My Round the World Trip

[pupuce]

Hi Everyone,

Having just return from a solo 15 months backpacking Round The World trip this year, I hope to share my experience and information with anyone who is planning to make a similar trip to expand their horizon. My journey took me through 33 countries from South Africa, East Africa, Middle East, West Africa, Central America, South America and Antarctica.
While doing resarch for my trip, I found difficulty getting the information that i need to help make the trip easier. As i was also a newbie in photograpy, I had to to go through many websites to get tips for photographing different sceanarios ranging from wild life, street photgraphy, beautiful sunrises/sunsets to the wild plains of Patagonia and the snow white Antarctica.

I hope that this thread will serve as a one stop for general questions about backpacking around the world as well as photgraphy tips from the si-fu. At the same time, it will also bring your wanderlust to the surface and make you want to pack your bags immediately to explore the world


My itineary - South Africa- Mozambique- Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Tanzania - Uganda - Dubai - Jordan - Syria - Israel and Palestine - Spain - Morocco - Maritania - Senegal - Mali - Burkina Faso - Paris - Belgium - italy - London - San Franciso and Vegas - Mexico - Cuba - Belize - Guatemala - Honduras - Nicaragua - Panama (pass through Costa rica with no stop) - Argentina - antarctica - Argentina (patagonia) - Chile - Bolivia Peru - Ecuador - Colombia - New York City - HOME
Please feel free to contribute and give me suggestions to how to make this better and well-informed.
Critics are more than welcome so I can further improve my photgraphy skills.
I set off for my trip after being introduced to the DSLR world 5 months earlier when I bought my D80 and my 18-200mm VR lens.

Addiditonal note added
Thanks to the encouragement from those who is keeping this thread alive by giving opinions and critics on the photos, I have also decided to put the journey into words and sharing the memories. As you read on, you will see how the journey started and how the plans have changed and how I discover the world and myself at the same time.

http://busytravelbee.wordpress.com/

[sinned79]

waiting for your photos!

[SK1968]

wah, 15mths, 33 countries, 1 person...you are the man, even before seeing your photos, i salute you for your courage and determination...

[rocketatw]

Firstly, this thread should be at http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/travel-photography/

Secondly, just wonder how much you will be spending for 15mths, I spend about SGD$8K (all in ) in my recently 1mth Europe Trip covering 5 countries. staying in 3 stars hotels and simple meals. Ok, maybe you will say that is Europe, but i guess any countries will need average spending of about SGD $3-5k per month. So 15mths will be like SGD 45K to 75K.

Thirdly, how to take 15months annual leave, not many of us can do it even if we have the cash unless he or she is jobless.

[sinned79]

wah, 15mths, 33 countries, 1 person...you are the man, even before seeing your photos, i salute you for your courage and determination...

TS is a lady actually.

[sinned79]

Firstly, this thread should be at http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=125

Secondly, just wonder how much you will be spending for 15mths, I spend about SGD$8K (all in ) in my recently 1mth Europe Trip covering 5 countries. staying in 3 stars hotels and simple meals. Ok, maybe you will say that is Europe, but i guess any countries will need average spending of about SGD $3-5k per month. So 15mths will be like SGD 45K to 75K.

Thirdly, how to take 15months annual leave, not many of us can do it even if we have the cash unless he or she is jobless.

she posted there actually but since she wants to share photos, she was advised to post here instead:
Round The World Trip

[ovaltinemilo]

you are one role model for me...I wana travel 33 countries in 15 months yet don't get declared a bankrupt when I return.

[pupuce]

wah, 15mths, 33 countries, 1 person...you are the man, even before seeing your photos, i salute you for your courage and determination...

" i am the woman" hehehheh
but thank you for your compliments

[pupuce]

New Series - SOUTH AFRICA




South africa border to Botswana ( Just 5 minutes away to Botswana)

[pupuce]

TS is a lady actually.

Hey Sinned79
Now I know who is TS!! hahah
I was reading in my own thread in the forum and saw you guys talking about TS and I read again and again and trying to find out who is TS

[sinned79]

Hey Sinned79
Now I know who is TS!! hahah
I was reading in my own thread in the forum and saw you guys talking about TS and I rad again adn again and trying to find out who is TS

TS = thread starter haha

[pupuce]

Secondly, just wonder how much you will be spending for 15mths, I spend about SGD$8K (all in ) in my recently 1mth Europe Trip covering 5 countries. staying in 3 stars hotels and simple meals. Ok, maybe you will say that is Europe, but i guess any countries will need average spending of about SGD $3-5k per month. So 15mths will be like SGD 45K to 75K.

Thirdly, how to take 15months annual leave, not many of us can do it even if we have the cash unless he or she is jobless.

My budget was 40K for the 12 months but managed to extend to 15 months without inccuring extra cost. This amount include my RTW ticket, sightseeing, bus/train/car/extra flights, food, neccessities and studying spanish

Some countries cost less and some cost more. especially if you going for specific sightseeing.The bulk of my expenses was the following -

I did safari in 4 african countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania) which cost me about USD 1500
Diving in Mozambique which cost USD60 per dive x3
Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda which cost USD500. (excluding the driver and 4x4 to get there)
Trip to Antartica costing me USD4000
My round the world ticket costing me S$7600.
1 1/2 months in Belgium, Paris, Italy (Milan, Genova, Bologna, Florence, Rome) incurred about Euro800.
After netting out, I have about $25000 expenses

I travel very very very cheaply.. sleeping in the cheap room available in hostels, on roof tops in Morocco because it only cost USD3 per night, sleeping with african family and hosts in Europe. friends of mine who ask their friends to host me if I am in their city.
I often meet up with other travellers to cross borders or share car rentals as it will lower the cost for me and them.
I eat street food or do local market shopping and cook dinner in hostel kitchen,and occasionally treat myself in restaurants
In Central America, on some days I was only spending USD15 per day including accomodation, food and lots of free sightseeing like trekking and hiking without guide.

One note - The faster you travel, the more it will cost you

Lastly, I also didnt have 15 months of annual leave although I did ask for a 12 months sabbitical from my company which i have been with for 10 years, they turned me down and so I say good bye to my job

que sera sera... No one could asnwer the question about my future at that time so I make plans for the worst scenario - I might have to wait on tables or served at starbucks upon my return but I calculated the risk and decided to take it.

[pupuce]

New Series - TANZANIA

#1 Tanzania, Serengeti national park, Blue ball Monkey (I kid you not)
This might have been the penalty to losing a bet with another monkey

#2 Tanzania - Serengenti National Park, Crossed Giraffes

#3 Tanzania - Ngorongoro Crater , Silent Predator

#4 Tanzania, Serengti National Park, Scavangers waniting for meal
The best Safari I've done in Africa, Serengti NP. This vulture (or rather a treeful of vultures) were waiting while nearby a family of lions were devouring a wildebeest. It was awesome to see the lions with a kill and the scavangers, both Hyenas and Vultures watching

[SK1968]

TS is a lady actually.

She has my respect! Travel is indeed in her blood.

[SK1968]

" i am the woman" hehehheh
but thank you for your compliments

Haha, sorry. I shall rephrase, "You are the ONE, man!" The 'man' is not about gender but an exclaimation!

[ovaltinemilo]

Lastly, I also didnt have 15 months of annual leave although I did ask for a 12 months sabbitical from my company which i have been with for 10 years, they turned me down and so I say good bye to my job

que sera sera... No one can asnwer the question about my future at that time so I make plans for the worst case scenario - I might have to wait on tables or served at starbucks but I calculated the risk and decided to take it.

I wish I could do this! you truly have my respect. I thought you were some rich girl...now I know you are like one of us...only much braver...

[Spikenap]

TS, salute to you... I just dream off but never really pack my bag and go... Waiting for you great Photos..

[rocketatw]

My budget was 40K for the 12 months but managed to extend to 15 months without inccuring extra cost. This amount include my RTW ticket, sightseeing, bus/train/car/extra flights, food, neccessities and studying spanish

Some countries cost more and some less especially if you going for specific sightseeing.The bulk of my expenses was the following -

I did safari in 3 african countries which cost me about USD 1500
Diving in Mozambique which cost USD60 per dive x3
Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda which cost USD500. (excluding the driver and 4x4 to get there)
Trip to Antartica costing me USD4000.
My round the world ticket costing me S$7600.
1 1/2 months in Belgium, Paris, Italy (milan, Genova, Bologna, Florence, Rome) incurred about Euro800.
After netting out, I have about 25000 expenses

I travel very very very cheaply.. sleeping in the cheap room available in hostels, on roof tops in Morocco because it only cost USD3 per night, sleeping with african family and hosts in Europe. friends of mine who ask their friends to host me if I am in their city.
I often meet up with other travellers to cross borders or share car rentals as it will lower the cost for me and them.
I eat street food or do local market shopping and cook dinner in hostel kitchen,and occasionally treat myself in restaurants
In Central America, on some days I was only spending USD15 per day including accomodation, food and lots of free sightseeing like trekking and hiking without guide.

One note - The faster you travel, the more it will cost you

Lastly, I also didnt have 15 months of annual leave although I did ask for a 12 months sabbitical from my company which i have been with for 10 years, they turned me down and so I say good bye to my job

que sera sera... No one can asnwer the question about my future at that time so I make plans for the worst case scenario - I might have to wait on tables or served at starbucks but I calculated the risk and decided to take it.

oic, brave girl, you must be very young, let me guess, mid 20s to 30s.

becareful if you are staying in those cheap hostel where you need to share rooms, your belongings must take care. I will suggest you dont tell anyone in the hostel that you are travelling around world, because naturally people will think you must be damn rich to do this and carry lots of $$ and theft is very common in hostel. By the way the hostels room you stayed are they of mix gender or ladies only?

[Edricism]

I too salute Pupuce for breaking the mould.

In fact, all these years I've noticed that there tends to be more female solo travellers backpacking around the world than guys! I salute them too!

Personally, I am prepared to give up everything I have to do the same. And I have personally done it twice myself, except my "everything" back then wasn't much.

Reading the other commenters, most guys seem to find it a challenge when it requires them to give up everything just to travel. And most would question how survive and start again from scratch upon their return.

But it is actually not so different from the student who went overseas to study for a few years, and coming back home eventually to start from scratch!

And as long as we are still healthy and sound of mind, there will always be job options upon our return.

In fact, you might come back poorer in finances, but definitely richer in soul and life experiences, and some companies actually favour that in their new employs!

I say: Just do it!!

[pupuce]

New Series - BOTSWANA




Botswana - Okavango Delta, Water Lily