Hi Melia,

I am 31 and headed off to London(from NZ)in my mid 20’s for a working holiday, and just did contracting work, taking off every 4-6 months for a spot of backpacking. In the past 7 years I have not had a full time job, in respects to being tied definately to a role. The longest was a year’s contract, and after that I had 7 months travelling on the way back to New Zealand for a holiday. Returned to europe and took up where I had left off, looking for another contract role. I work in Invst Banking, so have sacrificed alot career wise, I do not own anything other than fantastic photos and life experience and feel completely happy about it all and my life to date, (except not having a lager lash with Jboy of course).

I am now in Sydney, having decided the road I have travelled is pretty much what I wanted to do, and I am now starting to get my foot back into the corporate ladder. In saying that I will never stop exploring new places, and already have leave in for Thailand next year!!! You will never take the backpack off the gal!!!!

Kiwi,

Wow, I’m jealous now, you take off that much time to travel. Unfortunatly, mine are mostly 2-3 week trips at most. It’s cool though…definitly not complaining.

I’m always amazed by those who don’t travel because of the high cost, or because they feel they are jeopordizing their careers. I totally understand your perspective, I’d much rather have the memories, stories, experience, & photos than the career if I have to choose. I’d never be able to give up my travelling that’s for sure.

So what are the trips you guys are working on planning now….anything big and exciting?

Alex

quote:
just curious, how old are you all, what do you do and how are you able to find so much time for traveling? (i’m envious

Well it isn’t easy. Either there’s no time, or no money, or not enough of either. Back when I was a student, I had lots of time but no money, and I regret not travelling more, but I had to work summers to pay my tuition. Now, my budget is limited but some travel is do-able… but I only get 2 weeks of vacation time a year. That’s not enough to do much, but I try to go somewhere every chance I get.

There’s plenty of ways to travel on the cheap if you’re really creative. Fly on points, or scour the budget airfares to get great deals. Cultivate friends in many countries so you’ll always have a place to stay when you go there to visit (and host them when they come to you). Turn a business trip into a long weekend. Share the costs with a group of friends. Go in the off-season whenever possible to get better deals. Participate in a work abroad or teach English abroad program. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun.

As for the time issue, that one’s trickier. I like to make the most of the time I have. For example, this year I tacked on my 2 weeks of vacation time to a weekend on each end, plus the Canada Day long weekend, which gave me a full 17 days to go to Israel. My big issue now is that I want to go to Australia and New Zealand and I have no idea how I’m going to have enough travel time… but if it comes to that, I suppose I can work something out.

good god, riverscuomo and kiwi.girl!!! I bow to you both.
riverscuomo, you said "current trip". Are you on a RTW right now?

Canada
U.S.A
Mexico
England
Scotland
France
Belgium
Netherlands
Germany
Austria
Slovakia
Hungary
Italy
Vatican
Spain

in January
Guatamala
Honduras
Nicaragua
costa rica
panama
maybe el salvador and belize

then I graduate in the summer and the real shit begins.

quote:26)Turkey
27)Bahrain
28)Syria
29)Jordan
30)Egypt
31)Iran

Why in that order if I may ask? Looking at a map that seems kinda strange

From what I see I believe I’m the first going to Greenland…

You could go to Greece instead… or Liechtenstein

Yea, I am on a trip right now. Been on the road now about 6 months, coming home just before Christmas. I am 20 and a university student, taking this fall off, I over loaded my classes for my first 2 years and took summer classes also, so I am not going to be behind.Fly on airmiles and travel on my savings from working and stuff, I also travel super cheap, it can get rough and dirty sometimes, but I like it.

As far as my trip, this part is kinda strange I agree
Turkey-Bahrain-Syria-Jordan-Egypt-Iran

I wanted to go Turkey straight to Iran, but I then realized Syria, Joran and Egypt would be fun, so I planned for that and got a ticket from Cairo to Tehran. So that part of the plan is pretty logical I think. Then when I was in Turkey one of my friends got return tickets to Bahrain from Istanbul, so we went there for 5 days.

So I went to Turkey, flew return to Bahrain, then trained/bus from Turkey to Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, then flew one way to Iran and kept going. I also flew China to South Korea, and then South Korea to Vietnam. Then flying from Indonesia to Australia, and flying Australia to NZ, then home. The rest was/is overland travel.

1)USA
2)Mexico
3)Canada
4)Bahamas
5)Costa Rica-i’m going next month

my list is quite small to the rest of you, but so is my age. My goal (which I will accomplish) is to go to every state in the US, every continent, and every country.

Here´s mine

USA-22 years
Mexico-6 weeks
Spain-So far 2 months, but Ill be here until at least july 2005
England-7 days
France-7 days
Belgium-3 days
Italy-3 days

I will be traveling more though, as soon as I save some money.

Let’s see. More or less in order of first visit:

1. Belgium (or should I split that up too? I’ve been to all regions)
2. the Netherlands
3. France
4. Germany
5. Luxemburg *
6. Austria
7. Italy *
8. Slovenia *
9. Czech Republic
10. Hungary
11. England *
12. Wales *
13. Ireland
14. Poland
15. Slovakia
16. Serbia
17. Tunisia
18. Greece
19. Finland *
20. Russian Federation (Russia, Buryatya)
21. Mongolia

In 2000, I vowed to add at least one country each year, so this list may not be too impressive right now, but I’m working on it.

I’ve added an * to the countries where I spent less than a week, because I don’t really think they count.

I make it 29. Here they are, roughly in order of length:

England (many, many years….)
USA (4+ years)
Germany (3+ years)
Australia (1+ years)
Saudi Arabia (3 months)
Scotland (many visits of 3 days to 3 weeks)
Wales (many visits of 0.1 to 7 days)
Norway (10 weeks)
Ireland (6 weeks)
Netherlands (6 weeks)

A week to a month for the following:
Canada
Iceland
Faroes
Denmark
Sweden
Belgium
France
Austria
Switzerland
Croatia
Thailand
New Zealand
India
Isle of Man

1 day to 1 week:
Luxembourg
Italy
Ceylon (as was)
Singapore

Mexico (2 hours)

I don’t count the following:
Pakistan (airport only)
Liechtenstein (I think I passed through by train)
Slovenia (passed through by bus)
Many countries seen from the air