...the beginning

Dear friends & family,

i wanted to give you a little introduction to my life changing adventure and why i have chosen to do this.

the thought of travelling the world has been in my mind since i was about 16 or 18 years of age. i got the first taste of it travelling with a good friend Toby for three months in France in his mini cooper. I loved it. We were 16!

Ever since for some reason or another i have just been working, i just got caught up in the rate race on the career ladder having odd 2-3 week holidays, getting a small taste of what it would be like to travel but that was all. Time goes by fast - that is true. Before i knew it i was 30yrs old and had been in the corporate 'rat race' for 10 years.

During the last few years the thought of wanting to see the world has been growing stronger. Thailand (2005) was another reminder, spending 3 weeks in the north and south of the country. the people were so friendly. the country was so green and beautiful. but then i had to go back to concrete ville.

I think the final straw was in Brazil (2007) having spent all morning surfing, i was sitting on the beach, listening to music, writing in my journal when i just knew that if i did not act upon my feelings of travel i would live with regret all the rest of my life. on the other hand, if i took the decision to make this big step, it could be one of the best decisions of my life. funny how these are both opposites (biggest regret / best decision).

After Brazil i started to think very seriously about changing the course of my life. i talked it through with my family at Christmas (they're all in panic mode now - shock & horror ;-). Then in begin January i went through a long period of doubt for about 2-3 weeks. why leave my career, safety zone, creature comforts, easy life etc etc. I actually came out of this period with even more conviction and i decided in February (2008) that i would take this huge step and make this change happen. i would leave the 'rat race and join the human race'.

i researched it further, talked it through with my work and got an agreement for a 12 month sabbatical - starting July 1st 2008. Amazing i know! well that is taking destiny into your own hands and choosing life!

Today (April 2008) i still have thoughts of fear, what am i doing, will i be ok/safe on my own. i mean, this is no lite decision, tell me how many people you know who have travelled the world on their own for a year?

Anyway, i have made my decision, i am now in full planning mode and am happy to say i will be visiting all the countries and continents i want to see, namely Latin America, South East Asia and India.

I will post my itinerary and will try and keep some sort of blog of whats going on and would appreciate any emails back from you. plus feel free to come and visit me anywhere along the trip. just pick a country or a time and visit.

So that's my story. i shall close it here for now and look forward to my travels and sharing some of my experiences with you (in your arm chair).

take care and wish me luck

Luke.