Alethea's Excellent Adventures

I really enjoyed your blog! Keep travelling! :-) ...

2012-04-01T03:16:10.177-07:00

I really enjoyed your blog! Keep travelling! :-)

India Tours

Thank you Alethea, for this extensive story. It is...

2011-12-07T00:39:12.522-08:00

Thank you Alethea, for this extensive story. It is very special for me to read this. Although we live far away from eachother we have a warm and close history together. Not just you and me but also our families. It must destiny, that we met 20 years ago in the schooloffice in Nashville! Love you and your family very much and hope to see you again (in Portland!) very soon. Lots of love, Martine

I had a different view of the Eiffel Tower from my...

2011-07-14T13:05:41.054-07:00

I had a different view of the Eiffel Tower from my hotel room. But it did look very similar at sunset. I must have traveled so much during my week in Paris. Good thing I had a Paris Viste Pass. It was one of the best things to have on the trip.

Wishing you lots of love and many adventurous year...

2011-07-12T05:38:57.599-07:00

Wishing you lots of love and many adventurous years ahead!

I love this!!! I love you!! And, I am so excited ...

2011-06-13T18:41:23.358-07:00

I love this!!! I love you!! And, I am so excited about our weekend!!! TTYL my BFF!!! :) Boy, that can take you back a few years! :)

aww so sweet by you mom and stepdad ronnie :-)

2011-06-03T19:00:33.102-07:00

aww so sweet
by you mom and stepdad ronnie :-)

I remember Devang. That's great he let you gu...

2011-04-06T05:41:14.416-07:00

I remember Devang. That's great he let you guys use his place. I love all your posts and enjoy the photos as well. Keep'em coming.

Hey, I finally I could read your blog. Oh, I am Ta...

2011-03-14T08:58:50.036-07:00

Hey, I finally I could read your blog.
Oh, I am Tatsuro, a friend of Kentaro.

I'm really really glad to see your blog that would help my destination of my life project from now on :p
I will keep reading your blog and try to get tips for making my business and world round trip as much as i can. You are my great role model!

Now everywhere in Japan, lots of news segue about earthquake.
We should be down the earth and optimistic or positive in the same time :)
So take care of you guys. Anytime prep for some accidents. And have an awesome trip!!!!!
The best of your luck to your and your bf's trip;)

Tatsuro

I don't think those fishes give you massages! ...

2011-02-08T17:03:44.118-08:00

I don't think those fishes give you massages! They bite your feet!
I know that because there is the same service in the Panama City hotel I went to.

Thanks so much for this Alethea! I love you and a...

2011-02-07T19:55:15.727-08:00

Thanks so much for this Alethea! I love you and am glad to call you my best friend. Through thick and thin and many years, we find our way back to each other and always with a stronger relationship. I do miss you right now and wish there was a way that we could meet up! Love from TN!

Thanks for your information. It helped me much. I ...

2011-01-14T03:18:46.747-08:00

Thanks for your information. It helped me much. I am a backpacker too. And I have travelled a lot. But I haven’t seen as good services as I was provided by Cairns Backpackers. They are really great. Cairns Backpackers

It's interesting to see how you're dealing...

2010-12-14T07:00:19.436-08:00

It's interesting to see how you're dealing with "life" on the road, as this kind of trip is a bit of work, compared to a leave- it -all- behind-and-veg vacation! The longest I travelled was 5 months, and I dealt with some health issues along the way. South Africa's on my list for a future trip, for sure. Stay healthy and have a Merry Christmas...albeit in India!!

Yeah! I do agreed with you holly. I really appreci...

2010-12-03T03:06:07.154-08:00

Yeah! I do agreed with you holly. I really appreciate on how prepared you are in your trip. Just wanna share with you that I also used my smartwool socks during hiking.

Good summary! I am enjoying this trip too :-). Abo...

2010-11-07T11:31:19.013-08:00

Good summary! I am enjoying this trip too :-). About the only reason it is going so smoothly is because of your hard work & excellent planning skills which I thoroughly appreciate.

What a detailed report! I found it coincidental th...

2010-09-19T17:34:59.134-07:00

What a detailed report! I found it coincidental that I stumbled across your post this morning since I returned from Seoul (and Osan) yesterday.

Hi Monica, Sorry for the delayed response. Interne...

2010-09-04T23:57:25.000-07:00

Hi Monica,
Sorry for the delayed response. Internet access hasn't been the best here in New Zealand!

Anyway, I don't mind your question at all; it's certainly a valid one. As for the finances, all I can say is that I've done it all on my own by working hard & making sacrifices. Never made any real money on investments, property, etc. Being a flight attendant for six years was not a good way to save money; in fact, I spent more than I earned! And living in NYC certainly wasn't cheap either! After I quit flying I just kept working hard day in & day out, changed jobs/companies when I thought it was best, and managed to double my salary in about three years time. I didn't have to sell my soul to do it, but almost! It required a lot of 15 hour workdays and total dedication to my job (executive/personal assistant to CEO-level) at the expense of everything else. But I knew it wouldn't last forever because I was working towards a goal (i.e., had to have $50k in cash savings, excluding 401k, to allow myself to quit my job). I also have chosen not to have kids, no pets, shared my housing with roommates, sold all my stuff, etc.

Greg hasn't traveled nearly as much over the years and his bank account shows it. He also sacrificed by living with his parents to save more money and enabled himself to have more opportunities by going to night school and getting a masters degree.

I guess that's it. Sounds simple and, in a way, it is. Keeping a strict budget, not living beyond our means (in fact, living well below it), and setting goals & achieving them is what got both of us to where we are today.

All I can recommend is to make sure you have your priorities straight -- actually sit down and write out what you want to accomplish or do in the next week, month, year, etc. and then figure out what you'll have to sacrifice or change in your current life to make that happen. It's definitely not easy and takes serious dedication & persistence, but it's soooo worth it!!! :) All the best to you!

An envious and potentially too personal inquiry?? ...

2010-08-23T08:46:06.600-07:00

An envious and potentially too personal inquiry??

Dearest Alethea::

As I have always looked at RTW world cruises and thought...well, that is just a dream...but seriously, and I certainly hope I am not prying too much by asking this...simply how can one afford to go on such a trip as this and stay away for so long without working? I, too, have worked for soo long, yet, with a mortgage and such obligations could never imagine spending this type of money. Is it because you sold property and invested well? Was this all such wonderful savings planning that has allowed you to do this? Either way--my hats off to you, because I simply couldn't imagine doing what you are doing--it must be incredible--and to do it with your love--also the best feeling imaginable! I hope you have the best time of your life!
Monica :)

Looks like you've had a lot of organising to d...

2010-08-02T06:04:46.404-07:00

Looks like you've had a lot of organising to do - the effective measures you have taken to keep your stuff safe is something that all to many people don't take into serious-enough consideration. Also, you will be thankful of your your limited but practical list of women's clothing. You seem like a very organised and prepared person - enjoy your travels :)

How very exciting! You do not know us yet but we w...

2010-07-23T05:37:19.127-07:00

How very exciting! You do not know us yet but we will be following your amazing journey and cheering you and Greg on. I have found taking powder Gatorade for quick hydration to be helpful for some of our adventures. Thank you for sharing this amazing journey with all of us.
Alethea, make me smile :0)
your new friend Cindi

Looks like you guys are really on top of everythin...

2010-07-20T07:21:04.669-07:00

Looks like you guys are really on top of everything - your trip sounds amazing!

So exciting!! Cap. One is one of the few CC that h...

2010-07-19T15:53:14.824-07:00

So exciting!! Cap. One is one of the few CC that has okay service for int'l purchases, but we canceled ours when Schwab told us they have a CC program as well, with many of the same rules as the brokerage/checking.

I am so excited for the two of you. I just returne...

2010-07-18T10:14:35.579-07:00

I am so excited for the two of you. I just returned from my month-long adventure in Turkey and can't wait to get back on the road for a new adventure.

I look forward to reading about your round-the-world journey. Happy trails!

Please keep in mind that you are in the thoughts o...

2010-07-05T12:03:16.710-07:00

Please keep in mind that you are in the thoughts of folks back home who will never venture to the places you are going. We love reading about the reality of your travels - the good parts and even the not-so-good. It will be such an adventure! I'm rooting for you! I hope you both a safe and exciting 7 months.

-Kim (Wagner) Hill

Popping over from Stuff Parents Need...so excited ...

2010-06-10T11:53:59.037-07:00

Popping over from Stuff Parents Need...so excited about your upcoming trip...I'm following along, now!

First off I'll write a quick note and more lat...

2010-06-08T19:03:56.100-07:00

First off I'll write a quick note and more later ( I've been out and not flying due to an injury and can't sit for long...) I agree with Amy about Uluru...I loved Cairns as well and snorkling in the Great Barrier Reef. Also took a helicopter ride over the reef and that was amazing. Queenstown was by far my favorite place in New Zealand...Shotover Jet Boat rides were scary fun and you can bungy jump from a speedboat kind of like parasail bungee jumping.
As of S.Africa, Cape Town was a fave and Tabletop mountain is a must. I wouldn't take the Blue Train as a) it is over priced b) you are only on it for about 8 hours c) it would be better to see the Stellenbosch through a tour specifically for that, a wine tasting tour.
Have you considered Zanzibar?
I stayed at the Aywar Niwat Hotel ( link coming soon ) in Jaipur and would highly recommend $15/night big nice rooms and good food.
I have a good friend in Osaka and I could pick his brain if you go there. Just read an article about the beaches of Cambodia, more on that later was in Nat. Geo mag this month I think. How exciting. take care G