March 19th, 2009 - The day it all began. This time, last year at 21 years of age, I had just quit my job. I'd saved $20k AUD, quit my job, packed my things, bid farewell to my friends and family and was on a plane from Sydney to Vietnam. I started my trip having never travelled outside of the Western World, in my first few days I was ripped off countless times and pick-pocketed shortly after.
None of that mattered though, on my first outing from my over-priced hotel, I had barely walked several steps and was offered narcotics only to return to my room in a panic thinking I should go home and that I was way over my head. Who would have known that mere months later, I'd be avoiding a situation where some people were trying to set me up with heroin, and that I'd handle the situation without really worrying about it.
My trip, one year after it began, is now officially over. In that time, I have:
- Visited 25 countries: Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia, Abkhazia, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Northern Cyprus, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Germany, USA and Canada.
- Travelled through 5 continents: Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, North America.
- Taken 6 flights: Sydney - Saigon, Luang Prabang - Hanoi, Riga - Istanbul, Larnaca - Cairo, Tel Aviv - Hamburg, Frankfurt - Las Vegas
- Shot 14,000+ photos.
- Made countless friends and experienced even more adventures.
In the coming days, there will be some big changes happening. The past few weeks, I have been creating and optimising a new design for the blog. I will finish off the journey from Egypt to Canada and I will write more about some of the people I have met and how they changed my life.
I will also share with you a collection of my favourite photos and the stories behind them.
Thank you all for your support and well wishes. I will stay in Vancouver, Canada until I am ready to start my next trip in one or two years. I have plans to travel from the North of Yukon to the South of Patagonia overland and also to drive the entirity of Russia, photo-documenting the journey and some of the lesser known places.
I am in the process of writing a draft of a book and would love to hear what you want to read about most.
Finally, if anyone is in Vancouver in the next year or so, drop me a message ivan AT adventureivan.com so we can meet up and share some stories and so I can show you some of the city.
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Abkhazia
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Cambodia
Canada
China
Cyprus
Egypt
Estonia
Georgia
Germany
Israel
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Northern Cyprus
Palestine
Russia
Turkey
USA
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
East Turkestan
Nagorno-Karabakh
Tibet
You're only 22? I didn't realize you were that young!
от души тебя поздравляю!
только собрался написать комментарий к твоему первому посту, а у тебя уже юбилейный выпуск готов!
удачи и успехов!
Can't believe its been a year! Quite an exceptional amount of stuff you've managed to pack in.
For your book I am pleased to hear the comment about writing more about the people you've met that have left their mark on you, more of that will be brilliant! I also love a lot of your photos, so a coffee table book....?
All the best! Keep in touch.
And what a year it's been! Starting my own adventure right now, much thanks to your inspiring blog.
Keep on truckin' :)
I remember your rip off stories when I was at the end of my trip, and you at the beginning of yours (the Canadian girls you met at the Laos falls). It's exciting to see you've caught the travel bug. I've followed your blog on and off, and it's been an exciting read, of course. And now you're in my home territory! Maybe we'll meet up again sometime.
WOW!
GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!
My best wishes and congratulations on a safe returning!!!
thanks for:
1. meeting you in my life
2. the great experience you have shared with us
3. Changing my opinion on traveling, I used to travel for a short time trip and to the most popular tourist places
4. writing short and interesting stories. To tell the truth, I have started to read your sister’s blog, but I get used to your more and find it more attractive.
For sure you’ve got a great life experience !
As for the book, I would like to find some specific and not so popular, but worth of visiting PLACES in the world. Last time I spoke to you, was inspired visiting Laos, though it has never been my dream destination.
Every place and a country in a whole leave an impression depending on people you meet there. PEOPLE with the same basic needs, but so different sometimes …
YOU have overcome many barriers and obstacles, and how do you think and when you have changed your mind, character, vision. So, what changes made you think and behave in a different way.
PS if you need something for your book about Kazakhstan or nearby places, pls be sure it will be a pleasure to help you!
Wow man,
Lol.. i've been reading and watching almost daily your trip.. I caught on via OCAU i think.. I remember way back the beginning and that photo of you at the airport.
Such a shame it's coming to an end I lived vicariously through your adventures.
Glad to hear though all is well and you've got big plans for the future. Cant wait to see more blogs! helps me count the days down till my trip.
Kelsey, :) Travel Early, Travel Often.
ak, Большое спасибо папа, я тебя очень люблю.
Frank, I know, it's unbelievable to me how much has happened. A coffee table book was one of my initial ideas.
sconosciuto, Thank you so much. I'll be checking up on your blog to read about your adventures.
Kris, Glad you've found the blog an exciting read. I'm not too far from you. When you're in Vancouver, you know how to reach me, you have a friend to stay with.
Dilya, A very big thank you to you. It was such a pleasure to meet you in Almaty, I truly hope we get to meet again because you're such a GOOD person. I have taken your suggestions on board for when I'm writing. Thanks
Michael, It's not even close to coming to an end. It's merely on temporary hiatus until I raise the funds to visit the remainder of the ~200 countries in the world. The next trip will be bigger, better and far grander.
Just out of interest, on this trip, how much of your $20k did you spend?
after reading and keeping tabs on most of your blog, you managed to make your money travel fairly far.
i really and truly look forward to your new travels and book :)
-Andrew.
Ivan privet,
I remember you called me from Sydney airport few hours before your flight to start this journey. I couldn't imagine it's going to be a new form of life for you:-)
But you manage not only survival part but most important a creative one.
I was regularly reading your travel notes, comments, enjoyed your photos a lot.
I wish you a very good luck in such art endeavor as I become your permanent reader so dependent on you.
Andrew, before I arrived in Canada, I had spent $11k AUD. Most of the countries I had travelled to were fairly cheap to travel in, so my trip averaged to around $30 a day. I hitchhike, stay in hostels and couch surf a lot when I travel. Thanks for your kind words.
Vladimir, thank you so much for your kind words. I'm very happy to know you are still reading and enjoying my adventures. It's a true pleasure being your friend and working with you. Thank you :D