Q: How long are you taking off?
A: We're planning to be "on the road" for 1 ½
years (until approximately 01/2007).
Q: Where are you traveling?
A: Argentina, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Tibet, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Q: What are you doing?
A: It will vary. Climb mountains, learn about different cultures, ice climb, rock climb, visit friends and family, hike/backpack, raft and kayak, camp (in tents and in our car!), learn about different ecosystems, sight see…
Q: Are you flying, driving, hitch-hiking…?
A: All of the above, plus more! We are using airline ‘miles’ we acquired
through business travel to get to
Q: Are you staying at the Marriott, your tent, or in a ditch along the
roadside?
A: Hotels: When we want to stay in a hostel but can’t
find one, we will stay at an inexpensive hotel. I doubt Marriott ever qualifies as inexpensive… Hostels: We are mostly staying at the cheapest youth hostels we can
stand. These typically consist of a
shared dorm room with 4 beds (2 bunk beds), and community bathrooms/showers. Some of the hostels will offer a private
‘double’ room with two twin beds, but you rarely ever get a private bath. Hostels also offer community kitchens where
you can store and prepare your own meals.
There is typically a common room (or two) where you can watch TV or
movies, and if you are lucky, FREE internet access on an old, slooooooooow
machine. Tent: Used when
backpacking, or when car-camping in
Q: Are you coming back to
A: We're not sure. We would love to return to
Q: Why now?
A: The timing is just right. From a personal perspective, we are "T minus one trip," with T being Baby Time. We have enough time to do this trip before we start our family. From a professional perspective, it's right as well. Both of us are happy with the states in which we will leave our positions and companies. We both think a fresh start will be the right thing for us, as well as for our companies.
Q: Are you going to climb Everest?
A: You have no idea how many times people ask climbers this question. It's actually a joke among climbers. Everest is a busy mountain, which costs a lot of money (summit fees), involves weeks/months of sitting in tents acclimatizing and hauling gear around. The portion of the climb that is truly technical or interesting is limited to a very, very small portion. So no, we have no interest in climbing such a long, non-technical mountain. (with absolutely no offense intended towards the amazing climbers who want to or have ascended this great mountain). Will our decision change? Naaaa.
Q: Where will Boomer be for all of this?
A: Ana's mother and father are dog-sitting. We HUGELY appreciate them for it!
Q: Are you going to rent your house?
A: No, we sold it.
Q: Why did you sell your house? You will want a "home base" when you come back.
A: Two reasons: first we think the real estate market is about to take a nose dive and second, we don't want to live in quite such an urban place. We're not city mice, apparently, although we miss our neighbors dearly!
Q: Are you bringing a computer and cell phone?
A:
Sometimes. We will carry our
laptop for the