Saira Raza's Trip at a Glance
| | |
|---|---|
| Departure Year | 2003 |
| Duration | 6-12 Months |
| Route | London, Hawaii (on WWOOF scheme), Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Sydney (to work), Bangkok, overland to Laos, Cambodia and back, Bhutan if possible/legal, Nepal, Tibet, London. |
| Budget | £4000 (~$10,200 in 2026 dollars) |
| Age at Departure | 24 |
| Occupation | Junior Mechanical Engineer |
Route
London, Hawaii (on WWOOF scheme), Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Sydney (to work), Bangkok, overland to Laos, Cambodia and back, Bhutan if possible/legal, Nepal, Tibet, London..
2026 note: Route information from early 2000s travel planning; current conditions may differ significantly.
In Their Words
When do you leave?
June 2003How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 MonthsHow much have you saved?
£4000How old are you?
24Nationality
EnglandWhere do you live now?
London, EnglandOccupation
Junior Mechanical EngineerIs this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
One more paycheck and I’m goneHave you traveled around the world before?
NoWhat is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
London, Hawaii (on WWOOF scheme), Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Sydney (to work), Bangkok, overland to Laos, Cambodia and back, Bhutan if possible/legal, Nepal, Tibet, London.Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Want tofind out if people around the world have as much in common as I suspect they havefeel how the world physically changes (want to experience ocean, island, mountain, desert, jungle),understand how colonialsm affects how cultures evolve,find somewhere peaceful and warm,run away from my family!This (wandering) type of travel seemed right when I realised that there’s so much I don’t know that I can’t decide where to start.What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Many fears.
People not wanting me there wherever I go.
People resenting the fact that I can choose to bum around.
U.S. politics.
Racism, sexism.Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Friends yes. Family no. Family think it’s a selfish waste of money. Friends think I’ll go mad if I don’t!How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just EnoughWhat are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Haven’t started but i imagine:catton clothes: 4 trousers, 1 skirt, 5 tops, two jumpers, 1 jacketmany tamponsmany painkillersmany antihistaminesguidebookcamerasketchbookpassport, ticket, walletdental floss (apparantly a very useful thing)contact lense stuff? Is that ridiculous? Glasses are so expensive her
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This profile was originally published on BootsnAll. Budget figures have been adjusted for 2026 context.