Round The World Trip

[sinned79]

Then this is different from TS experience. There is no way to cover the world unless you do what TS do. You are just selecting a few cities within a country during those 2 weeks a year trips. You don't eat, sleep and live like the locals.

thats why i say its hard to throw everything down and do what TS do :bsmilie:

btw it is also hard to eat+sleep+live like locals over 15 months through out the globe, to really eat+sleep+live like a local, i think you will really need to stay a few months to really be like one (or at least live long enough to fully experienced it). so i guess 15 months is quite impossible to achieve that with so many countries you are going to visit.

for me, i try to learn as much as what the locals are doing during my stay but what interests me more is the sights i dun get to see and experience in Singapore. i guess i am going more of a visual experience for me.

 

[dapier]

if u keep the job, there is no way u can finish touring the world. I was almost full time doing it for 3 years n I feel the more time u spend, u have more the feeling that u cant finish. I spent 1 month away, back for a week or 2 and then another month away, that for 3 years. And I realised that I only went to a small part of each country. For example, I went to more than 50 cities in Germany and yet I cover less than half the country. And u have to take note that Germany is quite small. The world is really big.

It took a big hit on my career

 

[ManWearPants]

if u keep the job, there is no way u can finish touring the world. I was almost full time doing it for 3 years n I feel the more time u spend, u have more the feeling that u cant finish. I spent 1 month away, back for a week or 2 and then another month away, that for 3 years. And I realised that I only went to a small part of each country. For example, I went to more than 50 cities in Germany and yet I cover less than half the country. And u have to take note that Germany is quite small. The world is really big.

It took a big hit on my career

wow..3 years. I am no longer that young. I would have done that in my early 20s if I get to relive my life all over again. But then in my early 20s, I probably will not appreciate getting away for so long.

 

[dapier]

And I must share with all of u. I walked so much each day that the soles of my feet were always hurt n swollen. I changed so many pairs of shoes along the way, due to the weight of my camera equipment. And sometimes, u have to drag your luggage up the hill just to have a good picture (if u r not intending to check into a hotel in that city). most of the streets r laid with cobberstones, damn hard to drag your luggage

 

[dapier]

i m not young either. But before I die or get cancer, I wanna see the world even I spend all my $$.

 

[ManWearPants]

The more I talk, the more I feel like walking the talk. Now if there is someone, maybe 1, 2 or 3 who might want to quit by next year and walk half the world on budget for 2-3 months. Maybe we should get something started.

 

[dapier]

2 or 3 months n u cant even cover 1 country like UK or France. No way to see the world unless u just cover the main capital cities...

Well, I have decided to quit my job to travel

 

[sinned79]

haha once i am done with my financial commitments, i may saved up for a few years (so i can pay for the trips...) and maybe leave everything behind and get started to traveling. but now quite impossible for me. i still hope i can do this before i turn 40! I am 31 this year.

 

[ManWearPants]

yea...cannot do like what TS did. If I go away too long, my parents, relatives will think I am good for nothing, squander away my $. Anyway, let's not hijack this thread for our own discussion.

 

[ahbian]

I hope that this thread will inspire and encourage more people to take that step and chase that dream. I know it is a difficult choice as we were brought up believing that financial security is of utmost importance. While toying with the idea, almost everyone around me thinks and told me without micing their words thaat its a crazy idea. But once I set my mind to it, I sold off everything I have inlcuding my apartment, car, settle my work, pack my life into the 30 boxes and left Singapore in 4 months. I think the haste is due to the fact I was afraid I'd change my mind.

It is very hard for me to find anyone to share this joy and satisfaction after completing the trip becasue I have yet to find someone who has done it.
On top of that, I hope to find someone who truly understands why I decided to travel the hard way - I use mode of transportations like the locals, slept the same way as them if I have the opportunity and eat the same as they did.
I believe from the bottom of my heart - " it is not just the destination but the journey that is to be savoured"

I would be glad to offer any advice or presentation to anyone who is keen to trade stories... I love talking travel.. hahah

Cheers

Would be great to hear your stories.

To a large extent, I can understand how you feel.

For myself, before I started working five years ago, I set myself a target of five years of working really hard, and then take a year off to rest and also to do some traveling.

That year of rest is actually this year, and so I left my job on New Year's Eve to fulfill the promise I made to myself. Of course, there were so many questions from friends and relatives who wondered why I left a good job especially since I was doing well.

In Singapore, it is quite difficult to achieve a state of financial freedom, so I realised that its up to me to decide when enough is enough. Besides, I think I would enjoy it more when young ( fitter but poorer) , compared to when I get old (weaker but richer).

But still, my approach is still much more conservative then yours as I didn't sell of apartment or anything... :sweat:

And my trips are more of a few weeks in one country, return to Singapore for a stretch, then a few weeks in another country/region....Furthermore, only limited to the cheaper regional countries..

You can consider creating a blog, would be a wonderful keepsake to look back on years from now, and also allow close friends to share your adventures..

You might like this poem by James Richmond, Called Food for Thought, I can't find the link that posted the original poem, this one was posted in a forum.

 

[pupuce]

Hi, I would like to hear how you travel around the world in 15 months. This is amazing! BTW, how old are you? It might explain why you can drop everything and go for a "I don't give a hoot" kind of tour. I am planning to cover central Asia and Europe in 3-4 months next year but there are so many considerations such as quitting from job, handling with jobless when back and of course, having spent those money you have saved so hard for over the years. Furthermore, you got to sell house, sell car and whatever else before you make this trip. This is really something not many will do.

I think it is best to upload your photos to flickr. As a free user, there are some limitations.
http://www.flickr.com

Then just start a thread in Landscape/Travel sub forum
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17

You can link to your photos one by one by grabbing the url off each flickr photos, for example
img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5107610899_54537aae4b_z.jpg[/img

I have left the parenthesis out so that you know the url have to be encapsulated by the syntax.

Hope it helps.[/quote]

Hello there manwearspants,

Thanks for the advice on the uploading of pics, i will give it a shot later and hopefully will share the photos soon.

Back to my RTW trip, it is an amazing journey which I discover much about the world but also myself. I have only backpack once in my life prior to this trip and have never travelled alone before except a few days separation from friends during a 2 weeks holiday. I would never have believe that i can complete a trip like this and even more so starting my trip in a difficult continent - Africa. I guess ignorance is bliss because I am sure i would have major concerns if i had knew how difficult it is to travel there, especially West Africa.
I learnt my threshold for pain and discomfort and discover how adaptable I am as the days go by...:)

"i dont give a hoot"....:) Not nice to ask a lady their age..hahah but for this I will answer your question because I think it can further motivate others who have too many questions with no answers when they consider about pursuing their dreams.
I was 38 years old when i left, with a great job making a regular 5 figure income, owns a apartment in town, drives a cabriolet and enjoy small luxuries to make the rat race more bearable..so not the gap year travel for young adults as you presume I am

I just came back from Myanmar and oh man.. how i miss travelling! I am also planning a Central Asia trip next year if i can.. let's compare notes then

Cheers,

[SIZE=1][COLOR=red]Travel is in my blood[/COLOR][/SIZE]

 

[pupuce]

I will be going to antarctica soon, via argentina. Can I check with you? Do we need to use lens of more than 200mm? I am using FX. Do we need 200-400mm lens? I only have time to go there once and I want to be sure I bring along the rite lens. thanks!

Congratulations Dapier.. you are going to be knocked off your feet @ antarctica.
Due to my travel itineary of 15 months and with wieght consideration, I had with me my D80 and 18-200mm VR lens. If given a choice, i would definitely go with a better zoom lens. We had leopard seal going after a penguin, humpback whales blowing water in the air just 100 meters away from the zodiac boats.. and while i managed to capture the scenes from our vessel, It is small (although you can still see the spray of water near to the tiny zodiac)

This is a one in a lifetime trip.. bring your best lens
I will try to link my photos here and you'll see whaat I mean..

Oh... I am getting excited for you!
Cheers, A

 

[pupuce]

u dun have to do it at one go... my present job gives me 22 days of leave... so i can only visit 2-3 places per year. so maybe it will take me 10-15 years to cover round the world trip? :bsmilie: and i still get to keep my job haha.

anyway i am still trying to visit as much Asia as possible before I venture further out... next year i am going Bali and Taiwan (2 weeks) and this year i have covered Mt Kinabalu, Hong Kong and Melbourne (still many parts of Melbourne not covered! will revisit again).

Hello Sinned 79,

Like you, I used to have about 18days of annual leave and i have never hesitate to used them well. Once, I flew 30hours (including transit) to Brazil just for the carnival and to see another 2 cities before flying another 32hours back to Singapore.. I arrive back at home and work with major post travel depression.

I also realised - there is holiday and there is travel. Holiday you can go to a country or a city, see the sights, take some fantastic shots, enjoy the food and weather and head home with memories.
With travel, i had the time and flexiblity like never before to experience some other people's lives.
I had a chance to live with an african family in Maritania, bathing, wash hair and clothes with one pail of water, had flies sticking to me every minute of the day before they disappear and the mozzies attack. I travelled by the local boat transportation to Timbuktu instead of flying there in 45 mins, went for african weddings in a remote village where the children are gawking at me instead as I am the odd one out, i take the buses in the city and travel out to surburbs to meet locales I met on the trip and so many other opportunities to peek into their real lives.. a side that we will hardly get to see if we are tourists and seeing the beautiful sights only. (and seriously when you spend time in a country/city, you will eventually get the chance to see the ugly side too which is reality)
I think I have spent about 3 months worth of hours travelling on buses during this 15 months and the amount of coversations with the local people gives so much information than we will ever read on guidebooks.

My holidays always left me depressed and that is why I left for this trip

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking holidays which we all need but travelling will give you an insight to many things beyond the surface.

you are still young and I am sure you will be able to do this if you set your heart to it.
Everyone can do it.. you just need to want it bad enough

 

[ManWearPants]

.....even more so starting my trip in a difficult continent - Africa. I guess ignorance is bliss because I am sure i would have major concerns if i had knew how difficult it is to travel there, especially West Africa.
I learnt my threshold for pain and discomfort and discover how adaptable I am as the days go by...

"i dont give a hoot".... Not nice to ask a lady their age....

I just came back from Myanmar and oh man.. how i miss travelling! I am also planning a Central Asia trip next year if i can.. let's compare notes then

Cheers,

Travel is in my blood

What you did is amazing. I cannot imagine travelling alone in Africa. I guess you must have been very determined to make this travel. I am in my mid 30s and pretty much reached the same point in life. Quit working and do something I enjoy. But it does look quite irresponsible for me to just give it all up and start from scratch after. So 3-4 months is the most I can allow myself to do this without guilt.

For someone whom has seen the world, I don't think you will mind sharing your age. In fact I guess your age just as much. I can understand why you have to sell your car. But why do you have to sell your apartment to make this trip. Another direct question. Any clue on how much you spent during this 15 months. Surely it is not a house + a car . I met a 30 yr old Taiwanese earlier this year when I am in Egypt crossing into Jordan. He is halfway round the world with a budget of US$15k. Of course he did not go to Antarctica. Last I checked, he is in Peru.

Another question...you have to cross the desert heat to the chilly antarctica. How much luggage did you bring?

The rest I'll wait for your thread to start.

 

[Will03]

Hello Sinned 79,

Like you, I used to have about 18days of annual leave and i have never hesitate to used them well. Once, I flew 30hours (including transit) to Brazil just for the carnival and to see another 2 cities before flying another 32hours back to Singapore.. I arrive back at home and work with major post travel depression.

I also realised - there is holiday and there is travel. Holiday you can go to a country or a city, see the sights, take some fantastic shots, enjoy the food and weather and head home with memories.
With travel, i had the time and flexiblity like never before to experience some other people's lives.
I had a chance to live with an african family in Maritania, bathing, wash hair and clothes with one pail of water, had flies sticking to me every minute of the day before they disappear and the mozzies attack. I travelled by the local boat transportation to Timbuktu instead of flying there in 45 mins, went for african weddings in a remote village where the children are gawking at me instead as I am the odd one out, i take the buses in the city and travel out to surburbs to meet locales I met on the trip and so many other opportunities to peek into their real lives.. a side that we will hardly get to see if we are tourists and seeing the beautiful sights only. (and seriously when you spend time in a country/city, you will eventually get the chance to see the ugly side too which is reality)
I think I have spent about 3 months worth of hours travelling on buses during this 15 months and the amount of coversations with the local people gives so much information than we will ever read on guidebooks.

My holidays always left me depressed and that is why I left for this trip

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking holidays which we all need but travelling will give you an insight to many things beyond the surface.

you are still young and I am sure you will be able to do this if you set your heart to it.
Everyone can do it.. you just need to want it bad enough

amazing...........mayb u shoudl start a blog to document yur travels etc.. looking fwd to yur images n stories..

 

[nuts]

Hi pupuce,
There is definitely quite a good number out there.
Check out SGTravelCafe http://www.sgtravelcafe.com/
They have monthly gatherings where people share their travel experiences, and thats where you realise there are so many intrepid travellers; some go around South America for 15months, some been to year-long RTW trips more than once etc etc
And dapier who've travelled for 3 years! Join in!

I've recently left my job to travel as well (my 2nd time!), and for those who know me, I've a website and a blog (in my sig) but for this new trip, I've started another blog : http://rrr.roving-light.com/
Check out the Landscape and Travel section which I've just posted some pics

The world is definitely big out there, and you're not alone

Once you figured out the image linking, share!
Thanks!

.....
It is very hard for me to find anyone to share this joy and satisfaction after completing the trip becasue I have yet to find someone who has done it.
On top of that, I hope to find someone who truly understands why I decided to travel the hard way - I use mode of transportations like the locals, slept the same way as them if I have the opportunity and eat the same as they did.
I believe from the bottom of my heart - " it is not just the destination but the journey that is to be savoured"

I would be glad to offer any advice or presentation to anyone who is keen to trade stories... I love talking travel.. hahah

Cheers

 

[asterixsg]

First of all, hope that a hearty congrats is in order

Well done !!!

I admire anyone who has the guts to drop a well paying job, and the material comforts to embark on a journey to discover this world. Like many have said "you can't see the world, its too big", but who cares ? Its not about the number of places you put a flag or snap a photo and say "I've been there...", its the experience that matters. And you sure must have experienced, everything that this world has to offer.

Its time to pen those memories, write a book, start a blog, share those photos here and I am sure many a clubsnapper would stay glued to your thread.

I, for one, am not gonna be left behind...

 

[ManWearPants]

Still not linking?

 

[dapier]

200-400mm lens is very big and heavy. The alternative is to buy a 2nd 70-200 lens to fit it with a TC 20 to the 2nd body. that is heavy too. And I have to carry all that winter clothes, laptop, 2 hard disks, other lens etc for the antarctica trip. And the flight to argentina is so long

 

[dapier]

Hi i am