I just came across the site of a Swiss photographer who has lived in Australia for a few years. With an Italian friend, he is setting off in a couple of weeks to ride back to Switzerland. So far, their prospoed route goes from Darwin through West Timor, Bali, Brunei, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City – obviously taking their bikes onto boats where neccessary! Throughout the trip, they’re taking photos and video in an aim to put together a documentary of the two year journey.
Now, that is something I’d love to do at some point in my life. What an adventure – physically exerting, potentially tough living conditions, fantastic photo opportunities, real friendship building, a chance to meet many great people by staying with couch surfers, and simply just the opportunity to do something different.
Unfortunately, the industry I’m in at this point in time won’t allow something of that sort. In the IT industry, taking two years off will render you useless when you return. You’ll be doing things that were “so two years ago” and that would have been far surpassed by newer and greater technology. Yes, in IT, two years off would be career suicide – unless you spent awhile catching up on what you’d missed.
Isn’t it unfortunate, having probably my two biggest interests (IT and travel/photography/adventure) in conflicting areas? And so begins another thing in my quest to find out what I shall do in life.
Amazing that people take trips like this.
I saw some pages two days ago, via metafilter, about Heinz Stücke. I think you’ll like the photos.
Pursue your passion to the nth degree
When all seems insurmountable, continue to pursue it in a responsible fashion. However, wisdom to God is folly to man