I have always had a sense of adventure. After a life of work work work my marriage drifted apart, we sold the house and I took off on my motorbike to travel around the whole of Britain's coastline. Whilst on this trip I decided to travel further a field and explore the world! The aim was to travel for some one else…..no more package tours.
For many years we had fostered and cared for children. I had an inner voice that I couldn't ignore… I wanted to give something back, to share a smile and instead of donating money to charity I wanted to be the donation. I wanted to be of help and make a difference. After searching the internet and numerous overseas charities, I found Gap Year for Grown Ups. The idea of volunteer work touched my heart and I decided this would be the focus of my gap year.
The planning of my trip took 6 months to get it right. I felt calm throughout this period but crossing those gates at Heathrow I suddenly got a reality check on what was about to come and suddenly felt ‘what am I doing?!'. All perfectly natural I think and it really didn't last for long.
My background is in electronics and engineering and it was great to be able to bring in these skills to the communities of my volunteer work. It helps for someone to go in with fresh eyes to help out. There are so many opportunities to make a difference, no matter how small, and you really do get out what you put in. First off I learnt that I had to quickly leave any comparisons, inhibitions and suspicions behind in the UK.
South Africa was my first stop on the Leopard Research programme close to Kruger National Park, then the privately funded Emelela HIV & aids project, finishing with a tour of the Garden route from Cape Town to George.
Then across to India, working on the Rajasthan programme, volunteering with children. It was a bit of a culture shock when I first arrived, all those honking horns! When I got used to it was an unbelievable place and would be my first choice to return back to. Onto Australia for conservation work and adventure tours, followed by some travelling around Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
My last stop was Malaysia - I spent a month in Borneo working with a tribal community, I fixed leaky pipes, built a picnic area out of tree stumps and slashed through overgrown forest with machetes to make way for a clear walking trail. My last programme was 2 months on the beautiful Perhentian Islands on a turtle conservation programme, here I helped conserve these wonderful creatures patrolling the beaches from potential poachers.
I can't possibly round up my time away, there is no way I can attempt to convey the effect that this trip had on me in only a couple of pages. So many things I experienced, I met so many people and learnt so much. The main highlights for me were in meeting the people and experiencing new cultures, languages and the innocence of young children smiles of that have nothing.
I feel humbled by all that I have seen, working with people in poverty, with AIDS/HIV - it has ripped apart everything that I thought was important in life and it has made me more aware of the ‘bigger picture'.
My trip of course consists of the usual travelling anecdotes, you cannot travel round the world without experiencing some little mishaps along the way! Some of my favourites included losing my passport at Johannesburg airport, boarding the wrong plane and on day 2 of my travels being checked for drug trafficking!!!!!
Besides these are the things that you learn from, overcome and grow stronger because of them.
I was planning to stay out much longer than a year, perhaps until April 2007 but one day whilst watching the movie Love Actually in Australia I felt the call to come home.
This was the 27th December and I had made up my mind to surprise my friends and family on New Years Eve - only one problem this is the busiest time of the year to travel! My friends organised a leaving do that night and I got a flight the very next day down to Sydney. At the check in desk they asked me ‘just how much do you want to get home Mr Burnham? ….there is a plane boarding in 5 minutes!'. I was almost the last person to board and arrived back at Heathrow just 12 hours later.
And what does the future hold for me now? Well you know what? I still want to travel but I have no plans at all…how amazing is that?! I have an entirely different outlook on life now, I have nothing but my computer and my motorbike as I have realised that no material things are important… travel truly broadens the mind.
Set off on the adventure of a lifetime through Africa’s wide and varied landscape! Get up close to big game, take a trip to Kruger National Park and help to preserve the continent’s most iconic wildlife. Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa.
On an epic journey across Thailand, China, Malaysia, Africa and Australia, the ultimate wildlife experience gives you the chance to see some of the world’s rarest and most incredible animals and contribute to their preservation. Zimbabwe - Thailand - China - Malaysia - Australia - USA.
Take some time out to discover the best parts of Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Explore fantastic places, relax on gorgeous beaches and absorb the local culture. Thailand - Australia - New Zealand.
Discover the fascinating culture, history and beauty of the Asian continent, on a journey through 4 very unique and incredible countries. India - Nepal - Thailand - China.
A great way for wildlife enthusiasts to see the world and make a contribution to volunteer projects, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore the world’s most incredible destinations from Thailand to Australia! Thailand - Australia - USA.
A whirlwind trip through South America’s most incredible sights, your gap year adventure will take you from stunning ancient ruins to hectic modern cities! Ecuador - Peru – Bolivia.
If one of our existing plans doesn’t quite suit you, then why not tailor make your own adventure? Our experienced travel advisers can help tailor make a unique trip to fit your plans and to include everything that you want to do.
Make your round the world trip the voyage of a lifetime, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australasia and Latin America on this action and culture packed programme! South Africa - India - Malaysia- Thailand - Australia - New Zealand - Argentina.
Improve the lives of impoverished children, learn a new language, trek the Inca trail and discover Australia’s red centre as you discover the best of the west on your round the world trip! Canada – Guatemala – Peru - New Zealand – Australia - Cambodia.
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
