Sima Cutting is a 22-year-old admin assistant from Cambridge, England, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2002.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2002
- Age at departure: 22
- Nationality: England
- Location: Cambridge, England
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Admin assistant
- Original budget: Not specified
- Regions: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Sima Cutting shared about their RTW journey:
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I went to India in my year-out and wanted to go back as I loved it and felt I could’ve stayed longer! I think the reason I’m drawn to Asia in the first place is because we had a family friend who used to go to exotic places for her holidays and backpack, and she’s a keen photographer and I’ve grown up in awe of her photo album. I also loved studying religion at school and saw documentaries about Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism that fascinated me. I also want a challenge! I wanna go somewhere that’s hard work – dunno why!!
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
The bureaucracy – having something wrong with my visas or getting caught up in something political I don’t understand and can’t handle.
What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
I need some! I think that that’s something I’ll come back to either a month before I go or when I get back…
What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
I dunno, we were told a lot of stuff that often ended up being true… that it’s lonely maybe – people keep asking me how I’m going to cope alone for a year, but I know I’ll meet people fairly prompt! Another thing I was looking forward to in India was sitting on a bus with goats; never saw any animals on any public transport!
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?
I hope that I become less lazy and more focused on what I want and how I’m going to go about getting it… I also want to become more confident in myself. I DO NOT, however, intend on “discovering” myself!
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Well, while I say I haven’t planned lots, I’m a bit anal about my lists and have drafted and redrafted packing lists despite it all being months away!! I can’t possibly list what I’m taking – too long, but it’s as sparse as I can do it!! I learned from the last trip!! Only a few clothes. My first aid kit/medicine bag will be the heftiest. I’m asthmatic and have allergies, so there are a few essentials. I am taking a bed sheet and towel, which I didn’t do last time – as the ‘micro-towel’ we took was crap!! and I got bed bugs because I kept coming out of my sleeping bag in the heat! I think a couple of books will be my favourite items, which I will trade as I go…
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler did not report a specific budget, but early-2000s round-the-world costs are substantially higher in 2026 (roughly 75-85% cumulative inflation).