Barry reprimanding Joanne from halfway across the globe for treating you like an exterminator just cracks me up. Though I’ve been fortunate enough not to have encountered a cockroach yet, I can empathize with Joanne.
Something about this entry Seeing the photos of the hanging gardens among the stilts is rather peaceful for some reason. After the jam-packed temple entry, this one was palpably more leisurely!
Something something repeating itself.. A bit strange, and also tragic in a way, that in what would be Year 45, the horrific genocide in Cambodia doesn’t feel all that removed from reality…
Nemo was found.. many of them Had no idea you enjoy diving!! It’s pretty neat to read these entries 15 years later. When you mentioned you were too seasick for books on the boat- it struck me that we didn’t always have the internet at our fingertips, eh?
Thanks G'day. Thanks for writing your blog. I enjoyed reading it and sharing your journey. I'm a 30yr old Australian who has spent 9 months travelling through Thailand, India and Nepal about 2 years ago and would love to be on the road again one day(soon). Reading these blogs of others is both healthy and not healthy. Hope you're doing well. Jon =)
Reda Reda - Glad you enjoyed the stories. I understand the thoughts about the Full Moon Party...but for that time it was a blast. If you ever read this again, I'm curious why you're surprised with the comments I make about America. Is it that you're surprised there are things I like about America, or do you think it comes across as arrogant to name 3 positive (to me) aspects of my country - those being stable government, freedom of speech/demonstration, and limited suspicion of being spied on.
It has indeed been 2 years and my passport has been gathering a bit of dust - but I've been managing to keep myself rather entertained since coming home. Thanks again for stopping by.
Great Post! Hi Marc! This is a great breakdown! My husband and I just finished a one year trip (I agree the Annapurna Circuit is the most beautiful place!). We set up a website (www.budgetyourtrip.com) to help people plan future trips. It seems like you kept detailed notes on how much you spent. I was wondering if we could put some of you numbers in our website to help others plan? We could enter the data if you don't have time.
Thanks!
Just stumbled upon this Just stumbled upon this entry while searching for something else. Love the stats, love the pie-chart. Makes me want to do the same with the finances from my 2 RTW trips ... but I didn't keep track in such a detailed fashion.
Just though you might like to know Hi Marc, I've just returned today from three months at Osel Ling and wanted to thank you, because it was reading your blog way back when that convinced me to go! (although it very nearly made me go to Fiji instead...) And I loved it so much I'm going back in February for five months. After Janelle said your blog had a similar effect on her I thought you might appreciate knowing what an influence it was for me, too. (Janelle and I both agree that your description of noisy puja is spot on... my life now seems strangely quiet without the daily bwaa bwaa bangbangbang tingting bang bwaaaaa)
Goodness Me That's quite a list of stats there! Interesting. I've always admired people who track their costs on the road. Maybe if I was one of those people, I wouldn't be so broke now!!!
You're welcome...and thanks to you too I'm glad you enjoyed the stories and were inspired. Feel free to send me a PM if you want any further information about traveling or any particular places.
Inspiration Marc, I'm an 18 year old who has just spent the last year as an exchange student in Finland. During my year I read your travelblog often. It was great to read about your adventures and the possibilities that are out there. It's always been my dream to backpack around the world when I'm older. I just wanted to let you know that it's people like you that inspire me and make me believe that someday I can live my dream. So, I guess I just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration.
Is that me on the pic?? Yo Mark,
good to hear that u survived ur amazing trip. I am in Airlie beach (Australia) right now for another 7 weeks holiday trip. Sad thing is , the tour has began and i miss a buddy to watch it with. I had a great time with you in all those dodgy bars (especially the toliet parts in the spicy). Well i write you a longer message next time , because now the beach is calling me.
Greetz
Bram
Thanks for sharing Marc, Thank you for the wonderful journey that you let all of us in on. Since I sit in a cubical all day, i tend to travel vicariously through stories like yours and others on this site and many others like it. I must say, your comments on 1st vs. 3rd world are wonderful and my family back in China still lives life as such with extremely strong family ties and work ethic. We can't fathom these ideals anymore due to the ever changing culture which is dominated by seclusion (texting, e-mail, etc).
But what I was most fascinated with in regards to your story was how you stayed grounded to the idea of "experiencing" something wonderful and new. and that you are grateful for it.
Thanks Marc.
Ryan M. Rodriguez
love it! LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Love the top / most lists. Love the packing list as well as what things didn't make it back. Love the accounting and the pie chart. For anyone who's backpacked on a budget, the memory of the nightly tally must be very familiar... I kept a little tiny lined notebook and wrote down every penny I spent when I backpacked around Europe after college. Thanks for the wrap-up. I'm now re-reading those entries of the best/most and enjoying them again...
I left Chicago heading west in the beginning of April '07 and continued going west until March 1st, 2008 when I returned to Chicago having confirmed that the world is indeed round.
The stops along the way - Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, India, and Tanzania.
As of March, 2008, I retired my backpack and posted my final entry about this journey. All the entries are still there for your reading enjoyment. Remember, the entries are shown newest to oldest.
Cheers!
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Andrea
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Barry reprimanding Joanne from halfway across the globe for treating you like an exterminator just cracks me up. Though I’ve been fortunate enough not to have encountered a cockroach yet, I can empathize with Joanne.