The one BIG question. Where to start.

In the first instance we wanted to cover all 5 continents, actually go round the world. We wanted to follow a theme, like see the 7 wonders of the world, follow the Silk Road. We wanted to take a 4 month overland tour across Africa. We wanted to go to all the major world festivals. We wanted to try everything.

Then we got realistic.

We studied places in guide books (really studied, read from cover to cover, and littered with notes and highlighter pen), read travel magazines, talked to friends and family, performed numerous searches on the internet, and finally figured out where we REALLY want to go, what we REALLY want to see. We also realised we took the risk of seeing a lot of nothing if we tried to cover everywhere. Then we assessed our budget.

At this point we had timed it just right to be able to go to the Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel & Sports show at London Olympia, which allowed us to pick up numerous booklets, pamphlets, discounted books and equipment and talk to humans about our plans, plus learn more about travel writing and photography (not that it shows!)

Somehow we came up with a list of places and put them into the most logical order. Originally this looked something like this: UK-Thailand-Cambodia- Laos-Vietnam-Thailand-Malaysia-Borneo-Singapore-Australia-New Zealand-Los Angeles-UK.

After some serious research into insurance (cheaper to exclude USA), visa requirements (lengths of stay, application process, medical requirements) we came up with our final route.

It all seems to make perfect sense now. We also seem to be following more expert advice now we have turned our route 'theotherwayround'. We start in the more expensive places so if we run low on funds life is less desperate. We adjust to life travelling in places more akin to our home country so when things get more challenging we are less likely to get intimidated. We start in places where we can easily get anything we forget.

Although some aspects are irrelevant now the route has changed, such as learning to dive in Koh Tao where it is cheaper so we can use our skills on the way round, buying suits in Hoi An before getting to our Internships and other things, we feel happier. And if we ever start to feel homesick we just have to remember we are working our way closer all the time.

Once we knew where we were likely to be when, what the weather is likely to be, we could start planning what to take. The list constantly gets longer, but take a look at our list and the resources we used.

Once you have planned your trip it's time to get active and book it. That's a whole other entry!