A Letter to my Children

My hopes and dreams and wishes for my children as they leave on their first trip alone.

Hope. Fear. Excitement. You will feel all three when you step out into the world. You’ll be excited by new possibilities and afraid of the unknown at the same time. When we first left, we knew almost nothing — only that we wanted to seize everything the world had to offer. We had a guidebook and a list of “100 things to do before we die,” and that was enough. We were young, inexperienced, naïve, and we made plenty of mistakes. But as the years and miles passed, we grew into travellers.

Our dreams expanded from 100 things we wanted to see to 1,000 things we wanted to experience. We met travellers who shared their stories, and we discovered places we hadn’t even known existed when we began. Slowly, we grew into the people we were meant to become.

With close to thirty years of travel behind us, we offer you the gift of our wisdom. The world is a wonderful place — full of sights that take your breath away, people who steal your heart, and experiences that shape the person you will become. But not everyone has the desire to travel, because travel pushes you far outside your comfort zone. It is always easier to stay in one place, surrounded by the familiar and safe, than to make the decision to move.

We hoped that by making travel something that defined you — something that was simply part of who you are — you would grow up without fear or hesitation. We hoped you would see the world as attainable, and yourself as capable of reaching out and grabbing its delights. We hoped you would share our passion, and that travel would make you a richer, wiser person.

As you begin your own life as a traveller, we want to share some thoughts with you. Our journeys have taken us to 100 countries on 50 trips — some as short as two weeks, others as long as two years. You shared many of these journeys with us, and many of our favourite memories of you as a child come from our travels together. But now you must lead your own heart. You must decide what kind of traveller you want to be and where your passion lies. You must learn your own lessons, make your own mistakes, and blaze your own trail. These thoughts are here to guide you when you feel uncertain, and to remind you — when you falter — why travel is a blessing. It will influence many major life choices, and you will carry it with you to your grave.

“Breathe, breathe in the air, don't be afraid to care; leave but don't leave me. Look around and choose your own ground, for long you live and high you fly, and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry. And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be”.

Roger Waters & David Glimour

Not everyone you meet on the road is a traveller. Many are tourists. A tourist goes somewhere to do something. Any culture they encounter or people they meet are almost accidental — a by‑product of the trip. Their experience is about getting something in an environment that feels comfortable and familiar. It doesn’t challenge them, stretch them, or make them question anything. They see the world through the rose‑coloured glasses of large hotels and tour groups.

Travellers are different. They make a conscious decision to see the world differently. They travel so they can be changed. They don’t look for things to be like home — they want them to be as different as possible. They want to understand local people, form lifelong friendships with those who share their passion, and let the world shape them. They want their souls to be changed, not just to get a suntan.

Travel is not something you do for a holiday — travel is who you are. Travel is not what you see, but what your experiences awaken in you. Does a volcano make you want to learn more about nature? Does a beautiful beach inspire you to care about climate change? Does poverty in India make you question global inequality? Does a child in Somalia make you think about child slavery? For a traveller, the journey must change you — or it has served no purpose. Travel becomes your mentor. It becomes your teacher.

So this is the starting point of any journey: decide if you are a traveller at heart. Once made, this decision will shape

“The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

Travel Is About Stepping Out

Fear stops too many people from tasting what the world has to offer. It is nowhere near as dangerous as the TV makes it look. If you’re sensible, you’ll avoid the 0.01% of situations that are unsafe. Remember — you’re more likely to be hurt in a car accident at home than overseas. Keep it in perspective.

So many people say, “I can’t afford it. I’d love to do what you do.” They can. Money is often an excuse for fear. And to be afraid is to miss too much.

But let’s be honest — not everyone wants to travel. Some people need and want the security of the familiar. They grow in other ways and choose a path that keeps them close to home. And that is perfectly okay. But if the need to travel is in your heart, you will find a way, even when life takes turns that make it seem impossible.

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

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Travel Is About Following a Feeling

Guidebooks are great for overviews and maps, but you’ll never find the best experiences in them. They tell you what to see, but sometimes you simply need to wander. People are your best resource. Ask fellow travellers. Listen to stories. Let curiosity lead you.

Websites can spark ideas, but don’t be drawn into the “trendy” places. Find your own path. The most interesting and memorable days are often the ones you never expected.

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Emerson

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Travel Is Personal

Travel in a style that aligns with your values, interests, and personality. Ignore everyone else’s opinion. Don’t think you’re superior because you’ve visited 58 countries on $25 a day and only go “off the beaten path.” Know your own style.

The speed you travel is up to you. Some people can sit on beaches for months; others (like Mum) would be bored silly. Many travellers rush around at first, then suddenly — when they find the right place — stop and rest. There’s also a breed of traveller who spends weeks in cheap resorts with good facilities. These hangouts exist everywhere and can be wonderful for a short break, but not for months.

The truth is: travelling is hard work. No one likes sitting on buses, but that’s how you get places. Independent travel is not about relaxing — it’s about learning, growing, and pushing yourself. Travel as hard or as gently as you like, but don’t set rigid expectations at home. Things change.

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Travel Is About Freedom

Freedom means different things to different people. To us, it means being able to move as you choose — unbound by expectations, debt, or obligations. It is liberating and exhilarating to know that everything you need is with you. You are in control of your journey and your choices.

Some people find that frightening or irresponsible. A traveller sees it as a gift — and longs for it when it’s gone. We wish for you the feeling of freedom to discover yourself.

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

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Travel Is Not Easy

Travel is not a holiday. They are different things. You often come home from travelling and feel like you need a holiday. On long trips, rest. We take Sundays off every week. Stop and work when you grow complacent. Make a temporary home when you tire of hostels. The gains from your “hard work” will stay with you forever.

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends…” — Cesare Pavese

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Travel Is About an Open and Respectful Mind

If you don’t want to understand others and honour their lives, travel will frustrate you. You will take little from the experience. Open your mind to different cultures and perspectives. Seek to understand. Celebrate local customs and festivals in their traditional ways. Learn about other religions — not necessarily to adopt new beliefs, but to deepen your understanding and perhaps illuminate your own.

Do as much as you can locally: local food, local transport, local accommodation.

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

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Travel Takes Time

Sometimes we only have limited time, but when you have a choice — slow down. It’s tempting to try to see it all. Who knows when you’ll return? But don’t fall into that trap. When you travel, less is more. Slowing down lets you drink deeply from each culture and soak it all in. Go slow, and you’ll experience more.

“I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” — Disraeli

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Travel Is About Friendships

You will make wonderful friends on the road. Some will be lifelong. If you don’t get their contact details, you may regret it forever. With social media, it’s easy to stay in touch for years. Finding people who share your passion is one of travel’s greatest gifts.

“Some roads are not meant to be travelled alone.”

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Travel Is About Taking Risks

Don’t quote me as saying it’s okay to take any risk — but some risks are worth taking. Mixed with common sense, they are often the only way to achieve your dreams. Travel itself is a risk. Keep a level head and challenge yourself. Do one thing each day that scares you. Push your comfort zone a little further each time. Try new adventures. You may only do them once — but at least you did them.

“Not knowing where I am going is what inspires me to travel.” — De Castro

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Travel Is About Putting Yourself Out There

It takes courage to talk to strangers. You’ll find yourself alone in a hostel while everyone else is chatting. Speaking up takes bravery. But most people are travelling because they want to meet others. Say “hello” and everything unfolds. No one has ever said no to “Can I join you?”

Travel also gives you time to think about the kind of person you want to be remembered as. Will someone say, “I remember travelling with that great Aussie guy Brett — he was so funny and helpful, and knew so much about Namibia”? You have a thousand first impressions a day — make them count.

“Sometimes in life you lose sight of things — of yourself and who you should be. When you travel, everything balances out.”

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Travel Is About Never Losing the Wonder

Never lose the wonder of amazing people in amazing places. Close your eyes and listen. Smell. Sit in silence and think. When a mountain or a market no longer fills you with anticipation, it’s time to rest. The joy will return. Even travellers get bored with the routine and work of travel — rest, change your focus, or regroup until the awe returns.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places that take our breath away.”

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Travel Is About Letting Go of Home

This is not permission to stop calling your mother! The people at home — and the friends you meet along the way — want to be part of your life. But they are not your only life. Have an emergency contact system, but beyond that, ignore your emails for a week. Focus on the journey. Don’t spend your whole trip thinking about home.

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Travel Is About Changing and Growing

Look for opportunities around every corner. Listen, question, read, debate, and keep your mind and heart open. The greatest travel risk you can take is to let new experiences challenge your beliefs and assumptions. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable — that’s how you grow.

Travel gives you perspective not only on the world, but on your life back home. Ask yourself questions. Re‑evaluate your lifestyle. Be honest with yourself. Stay open to the possibility that travel will change you in profound ways.

“The great journey is not seeing new places but in having new eyes.”

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Travel Is As Long or As Short As You Choose

With a little effort, faith, and know‑how, world travel can be cheap, easy, and fun. If you choose to stop, it’s because you chose to stop. You can find work anywhere in the world if you want to.

“A traveller who does not watch and listen is a bird without wings.” — Saadi

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Travel Is About Being Flexible

Go with the flow. Change plans when a better idea comes along. If you’re really hating something, change direction.

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Travel Is About Trusting the Kindness of Strangers

Almost everyone you meet on your travels is good‑hearted, hospitable, and sincere. It is tragic when travellers let fear block real experiences and genuine connections. Ironically, the most trouble often exists in the tourist zones — not in the places where locals live their everyday lives.

“Travel is not about seeing the sights- it is about the change that goes on deep in the minds of the living”. Beard

So, with those thoughts, go with our blessing!

Let the journey begin. Be safe and know you are loved.

Mum and Dad