RTW: Coming Home

Well, that's a wrap. After eight-and-a-half months of travel, I'm back on Canadian soil, trying to digest just what exactly this incredible year has been all about.

I flew on 30 planes, visited four continents and 29 countries. I wore out four pairs of flip flops and drained seven bottles of sunscreen. I fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing, lions roaring, and roommates snoring. I watched koalas, sea lions, kangaroos, elephants, blue whales, lions, rhinos and hippos in their natural habitats. I lost my wallet and got one new scar. 

I kissed a giraffe and handfed a dolphin. I ate at a hangi, drank at a shebeen, rode in a tuktuk, sailed on a dhow and took a road trip in a Fiat. I stood on the edge of a volcano and in front of two of the seven wonders of the world. I spent Valentine's Day in Sydney, St. Patrick's Day in Exmouth, Easter in Bangkok, my birthday in Copenhagen and Canada Day in Reykjavik. 

I had a $4 massage and a $14 cocktail. I crossed the equator four times and adjusted my watch 14 times. I used 22 different currencies and read just as many books. 

I stayed in 120 places - from Adelaide to Zagreb - and slept in 115 different beds, on two trains, three buses, in two campervans, a bunch of tents and on one pile of couch cushions. 

I spent just about $28,000 and don't regret a penny of it.

So, how was my trip? Those are the numbers. I'm still trying to find the words.

Stay tuned for a final wrap-up post that'll cover all the logistics of how I made this trip happen. If you're hoping to do your own RTW trip or if you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer them. Just please don't ask where my favourite place was. My head may spontaneously combust.

• Heather's blog
• Print