rrrichard

Hey everyone, how's it going? I'm getting to swan around Europe and the Middle East, and I'm so stoked about it. I'm 19 years from Vancouver, Canada and I decided to say "sod off!" to the idea of university for a year and see everyone I've always wanted to see.
Being 19, though! Is that ridiculous? Am I just going to die or something?! That would be pretty awful, so I'll say no.

I've been looking into this for a year, and now I've decided it's time to hop on the plane and take off! I'll be heading to Istanbul on January 14th for three months, some awful culture shock and hopefully a great time. My hostel is booked for the first ten days, but where I'm going to stay after that... I'm not too sure! I'm probably going to end up renting a room, but that would cut into a lot of my budget!

I'll be working as an English teacher in a school I'm sure is far from reputable, so just in case- what are work opportunities like in hostels? Is it impossible to land a position for a couple days/weeks/a month in the winter? Who has been to Istanbul before? I have some experience working in hostels over in my parts and I'd love to work my way around working in that sort of place.

right! so! After Istanbul I don't really have anything planned. I am simultaneously excited and terrified of this! What I'd like to do is travel south and wait for the weather to heat up before swanning along to Western and Central Europe. I'm thinking of Syria, Jordan, Israel, then maybe Egypt.

When the tourist season starts in May I'm really hoping to head up to Greece and get some season work there for about a month. After Greece I'll eventually be making my way, slowly :D, to London and a flight home.

Am I naive for even wanting to do anything like this? I have ten grand saved up, and I'm hoping I'll be able to last on that and a job until the end of August.
Is this realistic?
Am I mad?

I've been planning the finer details for a while, but this is mostly my rough plan of how it's going to go! It'll be played by ear for the most part after Turkey. I'll be travelling by myself, and I'm pretty easy going and adventurous. I'm really hoping for the best. You only live once, right?

Cheers mates, and hope to hear from you.
Richard

rrrichard

hey! I almost forgot.
Next December my friend and I are planning to do the Plymouth to Banjul race! If you haven't heard of it's, it's a bunch of teams that get together, buy an absolute beater of a car, raise money for charity, race in convoys from Plymouth, England down to Banjul (they used to race to Dakar) in west Africa. At the end all of the cars (that make it) are sold off for local charities.
A great thing all around.

nemesis331

Sounds like you have some great travels ahead. i would recommend seeing egypt though. i have heard nothing but amazing things about it and i'm not gonna lie, i'm a little jelous. thats always been one of the places i want 2 see most. have a great trip and keep us posted with details as they come!!!

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--Bates-- </span>

kingcrazylegs

You'll be fine 19 or otherwise - happy trails, and welcome

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all that is not given is lost

Kevin-L

Welcome and good luck to where ever you go. The Race looks like it would be so much fun.

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Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.
-Ernest Hemingway

bookofkels

Welcome , sounds like you've set yourself up for a year of nice travelling, have a blast

Oh and i'm sure someone around here will be able to give you pointers on the places you want to see and the places to see along the way

Stay safe and happy travel's

Kel

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"I'm not here for a long time, i'm here for a good time!"

ScarlotteDorian

HEY! and WELCOME! sounds like quite a trip so far, keep us posted during your travels!

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people travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long course of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering. -St. Augustine

chelseafc05

welcome sounds good to me

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http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Danieljh/ <--- pictures of from eastern europe trip

Where ive been: Cộng Hòa Xã Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt , Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Česká republika, Slovenská republika, Magyar Köztársaság, Republika Slovenija, Republika Hrvatska, Bosna i Hercegovina, Republika Srbija, Republika Balgariya, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, România, Rzeczpospolita Polska, Lietuvos Respublika, Latvijas Republika, Eesti Vabariik, Republiken Finland



MY NAME IS
Daniel

weirdbeard

Welcome to the boards! The trip sounds great but the race lloks really cool. I've always loved the idea of some kind of cross-country rally. Maybe I've seen Cannonball run too many times. Keep us postedwith the trip and show us some pics!

bluepea

The race seems awesome!! I'd love to do that.

Anyhow, everything sounds good so far. Pretty amazing. I can't wait to get to spend some time in the Middle East. Keep us updated as things go on.

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~~ Jamie ~~
You give me the most gorgeous sleep That I've ever had And when it's really bad I guess it's not that bad




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