Stu Thompson was 35 years old when planning their round-the-world journey in 2005. Based in Zürich, Switzerland, Stu was working as before your trip: unemployed it manager now: programmer before embarking on their adventure.
The Snapshot
Age: 35
Nationality: USA
Budget: USD 8,000 (approximately 13500 USD in 2026)
Departure: 2005
The Route
Regions: Southeast Asia
I flew into HK and spent a few days there. Next I flew to Bangkok for a few days then took a train up to Chiang Mai. After a few weeks of volunteering with a Children’s charity I went down to Koh Payam (near Ranong) by bus for two weeks of relaxation and working with an animal charity. Then it was back up to CM for a week or so for more work and then back down to Bangkok by train where I caught a flight to HK. After a few more days there I left for China by train, flew domestically from Guangzhou to Nanning. After a few days in Nanning (and waiting for a visa for Vietnam) I took a return bus trip to Yang Shou for a few days. Then it was off to Hanoi by bus via the ‘Friendship Pass’. During my two weeks in Hanoi I (along with a fellow children’s charity volunteer and a travel buddy) went up via a chauffeured SUV to Xin Man just a few kilometers from the Chinese boarder which required special travel permission. Next my new travel buddy and I headed for the northern most Laos boarder crossing (Na Meo) via two busses, a 120km motor scooter ride and the final hour in a minibus taxi. Next it was onto Sam Neua via a communal taxi truck. After a few days there we left for Muang Ngoi Neua via two busses, an hour long boat ride, and a nights stay each in Muang Vieng Thong and Nong Khiaw. After a several days there we headed south to Luang Prabang via boat. Five days later I flew back to Chiang Mai to do some more volunteer work. I used CM as a base so I could make some lightly packed trips to the eastern part of the Shan State in Burma, Cambodia and Mae Sot (Burmese boarder in middle of Thailand.) To get to Burma I hitched a ride with an employee of the children’s charity. That got me to Mae Sai where I spent the night. Christmas day I headed into Burma and took a communal taxi station wagon to Kengtung where I spent two days. Then, with a new travel buddy, we headed to Mong La in a taxi pickup truck where we spent one night. The next day the same driver took us back (with a dozen people sitting on 2-3m of cargo) for one more night in Kengtung. Then it was another communal taxi to the boarder and two busses back to CM all in one day. A week later I went return via bus to Mae Sot for a few days. I crossed over into Burma for the day by foot. Also from CM I flew return into Phnom Penh. After two days there I took a bus to Sihanoukville for five days of relaxation. After my return to CM I headed to Krabi via two busses and a nights stay in Bangkok. Five days of diving and meeting up with friend I headed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I spent two days before flying onto Macau. Two days in Macau was enough and I then fly via helicopter to Hong Kong. And after a few more days I then flew back home to Zürich. Whew. It all sticks in my mind so freshly.
Spanning multiple continents, Stu's itinerary covered southeast asia, offering exposure to diverse cultures, landscapes, and travel experiences.
Note: This interview was conducted in 2005. The travel landscape, accommodation costs, transportation infrastructure, visa requirements, and accessibility have evolved significantly by 2026.
In Their Words
Q: Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
There were a couple of factors that led to my decision to make the trip. I’ve been traveling on shorter term trips for years and living abroad for eight years. For the previous year I had been considering going back to university and maybe slipping an Asia trip into it. Five months before leaving I was laid off from my job as an IT manager and was strongly considering a career change of some sort. (I was definitely not happy with how things were going.) While searching for a job last summer I came across a charity in Thailand that needed the help of a programmer. So last summer I just said ‘fuck it’ and bought tickets with the intention of working for the charity, contemplating my career in IT, considering going back to Uni for a master’s degree, and other career options like travel journalism. (I put a lot of effort into a blog during my trip.)
Q: Best Moment
The 120km motor scooter journey
Q: Worst Moment
Making ‘what if’ plans when my travel buddy was nearly arrested in Wa clan-controlled Shan State for not having the correct travel documents
Q: What was your favorite piece of gear?
My laptop (.)
Q: How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
The trip opened up the possibility of working and living in a non-Western country. It has also made me a much calmer person…something many people have remarked on since I’ve been back.
Q: If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
A well timed sabbatical.
2026 Context
- This profile reflects round-the-world travel perspectives from the mid-2000s. The original budget of USD 8,000 would require approximately 13500 USD in 2026 when accounting for inflation and increased travel costs.
- The destinations and routes mentioned have experienced significant changes in accommodation costs, transportation infrastructure, visa policies, and overall accessibility to travelers.
- The RTW travel community, available travel tools, digital connectivity, and shared travel resources have evolved considerably over the past two decades, creating both new opportunities and challenges for contemporary travelers.