Darren Watkins is a Wales sales embarking on a round-the-world journey.
The Snapshot
- **Departure:** 2002
- **Duration:** 6-12 months
- **Age:** 33
- **Budget:** $23,500 USD (2026 equivalent)
- **Nationality:** Wales
- **Occupation:** Sales
The Route
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand.
Regions: Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania
2026 Note: Travel conditions, visa requirements, and costs have evolved significantly since this profile was originally recorded.
In Their Words
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip? It’s my career
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go? I’ve always had an ambition to travel but got caught in the university/military/highly paid job rut and couldn’t give it up. Recession has hit and industry is stagnating, so ideal time to go.
What is your biggest fear about this trip? That it wont live up to my expectations.
How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person? Recently married somy wifeis joining me, and we are looking forward to having a long time together. I hope the trip will make us both less materialistic.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be? Like an 8-year-old’s first trip to Disney.
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? You never relax properly and you always have an end date which is close, and you’re often herded about by travel reps.
2026 Context
- This profile was recorded before departure. Many travelers never return home quite the same.
- This journey is now 24 years in the past. The world has changed significantly.
- Exchange rates and travel costs have shifted considerably since the original planning date.