Gayle Owens is a 51-year-old music therapist from Ferndale, Michigan, USA, who took a round-the-world trip with her two daughters in the summer of 2003.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2003
- Age at departure: 51
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Ferndale, MI, USA
- Duration: About 3 months (June-August 2003)
- Occupation: Music therapist
- Original budget: USD 7,000 (approximately USD 12,500 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Southeast Asia, Africa, South America
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Gayle Owens shared about their RTW journey:
How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
My boss was very angry with me because I took some extra time off from work but she got over it.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I wanted to do something with my girls (ages 11 and 13) that would give them a broad scope of the world. Something to focus on outside of themselves and our own little lives.
What was the best moment of your trip?
Staying with the Karen people in Thailand.
What was the worst moment?
My daughter coughing around the world.
What was your biggest hurdle, obstacle, or difficulty?
My other daughter being bit by a dog.
What was your biggest surprise?
Getting home relatively safe and sound.
Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip, and why?
A nice young man at the corner grocery store who arranged for a cake for my 11 year old who was turning 12. He was so sweet and thoughtful and expected nothing in return.
How much planning and preparing did you do?
Planning is for tourists.
What was your favorite piece of gear?
Our backpacks on wheels, or maybe my vest I made with zippered pockets that I wore under my clothes.
What did you bring that, in hindsight, you could have left at home?
We should have taken smaller sleeping bags.
How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
We gained a lot of respect in our little community. At first people thought we were crazy, but when we returned safely they were…
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 7,000 would equate to approximately USD 12,500 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 79% inflation over the intervening years.