Portugal
Spain
France
Germany
Poland
Slovakia
Hungary
Romania
Bulgaria
Turkey
Iran
Pakistan
India
Nepal
Tibet
China
Then a flight ...
The Philippines

Morocco
West Africa

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About: the longest way home

The who, how, why and what?

"A guy traveling the world in search of a place called home"

Would you like the long story or the short?

Okay let me save you some time. Here's the short :-)

The Short Version: I grew up in a fairly extreme family environment, in other words not so nice. I spent the greater portion of my life trying to leave a place I always knew was never my home. Working, saving, surviving and dreaming.

It's not so easy to find a home as I am finding out. Many people say home is a state of mind not a place. Well, I disagree. Why? Not having the security of a home - meaning no family to no residence - means you're truly on your own. Nothing to fall back on. If I don't find something, I am toast.

People throughout the ages have done similar things. Look at the millions clawing their way out of developing countries to search for a new home. Well, I am doing just the same thing.

Wanting to find a new home in this manner can either fall into the category of idiot with no sense or a wandering Exile. I would prefer neither stereotypes. I just want to find a place called home!

Hopefully I will not be categorized as lost and hopeless, but I do carry a Lonely Planet at times so that may happen at some stage. . . ;-)

In each country, I have listed to the left, I have a section about whether it will be home or not.

Why this site? I started a blog as an online journal some time back. Emailing myself notes just wasn't working. Then strangers started to read the blog. Other travelers on the road would ask questions about the places I have been. So that, and the journal/blog have developed into this website. So far the feedback has been very positive, people spend a lot of time on the site. What's more I've received some great emails from people from all over the world, complementing, thanking, and mentioning similar aspirations. Thank you to those people for dropping by.

This website is a hanging wall for my photography, a shelf for my stories and a desk for my journal. It also acts as a little travel control center. My resources page in particular.

Maybe something in my story can help inspire someone or motivate them to get through some rough times or push forward in their lives. If I can do this, so can anyone else!
You can click here and get a free RSS feed to receive regular updates and follow along as I search for home

Or to get free email updates click here

I also have a sight impaired version of my journal available here, complete with audio podcasts.

So there you go. A life on the road in search of home.

I was recently interviewed by Travelblogs. Something I never expected due to my online journal. Here are some of the most popular questions asked and answered from emails I've received since then:

Why the overland route? Did you really think you'd find a place to live in a place like Pakistan?
Overland travel is very different to just looking at a map and hopping on a plane. Visiting a place and then deciding. Overland allows a way to pass through not just places, but regions. I find people very important, and going overland is a great way to meet everyday people.

Places like Iran, Pakistan? Well I managed to live and work in Nigeria for 2 years. People often ask questions about places like those. Is it safe etc. I am open to all places and cultures. It makes the world go round. Would I live in those places, well check out what I thought in my country sections! Some places even surprised me.

I noticed that you did not stick with your original Point2Point Map in East Europe?
Yes this is true. Due to a Eurolines screw up that you can read about here I went straight into Hungary rather than the Ukraine. The original map had been written up years before hand. Finances, and the travel I had done already gave me some realizations on finding a home in those countries I did not visit. This is one of the benefits of traveling to find a home. You learn as you go.

From Hungary I went to Romania through Bulgaria and on into Turkey. My Journey never moved off the map since then. You can see the full live map here.

I want to know more about you! Where's your Photo?
Actually my photo is on this website. I put it up when the site first went live, then it got overwritten and I forgot about it. Then came those Tibet photos. Having my photo online here and also walking out with those photos would not have been a good idea. I have to take these things into account.

Moreover this website started about the journey, the idea and the plan of going against the odds and fulfilling a dream. It was not meant to be just about me per say. There are 100's of travel sites with a photo in a top corner saying "this is me traveling!" I want The Longest Way Home be about the Idea, the Journey and the Task at hand for now.

Lot's of people email me looking for more information about my life. Is there not enough here? :) Everything is in my book, which is complete; and I am doing the rounds looking for an Agent who can work with me on it. Once it's published you can read about it all.

Lastly, there are many many viewers of this web site. Some people looking for travel info, some looking for photography or stories. Others just passing by from an online search. Then there are the people I've met along the way, or those who take an interest in my story and journey.

Either way, feel free to contact me via email, or follow me along online through my rss or email updates for lots of extra information about me and this journey.

If you find home, will you stop your online journal?
Who knows? Today, I can say that the journal is more about the journey than about me as a person, even though I am narrating it. I imagine when, I find home I will keep the journal going about what it's like to finally settle into a new country called home.

I also hope by that stage the book will be out, and a lot more of the personal stuff you don't read online will be in there. And I promise that will be an eye opener.

Are you close to finding home?
Yes is the short answer. In some ways I am the cusp of it. I know what I am looking for, and with what I've learned so far it's becoming easier to find this.That's not to say I can name a country or place right now. But I am able to identify and sort through the myriad of obstacles a lot better than I was a few years ago.

How can you afford to travel for so long?
I did what many unsung people have done in this world. I broke my ass for a lifetime saving, planning and dreaming. I worked, sacrificed and do not take luxuries while traveling. I take the backpackers route, and go off the beaten path a lot. I have skipped a lot of tourist spots simply because I couldn't budget for it.

I have written a lot about this in my book, which I hope will provide another income source. Though that's not so feasible these days. But what I do hope is that the book and this website will provide an inspiration to a few people out there; who had either a rough start in life, or no means to accomplish the basics. Since my preteens I have basically been left alone to make it by myself; surviving. This knowledge has also helped me know how to live like I do at the moment.

I have also worked while traveling. Africa for example. And now, maybe the ads on this site and my Travel Store can help a little. At the least they might help to pay for this websites hosting costs.

I know it's not easy to look at my life from the outside. How many people do you know that have no family, home and are out there like this? I am putting all my cards on the table here. It's my one chance, and I am running with it!

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