's and not feel some burn-out. Detested my job, had a wad of FF points and enough financial resources. So...... why the hell not.....as if it would be more fun in my 50's or 60's?

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

   • Best Moment
     1) the people connections....be they arbitrary or prearranged and 2) the extraordinary scenic wonder of this planet.....you can never get enough of it.

   • Worst Moment
     Sorry, but I guess it would have to be Egypt in general. I've decided that if that country didn't have such an unusual history and a ton of preserved artefacts it would be just another African wasteland no one would talk about.

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Probably just the language barrier in Southeast Asia. English may be the international default language but, they didn't speak much of it.....I'm talking in tourist-related businesses.

   • Biggest surprise?
     Really just how doable it is. Sometimes stressful and effing annoying.....but it's definitely not as big a hurdle as you may think.

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   Probably Samnang in Cambodia. He was a guide recommended to me by someone from the States. Get this story: one day when he was 15 yrs old, the Khmer Rouge came to his house and told he and his sisters they had to leave immediately or they would be killed. (His parents were working in the fields). So they ended up in a refugee camp in Thailand for 9 years. He has never seen his parents since and presumes they are dead. Now he is 35 years old and speaks impressive English and Thai and has deep knowledge of Cambodian and regional religious history. Sometimes you don't know how it is that people keep going.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   My Columbia Sportwear 'zip off to shorts' microfiber cargo pants. I had several pieces of Columbia apparel...I'm a big fan....they get it!

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   I packed lean and mean. Invest in microfiber clothes....it's worth it.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   I keep thinking about that. It's certainly worth saying that; until you actually SEE it...you can't quite understand how poor so much of the world is. (And corrupt...which is one of the reasons it's so poor. But that's another conversation).

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   After having done it you feel so lucky (see comment above) and capable of doing almost anything.

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   That's a trick question, right? I mean, geez, anyone who does a RTW trip has travel in their bones! I hope I spend my last dime at 105 years old in a caravan of nomads trolling around Eastern Turkey.

   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?
   Both options are good. Most people aren't going to take the time or spend the $$ for a RTW trip...those are for diehards. But the most interesting aspect for me was seeing the variety of countries in a sequential fashion. It makes for interesting comparisons...culturally, politically, topographically.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   Perhaps that I'm more flexible than I realized. And that I don't need as much 'stuff' in my life.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   That's is so expensive, unsafe, lonely, yadda..yadda. It doesn't have to be any of those. Be clever.

   Why do you like to travel?
   I just love hearing the stories of peoples' lives in faraway places. Sharing a laugh or a warm conversation with someone whose experiences have been so different OR so similar. It's the best! Not to mention the natural splendor and vast creativity of humankind.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   One of my masterstrokes was: 6 weeks before I left I emailed my itinerary to friends/family soliciting names & contact info of people they knew in my destinations. You can't believe how many connections that provided for me along the way....including some accommodations and friendly help/tour guiding. Who knew your pals had all these people flung about? GO AND ENJOY!