Post Fifteen - Reflections

In addition to where I travel, I always like to show people how I travel. This picture shows what I was carrying around the world. I had my backpack and my butt pack (not a fanny pack, and not a purse). Everything I had fit on my body or in one of these packs.

Here is everything I had with me displayed on my cabin bunk for posterity (I might have even taken this shot naked so I could accurately show all my belongings). From left to right we have: clothing packed in compressible zip-lock bags, my shoes, the laptop and assorted electronic gear (I did not have the laptop from Spain to Bangkok - Karen had it with her), passports and travel documents, toiletries, and finally, my collection of books. If I had to guess the weight I would say 35 pounds.

In the end I was gone for 21 months, visited 33 countries, covered approximately 50,000 miles, took 12,000 photos, spent 28 nights aboard trains and 44 nights at sea.

What more can I say that hasn't already been mentioned in this site? The experience was life changing. I'm glad I did it despite the costs (of all kinds) involved. Although this journey is over, in my head I'm already planning the next one. Life really is one big journey - parts of it are done in foreign lands but everyday you have the opportunity to gain insight from the world as long as you are open to it. Travel simply helps the process. If in reading this site I've inspired anyone to take a journey of their own then my work was more than worth it. The world is a big place. We are here for a short time. Go out and explore.

Given the world loves statistics and lists here are a few choice numbers from my trip:
Total Time: 21 months
Total Number of Countries: 33
Weirdest Foods Eaten: Horse, pig trotters, pig’s ear, camel’s milk (2-hump kind)
Favorite Country (this is hard so I sectioned it up)
- To Visit: China
- To Live: France
- Best Food: Italy
- Friendliest People: Mexico

Country I Missed and most wanted to visit: Iran

Furthest Point North
Jotunheimen National Park, Norway (61 deg, 34 min N)

Furthest Point South
Paptowai, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand (46 deg, 34 min S)

Number of Photos Taken: ~12,000

Where we were at 10 am on Sept. 11th:
Walking back to our hotel after hiking near Bolzano, Italy

Nights spent:
On Buses: 6 (thankfully few)
On Trains: 28 (mostly comfortably)
At Sea: 44

Miles Traveled (crude approximation)
By Van: 3,000
By Car: 4,500
By Bus: 4,000
By Train: 20,000
By Ship: 18,500
By Plane: 0
Total: 50,000

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain