and from there people can choose to read about my "Grand Plan"I keep calling this a Plan but that is only because it has not all been executed. This is the ongoing story about my Plan to travel the world. I have heard of many people who have just dropped what they are doing in life and begin to travel, in fact I have met some of those people on my own travels. But mostly you hear of people going to America, Europe, and Asia. Many people talk of going to Australia, but honestly most of the travelers seem to come from Australia. I have heard of few who talk of going to, or wanting to go to, South America. Then there is Africa. It is not a country that is high on the list of places for most people wanting to take vacations, and yes Egypt counts as Africa, but there is still so much that is being missed if it is a goal of yours to just "go to Africa". Now I come to the Continent that actually means the most to me and it is the one place I will fight my life to go to, and that is Antarctica.
Now that all of that is said, I would like to travel to all of these places and more and all by backpacking. This may be a lifelong project, but it will be totally worth it, just to get to experience and learn all that I will. Now I begin with my story: (Sorry if this is boring) I just turned 25 and feel there is something missing. I was
born and raised in the state of Virginia near the Washington DC area. I have never found that I have had one talent that really stands out among the rest. In fact I was afraid I would never find a career path for myself. (Silly me and my High School troubles.) I have since discovered many things about myself. I went on to college with no idea of what I wanted to major in so I just took classes. Slowly I found my life going in the direction of theatre. I am happily working a job as an assistant stage manager, living off of a wonderful performing arts salary. (I hope you realize that is not that much) Luckily I have been able to save money here and there planning to use it for my older days, but I have decided I have reached my older days.First I will begin by mentioning how my parents have influenced me to grow by exploring.
My father was born in England and both of his parents were fascinated in ancient history. My grandparents were my first real exposure to what the world could offer, but sadly I was too young to appreciate any of it, and to be honest, at the time I just didn't care. Luckily though, my dad inherited their passion at least for travel and he took many opportunities throughout his life. He did a home exchange with another boy from France when he was still in grade school. During his college years he spent 8 weeks wandering around Israel with no real plans and no knowledge of the language. While growing up his family took vacation for 2 weeks every spring and 6 weeks every summer. My father has not done all that I
hope to someday do, but he has pointed me in the correct direction.My mother was not exposed to much traveling growing up, but my father was a perfect catch for her, since he has been as motivated to travel as she had been her whole life. She was not able to travel until she was older and working and had to pay for her own travels. This has been a huge inspiration for me, knowing that all of my hard earned money will go towards my own travels, where I will experience things I never could have imagined.
Now as for why I came up with doing this "Grand Plan".
Last summer I decided I needed sometime to myself and time to grow. I had a month off in the summer and took it to go to Europe. I could not think of anyone I would have wanted to spend that time with so I just bought the tickets and went off on my own. That trip was the best trip I could have ever chosen to take for myself. I managed to go to Marseille, France, Cassis, France, Pisa, Italy, Florence, Italy, Zurich, Switzerland, Munich, Germany, Salzburg, Austria, Barcelona, Spain, and Madrid, Spain. As soon as I got back I was already planning my next trip. It was difficult becaus
e I wanted to go back to Europe to see more, but every where I wanted to go to, I had already been to at some point. (I had many chances to travel growing up, so this was not my first time to Europe.)Slowly I have come up with a plan, hence the "Grand Plan". It began with me taking just a mere 5 months and go from New Zealand, to Australia, up through The Philippians, to Tokyo, down through Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Then take a small detour through Delhi, stopping in Tanzania for a safari. I was then going to go up into Egypt, to Greece, Poland, Germany, ending in Amsterdam. Finishing my trip off with England, Scotland, and Ireland. Just listing all of that off is making me exhausted, there was no way I was going to be able to do all that in just 5 months and really get to enjoy what I was doing. So finally I cut the trip back. I now have tickets in hand to go for 4 months to New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Ireland. I know they seem on opposite sides of the world, but you know... it's my trip and I can do what I want.
So now that I have said what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, I can only hope that people check in on my travels and get a little out of it themselves. Hope to hear from you all, and please give me feedback.
