BootsnAll Travel Community

Howdy from Matt. I'm a now a reporter, but come September I will be a former reporter recently relocated to Istanbul to do some travel writing and whatnot.

Planning to travel around Turkey and Central Asia, also much interested in the politics of the region. Was a foreign policy geek as an undergrad. Would give almost anything to witness the possible/upcoming toppling of Iran's government.

I caught the travel bug on a bus entering Cairo, got completely overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. Was a decade ago, and I've been busy ever since being a good boy and giving the adult world a try. I'm now 30 and still believe in the phrase ``Don't trust anyone over 30.''

ladies and gentlemen,

i'm jude mcardle, 19 from essex in england.

i joined here - off the top of my head - september last year? so much has changed since then. different things interest me, different ppl interest me, different aims and idea of what i want to do with my life, and it's all fantastic. i'm on top of the world at the moment. of course that may have something to do with the fact that...

...on wednesday it was 3 weeks exactly til i go to the US for 3 months on my own travelling around, including a green tortoise tour and 2 weeks working on a ranch (i just rang the woman this week. i introduce myself and she goes 'uhhhh'. 'don't you remember us emailing eachother?' i ask. 'course i remember jude, i just thought you were male'. i definately put that in my first email as i suspected that would happen. damn my unisexual name

i work in an office right now, but handed in my notice over a week ago, fuck yeah! left school a year early - i thought working would be fun - but have realised that there's plenty of time left for that, so the best thing is to put if off for as long as possible - so will be going back in september to study get english and biology alevels to add to the one i have already then plan to go to university.

(i went to a book reading last week to see travel writer peter moore (vroom with a view/the long way home/no shitting in the toilet) and told my work colleagues i was going with a friend and told my friends i was going with a work colleague had a great time and it's nice doing things on your own.)

the source of my interest in travelling probably started when we had au pairs from spain, italy, france, germany, scotland. we weren't wealthy, they were living in our box room. so that probably sparked up my fascination with languages (english too of course!) and the craving inside of me to get out there. had always planned to go travelling in australia or thailand, definately not america, but that's all changed. snappy decision to go to the US and here i am buying my reef sandals and towel.

not forgetting to tell you that this is a great site and i truly truly believe that i would not be going on this trip if i hadn't came across this site at the beginning, when i first started thinking seriously about travelling. many many sincere thanks.

this was quite long wasn't it? well, it's been quite along time since i've posted here, you have to forgive me

"Her particular speciality was to cook things while they were still in the packaging. I was almost full-grown before i realized that clingfilm wasn't a sort of chewy glaze." - Bill Bryson

[This message was edited by Jude806 on 13 May 2004 at 15:30.]

Hey from a Yvonne. I'm 20, from Dublin, Ireland. Nearly finished my degree in Anthropology and English (and really should be studyin now ) And then I'm free- which is amazing, yet kinda scary!

I haven't done a whole lot of traveling, but I lived and worked in France for 3 months when in the Summer of 2002. Horrible job- but I had four days off a week to explore Paris which was cool.

I am hoping to start traveling by the end of this year...wanna find somewhere I like to do my PhD research in Anthropology in- off the top of my head I wanna go to Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. At the moment, I'm trying to convince everybody that I will come back alive if I go traveling by myself. And frankly the conversation is getting boring!!! Ideally I'd like to spend 6-8 months traveling and then go back to uni Sept 2005.

After three years of uni and minimal work in that time I haven't got a cent so I have to attempt to find a job or two that will help fund an adventure!

I joined BnA fairly recently after reading the site for a while. Reading other people's stories always inspires me!

Yvonne

Hi my name is Lawrence, but my friends just call me Law.

I live in San Francisco, but I was born and raised in Florida. I just turned 30 this month and I been to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica on surf trips. I also took a 3 month break from work in 2001 to go to Thailand (20 minutes outside Bangkok) to train Muay Thai. While there I got a chance to go to Cambodia and Southern Thailand.

I’m thinking about taking another trip to Asia via Japan, South Korea thru China down to Hong Kong. Then maybe go thru Vietnam down to Indonesia. Along the way I was thinking about bringing my surfboard and trying to surf and explore at the same time. Not sure how feasible it would be to bring, but the thought of seeing perfect waves without a chance to get wet would drive me crazy!

Anyways, I love reading this board because of the inspiration I get to save my money, reprioritize my life and to see the world!

well, this looks like the place. My name is Chris, sadly I do not travel very much, haven't gotten the opportunity yet; but, I'm looking to take a trip to New Zealand for a couple of weeks to see my girlfriend and we're going to travel the country, seeing the sites of Middle earth, the Shire, learning to ride a bike *is scared by bikes...* that kinda thing. Lookin' for a good price on airline tickets to go in mid-July to early- August and I have got to say, this site has the best airfare search I've seen. Glad to be a member and will probably check into this place 5frequently.

"I am like King Diplomacy of Diplomania man, seriously"
-Ragnar, deadly as a rabid Tiger-Bear-Dragon

Riz

Hi Everyone,

My name is Dave and I live in Iowa. I'm have been happily unemployed for nearly 3 years, working for myself. I think I finally found the perfect business, make a living fore 6 months then take the next 6 months off every year!

I've always had a travel bug but never could quite figure out how to do it. While growing up we only went traveling twice that I remember when I was 4 & 5 years old.

I decided once I graduated I high school I was leaving home and less than a week later I had moved about 8 hours South to Misouri for 6 weeks. Then home, then I enlisted in the Army to see the World then back home. The moved to California then home, then CA again then Hawaii, then home. This has happened with many more itterations.

My travels have been limited but friends and acquaintances are impressed.

In 1990 I took my first International travel to New Zealand, Australia, and a stop over in Hawaii for a total of 6 weeks. I was absolutely floored to discover that I was not the most extended traveler but rather on the shortest trip of anyone I met! WOW, what an eye opener.

Well I was committed to Tech school for 2 years after that and couldn't find a way to get overseas work, so I took a job close to home.

This is getting kind of long. Sorry. I'll speed it up...

The last International travel I did was for a 15 month contract in 1995 in The Marshal Islands in the central Pacific. Great experience.

Ever since the trip in 1990 I've had this desire to travel Europe for 2 years. Then I found BNA a month ago, finally a group of wonderful people with a common interest in wild unbounded freelance travel! I hope to get the business built and sold in 2 years to be free again and travel.

This sight is the best! I only wish your info was available 20+ years ago!

"Just Do It!"

-------
From the MidWest USA.
Dave
-------

I'm Linda and presently live in a small town in the Odenwald in Hessen in central Germany. I am originally from Dallas, Texas and am a permanent expat. I haven't lived in the US for ll years and have no desire to go back. I lived in Mexico for the 8 years before I came here 3 years ago and am returning to Mexico to live within the next 2 weeks as Germany is too expensive for someone on government pension income. I was able to travel a little in 2002 when the dollar was at parity with the Euro. I went to Oslo, where my maternal grandmother was from, to celebrate my birthday (best birthday present I ever gave myself), then went to Strasbourg, Offenburg and Baden-Baden in the Black Forest,, then to Dillenburg in Nord Hessen and finally to Arnstadt, the oldest town in Thueringen (in East Germany). I plan to try to save as much money as possible in Mexico so I can come back and spend 2-3 months traveling independently in Germany and Norway and, if possible, a little in Poland.

Hey there. My name is Derek. I was out on my own when I was fifteen and did my first backpack gig, across Canada from Toronto, when I was seventeen. I spent years bumming back and forth across the country, mostly working as a short order cook somewhere or other, but I have had jobs as a bicycle mechanic(I was poor, much like Peter Brady), stone mason, convenience store clerk, canoe tripper, women's clothing saleman(I was good! Shocking.) and Captain Caveman at Canada's Wonderland. Eventually, I fell backwards into working for a travelling carnival. I did that for four years, in the off season, I travelled to the States and worked on some of the shows down there. One time, during the offseason, I met a fellow who made Chinese "pillow and fist" movies and started in a film career as a Grip. I have been doing that for ten years (Last month).

The nature of the industry is that you can take enormous amounts of time off and still have a job. So I use this to my advantage and travel every year. I found this place last year while looking into Honduras. I have been hanging around ever since.

I like to scuba dive and canoe. I occasionally rock climb. But I am getting older and more chicken, so I generally go to a climbing gym these days. Strangely, this doesn't affect my decisions to go to places that I think are dicey and see if I can find some redeeming quality about 'em. You know what? I always do.

I generally travel alone. This is mostly because I have a reputation for accidentally getting into some drama, even at home. Most people don't dig it. They find it funny---but they don't dig it.

I have been to ten countries in Europe. Two in South America, and all of Central America. I have a lot of Spanish and most of the English Language.

I love this place. I like to hear that other people are out on adventures. It's nice to meet you all.


Derek

______________________________


Aw crud...

Hi everyone. My name is Kristen, I am 28, and I currently live in Clearwater, Florida. I am still "on the fence" with the whole Florida thing so...I moved here from New York (a whole other set of issues there, and am originally from Philadelphia.

I have been to most of the Caribbean and to Italy in Europe. My *dream* is to do a year RTW when I finish my degree next summer. A combination "happy 30th/job well done" present, if you will.

I love to travel ANYWHERE and cannot believe the number of people that I am friends with as well as family members that have no desire to go anywhere. Their loss I love to pick up and go on the weekends; although having 3 weeks of vacation a year does limit you.

This site has inspired me and I love to read about everyone's travels. Great job!

Kristen

Krisk

Hello everyone,

My name is Mike. I just turned 27, and although I am starting to feel old, I still have numerous wild oats to sow before I can ever think of settling down for the long haul. At the moment, I am working in an IT department here in Fort Worth, so that my wife and I might be able to put back enough in the way of funds, to support a move to Iceland for about a year, before embarking on our first round the world bonanza.

Basically, I got into travel while going to university at Texas Tech. I grew up in the scouts, and in time grew to be a pretty big alpine and rock guru. In the summer of 1998, I got the chance to work in Kandersteg, Switzerland teaching kids how to climb, and ironically, this is where I met my future wife, Inga, from Iceland. That same summer, I had my horizons expanded and my mind blown by eurorailing around all over the continent, and in short, had the time of my life. Having had so much fun, I decided to work in Switzerland again in 1999, though even longer this time, and in 2000, I spent my summer away from University running a swimming pool for German and American kids in Dautphe, Germany. (about an hour north of Frankfurt)

I like this website, I like these kinds of kindred spirits, and I like this atmosphere. Good luck with your travels…….

Nice to meet you all......

Hello, my name is <---- Dan

I talk incessantly about my RTW since I returned well... a year ago on the 22nd May and now live my life through the travellers I have crash on my couch, my flatmates (a South African n' a Mexican) and spend most of my time cooking breakfast.

I probably drink too much, I DEFINATELY smoke too much (mmm) and try and be responsible by letting the government and tax payers know that their taxes are paying for my education (scam city English folks - wait till your 25 to go to uni)

Im studying a BA in Digital Animation and sell computer games to kids who dont know when to shut up. I used to be a web designer (shit), ran an internet cafe (fun) and ran bar's for a while (bad).

Aside from that, im planning my 30th birthday present of a RTW without flights, how to get more beer "right now" and figuring out this bloody Avid video editing program!

Ta ta!

My name is Amy. I'm 19, and am from Western Massachusetts (the Berkshires- anybody been there? email me if you're going!! whittakerwarner@hotmail.com), but am currently in Dublin, working for the summer. I've always had trouble staying in one place for two long, so when I was in high school, I finished as early as I could, saved a bunch of cash, and when I was 17, spent several months in Ireland, London and Rome by myself. I got lonely, and when my best friend finished school, we backpacked around europe together. I spend a few months in Tanzania teaching english, then decided it was time to start college. I lasted for one year at Boston College, majoring in International Studies- the monotony made me crazy (as did the melfloquine I took in Tanzania- that shit is scary). Then I decided that if I'm willing to spend six years getting my degrees, there's nothing wrong with taking that much time to travel, too- but then there's the whole money thing. Crazy as it sounds, I decided to bite the bullet and become a stripper- it doesn't bother me, and I can earn enough in a summer to travel for a year- if taking my clothes off and shaking my ass around will buy five years of seeing the world, why not? My best friend, the same one who I backpacked Europe with, who was also my college roomate, sort of had the same idea at the same time, and we're going to do it together. So, we've decided to take the next five years to travel, taking two months of every year to work. We've spent a couple of weeks visiting family and friends over here, and our work permits start next wednesday...gulp... but seriously, the freedom I've felt since making this choice has been amazing, I feel like the luckiest person in the world, and we have an amazing five years ahead of us. It felt so liberating to sell everything I own, give the cat to my sister, give up the apartment. When our permits run out, we're planning to spend the fall, winter, and spring in Australia, New Zealand, and SE Asia. So, so excited.
Anyway, I joined this site a few weeks ago, but didn't really want to post b/c thought I should introduce myself first... well, now I have. It took awhile to get the visa situation straightened out, and this site is great for distracting myself by reading about other people's experiences
Don't want to blabber too much--
peace, Amy

My name is Owen O'Leary and I am 25 and I currently reside in Honolulu Hawaii. I was born in Bozeman Montana, where I lived until I was two. I then lived in Boise Idaho till I was 18. I went to UC Santa Cruz for my undergraduate education and my family moved to the bay area (Woodside). After college I worked for a year and then moved to Hawaii to start graduate school.

I am an archaeologist who focuses on marine resource subsistence patterns in Polynesia. a.k.a.

What fish did they eat?
Did it change over time?
How?
Why?

In other words I have specialized in the identification and analysis of fish bones left over from thousand year old meals. This translates into spending 9 months a year at UH Manoa in the lab bent over folding tables looking at tiny little bones under bad flourescent lighting. The other three months a year are spent traveling around the south Pacific. FOR FREE!!! So keep paying your taxes so I can keep getting grant money!

I have been to France, England (twice), Germany, Italy, Morocco, Kenya, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Easter Island (twice), and Tahiti (twice).

Hobbies include surfing, scuba diving, hiking, camping, oh, and travel of course. I really loved Morocco and I would love to visit more Muslim countries like Turkey and Egypt. But truth be told, my motto for travel is:

"I've never been there... Let's go!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the places and moments that take our breath away."

Hello everyone! My name is Sotiris, 15 years old and I live in Greece. As you can see, at this age I can' t have any great travelling experience, but travelling (especially with its wandering meaning) has always been something fantastic to me. Since I was a 10 years old child, I tried to convince my best friend to come with me to a trip around the world! My overall travelling experience is limited to trips inside Greece in the summertime with my parents and some other day excursions. However, it was never enough: I always looked for something more adventurous and independent. At age 14 the first opportunity came: a 7 days trip to England with an exchange program. Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to the terrorist attacks of 11 September. Until now, no other chance of an abroad journey has appeared.
I have been working in a tavern as a waiter for two months and I' m already gathering the necessery money for the tickets, equipment etc for my first travel.

I suppose that I' m the youngest member of the forum so please show mercy!!!

I have planned my first long-term journey after my graduation from the university. I plan to go on a 3 or 4 years voyage around Europe with my best friend. Greece - Italy - France - Spain - Portugal - England - Ireland is the most possible itinery. Of course it is in seven years time so nothing is sure.

Nice to have met you all!
Sotiris

hey sotiris.

if you're already on this site as a 15 year old, i've got no doubt you'll be a great explorer when you're older

Jude.

"Her particular speciality was to cook things while they were still in the packaging. I was almost full-grown before i realized that clingfilm wasn't a sort of chewy glaze." - Bill Bryson

Hey all! My name's Mikey. This site is delish! Guess i'll paste my profile....

Sometimes i feel like i'm 239,000 miles from home. Then i remember there's no surf on the moon. Home is here, wherever there may be waves of water to be ridden. 1st and foremost, i surf. Don't matter if i'm human or not (i am, however). When i'm not 'surfboarding', or dreaming, i'm usually hunkered over a map in search of far-off nooks-n-crannies, dents and protusions along coastlines that look like quality fiesta spots for waves to gather. Mmmmmm.
Guess it comes back to the moon. Tis indeed lovely. It's influence on us and our surroundings is truly wonderful. From tides (personal and other), to inspiration to lunaception...yatta, yatta...What fun!


"everything's better with a sprinklin' of melody, a heaping of harmony and a whole lotta riddim!"

What a great idea for a thread. After a thousand or so tries, LN was bound to come up with a good one eventually.

My name is Shawn Kobb, 27. I grew up Indiana and moved out to Portland, Oregon in 2000 right after getting married. I've done a few jobs out there, but most recently was a 911 dispatcher for the city of Portland.

My wife and I just severed our ties out that way and are currently spending some time back in Indiana visiting people before we take off on a big trip. Destination: Asia. That's about as well as we have it narrowed down. We leave June 6 from Chicago on a one way ticket to Hong Kong. Hopefully, we'll be gone a long time.

I came across BnA while researching for our trip and loved it. Sean and the whole gang here have been very supportive and full of information. The fact that BnA headquarters ended up in Portland made for a great opportunity to meet people and get free drinks on Sean. I hope to repay the favor with a few articles from the road.

Besides travel, I also enjoy film, martial arts, history and politics, acting, improv, and other methods of making a general fool of myself.

I hope a few of your follow along with our blog and feel free to contact me if I can ever help you out.

_____________________________

Follow our travels through Asia at Travelling with Shawn and Jennifer

Hi, Michelle here, born in Steynsburg a small dorpie in the Karoo of South Africa (I could'nt really tell you where it is.

Been travelling around since I was born & when my parents divorced I was on flights from Swaziland or Lesotho or Johanesburg to Botswana by myself (with the aid of the Unaccompanied Minor Airhostess).
With my stepdad in the hotel business we travelled a bit. I think what sparked my wonderlust was my mom & stepdads yearly international holidays: postcards & prezzies & home videos from all those wonderfully interesting places.

Did the Kibbutz & Moshav thing in Israel & squattercamped & Au paired in Greece in 1990.
& on my return to Botswana fell into the boring occupation of bookkeeper, with only a 10 day holiday to England & Scotland.

Finally last year November, I ran away from home to attempt my RTW. I am now in Mora, New Mexico.

I have total respect for all of you who plan & execute your RTWs, travelling by yourself, planning day by day, using public transport
etc. I hope to end up like you guys.

I love checking on BNA when I can.

Thanks
Happy Travels

"Practise random kindess & senseless acts of beauty."

ok, so I know I am like the 50th person to do this, but I'll go for it anyway.
My name is Kristi, I'm 21 and currently live in Durango, Colorado. I go to school at Fort Lewis College and am a French major. I plan on going to Chambery, France in January, and I'm beyond excited.
I most definitley have the travel bug, but haven't done too much of it. When I was in High School I went to Belize for 10 days and loved it. Once I graduated I took 3 months and travelled around the U.S. That trip taught me more than any other experience I have had yet. Maybe it was the excitment of graduating, being 18, and knowing that you finally get to choose where you want to go, but that is one of the highest points of my life yet. I can hardly wait to explore the rest of the world.
I've been a member of Boots n'all for about a year now, but wasn't really active until now. (I blame school). Well, I don't want to bore anyone too much, so I'll end this now. But I'd love to meet some new interesting people, so if anyone is bored or whatever, email me. Kris555@blazemail.com