Fatherly Footsteps
Wednesday, January 9th, 20081973: With one plane ticket to Belgium and a backpack filled with the bare necessities, my father left with a couple friends to travel around Europe. After seeing most of Europe, my dad traveled east however possible until reaching Kathmandu, Nepal. His plan to continue his travels to the Nile by jeep were thwarted by the onset of the Yon Kippur War and he flew back to Belgium. There was no set plan for each day, or train to rush back to after a day of sight-seeing, and who you traveled with changed by the next destination.
2008: As I am getting ready to graduate, I am starting to plan my own trip. My plan is simple, follow the footsteps of my father: Belgium to Nepal. Beyond his general path, I am planning to make some extensions if possible which include Spain, Sweden, Southeast Asia, and finally Japan. I don’t want to take the luxurious route, I want to travel on trodden paths and everyday roads; I want to talk, eat, and drink with as many people from as many cultures as possible.
While I am traveling I plan to make a documentary of not only my trip but of a father-son journey 35 years apart. I want to see what is different, document how and why people and places have changed, and examine the culture of global travelers and how they have and are impacting the global community. I know lots of people travel like this, and I would love to hear about any advice you have on getting sponsors or donations, or just great ways to make traveling affordable.
Cheers!
