I was at the height of my profession, working ten hours a day to afford to live in my spacious house and drive my sports car. It felt like I was buying my way to happiness. For a while, I was happy and content, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
As the void within me grew, I tried to replace it with expensive shoes, accessories, and items that provided me with brief moments of pleasure. I didn’t want the rest of my life to be safe and vanilla. after a few years of feeling this way, my husband and I decided to start traveling.
How The Big Walkabout started
We left our jobs and sold all we owned in exchange for two backpacks and the desire to travel the world. We never imagined that a South African couple from a disadvantaged economy could tour the world. We got one-way tickets to Vietnam and said our final goodbyes to our earlier lives.
Traveling as The Big Walkabout
When we travel as The Big Walkabout, we go on excursions, spend time outside, and discover new places. It makes us feel alive. We’ve walked the rim of an active volcano, down rice terraces, and beneath trees taller than skyscrapers. We’ve seen and done things I never thought imaginable.
The Big Walkabout Adventures
We’ve had adventures such as rock climbing down limestone cliffs, swimming beneath waterfalls, and rowing through caves. Our love of animals led us to swim with dolphins, see new-born turtles make their journey to the sea, and see hundreds of red starfish assemble in a little bay. We get a better appreciation for Mother Earth with each new journey.
Where Do We Go from Here?
My full-time job gave me a lot of confidence and self-worth, and my job defined me, as it does for most people. I don’t have all the answers, and I doubt I ever will. I’ll always be concerned about money (which was never an issue before). And when will the word “home” have new meaning? I have so many unanswered questions, and I often find myself imagining all the possibilities. One thing I know for sure, changing our lives and starting The Big Walkabout was the best decision we ever made.