In the beginning were the plans...

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This is the start of a Blog that originally wasn't going to happen. We were just going to do a few updates on Facebook, send a few emails and leave it like that. But now, after 1 month of our 8 month follow the sun round the world trip, I've decided to share our fun and observations with others for posterity...if not forever.

However, for those that don't know, I thought I'd start with a little background about what this trip is all about and the plans that led to its creation.

My lovely Australian wife (Felicity) is a chronic travel-for-pleasure traveller - at least 8 years of her life have been “on the road“ to date - and there's no end in sight. Think of a “...stan“ country and she's almost certainly been there, together with North Korea, Libya, Iran and plenty of other unusual places.

I, on the otherhand, and the name's Martin if you haven't already guessed, traveled more for business and to less exotic places such as Hong Kong, Johannesburg, New York and Tokyo.

However, after meeting Felicity in 2002, my travel-for-pleasure versus travel-for-business quota increased dramatically. In September 2003 we found ourselves both unemployed. I had been put on "gardening leave" (ask if you don't know what that is!) by UBS a Swiss Bank and great employer. Felicity, was looking for a job in a new career area. It was the perfect time to do a trip and so we did a 3 months Round the World - covering South-East Asia, Australia, Easter Island, Chile, Equador and the Galapagos. That gave me the travel-for-pleasure bug.

Almost 7 years later we are both in similar situations, except that this time we have both given up our jobs and are traveling for (at least) 8 months. I say at least since Felicity will probably end up using the full 12 months validity of our Star Alliance Round the World ticket. Whilst, I'm going to be brave and head back to work after about 8 months....whatever work turns out to be by then !

Before I go much further, I have a confession to make. We are travelling with backpacks and going to some off beat places - but we bought Business Class Round-the-World tickets. Now before those traveller anoraks amongst you start switching off because "real travellers only do cattle class", let me just point out that a business class round the world is perhaps the best bargain in the air - especially when you consider the free tickets you earn from the ca 80,000 air miles you clockup as you travel in comfort & style....on most airlines anyway. It also helps when you have a great person to help you with your booking and Debora at the Zurich City office of Swiss International Airlines has been great - so a special thanks to her.

As I say though, we are backpackers and whilst we are past the age that we can credibly stay in a "Youth" hostel and we are not carrying either a sleeping bag or a tent with us, as you will see we are staying at the cheaper end places that Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet and you other fellow travellers recommend and we'll be doing our own recommendations as we go along. So we are on a budget and whilst it's a little more than 12 shillings and sixpence (whoops I've given away my English heritage) it is a relatively small amount per day.

Anyway, now you know.

The plans for all this started mid to late 2009, when we were planning our fourth trip to Burma (or Myanmar if you prefer). We are both loyal employees and our CVs both reflect the number of years we stay in a job. But there comes a time when a change is as good as a rest...and the best option is a change and a rest. So we decided that in Mid 2010 we would both give up our jobs and travel for a while before seeking new challenges.

We are based in a beautiful small town in Switzerland called Waedenswil which sits on the shores of Lake Zurich and is about 20 minutes from Zurich City. This is where all the plans were hatched for this trip. The trip will basically 'follow the sun' heading West and amongst lots of other places, take us to:
New York & New England, USA
Toronto, Canada
Florida, USA
Mexico
Colombia
New Zealand
Australia
Thailand
Burma
Laos
Vietnam
Philippines
South Africa

The plans and exact destinations will evolve as we travel...but this is how it was in the beginning...

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Comments

[Dave Beswick]

Sounds like fun
Seems like you are having a fantastic time. Great idea this blog its nice to follow you both round the world. Have a great time guys, no doubt we will catch up soon. TTFN

[travelwithmartin]

It is fun :-)
Thanks Dave...we are hsving a great time. We are now in a lovely Colombian town called Villa de Leyva. Next installment, on Bogota, will be published soon.