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Decision Made....
London, UK
So this bit might be a bit boring but after deciding I wanted to take on the world on a round the world trip I had no idea where to start. I searched for some travel blogs that might help but they all seem to start from when the first plane has landed in the first country. And thats probably the best idea because all the planning and stuff will probably be a bit boring to read but I thought Id write this anyway. If for no one elses sake for mine because it makes it all feel a bit more real and exciting!
I say I have decided to plan a round the world trip but I cant really say Im definately going because I havent yet booked anything and you never know what can happen in a year - when I intend to go - but in my mind the decision has been made.
A friend of mine went on a one year round the world trip on her own a few years ago and I remember thinking that she was very brave and very crazy. It wasnt something Id ever thought about doing or ever thought I would want to do. She came back full of stories, brimming with confidence and happiness and full of the cliches that it definately changes you etc etc. At the time I remember just thinking, yeah that sounds good, but it was a passing thought and still not something I thought I wanted to do.
It was only a few weeks ago that the thought came to me after meeting up with her in the middle of another of her trips. After the first trip she came back, met a guy, got married and has now gone off with her husband on another round the world trip, visiting all the countries she missed the first time. She came back to England for 4 days in the middle of this trip and it was during this time seeing her and hearing all her stories from South America and also listening to some of her friends stories who had also done the same thing, I started to think that it was something I might want to do. I also started talking to an ex of mine from when I was like 15 who had been travelling and then started researching it and the more I thought about it the more the question went from.. why would you want to do that to why would you NOT want to do that?!
The scariest thing about doing this trip would be giving up everything and having to start all over when I get back. I currently have a decent, secure job which are hard to come by these days, am renting a flat which I love and have a half decent car. To do this trip I will have to give up my flat when the lease is up for renewal at the end of August to be able to save, sell my car to boost funds a bit and give up my job as lets face it, they are not likely to give me a years holiday! But at the end of the day all these things are superficial, things that I can get again and I think its the perfect time in my life to start over for various reasons - which I wont bore you with!
Im 24 years old, by the time I plan to start the trip I will be 25, and if theres ever going to be a time in my life to do this it is now. Im single, dont have any kids, my job is a job, not a career, and the way I see it I have nothing holding me back. Sure I have family and friends who I would miss, but the way I see it its only a year and God willing everyone will still be here when I get back. If I leave it any later than this then I may just miss the opportunity.
Ive decided I want to do this on my own as I dont really know anyone that wants to do it that I would want to do it with and also I think that there is a lot more to gain from going on this journey myself.
So far Ive just been doing heaps and heaps of research, been to STA for an initial chat to see if my ideas are realistic (which they reckon they are!), picked up some of their brochures and decided a rough list of places I want to visit.
I am sure the below itinery will change a bit along the way but here is my rough plan at the moment:
London > India > China > Hong Kong > Thailand > Cambodia > Vietnam > Laos > Malaysia > Singapore > Bali > Australia > New Zealand > Fiji > Peru > Bolivia > Brazil > London
I plan to work for about 3 months in Australia but spend the rest of the time just travelling around and experiencing the things this big wide world has to offer.
So to embark on this amazing journey I plan to move back into my mums at the end of August, spend 6 months saving and then depart the good old UK in March 2013.
I wont update this much because quite frankly I dont think there will be much to say but will post again when the trip is booked and its a dead cert that I will be going! (Which I'm pretty sure it is...!)
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