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Author: Sean Keener

Dale Johnson – Around-the-World Traveler

  1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
    October 2000-December 2001

  2. How old were you when you took this trip?
    37

  3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
    US$38,900 for 2 (total cost of our trip including advance purchases of gear, vaccines, travel insurance, photography film and equipment – not including
    souvenirs)

  4. Nationality
    USA

  5. Where do you live now?
    Portland, Oregon, USA

  6. Occupation
    Before your trip: General Manager

    Now: Unemployed (by choice)

  7. How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
    No desire to work the corporate life again.

  8. What is the route you took/places you visited?
    Los Angeles, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Palau, Sabah/Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Thailand, Los Angeles.

  9. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Wanted to change our routine and escape to enjoy life and experience other cultures. I wouldn’t have done it with out my wife’s encouragement.

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

    • Best Moment

      Can’t pick only one

    • Worst Moment

      Severe food poisoning

    • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?

      Accepting we had to go home

    • Biggest surprise?

      Kindness of strangers

  11. Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
    Jay the dreadlocked surfer from UK. He has been traveling for 8 years, looking for the perfect surf.

  12. How much planning and preparing did you do?
    Winged it a lot

  13. What was your favorite piece of gear?
    MSR water filter

  14. What did you bring, that in hindsight you could’ve left at home?
    Clothing

  15. How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
    My perspective of living changed. I now live and plan on living life more simply. Changed my diet by eating much smaller portions and less meat.

  16. If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Eye-opening.

  17. Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
    Traveling will be a way of life. Realizing that places around our home still need to be explored. I think we will always be planning some sort of trip.

  18. 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?
    To see outside their protective bubble. Gain an understanding of other cultures

  19. What is the most valuable thing you learned?
    Trust and to listen to my instincts.

  20. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That it requires a lot of money.

  21. Why do you like to travel?
    Learning and experiencing new ways of living.

  22. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Stop saying ” I can’t,” and just go.