Debbie Ashby

Debbie and Kieran (who she has lovingly dubbed "the TB," or "Tortured Boyfriend" relax in their Melbourne apartment before heading out for 2001 New Year's Eve. She leaves for her next RTW this year.

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   November 1997-October 1999

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   19

3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
   Roughly AUD$50,000

4. Nationality
   England

5. Where do you live now?
   Melbourne, Australia

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: UNIX Computer Operator
   
   Now: Senior UNIX Operator
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   If anything my travels have helped me get a job when I came back. Despite the fact that you have not worked for a few months most employees are really interested in the things that you have done, and it shows that you are adaptable and not afraid to go for things.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   London to Mexico City, bus to Acapulco, overland up the west coast of Mexico and into Baja California. Across the border in to California. Los Angeles to New Zealand, then to Melbourne. We worked in Melbourne for a year, during which time we rebuilt an old van and turned it in to a fantastic camping wagon. We then travelled in it up the east coast of Australia to Cairns. Cairns to Bali, also explored Lombok and the Gili Islands. Bali to Singapore, we then travelled up through Malaysia and in to Thailand where we spent 2½ glorious months.

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   I had always wanted to go travelling at some point in my life, and at the end of 1999 I was getting bored of my job, I had met someone else who was just as keen as I was to go, and I had enough money saved. It just seemed like the time was right.

   Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
   

   • Best Moment
     Watching the sun set in Pie de la Cuesta from a hammock with a coconut in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

   • Worst Moment
     Being robbed in Tijuana and then followed by a gang in LA – all in the same day.

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     My pre-conceived ideas.

   • Biggest surprise?
     How quickly I learned Spanish in Mexico.

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   We met a guy called David in Acapulco. He was the caretaker of our apartment block during the night and went to school during the day. He was the nicest person but was treated with disrespect by most people. We used to spend time with him, and during our last week in Acapulco we took him out to all of the bars. He had lived there his whole life but had never been able to afford to go. The enjoyment on his face all night was something I'll never forget.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   Swiss Army Knife. Came in so handy in many situations.

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   My hairdryer... I am a girl, and thought I would need this. I dumped it after the second week.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   My RTW trip has changed my life completely. I now no longer feel I have to just settle for things. Everything is possible and achievable. I am more outgoing than ever before. Travelling is now a way of life for me. I work to save money to go travelling.

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   The best thing I've ever done.

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Yes. I am leaving in April 2002 to embark on another RTW trip. This time we are off to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Nepal, Mexico, Central and South America. We will be away for 12 months.

   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?
   RTW trips allow you the time to explore. You completely escape from the pressures of your regular life and you have the freedom to move from place to place whenever you like.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   People are all the same no matter where you go. They all care about the same things and have the same worries as you and I.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   Probably the biggest myth is that it is expensive. Not so. You can buy an RTW ticket with 5 stops for much less than a return from London to Bangkok.

   Why do you like to travel?
   The unknown – not knowing where you are going to end up or where you will be from day to day. To see new places, meet new people, laze in the sun some days and hike others. Always something exciting happening, but if there isn't you just move on.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   Don't think about it, just do it. I do not know anyone who has ever regretted it, and you will wonder why you did not do it sooner.

Once wasn't enough for Deb. She leaves in April for her next RTW trip, and you can read about her plans and anxieties here.