Travel by Numbers
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I must admit, I went to school for Accounting – why? I have no idea.
“Hello, my name is Sherry, and I’m a bean counter.”
Yeah – it never quite fit me, nor my personality, which is probably how I ended up in Information Technology. However, there was something about numbers that I liked, which seems to fit with my Type A personality.
As I spend my days reuniting with old friends in New York, I am constantly asked to summarize my 16 months for everyone. This is not an easy task – therefore I started to actually prepare for this question in advance.
I made lists…lists of countries, airlines, money, experiences, and anything else I could anticipate being asked. It provided me with a summarized look at my travels through numbers…and I love numbers. So here it is – my around-the-world travels by numbers.
Table of Contents
Number of countries I’ve visited
In order – twenty-three
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Bali (Indonesia)
- Singapore
- Lombok (Indonesia)
- Thailand
- Borneo (Malaysia)
- Hong Kong
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Greece
- Croatia
- Montenegro
- Italy
- Morocco
- Egypt
- Switzerland
- India
- Laos
- Langkawi (Malaysia)
- China
- Japan
Number of pictures taken after editing
After throwing out the bad shots, which were too many to count.
Eleven thousand, eight hundred sixty-eight (11,868).
Number of stories/posts I’ve written on my website
One hundred sixty-seven (167).
Number of airports I’ve flown into/out of
Forty-six (46).
- London
- Nairobi
- Dar es Salaam
- Johannesburg
- Cape Town
- Hong Kong
- Auckland
- Christchurch
- Sydney
- Cairns
- Melbourne
- Bali
- Singapore
- Lombok
- Chiang Mai
- Mae Hon Song
- Bangkok
- Krabi
- Borneo
- Hai Noi
- HCMC
- Siem Reap
- Phnom Penh
- Athens
- Santorini
- Rome
- Dubrovnik
- Madrid
- Dubai
- Marrakech
- Casablanca
- Cairo
- Aswan
- Geneva
- Jordan
- Delhi
- Udaipur
- Luang Prabang
- Vientiane
- Langkawi
- Beijing
- Kunming
- Shangri-La
- Tokyo
- Mombasa
- Lamu
Number of canceled flights
One (1)
Number of times my luggage was lost
Zero (0) – Miracles do happen.
Number of times I lost something
One (1) – A luggage lock which was easily replaceable in Morocco. Trying to communicate with the shopkeeper to find/buy the lock was definitely the hardest part!
Longest number of simultaneous days spent in one country
Sixty (60) – Italy.
Number of ferries taken
Ten (10).
- Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
- Vietnam – Cat Ba to?
- Split, Croatia to Ancona, Italy
- Ischia to Naples
- Sorrento to Ischia
- Sorrento to Capri
- Egypt to Sinai
- Dubrovnik to Miljet
- Mykonos to Athens
- Santorini to Mykonos
Number of times I was sick
One (1) – in Vietnam.
Longest number of days without a shower
Seven (7).
Number of overnight trains
Ten (10).
- Hanoi to Sapa – Vietnam
- Sapa to Hanoi – Vietnam
- Hanoi to Hue – Vietnam
- Hue to Nha Trang – Vietnam
- Nha Trang to Saigon – Vietnam
- Tangier to Marrakech – Morocco
- Beijing to Xi’an – China
- Xi’an to Beijing – China
- Bangkok to border of Laos near Vientiane – Thailand
Number of memorable places I’ve run
Nineteen (19).
- Cape Town, South Africa – along the waterfront
- Sorrento, Italy – on the cliffs outside of town and down the cobblestone streets
- Rome, Italy – getting lost along the river
- Tuscany/Siena, Italy – amongst the grape fields and rolling hills of a country road
- Singapore – in the oven and in the jungle
- Mossel Bay, South Africa – along the harbor and through the city
- Pai, Thailand – over the river and into the villages
- Hanoi, Vietnam – around the lake in the old quarter. People looked at me as if I had 3 heads!
- Hue, Vietnam – along the river – people made me stop to take pictures of me with their cell phone!
- Mykonos, Greece – along the ridge against the freezing Mediterranean winds
- Split, Croatia – along the harbor
- Dubrovnik, Croatia – along a rocky beach path on the cliffs
- Hong Kong – dodging tourists at the peak with an amazing view of the city below
- Venice, Italy – along the Lido beach trail
- Ferrara, Italy – on top of the old town wall surrounding the city
- Geneva, Switzerland – along the lake
- Queenstown, New Zealand – in the snow, freezing cold, near the lake while wearing shorts!
- Te Anau, New Zealand – along the lakefront.
- Wellington, New Zealand – along the harbor
Number of Cipro pills taken
Zero (0) – what can I say, I got lucky, or I have a stomach of steel. However, I did have my share of Pepto!
Number of times I slept in a bunk bed
Too many times to count. Let’s just say, I’ve been in a bunk bed more often than a regular bed.
Number of friends and family who traveled with me on an individual basis
Nine (9).
- Cyndi (sister)
- Angie
- Veronique
- Emily
- Russ
- David
- Miles
- Marcy/Mike – I kind of crashed their honeymoon; not sure if that counts!
- Dad
Number of new friends made for life
Six (6) – You know who you are.
Number of wine regions visited
Four (4)
- South Africa
- Yarra Valley, Australia
- South Island, New Zealand
- Tuscany/Chiant, Italy – the granddaddy of wine
Most countries in a one-month timeframe
Six (6) – in April, 2007.
Number of books I read
Ten (10) – This doesn’t seem like a lot. However, when I was living in the US, I’d maybe read 2 books a year if I was lucky!
Number of times I thought I might not make it to tomorrow
Five (5) – all having to do with terrifying drives in buses, minivans, dilapidated cars from the 70s, and one very angry taxi driver in Naples.
Number of emails sent
Three thousand six hundred (3,600).
Number of bodies of water that I dipped my toe or whole body into
Ten (10)
- Nile River
- Indian Ocean
- South China Sea
- Red Sea
- Mediterranean Sea
- Mekong River
- Andaman Sea
- Aegean Sea
- Coral Sea
- Tasman Sea
Number of dollars I spent
The obvious answer here is ‘priceless’.
Hi,nrnrI have been following your blog for sometime as we seem to post together. I have really enjoyed it. I understand your motives completely as I share them. You are a fantastic writer (I wish I could do it like you).nrnrI have never felt compelled to comment on anyones’ blog before, but, when I saw how much you spent – WOW! I have been away about 20 months and spent way under 20Kusd. However, I have tended to stick to cheaper destinations. I did visit places like Iceland/Japan/Korea but for very short periods. I aso interspersed my travel with a little paid work.nrnrAnyway, this doesnt matter – as long as you enjoyed it. You say you wouldnt change a thing? Good for you. That is the main thing.nrnrI hope the reverse culture shock doesnt kill you! I couldnt imagine going home now!nrnrYou mention you want to teach English. I do that now and it is easy/fun/satisfying although, be warned, don’t do too many hours or it will seem like a grind. It would be better if you get qual’d but I didnt and it is no real impediment. ‘Up to you’ or in Chinese: ‘Swaybien’.nrnrAnyway, all the bestnrnrSteve
Sherry,
LOVE this numbers post. It is amazing how many exciting adventures you had while you were away!
Thanks for the shout out in your last post! We had such a great time hanging out the other night – and are researching every site you sent us – the guided tour sites are fantastic!
Kent and I only hope we are as lucky as you were in your travels (especially with respect to only getting sick once!)
XOX – T&K
This is amazing lady!!!! was awesome to be there with you at the beginning and know how you are feeling.. i put my self through that everytime i come back!!! look forward to seeing you soon
Fantastic recap — I’d love to learn a few travel tips (sites suggested to T&K….) I’m about to embark on my own journey, altho’ not sure how long. I’ll supplement it with teaching stints!