Alex Meikle

1. When do you leave?
   November 2002

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   £3500

4. How old are you?
   32

5. Nationality
   Ireland

6. Where do you live now?
   Belfast, Northern Ireland

7. Occupation
   manager health service

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   It's my career

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Belfast - London - Thailand - Singapore - Perth - Sydney - Fiji - Los Angeles - overland to New York then home

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Been wanting to do this for years now

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    I don't have any.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Some think I am outrageous; mostly happy for me.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Just Enough

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Toothbrush, deodorant, maps

16. How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
    I hope it will effect me in all ways. I said that I would never work in a cafe or bar, but I would love to be in the position to experience everything once and twice if I like it.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Doing it my way.

18. Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
    Because that to me is boring. Anyone can do that and anyone can do this.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That they will not come home.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    To meet new people, experience different cultures, and most of all to eat all the lovely food.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    To just get up and do it. I bought my ticket on the flip of a coin.