The end of the trip… (Around The World in 209d)

Well, finally I’m back … a big thanks to everybody who supported me in any way during my trip, to all those great new friends I made and to all the people I met in general!!

I thought a little summary/conclusion might be appropriate ;)

9 different countries, 209 days

— Thailand
— Cambodia
— Vietnam
— Laos
— New Zealand
— Australia
— Fiji
— USA
— Mexico

22 flights, 16 airlines

— Austrian (VIE-BKK, LHR-VIE)
— Air Asia (BKK-Phuket)
— Vietnam Airlines (Nha Trang-Hanoi)
— Lao Airlines (Hanoi-Luang Prabang)
— British Airways (BKK-SYD)
— Qantas (SYD-CHC, BNE-ASP, ASP-AYQ, AYQ-SYD)
— Emirates (AKL-BNE)
— Virgin Blue (BNE-MEL, MEL-BNE, SYD-BNE)
— Pacific Blue (BNE-NAN)
— Air Pacific (NAN-LAX)
— Mesa Airlines (LAX-LAS)
— US Airways (LAS-SFO)
— Air New Zealand (LAX-LHR)
— tourist flight on Fraser Island
— helicopter ride at Uluru (Ayers Rock)
— helicopter ride to, over and into the Grand Canyon

7 different cars

— Ford Focus (New Zealand, 19d)
— Toyota Corolla (Melbourne, 2d)
— Holden Calais (Melbourne, V6, 1d)
— Audi A3 Sportback (Brisbane, 2.0l, 8d)
— Wicked Camper “Deluxe” (Queensland, manual, 6d)
— Ford Falcon (Uluru, V6, 2d)
— Ford Mustang Convertible (California, V6, 11d)

20,000+ photos (40+ GB)

— already 1300+ online … and counting

7 different SIM cards / mobile phone numbers

— Austria/Everywhere: A1 (+ A1-over-IP)
— Thailand: AIS
— New Zealand: Vodafone (2)
— Australia: Telstra
— Fiji: Vodafone
— USA: AT&T

9 guidebooks

— Thailand (Rough Guide + Marco Polo)
— Cambodia (Stefan Loose)
— Vietnam (Rough Guide)
— Laos (LP)
— New Zealand (Rough Guide)
— Australia (LP)
— Fiji (LP)
— Coastal California (LP)

+ road maps for Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Las Vegas and California

6 things that didn’t work out

— (shark) diving in Fiji
— see Perth and Darwin
— rent a Mini Convertible in Australia
— half marathon in California (knee injury)
— despite the long stay no Australian girlfriend *g*
— the planned flight home after 2 months in Indochina *ggg*

9 best things

— Erwin & The Gang

Traveling (and camping) together with Andi, Christoph, Jürgen, Reini and my brother in Thailand, Cambodia and New Zealand was awesome!!

— Thailand

Cheap, beautiful and exotic. Love Khao San Road!

— New Zealand

Unbelievable beauty and scenery

— Santa Barbara

The loveliest and most beautiful town I’ve ever seen in my life

— Scarlett’s & Ashish’s wedding

You can’t top that!

— Silicon Valley

“You’re at home, baby”

— A “wicked” birthday surprise on the beach

Thanks to Martina, Boernie and Justin

— Second best SMS: “Terre Joe! I bin do!!!”

Big thanks to Boernie, the only friend who actually joined me for a few weeks

— Best SMS: “Ich gehöre dir. The whole night…” ;)

[to be continued]