Hello. My name is Danny. I'm 25 and I live in London. I was lucky enough to take a 1 year vacation solo around the world trip (Sept 08 - Sept 09). I would like to share my experiences and photos from my adventure with you.
Hi there. I’m attempting to blog a significant period of my life that took place from 3rd Sept 08 – 4th Sept 09.
During this year I traveled around the world (to be precise: Thailand/Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia/Singapore/Bali/Gili Islands/Lombok/Australia/New Zealand/Chile/Argentina/Bolivia/Peru/Colombia/Brazil).
I set out alone, but made so many amazing friends along the way. It was a journey of self-discovery as well as exploring the world, and different cultures . I wanted to learn more about myself, and how I react in different situations. I wanted to know that I could be independent, and survive. And I figured that if I could travel the world alone, there’s not too much that I couldn’t do. For me it was a big deal, and as well as an incredible experience. It was an achievement.
So I will start this off with a little bit of background about myself. My name is Danny Fernandez. I am 25 and have always lived in London. My passion in life has always been music, but now photography seems to be taking over! I think it’s almost a little bizarre that I have this sense of wonder, as when I was growing up, I was always the one who ‘played it safe’, with my brother being the adventurous one.
A lot of my inspiration to travel came out of curiosity. I want to experience different cultures. The world is a big place, and the UK is very small.
During my journey, I kept a diary, that I tried to fill in daily. Here is an extract from my first entry, that was written as I was in the departure lounge to take my first flight from London – Bangkok. It may help explain why I decided to travel:
Why am I going traveling?
Well, I’ve always known that you only have one shot at life, and I hate the thought of growing old and being on my death bed, thinking ‘I’ve not seen the world’.
And I feel like now is THE time to go. I feel that this desire has been growing inside of me for years, sometimes covered by more instant plans, but it has always been there.
It took the death of a friend of mine to realize that we can’t take life, or our time, for granted. At his funeral I made the decision that if I really wanted to travel, I have to stop making excuses and do it. And here I am, in the departure lounge at Heathrow, 8.02pm, wed 3rd Sept, watching planes take off!
My motives to travel are to see, and experience what the world has to offer, before I no longer have the opportunity to do so.
…Let the adventure begin… ’
I remember Wed 3rd Sept 2008 being one of the most difficult days I have ever faced in my life. In the morning I had to take my girlfriend to the train station, and say goodbye to her, which was incredibly painful and sad. At the time we had decided to stay together during the trip, even though we wouldn’t see each other for a year. But things changed – she later decided to visit me during my trip, but we broke up shortly after.
After that farewell, I had to come home and say goodbye to my family who I would not see for a year. Again, this was very difficult and emotional. I got to tell my parents that I love them, which is something I regretfully never do.
And then I walked out of the front door, with my backpack (neatly packed), my balls (sweating), and my LOMO LC-A+ (along with colour flash, Wide angle lens, Tunnel vision lens and KRAB underwater housing).
I had decided that I would make my own way to the airport. I liked the idea of walking out of my front door, with my backpack, traveling the circumference of the globe, and then walking back in to my front door, 1 year later (which I managed to – despite having an infected ankle and a bruised back on my return).
And then before I knew it, I was in the departure lounge at Heathrow, ready for the biggest adventure of my life! At that moment, I remember feeling like the reality of leaving for a year hadn’t sunk in at all. It felt like any other day. But this wasn’t any other day. It was the first day of my new life…
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
– Lao Tzu
29 comments
vicuna
Oh man, I want to read the next chapters of your travel diairy and see all the shots! I already liked your location about Cambodia were you spoke about your trip around the world, but what I like in this one is that you show well what can be the departure feeling, perhaps the most difficult step to do...
Thanks for sharing all this with the lomo community! :))
azurblue
Great ! I want to read more about your travel !
breakphreak
let the story start, though! :) cheerZ!
adi_totp
thanks for sharing,danny! yeaaah! we want to read more about your travel :D
-a-l-b-e-r-t-o-
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineerswould see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by they would stop and say
Oh my that english boy could play
Go go
Go Danny go
Go
Go Danny go
Go
Go Danny go
Go
Go Danny go
Go
Danny is cool
:))
paper_doll
omg, this is such an amazing story! like that film "into the wild", which i loved.
i completely understand what you mean, thats why ive lived in different places and am now moving to london. most people dont get it.
please do tell us more :)
annegreat
Please more, more, more!
renaishashin
I like your review :DD
jeabzz
that's a great introduction...waiting for the next :D
style_slicker
Loved your blog post!
nerdcist
wow. this is a very great blog. cant wait for the next chapter. if possible, also share your journey on a video with good lomo shots and good music. something like this http://www.youtube.c(…)59oLc4k0DGo
satomi
wow, great story of your life....can't wait to see what happens next!!
nene_photography
Waiting for the next episode. You're great, man.
lakandula
Very inspiring! Can't wait for the continuation of the story.
ululchen
Looking forward to reading more! =)
stouf
Yeah ! Give us more Danny !!!
kazarareta
brilliant!
quaisoir
life's a journey...i wish i can take one yr off and juz travel. great start danny...wonder what u did in Singapore..;)
niguevara
This is the first blog that I got focused in to! Go Danny! Asitg ka!
pangmark
Tell me more (happy) tales. This is the sadest start to a travel log I've ever read {tears welling). Sorry to read about your friend and girlfriend.
ali55
absolutely loved this :) The places you have been too I have always wanted to go too!! especially New Zealand, Australia, and Peru! Looking forward to reading more.
zenline
To cross the world, music in ears and LC-A in the hand, which of more fabulous ! Excellent introduction !!
susielomovitz
brava! wonderful!
1511
can't wait to read more!
disdis
I'm looking forward to reading next episode
liachan
saysomething
courtneygawthorp8193
How did you get the money to do all this?
courtneygawthorp8193
How did you get the money to do all this?