Some of us travel in short burst because we don't get enough time away from our jobs. Some of us travel around the world time after time. What is your dream? What would you really like to do?
I have a good friend who does a lot of traveling. He has seen many countries around the world. He prefers to pick a couple of his favorite places, Bali, Paris, London, and Seattle and stay in each of them for one to three months at a time. He is currently building a place in Bali and hopes to spend a year in Paris soon.
What kind of traveler are you or what kind of traveler to you dream of being?
We are still working and in the US vacation time is limited. We usually take a ten day trip each year to a beach or dive spot and relax in the warm climate. We then take a two or three week trip to explore new lands. We hope to work or volunteer in foreign lands in a few years. We took ten months off in 2007 and traveled SE Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Dubai and a bit of Europe on our way back around the world. There are many places we hope to travel and dream of another sabbatical where we can visit many countries.
We dream of visiting at least 100 countries. Not for the sake of joining the Century Club but for the pleasure of being exposed to that many different cultures!
I understand the romance of staying in one place for a few months as our friend does to integrate into the culture and make new friends. He likes nesting. He does not want to be on the road all of the time.
I'm interested in hearing how you would do it if you had the time and money to design the travel life of your dreams?
Reply to this Unfortunately we have jobs and a finite supply of money from said jobs, so our trips of choice are generally between one and three weeks long. Ideally we choose a country and try and spend our whole holiday time in that one country. This is mainly to try and experience a few different towns in the hope of really exploring and experiencing the country as a whole instead of one small local culture.
However if our funds were infinite and we had no jobs to worry about things would be a lot different. We would love to lesiurely tour the world, staying in towns that we loved for extended periods of time but always moving on eventually to try and experience something else new down the road.
Reply to this Paul and Emma,
We are like you in that we generally pick one country or one location and experience as much of it as we can.
I like your plan for infinite time and money.
Happy travels.
Reply to this With kids still at school, job commitments, mortgage and financial constraints, we are pretty much limited to 'weekend getaways', 'day trips' and '2-4 weeks holidays' during school breaks. It works really well for us this way, taking short breaks throughout the year.
Longer trips around the world just gonna have to wait 'til retirement or at least when the kids are all grown up.
Reply to this I am addicted to travel. I have been to 76 countries and hope to get to 100 in the next few years. I have never learned how to "relax" so my travel involves alot of movement. In May 2008 I left on a journey around the world. I travelled to 50 countries in 50 weeks and interviewed women in their 50s. You guessed it, I had just turned 50. My mother was diagnosed with cancer on my 50th birthday and when she passed away I departed on the trip of a lifetime.
Having been in 43 countries before I left on this journey I knew I wanted to do more than just see museums and scenery. I wanted to meet the locals, learn about the cultures and interact with women in my age bracket.
I had an amazing year, making it to the 50 countries I had hoped to. What an amazing experience I had, just looking at a map and picking any country I wanted to go. I am one lucky women.
I met women who had never left their village, still cooked on open fires and had to get water from a stream to a Doctor and a Lawyer. The women were all ambitious, multi-tasking, determined women. No one had slowed down and most seemed to have found inner wisdom to enjoy and appreciate life as it is. They realized at fifty that they are who they are, they don't have to prove themselves or worry what others may think.
At the end of the journey I wrote a book "50ish" . My website is <snip>.
Donna
[Edited: 2011 May 17 09:02 - Jabe:6222 - Please - no advertising on forums.]
Reply to this Donna,
I love the concept for your book and your traveling attitude.
Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Reply to this I inherited my passion for travel from my parents who spent their entire careers in Asia. I deliberately chose a college education and employer which would increase my odds of being able to live and work overseas. Consequently, I lived on three continents and was able to visit nearby countries on vacations, and travel between continents on home leave.
My three children, all born in Belgium, also inherited the passion for travel. Like me, they have chosen careers that will also increase their odds of being able to live overseas. My two girls graduated with education degrees so that they can either travel during the summer or teach in international schools. My son is going into international law.
Of course, not everyone can plan their lives around travel, and even if they did, those plans may not work out. Each of us must decide for ourselves how much of our time and resources can be committed to travel as compared to other family and career priorities. For myself, in retirement, I can only dedicate one 2-3 week trip per year to a region or coutry. Once I pay for my daughter's wedding in 2112, my dream is to take a leisurely trip around the world, with no goal in mind.
Reply to this I had quite a long period of poor health and this included mobility problems and wheelchair use. My dream was to go for a walk again -When I was asleep I used to dream could walk - and even dream I could fly! In my dreams I would just rise up into the air and zoom across the fields like Superman! In one dream I even started a flying school and we all took off! I was very lucky and got better - and just an ordinary walk is still fantastic. Robert and I do have a travel plan, but for me if it doesn't happen - well - it doesn't happen.But secretly, I would love to really take off as I did in my dreams - think how astounded every one would be!
Reply to this In my dreams I would just rise up into the air and zoom across the fields like Superman!
Strange how I had the exact dream when I was just a teenager 😱 . That was the time when I want to escape and getaway - I wasn't happy where I am. I guess the state of our subconscious mind simply manifests in our dreams.
It's nice to just be able to take off on a whim without any constraints. But now I am also just as happy relaxing at home, go for a drive to the beach and national parks every weekends with my family, or enjoy a night out with friends dancing the night away.
Though I have a number of countries (but not many) I'd really want to visit. It gives me something to look forward to ....
[Edited: 2011 May 17 12:31 - josworld:15287 - typos]
Reply to this Bridget,
Your story touches my heart and I hope one day you will get to follow through with your travel plan. My mother had poor health for two decades, various health issues. In her forty's she began having some arthritis which limited her mobility intermittently. Her life dream was to own a beach house and walk the beaches early morning and sunset. Her dream was never realized.
This is one of the reasons my husband and I took a career sabbatical in 2007 and traveled for ten months. I am far healthier than my parents but we never know what health issues are coming down the road or when. I wanted to experience life pack backing around the world before any health issues could stop me. Immense pleasure came from that trip and I'm glad we broke all the "rules" and dropped out to have that experience.
I'll be watching the skies for you......and Johanna to zoom across the fields like Superman. Now that would be something!
Reply to this Your Mum's dream was lovely- she may never have done it in reality- but I bet she did it in her imagination! Its lovely to read about all the exciting travels and thank you so much for your nice comments!
Reply to this Dear Bridget,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a bout of poor health that left your travels in the planning stage. I'm glad you took that opportunity to dream, and pray that your dreams will come true. I have found that planning a trip and visualizing it in my mind is half the fun of travel.
As a retiree with health issues myself, I recently took major steps to do what could be done to improve my long term chances for a healthy life. One result is that I have lost 25 pounds in the last two months and hope to stay on that downward slope until I no longer have sleep apnea, Type II diabetes, etc.
Reply to this Great job Bob!
I've struggled with a few pounds my entire life. Dropping 25 pounds is an accomplishment. Bravo! Carry on.
As a nurse I know you are on the right track to decreasing your issues with sleep apnea and diabetes.
I too, love the planning portion of the trip.
Reply to this I would classify myself as a compulsory traveller. I travel most of the time, even when I am at home and even that can't really be called my own home as I stay with my parents or friends when back in the country. I don't have a house/car or anything really of my own, except what is in my backpack and whatever is left in my old room at my parents. I guess I have a restless soul, because I can't really stay in one place for too long.
That said I don't travel especially fast, it can take me months or sometimes more then a year to just see one country, because I tend to do it rather thoroughly when I am there.
I have got my travelling genes from my parents, who lived and worked abroad most of their working lives. My brother and sister also live in different countries on different continents, but as far as pure travelling is concerned I am the worst as that is all I do. I am probably on the road some 8 month a year, the other 4 month I spend collecting the money to be able to be on the road again.
As far as designing the dream travel, that is what I am doing. Travelling the way I am travelling is like living the dream for me. I started 8 years ago, and I will keep on doing it till I drop dead. That is not to say that my way of travelling hasn't changed and doesn't change continually. At first I travelled much faster, and wouldn't do things just to keep to my budget, but then I realized that was stupid because if you are all the way out there you might as well do the stuff that there is to do instead of leaving it off because you always want to keep to your budget. And I started travelling slower, and than I changed again because I realized that I was only travelling and not having any fun anymore because I was leaving out the social part of travelling and so on and so on. Travelling like life is a big learning process and even now I change the way I travel. I don't travel as long in one go anymore as I used to, but rather do 3 to 6 month stretches and go home again to rest and relax and that suits me fine for now. How I will travel in a few years time I don't know, but that I will still be on the road I do know.
Reply to this
Hi Bob, my husband Robert also has sleep apnoea, he sleeps with a cpap machine which is a bit of a problem as he wants us to do a big tandem bike trip when we sell the house. The dentist made him a mandibular advancement device which he has some success with He's also trying a low carb high protein type diet to lose a bit of weight but he's not particularly fat suggested to him by son Ali which was successful till his week long birthday binge!
Ralf, the slow mode of travel sounds great, all these entries are getting me very motivated so back to getting the house ready to sell!
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #136419
Hallo Bob,
Robert here (Bridget's slave!)
I'm following a low carb, high protein (one day a week, eat what you like) diet, 3 days or so to get rid of sugar, alcohol and carb cravings then not too difficult
It works for me!
In spite of what my wife (Bridget) says I've only slipped back 4 pounds over a couple of days (It was my 60'th) and since christmas have lost about 10lbs (5 Kg) on a fairly slow but steady basis. I was only about 20lbs overweight to start with.
Tandem training should help me to put on some muscle! Especially as the one at the back only puts in effort when nagged at! Expect to start travelling in a year or so, God willing!
I've sent a P.M. with details that are more health and fat related than travel.
Best of luck
Robert
Reply to this Great Topic!
I'm a chinese man 25 years old has no money, no time! But i work as a tour guide in china right now. Two years ago, i work in the line of Int'l trade, it's borning to seat my ass at the borning office. REALLY! I quitted it because i don't want to spend my time in that way! So i passed the examination of the licenced national guide in china and treated tourism as my job and my life. Travel makes me more healthy, travel makes me more friendly , travel makes more converable.
[Edited: 2011 May 18 09:57 - chinatourguide:199665 ]
Reply to this I am an 'empty nester' after 23 years of being single mum. My son has left home and moved interstate and I am finding a new way of life which includes travel!
I have to continue working to pay the bills so only get 3-4 weeks a year to go and explore the world. But after visiting Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand & Malaysia in the last 18 months I have truly been bitten by the travel bug 😊
I am going to New Zealand in a few weeks and this will be my first solo trip and I am slightly anxious about that, but excited too!
I love other cultures and seeing and learning how others live. Most of my friends have young kids and as such can't travel with me so I have to choose whether to stay home and read a National Geographic, or to travel on my own.
My desire to see what i can of the world far outweighs my fears of traveling on my own, so I continue booking my flights & accommodation to new & exciting places 😊
Happy & safe travels everyone.
Cheers,
Steph
Reply to this Steph
That is excellent that you decided not to sit home and be content with the National Geographic. Bravo to you! You are going to love New Zealand and it is a very easy country to travel in by yourself. That was my first country to do alone in 1990. I spent one month there. They have a good public transit system if you want to take the bus and good highways if you decide to rent a car. You should love learning about the Maori Culture.
Sam--- becoming a travel agent is a great way to get your travel fix until you save enough money to hit the road. I'm sure it won't be long before you can make one trip. The way you present sitting in an office does not sound appealing....
When you hit the road, what three countries do you want to travel to first?
Robert(Ali's dad) No one should get after you for celebrating your birthday!!
Ralf--
I love the description of compulsory traveler. You are amazing and we love your blogging. We hope to grow up and be like you one day. What you are doing is our dream.
Bridget,
You need to add a photo. We want to see your smiling face.
Reply to this Wonderful thread!
Like Ralf I am a compulsory traveller and will do so as long as my health allows. My aim is also to see 100 countries, but not for the point of reaching that number (if I wanted to get there quickly, I'd just visit the Caribbean for a couple of months) but (as Dave and Merry Jo so eloquently stated) for the point of experiencing different cultures - for me travelling is an intellectual pursuit. This is not something in my genes (no other family member is a traveller) but it is a inquisitive thirst to learn more.
Because it is in an intellectual pursuit, it enables me to indulge in my passion when not on the road - preparing for a journey and reading about the culture, people, history and food of a place prior to arriving. Thus, even if periods of ill health arrive later on, there is still some way to involve myself in the process by searching the Internet or reading a good book. So Mr and Mrs Watters, please take heart, the enjoyment can be as much in the planning as the experiencing.
Thankfully, my job enables me to undertake two-three months travel a year and still return to my usual full-time and comfortably paying employ. I consider myself very fortunate in this regard and so no never waste the opportunity to enjoy these benefits and to travel more!
Reply to this 
