A nine months or so later we left on our RTW and they were planning their own RTW trip.  We are so honored and humbled that in our own small way, we helped inspire them to take an RTW.  Inspiring others to follow their dream is by far the best reward we could ever ask for.

In July 2010, Erin and Pete left to travel around the world and eventually move back to their home state of Ohio. Their blog, the scenic route chronicles their long journey home. We met them in Delhi, two days before we left to fly home at the end of our journey. I remember the relief I felt seeing them in the tight corridor of their hotel. Sometimes a hug from a good friend is all you need to remind yourself that it’s going to be ok. We spent the afternoon together chatting away finally glad to be able to talk instead of email. It was emotional leaving them in Delhi. From that afternoon in DC we had both followed our dreams and here we were in Delhi sharing a beer and thali.

Erin and Pete returned to the U.S. in May 2011. Soon after I interviewed them about the experience coming home.

We were using our trip as a transition during a move from DC, where we had lived for six years, back to Ohio, where we’re both originally from. Our first several weeks in the US, we spent traveling a lot – we only spent 19 of the first 47 days in NW Ohio (our temporary home base)  From NZ, we made a stop on the West Coast to visit friends and family, then flew home to NW Ohio before heading to DC to visit friends.  After all that, we embarked on a tour of Ohio to do some job-related meetings and interviews.  It was great because we had almost constant reunions with people, but we’re still living out of a suitcase.

You can read more about Erin & Pete’s scenic route home at their blog.

That was until we met our couchsurfing hosts. They immediately welcomed us into their home with such warmth and hospitality, I was completely blown away. They turned out to be only the tip of the iceberg, everyone we met in Colombia was overwhelmingly friendly, hospitable and genuinely kind. People went out of their way to speak with us on buses and even on the commuter train in Bogota, a place where in the US you don’t speak to anyone! We received countless offers to come for coffee, of assistance and even offers to stay in people’s homes. These were genuine offers, offers that I wish we could have accepted.

When we arrived in Bogota I felt like I had been pushed into the decision to come to Colombia. Buyers remorse I guess, but I seriously questioned whether we had gone too far in our attempt to get off the beaten path. As our taxi weaved through the streets, I was sure we were about to be kidnapped, I had read every horror story on the web, I knew how these cons worked. We weren’t kidnapped, we weren’t robbed by a gun toting drug cartel, in fact we weren’t even hassled by street vendors. It wasn’t the drug cartel run country I was expecting.

Colombia, was for me, not only an amazing travel experience, but also the country that single handedly taught me what off the beaten track could be. It doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable living on the edge experience. I went paragliding for the first time (and learned a new Spanish word -acro- in the process), swam in the coldest waterfall I’ve ever experienced, biked 40 miles in the hot tropical sun and saw what is still today the most breathtaking museum in the world (Museo de Oro). Locals sang Happy Birthday to me in San Gil, I drank chicha and I learned that cheese and hot chocolate really aren’t a bad combination.

Colombia shattered my stereotypes. That’s not to say its a secure paradise. It is not for sure, but for all my fear, it was nothing like the wild west I was expecting. Although we’ve had friends who have been robbed in Colombia, I stand resolute in saying that it’s no more dangerous than anywhere else in South America. Colombians constantly offered safety advice on travel routes and I was duly impressed by their determination to push past their recent experience.

To be truly humbled in your life is an experience you’ll never forget. For me, the Colombian people did more than break down my stereotypes; they fundamentally changed the way I think about places, people and things. Colombia so fundamentally changed my way of thinking that the next time an opportunity arose at going to a “dangerous” country, I weighed the risks quite differently than I had before. Some of those “dangerous” countries we went to, others we skipped, but I took the time to really assess the information not just go with my prejudice. Those were some of our favorite countries of the trip, and as we flashback to them I hope I can do them justice.

As you can see in the picture his family plays traditional swahili tunes on a variety of instruments.  Some tunes were better than others, but the best part of the whole show were the local children that seemed to pop in for a bedtime song.  Their little faces crowded our reed mats and they even sang a song for us. 

We loved spending time on Lamu.  The traditional and genuine swahili hospitality was overwhelming and we felt completely at ease and welcome on the island.  It was a wonderful spot that has found balance between tourism and tradition.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: If you’re looking for a beach and a cultural experience, Lamu is a nice alternative to holidays in Mauritus or Zanzibar.  The island is still very traditional, so it certainly lacks the resorts and upscale nature of other beach destinations on the Indian Ocean.  Travelers should remember that the island is very sensitive to Western culture and should be respectful in both their dress and behavior more so than usual.  We had a wonderful cultural experience there, its a nice relaxed place to just hang out and soak it all in.