Marie Javins – Around-the-World Traveler is a post trip from Nowhere (still on the road in Australia), but I consider New York home.. Currently working as a Before your trip: Comic book colorist and editor, this 35-year-old from USA is preparing for one of life's greatest journeys: traveling around the world.
About the Journey
I’ve been excited about travel since I was 17 and went on an exchange program to Finland. But what really changed everything was when I saw an ad for a $650 trip down the Amazon. It was only a week long, and was in ’91, but it opened up a whole new world as I was presented with options I’d previously thought over only as remote daydreams.
The Snapshot
Age: 35
Nationality: USA
Location: Nowhere (still on the road in Australia), but I consider New York home.
Planned Duration: Not specified
Original Budget: USD 32,000
2026 Equivalent: USD 59600
The Route
Went mostly without airplanes. Crossed the USA by Amtrak, the Pacific by freighter, crossed Indonesia by ferry and minivan, to Singapore by ferry, through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia by local transport, Vietnam south to north by train, then around China by local transport. Across Mongolia and Russia by Trans-Siberian, train loop through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Moscow to St. Petersburg by train, bus through the Baltics to Poland to Germany, cargo ship to Cape Town, bus and local minivans through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, canoeing in Zimbabwe, train to Tanzania, safari through Tanzania, local transport to Uganda and Kenya, overland truck through Ethiopia, local truck through Sudan, train through Egypt, bus to Israel, cargo ship to Italy. Trains through Italy, Switzerland, France, ferry to UK. Cruise ship to Florida, Amtrak and bus to New York.
Regions: Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East, Russia/Trans-Siberian
Note: Profile collected in 2001. Budget figures inflation-adjusted to 2026 USD.
In Their Words
Q: When did you go on your RTW trip?
January 2001-December 2001
Q: How old were you when you took this trip?
35
Q: Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
US$32,000 inc. vaccines, travel insurance, cargo ships fare, excursions, rent in Berlin, safaris, visas, incidentals and food.
Q: Nationality
USA
Q: Where do you live now?
Nowhere (still on the road in Australia), but I consider New York home.
Q: Occupation
Before your trip: Comic book colorist and editor
Traveler's Insights
Advice for other travelers: Be sure to build flexibility into your schedule. Leave time for cancelled trains, and don’t cut anything too close.
Common misconception: It’s a vacation. It isn’t. It’s hard work.
2026 Context
Budget inflation: The USD 32,000 from 2001 now requires approximately USD 59600 in 2026, a 86% increase reflecting global economic changes and rising travel costs.
This post trip profile captures round-the-world aspirations from the early 2000s. Modern travelers following similar routes should verify current visa requirements, safety conditions, and infrastructure in each destination.
Timeless principles: The planning foundations emphasized by this traveler remain essential. Thorough budgeting, visa research, family communication, and thoughtful preparation continue to support successful round-the-world journeys.