Remember that great song by Paul Young `Wherever I lay my hat that’s my home‘. Well, I always think that where ever my suitcase is, that’s my home. When most people ask me which country I consider my base, I say I think it’s the whole world, aren’t I lucky!
Since being back in New Zealand, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on my past travels. In the 5.5 years that I was away from my homeland, I managed to visit more countries than I can sometimes remember. I have so many fond memories of amazing experiences, and an incredible network of friends all over the world who I know I can always catch up with whenever I next pass through their country.
Luckily for me, I started keeping a word document of all the places I’ve visited since 1981 – why that date? Well although I’ve been travelling overseas since before I was 2 years old, my memory as a baby just isn’t that good!
Where in the world has this Suitcase Entrepreneur been?
Since I departed New Zealand in February 2006 to head on my journey, not knowing when I’d be back or exactly where I would end up I’ve been to:
2006: Australia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, England, Italy,Vatican City (yes it’s a separate country despite being in Italy), Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain
For advice on setting up your location-independent biz in Thailand, read this great guest post.
2007: Norway, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Italy (did our dragon boating regatta), France (broke our world record in Dragon Boating across the English Channel), Czech Republic, Wales (to see the Rugby World Cup), Scotland, Northern Ireland, Mallorca, Spain (Ultimate Frisbee), Netherlands, Brazil (to win World Beach Ultimate championships with Great Britain Women)
2008: Gran Canaria, Tenerife (more Ultimate Frisbee tournaments), Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Canada (moved from London to live in Vancouver)
2009: Costa Rica, Canada, USA
2010: Czech Republic (World Club Ultimate Frisbee champs in Prague), Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Germany, Argentina (to live in Buenos Aires for 5 months)
2011: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, USA, Australia and home to New Zealand
Makes me kind of tired thinking about it. If only I’d used my air points plans and been a better Travel Hacker, I could probably fly around the world free right now. Perhaps when I head to Africa next year to bike from Nairobi to South Africa, I can get `cycle points’?
Every so often I want to just wiggle my nose and be back in one of those places that I loved so much, in that exact time and place on the beach, the river, hotel lobby, concert, party, train trip, park or festival.
Do you ever get that feeling? You’re visiting one place, and it reminds of you of another- a familiar smell, sight or sound that just triggers that vivid memory from your travels?
If you could jump on a flight to any destination right now where would you go?
I asked this very question on my Facebook page yesterday and was surprised to come back to see over 22 responses. I wanted to post them below to ignite the travel bug in you too.
I loved the variety of responses and the reasons people wanted to be there at this very place in time. Here are some more:
This conversation also went on to Twitter and @bekkascott after telling me she’d like to be in Paris, asked me where I’d rather be right now. It was kind of lovely to know that I was right where I wanted to be, and no place else.
Big thanks to Gregory Berg from Enso Photography who has especially provided these amazing travel images for the purpose of travel month on my blog. Make sure you check out his beautiful work of world travels captured.
And do tell me, where in the world would you be if you could be anywhere right now?