We are a family of four from Mackay, Queensland who have decided to check out of ‘normal’ life for a while and go discover the world together…

Sally

Sally has a background in Management, Travel and Sales and since having her two daughters has worked from home as a Consultant in Relocation Services. Travel has been a passion and a part of life for as long as she can remember. She left Australia in her early 20’s and after five years and two circumnavigations returned home to ‘settle down’. A continuation of a career in travel followed, with another four month trip five years later after she met David which resulted passing on the travel ‘bug’.

Volunteer work has been a focus the last few years since having children and she has especially loved being involved at her girl’s schools with reading and swimming.  She is voracious reader and researcher who is either planning a trip, reminiscing about past trips or vicariously enjoying those of others.  Paradoxically, she detests shopping and shopping centres but loves Asian markets, loves a weekend cocooned at home with her family yet feels most free out on the open road.

She feels blessed to have such a supportive husband who allows her to realise her dreams and is who is happy to come along for the ride.

Thanks to this trip (which added another 13 new countries) she has now clocked over 60 countries (some visited multiple times) and is looking forward to the next trip already!

David

David is a very proficient jack of all trades! The last 6 years before this trip he has been involved in the shipping industry as a Ships Agent after many years working in his parents business as a welder, fitter and turner and Project Manager. Flying has been a passion and he has held fixed wing private and commercial pilot’s licence, and also has licences for boat, truck and motorcycle.  He received qualifications from the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania and has spent 11 years with the Australian Army Reserve.

David’s ambition to restore a traditional style all timber ‘Queenslander’ house into a comfortable and friendly home for his family has been a labour of love over a long period of time.   He is looking forward to exploring new countries and spending plenty of quality time with his family.

Phoebe

Phoebe is an animal loving, environmentally conscience  9 year old who enjoys reading.  A great actress who loves her family dearly and who wishes our dog could have come along on our adventure too.   Phoebe is looking forward to trying new food and seeing new places but especially to riding elephants, horses and having as many other animal interactions as possible.

Imogen

Imogen , who turned 7 a month into our trip is our budding geologist in the making.  She was in her element on a recent holiday when she got to dig for sapphires, opals, gold and fossils.  A bright little button who has a keen eye for detail and can spot all manner of things seemingly invisible to the rest of us – broken glass, small insects, unusual plants…. Horse loving Immi is usually the one who lightens the mood and who cracks us up with her antics.

Why not?

Life is short and you get but one chance at walking on this earth.  I cannot imagine going through life not seeing, hearing or experiencing for myself the wonders of different countries, cultures and vistas.  As astounding as modern technology is these days with google earth, youtube and the like nothing can compare with physically standing in the place yourself and being immersed in the smells, sounds and vibe of a place.

In 2011 David was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma.  Two operations followed and over the last 18months has made 6 monthly flights to Brisbane to undergo PET (Positron Emission Tomography) body scans. We could have been  facing quite a different journey so we thank heaven that it is one in which we have control over and not the other way around.

The children are a great age – still young enough that they still want to hang out with mum and dad but old enough to be developing their own ideas and views about the world, where they question and form opinions. They can also read (a pre-requisite) and keep themselves amused for longer periods of time.   I want to have some undivided family time, where David gets to join in daily not just at weekends and before bed time.

Lastly, we love travelling – this will be my (Sally) fourth rtw trip. The first two when I was single, the third with David and now with children.  Since having children we have taken them to New Zealand, China, Vietnam and Borneo for the regular 3-4 week holiday and it just does not cut it anymore – I want a trip where we can stop and really experience life elsewhere rather than just wizzing through.

Why are we keeping a ‘blog’ – I have always kept diaries from my travels and look back on them fondly and thank goodness I wrote them – how quickly you forget details and how it brings the memories back when you do read them.  So this is really an experiment in bringing the diary into the 21st century, as well as keeping those at home informed of our movements.  I hope Phoebe and Immi (as well as keeping their own written diaries) look back on this and remember well the experiences and it envokes the smells, sights and memories too

What have you done with your house and all your stuff?

We have rented out our house (unfurnished) as being in a mining area rental vacancy rates are low pushing rents up which is fortunately in our favour.  We purchased a 20 foot shipping container and parked it out on my best friend’s block of land (thanks Debbie & Jim).  It now holds most of the contents of our house, with other miscellaneous item being billeted out amongst friends and family.

We also held our first ever garage sale and either sold or gave away items like our corner sofa,  furniture, children’s toys, books, magazines, and even linen. Thanks also to those who answered the plea for help to store or use some of our stuff.  There was not a spare spot in that container and had you not taken what you did we would have had a lot more to get rid of at the garage sale!

How do you afford a trip like this?

No we didn’t win the lotto, not even close.  It is all about priorities.  We live very simple lives at home. We don’t eat out a lot, I am the only one who even pays for a haircut as I cut the girls and David’s hair, we don’t buy the latest gadgets and I detest shopping so buying clothes is not even on my radar.  I am not ashamed to admit it but would be more likely to be found picking something up from a second hand store than shopping in a shopping centre.  It is a conscious recycling choice!  We are fortunate to own our home so therefore have no mortgage and although since having the girls I have worked part-time from home my earnings have been enough really to pay for each year’s overseas trip.  Therefore we have lived on one wage now for more than eight years – and we don’t live beyond our means.  David is a great believer in DIY and can turn his hand to pretty much anything.  I still had savings I had put away from when I was working so we have cashed in a couple of investment accounts, sold David’s car, and will have the rent from our house coming in to all help cover the costs.  We also have a redraw facility on our home loan if we need it!

Before we came away we met with a financial planner.  Part of that was to detail every expense we have during the course of everyday life. Medical insurance, kid’s ballet lessons, electricity, rates, groceries and the annual amount was astounding.  Australia is so expensive to live, eat, and holiday in.  After doing that exercise there was even more reason to say …..

“How can we not afford to do this?!”  We spent less during this year that we do living at home, and had so much more fun!

What about schooling?

Travel is “a multi-sensory learning experience that is much richer than textbooks, videos or classrooms…”(Arnell, 2011)

I completed an “Exemption for state school students for up to one school year – approved by Principal” from the Education Queensland website, which I approached much like a uni assignment  with details about how we would satisfy each key learning area. The girls had both received excellent report cards mid-year so although I feel the pressure to ensure that their grades don’t slip I also know  that  doing such a trip is a much more powerful learning experience than sitting in a classroom.  I believe the aim of education is for growth, development and fulfilment of personal potential and by sharing the wonder of our world with our children will open their eyes about their choices and potential.

I love the philosophy of world-schooling and will be adopting it often. But I will be coupling this with their curriculum in numeracy and literacy.  The girls teachers were so positive and amazingly helpful when it came to assisting me with content and curriculum and I have a USB stick full of so much material I probably won’t do it justice!  The girls have one English and one Maths book each plus some loose paper workbooks that were still uncompleted from school.  They have one exercise book and their journal that they will update nightly.  We hope to keep in touch with Phoebe’s class when they make comments to our blog during their ‘technology subject’ on Thursdays!  If they come back to school poorer for the experience then shame on us!

Why are you keeping a blog?

Experimenting actually – I have always keep diaries on my past travels and want the girls to do the same, although in this age of technology I also want to try my hand at putting my diary to photos to keep family and friends updated and also have them along for the ride so to speak.  I can’t promise writing expertise or even an exciting read but it is a way to save it for prosperity and in a way that will bring back memories of the way we spent the year…which can then be moved into tangible book-form.

I know when I see and experience things I notice I am constantly thinking how I would verbally describe the situation, view or feeling so I just wanted an avenue to pursue this further. I hope you enjoy reading some of our adventures.