We Still Call Australia Home!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaOne of the great joys of extended travel is the excitement of the flight that brings you back. There is an intense feeling of anticipation to be amongst familiar things and to see loved ones.
Its 9 months since we have stood on Australian soil and thats a long time in anyone's books. Especially since there was only a frantic and surreal month of being home (to get visas and book more travel) since the three months of travel before. It really seems like the absence has been from when we left to go to South America and Antarctica last November.
Catching up with family and friends is heart thumpingly exciting. Skype whilst a great invention, is such a poor cousin to a warm embrace from family and friends and a cuddle with our new granddaughter.
Since leaving our employment in Coral Bay we have travelled in 44 (34 for the first time) countries and have seen and experienced the most amazing icons of the world. We have taken 76 flights and hired cars 12 times, braving roads in the most scary of countries. We've hired camper vans twice and travelled 2 of the most iconic rail journeys of the world; from China to Tibet across the highest railway in the world, and from Beijing to St. Petersburg. We've used every mode of transport imaginable from crowded ferries, to luxury cruises and cramped mini buses.
And we are still best friends!
Except for College Fjord, which we were unable to see on our Alaskan cruise due to a hurricane, we have now been to 39 of the 40 "Places to See before you die" in Steve Davey's book.
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However, what we are most proud of, is that we have done all this travel with the absolute minimum of luggage and possessions. Our backpacks are looking a little worn but came home intact. Our hiking boots (our best friends other than each other!) are sadly in need of replacement. Along the way we bought better camera bags large enough to hold our netbooks as well as our cameras. We replaced our clothes often and donated our cast offs to housekeeping or charity.
We did it - we travelled "With Cabin Luggage Only"!!
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Comments
2025-05-22
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mezzaandyort
2012-02-04
Hi, love reading your blogs. You guys have travelled so much and I always find your blogs interesting. You ought to write a book on 'travels and travelling light' because I can't seem to do the 'travel light'. Last year we got back to Australia after a 12 month RTW trip and travelling light was hard especially to cater for 4 seasons. Well Happy future travels. Take care.
heatheravan
2012-02-04
Thanks for your comments! A book is the ultimate plan but meanwhile we are developing a website - www.travelwithless.com.au with tips and ideas.
cheers
Heather and Avan
mezzaandyort
2012-02-04
That is fantastic. I will definitely will check it out.