In preparation

Finally, the time has come for me to suppress this travel bug, that has been making my feet itch for quite some time. I thought the time would never come, but one resounding lesson from my previous 30 years stands out; everything comes to an end - including waiting.

Preparing for my travels has proven to be a self reflective process, and I have learned a lot about myself during the last few months. One thing I have learnt is that I hate clutter and hoarding belongings. Another thing I have learnt, or more like solidified my feelings on, is my complete lack of desire for material goods. Through growing up in a Western society, it has become custom for people to accumulate all sorts of material goods throughout their lives- Books, CDs, MP3 players, ornaments, gadgets, clothes etc. A direct result of living in a consumer driven society, me thinks!

In preparation for my own journey, I decided to get rid of everything I own, which I felt I wouldn't use again, either on my travels or when I return - golf clubs, clothes, old copy books from school, old bank statements, phone bills to name but a few. Why did I still have a lot of these things? I have no idea, but I feel very liberated, having rid myself of so many things that have been laying idle for God knows how long! It's not like I have, or ever will look back on my bank statements for fond memories of being broke from one end of the month to the next!

Having a very varied wardrobe was never a huge priority for me. Just take a look at any photos of me from over the years and that will become patently obvious. The only way you'd be able to tell if it was a different occasion would be by looking at my hair length. 

I donated most of my clothes to charity shops. Reducing my wardrobe significantly means I will be travelling very light; this is one of my favourite things to do. Perhaps it is a fear of being responsible for too many things, or just a necessity to limit the strain on my, already weak, spine. My rucksack is classified as hand luggage, so I will avoid queues at airports for checking in luggage. When I land, I can just walk straight off the plane without having to wait for my luggage to be loaded onto the carousel. It may not sound like much, but that is a lot of hassle and time saved, in my humble opinion.

Some of my inspiration for this trip has been taken from a couple, Simon and Erin, that are currently travelling the World and making a living while doing so. They literally packed up their whole lives in the UK, for a life of travel and they have been on the road for quite some time. Obviously, they have a lot of tips to share and I have taken many of them on board myself. You'll even notice a similarity between some of the things I have written, as it is direct advice I took from their website. If you're thinking of heading off on your travels, check out their website and you'll surely take something of value from it. Here is a link:

http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/

For the first time in my life, I am going to be leaving the Western World behind me, in the hope of embracing new cultures and experiences. I am feeling all sorts of apprehension, anxiety and excitement about the upcoming few months. Who will I meet, what will I see, where will I go? Stay tuned and I will keep you posted.

Sláinte,

Mick