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| gonetraveling.com "I am a part of all that I have met. Yet, all experience is an arch where through gleams that untraveled world where margin fades, forever and forever when I move." |
| about the swifts |
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| > about the swifts |
| 2002-2003 |
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| To begin, this is not the story of a dot com couple that cashes in early to travel the world. In fact, it is quite the opposite. We are just two "ordinary" people who understood that when an opportunity of a lifetime presents itself, you have to take it. It all started in July when unfortunately (retrospect: fortunately) Fletch was laid-off from his high-tech adventure. Like many high-tech junkies, we were searching for that end of the rainbow treasure that would yield our early retirement. A high-tech veteran myself, we decided that maybe this was a sign telling us it was time to try something different. Like many, we have often fantasized about quitting our jobs and traveling the world. And like many, we have always found numerous excuses why we were unable to do it. Too much work, not enough money, need to be responsible (we are both over 30), should wait until we are retired; the list goes on. I did actually try to do this travel thing once before. Last year when I quit my own high-tech job, I planned a month-long trip to Europe with two girlfriends. Our flight was scheduled to leave Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Needless to say, we never made that trip. Five-year residents of Laguna Beach, California, the thought of packing up our house and leaving a destination that most people would kill to live in seemed almost ridiculous. However, when stacked against the fact that one of us didn't have a job, the other didn't really like theirs, our frequent flyer mileage from years of business travel would pay for our flights, our house was easily rentable, and we still didn't have any kids (only an ornery cat) to worry about; it seemed ridiculous not to go. |
| So we did what we hope any couple in our situation would do. We packed up our house, sold both of our cars, shipped our cat to Toronto (Fletch's brother agreed to be our pet's caretaker) and finally headed out to see the world. Well, it wasn't quite that easy, but with the help of our family and friends and the innvations of online banking and eBills; it didn't take us long to get ready. We thought it would be difficult to plan the ideal itinerary, but we quickly selected a travel route that would allow us to see as much of the world as possible in one year without skimping on living the local customs. |
| Our first stop would include a short vacation with Fletch's parents in Canada to witness the changing of the season. Next, we would stay in Taiwan with a ten-year resident and childhood friend of Fletch's. Then on to discover the Southeast Asian riches of Hong Kong, Thailand and Laos. From there our travels would land us in Europe to Winter in Italy, enjoy Spring in France and spend the Summer months meandering through Spain and Portugal; including mini jaunts to nearby countries of interest. Novice travelers in comparison to many, setting our expectations ahead of time seems foolish. In fact, our travel comparisons to Laguna Beach will be difficult enough. So we leave with open minds, will defer to the ways of the road and hopefully we will return much richer than what any end of the rainbow treasure could provide. |
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