BootsnAll Travel Community

SO I was watching MTV (shut up) last night, and came across this show. It was about a guy doing a year long RTW. I came into the party a little late, but what I saw got me thinking.

Here's the MTV URL: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1582610&pid=2803444

I think you can go to www.mapforsaturday.com , too.

One thing that stood out was how he said you get a little numb to the experience, how what is amazing for most people becomes the norm while on a RTW. Having never been on a RTW, but having done long term travel, I tend to concur. I know by the middle/end of my trip, I was getting travel fatigue. I was tired of being constantly on the move, repacking my backpack and "having" to go to the next place and meet more people, make more friends, and say goodbye again. My perspective started to get lost.

But I didn't want to go home.

Anyone else see it? I felt like it was such an honest representation of long-term travel.

I have the DVD, and I did see the show last night. There was a lot cut out of the MTV version, but it still carried the theme of the DVD. Brook, the author, nailed it. Traveling is not easy.

Buy the DVD if you get a chance.

I also own a copy of the DVD and there is a topic around here somewhere about it.

The dude is a BootsnAll member, by the way.

But what I really want to know is why these charming (and attractive) BootsnAll members don't have a date on a Saturday night!

It is a really well done piece. I also own the DVD, after many booties recommended it...Brook showed up on boots for a bit to discuss the show.

edit: I see I've been beaten in the copy/paste race for links.

I would like to know why I have no date, too! I live in SF, though... people here are weird.

Anyway, I didn't see that other thread, so feel free to close this one.

Good show, I bought the movie, gave it to my brother. Overall, I love the philosophy, interview and general production. That was a great clip interviewing that Irish guy at the end, who seemed all depressed, not on the road.

The only thing that I didn't relate to was MOST of us don't live New York city, have high end jobs, and a fancy apartment near Central Park. If the guy wasn't as wealth off, then it probably could have related to the average joe a bit more. Most of us can't spend $20,000 on a trip, but maybe could afford $8,000.

I don't necessarily believe that the avg joe can't spend that on a trip. It will just take the avg joe a lot longer to save the money.

I agree with T&BA...my friends who have gone on year long trips have at least 20K saved. Plus, it seems from what I saw he spent a bit of time in Western Europe, where you'll blow through money really quickly.

I guess also, to me, if I was going to do a RTW, I would save up at least that much so I could do it right. I don't get the going with hardly any budget, and having to scrimp so much that you don't get to really do anything. Where's the fun in that?

I have not seen the film.Is it available in Block buster :-)

Seems he spent $55 a day. Isn't that the recommended budget for a day if you mix and max Europe, Australia and Asia.

I'm not sure the average joe will take longer to save, if only because rents in nyc are beyond obscene.... Hadn't heard of this DVD before, so thanks for the post!

I absolutely loved this film! I've watched it a handful of times over the past year and it's truly an inspiration for all RTW travelers and traveling hopefuls.

For anyone who might be interested, I shared my thoughts on the movie here: http://www.vagabondish.com/backpacker-movie-review-a-map-for-saturday/

... and we're also giving away free copies of the film as well. Here are the details: http://www.vagabondish.com/win-a-map-for-saturday-travel-documentary/

i was house sitting for some fancy pants friends who live on 21st and park this weekend. they tivo'd the mtv: true life special of 'a map for saturday.' i decided to watch the show, which was pretty cool, but about halfway through, i started to get sick to my stomach. it was as if i was peaking behind the curtain - seeing things that i shouldn't or didn't really want to see about my own future trip. it seemed like a good portion of the documentary shown on mtv focused on lonelyness or saying goodbye.

i've spent the last two days going through brook's blog. why? given the feeling i've had since then, i don't know why really. i guess i was hoping to find something more in his writing that what was conveyed in the mtv spot.

anyways, i've not spent much time over the past two months really thinking about anything other than saving money for my trip, so it's interesting to be back in the headspace of actually thinking about my trip.

i have to agree with littletarsier - half of my take home pay every month goes towards rent and i don't live near the park.