Kelly O'Laughlin

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

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?
   $12,000 ?

4. Nationality
   USA

5. Where do you live now?
   Yonkers, New York, USA

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Temp
   
   Now: Temp
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   It didn't affect my job because I temped before I left and temped when I got back. My boyfriend actually got hired back to the same company he deserted when we left. But they didn't know he quit to go on a trip, heh heh.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   Singapore. Thailand: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi. Australia: the East coast from Sydney to Cairns. New Zealand: All over the south island and a little of the north island. Cook Islands: Rarotonga & Aitutaki. 24 hours in Tahiti.

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   My boyfriend and I love to travel and we'd both traveled a lot internationally but not together. We saved our money for several months and took off. We took a RTW trip because we both agree that short trips (like 1 week long) aren't worth it. If I'm spending hundred of $ on airfare, I wanna stay a while! All or nothing!

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

   • Best Moment
     Driving in New Zealand & Snorkeling for the first time

   • Worst Moment
     Lugging a heavy backpack in search of a hotel in 150 degree (I swear!) searing heat in Thailand

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Dealing with touts and cheats

   • Biggest surprise?
     The cheapness of Thailand. And how easy it was to take a trip like this.

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   This is a hard one. We spent a few days with some friends in Brisbane and their hospitality was amazing. But I probably learned the most about my boyfriend and we traveled great together and didn't kill each other after being together 24 hours a day for 4 months.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   I hate to say it, but my REI zip-off travel pants. They were nerdy looking, but they really worked great. And when I wore them for a week straight in Thailand, they still looked clean! And they dry quickly.

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   A suction-cup clothesline. A short skirt--never wore it! Lots of medicines-only used band-aids, aspirin, gauze and tape.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   It didn't really change my life. All it did was add more information to my brain about different things. It made me rave endlessly to anyone who will listen about how they HAVE to go to New Zealand.

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   Fantastic and can't wait to go again!

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Of course! I would love to do Europe properly but it is so expensive right now. South America is probably our next trip.

   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?
   Like I mentioned before, get your money's worth! Take a LONG trip! Navigating yourself is the best part of traveling because you get a sense of accomplishment. A RTW trip is easier than you think! They always say, when you are on your deathbed, you don't think, "I am glad I worked so much." Do something that makes you happy and enriches your life!

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   That you don't really need to plan. (But if you don't, you might miss some good stuff.)

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   That it is too expensive and hard to figure out.

   Why do you like to travel?
   I absolutely LOVE to immerse myself in new situations and places to see how I will feel and react. I LOVE to learn!!!

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   Trust your instinct. Don't stress out. Ask questions here on BootsnAll.