Angela Weller

After her first RTW, in 1995, Angela (red hair) decided she had to go again.

1. When do you leave?
   January 2003

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   I Ain't Never Comin' Back

3. How much have you saved?
   US$20,000 (or I will have)

4. How old are you?
   30

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

7. Occupation
   Course Developer

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   I'll come back if they'll have me

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   Yes

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Working itinerary: Thailand, India and Nepal, Kenya to South Africa, Israel, Greece, Turkey, London

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I've spent the last 2 years trying to cram European vacations into 2 weeks and decided that I'm tired of doing "short" trips to far-away places. It was really time to do another long-haul jaunt.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Running out of money.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    My family is very supportive. My friends are all jealous of the trip. They view it as a natural extension of what I enjoy.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    To the Nth Degree

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    I'm very small, so I can't take as much stuff as the big guys. I'm taking a moderately sized internal-frame pack with a light sleeping bag and solo tent. The most important item is your pack. Get the most comfortable one you can. The most indispensable item for me is always my Swiss Army knife. It comes in so handy! I also carry my Egyptian tie-dye "sarong" everywhere. It's doubled as a curtain, a sheet, a scarf, a head-covering and a pillow.

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'll know more when I complete it! I view the trip as a chance to center myself again. Doing a long trip solo requires really knowing yourself and accepting the good and bad in who you are. I believe that life perpetually changing, whether we travel or not. When I come back from the trip, I'll be changed in ways that I can't anticipate now, but hopefully changed for the better.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    A trip of a lifetime.

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?
    I think that RTW travel is not suited for most people, actually. In order to reach a financial and social place in life where such a trip is practical, sacrifices are necessary. I think it is possible to have just as worthwhile experiences on traditional vacations. I feel RTW travel is best for those who view travel as a lifestyle, not as a hobby or a break from the 'real' world.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That everyday is going to be a life-changing experience. You will have those days, but there will be plenty of days where you are cold and tired, just like at home.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I like to travel because it gives me freedom to create my own schedule and to experience the world on my own terms. I can be the master of my own fate and meet some amazing people at the same time.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Don't try to do too much. On my first trip, I spent most of my time in a very small region (the Middle East) and was able to enjoy the people and sites at a pace that kept me healthy, both mentally and physically. If you're new to travel, I would recommend choosing areas of the world that are more developed, at least at first. Ease into the 'hard' stuff.