Leaving Home (The Boring Know It All Intro)

Leaving Home

Hello!!
This will be my virtual home when I'm away from Australia. So feel free to make yourself welcome!
I'll update this page as much as I can, post pictures and let ya know what's going on.
Feel free to add a few comments, I'd appreciate the feedback and it's ALWAYS good to hear from people when you're overseas.
All the important stuff you need is at the bottom of the page - comments, message me, country info etc.. You can also subscribe and when I put a new entry in it'll email a link to click on. I'll be updating this site every few days or when I can - so you won't get an overload of emails!

Before I set off on the trip of lifetime I thought I'd answer a lot of questions to give you some background into the what/why/whens/how etc..

So many questions and so little time.....

First of all.. Why?!?

Here goes:
I guess I've always wanted to travel, ever since I was a kid who discovered maps and Lonely Planet books. I wanted to go where no one else had gone before and discover new places. Why? To me the question is why not?!?
To give me perspective, to learn, to grow and because I can - I'm young, healthy and old enough to not have too many worries heathwise or business wise. It's not a wild trip on a whim, you could say I've been planning for it since I left school many years ago. It's not a "find myself" tour where I'm trying to discover the meaning of life, but instead a "Matt Takes Time Out" RTW trip. So... back to these questions and important info....

Where are you going?

The Itinerary
This is all subject to change and can be re-routed at a moments notice. But this gives you an idea of where I'm headed (a lot of North America is up in the air due to work commitments etc..). Who knows I could get homesick and head home after a week?!?

14th Oct, 06 Adelaide, Australia - Sydney, Australia
15th Oct, 06 Noumea, New Caledonia
20th Oct, 06 Port Vila, Vanuatu
24th Oct, 06 Nadi, Fiji
29th Oct, 06 Apia, Samoa
4th Nov, 06 Nadi, Fiji
10th Nov, 06 Honolulu, Hawaii US (holiday with dad)
19th Nov, 06 US - Dallas, Texas US connect to Denver, Colorado US
20th Nov, 06 rent car and begin roadtrip from Denver

*Canada Work Visa Begins
15th Dec, 06 San Diego, US.. meet Marg on hols
25th Dec, 06 San Francisco, US
31st Dec, 06 Vancouver, Canada

the following depends on work contracts/commitments etc.. and dates will change
23rd April, 07 Miami, US - Saint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles (Carribean)
26th April, 07 San Juan, Puerto Rico
27th April, 07 Pointe A Pitre, Martinque (Carribean)
28th April, 07 via boat Martinque to Grenada stopping at St Vincent & Barbados
15th May, 07 Grenada (Carribean) - San Juan, Puerto Rico
15th May, 07 New York, US
15th May, 07 London Heathrow, UK
30th May, 07 Moscow Russia
1st June, 07 via train to St Petersberg, Russia
9th June, 07 Helsinki, Finland
24th June, 07 Paris, France
open dated Paris, France - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
open dated Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Adelaide, Australia


Why leave a good career and a loving girlfriend?
Bloody good question! I've moved a lot within the past few years and the last thing I personally want to do is leave my girlfriend. I love her more than words can describe and she is more than welcome to come along for the ride (however long it lasts), but it's not part of her plan and travelling is part of mine. I feel I need some time out.. the most unfortunate part is it doesn't involve Marg. But this is time I need away and as much as she hates it Marg will back me to the hills (which is the reason I love her so much). I would never do this without her support and I know I have it all the way. It won't be easy but it will be worth it for both of us. As for the job part, radio is as much about personality as it is about skill or experience. I do have several contacts in Canada to gain employment and I have already started utilising them - being on air in another country will be amazing. Anything which improves my ability to interact & be personable would be an asset to any employer - including Nova. Travel does both and a working holiday is ideal for me (geee that sounds formal!!).


You must have lots of cash??
Not really. In a lump sum it looks like a lot of money but in reality it's enough to keep me alive for 8-10months tops (o/s work adding ontop of that). Big expenses are air fares, insurance, immunisations and visas.. boring really. Some people decide to buy cars.. I didn't. I decided to use my money to travel instead and drive around a cheap car.


How have you prepared for the trip?
I've got a bit of experience travelling which always helps. I've done the cruise ship thing over the South Pacific, rented and apartment in Noumea on my own for a few weeks and most recently travelled over the US & Canada for 3 weeks - which is how I made a few radio contacts.
As for the physical stuff-
* I'm immunised against everything known to man (yeah.. seriously) except yellowfever because I don't intend on traveling to South America. Rabies, typhoid, flu vac etc... I'm also on a course of anti-malaria medication for traveling thru Vanuatu.
* I've got a 75l backpack and I'm technically what you'd call a 'flashpacker' ie- an up-market backpacker.
I'm travelling with a new Dell Laptop, digital camera, international band mobile phone, Ipod plus all your normal clothing stuff etc.. All the tech stuff is fairly light and I believe the hassle is well worth the added benefits of cheap phone calls and free internet with my laptop (well.. almost.. everywhere in the US & Canada has free access).
* I'm travelling on an Aussie passport with a Canadian Work Visa, UK Ancestry Visa & US 6 month tourist visa. Still yet to apply for the annoying Russian Visa and I'm eligable to work in France if I decide that's an option.
* I'm insured to the maximum. I have the best policy I could find - it doesn't come cheap but it covers everything I own (laptops, ipod etc..) along with rental car excess and complete health care. Well worth it I reckon!
* I can speak French and have been doing a few courses to get me up-to-date
* I'm travelling on a Global Explorer Round The World Ticket with 39,000 miles & 20 stops included. It's value for money and includes all the major airlines - Qantas, American, Air Pacific, British Airways etc..
* I've rented a 2000 2.4 litre Toyota car for the US roadtrip


How do I contact you?
Geee.. there's heaps of different ways. I'm very very contactable!
1/ Use the CONTROLS at the bottom of the page
2/ EMAIL me - sutton@post.com
3/ add me to your SKYPE (matt_australia) or MSN (sutton@post.com)
4/ send an SMS to my mobile if it's urgent
5/ call my laptop PHONE (08) 8121 8411 which will contact me anywhere in the world (you can leave a message if I'm not online).
Keep in mind sometimes I'll have limited on the internet (especially in the South Pacific) so I'd prefer the first 2 options if possible!


Can I donate money?
You sure can.. hahahahaha


Are you scared, is it going to be hard?
Yeah of course I am and I'm sure it will be. I'll just face everything as it comes. I've never done this kind of thing before but I'm sure my excitement and great personality (laugh) will get me through.
At the moment I'm a bit apprehensive about the first stop in New Caledonia. It's a difficult country to visit first and will throw me straight in the deep end from the get go. Different language, customs etc.. But it'll be a great challenge to start off with first and I'm sure the added paradise of pristine beaches and great food will be a great positive.


Wanna know anything else?
Msg me!! This it waaaayyy too long already.
Adios till Noumea or should I say.. a bientot messiur-dames!

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