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Bifter's World Tour - An Overview:

This web site was created as a reminder to me of the fantastic year I had backpacking around the globe with a group of my closest friends.

It wasn't a ‘real’ world tour, only visiting 11 countries, but that does mean that I have left enough to do more some time soon. From my perspective it is a trip based around a handful of old friends who have all decided at the same time in their lives to jack it all in for a bit and go and do something fun and exciting before it’s too late. For some of us, the trip had been a long planned event, for others a snap decision. Either way, we all did it and we all managed to see some amazing places, do some fantastic things and meet all manner of people.

The plan at the outset was to travel as a group of friends for 3 months, or so, in Asia, then head to Australia to find jobs and replenish our funds. Then split up and do our own separate thing for the remainder of the trip (however long that would last). As with all plans, things didn't quite match expectations. At the outset I had a very poor knowledge of some of the places I would be visiting.

The main body of the information on this site has been compiled from the multitude of group e-mails I sent back, describing where I was. This was supplemented with info from the journal I kept during the trip. Prices are all in local currency and times, when given, were local.

The build up to leaving:

Four weeks before I left I saw my boss and requested a year off work. To my surprise the company gave it to me, but I assured them that I would probably be back in less than 6 months. If I even managed to do 3 months, I said, I would have been happy with having tried.

I bought a round the world air ticket. I went to a travel clinic and they injected me with all manner of deadly diseases. I moved out of my rented house and back home to Brighton. I went to a camping store and bought a plethora of backpacking goodies. I bought new clothes with lots of pockets. I packed and repacked my bag to death. I sorted out my bank accounts. I bought travelers cheques. I looked at my map of the world. I had a final drink, a final meal and then, before I had a chance to think about it, I was in the departure lounge of Heathrow Airport.

I really hadn’t contemplated much except the logistics of the trip. I was at a bit of a loss as to what I should do to mark this historic occasion. So I had a crap and then a few beers in the departure lounge. Felt substantially better. Boarded a plane and left good old Blighty for a while…….