BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all!

I wrote up a quick post in the "Introduce Yourself" section, but I figured I'd drop in here and say hi to everyone. Live in Canada, 36 years old, big Gary Oldman fan, hence the avatar.

Never been outside the borders. Well... except for a 3-day stint camping in Maine when I was 8 years old but that doesn't count coz I can't remember anything about it, except that it's pretty much identical to New Brunswick. LIBBY, if you haven't moved here but you've seen the State of Maine, well you've seen New Brunswick, so no loss, reall!

I'm planning a one-year globetrotting stint that will include: Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula, Central and South America, Antarctica, Cook Islands, NZ/OZ, the coast of China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Nepal, and finally Europe. Maybe a pit stop in the Canadian Arctic Circle on the way back home, if I can squeeze some money somewhere.

I'd like to leave in late 2007, but that's highly unlikely, considering the time and distances involved. So late 2008 is probably more realistic. Feels like it'll take forEVER til then, but with two jobs keeping me busy and out of trouble, time should fly. Then so will I!

Quick question regarding traveller's cheques. I've read in a lot of the other threads that traveller's cheques aren't necessarily the convenient way to travel anymore, and are often more trouble than they're worth. Would it be reasonably safe to travel without them altogether for a whole year, or would you still recommend taking some just in case, as back-up?

Thanks for reading!

Hey Canadian Bacon!

I hope to get the job in NB because it will give me someplace different to live and something different to do. I need a shakeup!

Your trip sounds great. Oh, I'm jealous! We're about the same age and packing things up and leaving for a year just sounds so scary. I'm not sure I could do it. You, my friend, are brave.

I used Travellers cheques last year on my trip to England and Scotland and had no trouble. Mind you, I planned ahead and made sure I was going to be near American Express outlets. That way I didn't pay anything to have them cashed.

You will have to keep us appraise on the trip

Hey Libby!

My name's Nathalie, please call me Nat.

Thanks for the tip regarding traveller's cheques. I kind of figured it would be best to carry some to be on the safe side.

As for me being "brave," I think it's more a matter of being bored and restless. I'm a risk-taker by nature and I've moved around Eastern Canada more times than I have years under my belt, so the thought of selling my stuff, packing up and hitting the road doesn't really scare me. Plus, I'm single, no kids, no mortgage, no car, so I'm not really leaving anything behind.

What does onverwhelm me at times is the sheer amount of research and planning I have to do. Whew, SCARY! Actually, it looks like I'm going to have to seriously modify my original itinerary, because judging by what seasoned travellers have said, including my sister, I simply won't have enough money saved to hit NZ, OZ and Europe for 6 months.

So I've modified my route to: Cook Islands, 1 week; NZ, 3 weeks, cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica, 2 weeks; Central and South America, 46 weeks. Pretty drastic change, but this way, I know I'll have enough money to afford a whole year on the road, and I get to see almost all my "gotta-see--before-I-die" places: the Yucatan Peninsula and Antarctica. The other spot is Norway, and I can do that on a later Asia/Europe tour.

If you have time, I'd love to read about the highlights of your trip to the UK! Did you go to Wales? That would be my prime motivator for a journey to Great Britain.

Gotta run!
Thanks for the reply, and let me know about the job in NB!
Nat

Hello Nathalie,
Researching was one of my favour parts. Mind you, my trip was only small potatoes compared to yours. But still...I really enjoyed looking into all the things I could do before settling on what I was actually going ot do. I followed my schedule pretty well, but I did find other things that I hadn't planned on and enjoyed that just as much.

I don't really have any ties either (except for my Mom) but I still couldn't just pack up and go. I'm just not hard wired that way I guess. I need to plan and prepare. LOL

I'll let you know about the NB position, but I haven't heard anything and it's been two weeks. All they sent was a letter telling me they had my application and would notify me if any action was going to take place.

In recent years I've found traveller's checks to be much more hassle than they're worth - and a very expensive way of converting your currency, to boot. Instead, I've been using the American Express Traveler's cheque card, which I've really liked and have found just as useful (and cheaper) than the actual cheques. I won't bore you with the details, you can read through them on the AmEx website linked here.

I looked into the American Express Travel Card, but they weren't available in Canada. They might be now, but they weren't last year.

That would have been the best.

It didn't cost me anything to cash my cheques because I used American Express offices. But they aren't everywhere.

quote:

I'll let you know about the NB position, but I haven't heard anything and it's been two weeks. All they sent was a letter telling me they had my application and would notify me if any action was going to take place.

Don't you just love it when potential employers tell you stuff like that? Especially if it's for a position with the federal government... It could take a few months before you hear anything back at all! How irritating. Gotta love our civil service...

Anyway, you're right about the planning stage being fun! I'm learning all kinds of stuff from all kinds of people and Web sites. Bootsnall is probably the best independent travel site I've found to date. Everyone seems really nice and willing to help out with opinions, experience and advice.

I'm actually a bit of a planner like you, but not to the umpteenth degree. All I'm looking to come up with is an itinerary of how much time I will spend in what places, and accommodations booked ahead of time to ensure I have a place to crash. Beyond that, I'm pretty open. So far, the part I'm looking forward to the most is the 10-14 day cruise to Antarctica. All my life I've dreamed of seeing that wilderness with my own eyes. Can't wait, can't wait, CAN'T WAIT!

Funny that I should write that last night. I got a phone call today from New Brunswick! They want to interview me for the position. That means a trip to Fredericton week after next.

I'm soooooo scared!

quote:

They want to interview me for the position. That means a trip to Fredericton week after next.

You got an interview? THAT'S GREAT, Libby, congratulations!! I actually replied to the thread you started about the job interview, so you can check out my little pearls of wisdom... such as they are...

So you're coming to Fredericton then! Where are you travelling from? Gotta warn ya, the weather's been frigid here these past few days. February is always a killer in the Maritimes... anyway...

Well I don't know how you manage the anxiety sweatdrops over a job you really want, but as for me, I try to calm myself down by reminding myself that it's just a job and that the world won't come to Armageddon if I don't get it. Yeah, I still feel disappointment when I don't get the job, but telling myself this mantra BEFORE the interview actually calms my nerves, so that I'm not a bundle of nerves DURING the interview.

Oh yeah, I also keep applying for other jobs in the meantime. Something is always bound to work out.

Pretty cheesy advice, no doubt, but that's all I can come up with, I'm afraid.

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!

Hi Canadian Bacon!

I've been to Wales a few times. My dad was born there. We are actually headed there this summer for a family reunion. It's a beautiful country. I was lucky to have teachers as parents, so we were able to spend summers there.