Christine Rowe is an American, now based in Panajachel, Guatemala, who took a round-the-world trip from 2002 to 2003 at age 29.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2002
- Age at departure: 29
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Panajachel, Guatemala
- Duration: About 1 year (August 2002 – October 2003)
- Occupation: Reporter/Teacher (now bar owner)
- Original budget: USD 20,000 (approximately USD 36,700 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Oceania, Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, Middle East
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Christine Rowe shared about their RTW journey:
How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
I am not sure. I didn’t end up going back to the newspaper business and tried my hand at teaching again. I realized I could not live in the Corporate world. I was only surviving, not living. I was always thinking about traveling.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Because two weeks of vacation a year are not enough to really get to see what you want to see. Wanted to have the independence to go where we wanted, when we wanted.
What was the best moment of your trip?
Bicycling with the locals through Angkor Wat / the Trans-Siberian trip.
What was the worst moment?
Getting robbed on a bus ride from Bali to Jogyakarta.
What was your biggest hurdle, obstacle, or difficulty?
Language in China.
What was your biggest surprise?
Cambodia, especially the friendliness of the people.
Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip, and why?
Brian and Melissa from Canada. Met them in Rhodes. Coincidentally ran into them in Selcuk, Turkey at a grocery store and then intentionally met up with them in Istanbul. They were a lot of fun with many experiences.
How much planning and preparing did you do?
Winged it a lot.
What was your favorite piece of gear?
Sleeping bag.
What did you bring that, in hindsight, you could have left at home?
Many, many clothes.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 20,000 would equate to approximately USD 36,700 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 84% inflation over the intervening years.