If given the chance, would you be willing to put your life on hold to travel around the world?
Newlyweds Albin and Melanie Ulle, both longtime residents of Denver in Colorado, have been living ordinary yet comfortable lives in this picturesque city. Albin works in the mortgage business for nearly 10 years while his wife is a partner at a non-profit political fundraising consulting firm.
The young couple has just began a new life together when they were chosen out of 900 couples all over the United States to embark on a whirlwind journey around the world. Without a single hesitation, the two readily agreed to leave their jobs and day to day life including their families and a dog to take this once-in-a-lifetime, all expenses-paid trip across the globe.
Spearheaded by the Discovery Travel and Living Channel, the American couple’s world odyssey inspired by Patricia Schultz’s best-selling travel book “1,000 Places to see before you die,” were chronicled in a television series of the same title which starts tonight.
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
Exactly nine days after being selected from hundreds of aspirants, the Ulles began their non-stop, four-month expedition to 13 countries including Peru, Alaska and Hawaii in the United States, Brazil, South Africa, France, Italy, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Australia, Mexico, and British Columbia.
The voyage has taken them to 100 of the world’s most beautiful and breathtaking places, culled from Shultz’s list of 1,000. In each week-long stop, the Ulles were able to discover the rich history of each country, explore the sights, try out some adventurous stunts, immerse in local culture, interact with the people, sample traditional cuisine, marvel at indigenous wildlife, and learn native hobbies.
In a teleconference with Asian travel journalists, the Ulles said the most memorable highlights of their trip included an emotional, heart-wrenching visit to the Killing Fields in Cambodia with a survivor as their guide; a luxurious and romantic Italian getaway in Lake Como which made such an impact that they almost gave up their cozy home in Denver to relocate to Italy; a humbling experience in India of poor but happy people living amidst extreme poverty; three days of awesome close encounters with the creatures of the deep in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; and a camping trip in Homer spit in Alaska which turned out to be hilarious for the couple who were camping for the first time.
Albin, however, expressed regret of not having more time to stay longer in each country.
“We spent a week in each place, but these amazing countries around the world deserve more than a week, but that was all the time we had. It was tough because one week is not enough to really learn about a country. In Australia, we were only able to dive on the Great Barrier Reef and climbed the bridge in Sydney but we didn’t even see a glimpse of what Australia had to offer,” Albin said.
THE ADDICTION TRAVEL BRINGS
Melanie revealed their speedy country-hopping adventures, specially to exotic locales has somewhat become addicting, with culture shock in traveling becoming more of an exciting, positive experience for them.
“The culture shock I think became for us — a little bit of an addiction because now going to places that are really familiar or easy to travel to as Americans don’t seem as compelling to us probably as much as they used to,” she said.
Albin explained that culture shock has become for them something that they seek out because it piques more of their senses and makes them much more interested in everything that’s going on.
“Compared to our trip in Alaska where the only thing that became interesting was the sights, India proved to offer a totally different experience because everything was different, from the people, the sights and sounds, the food and the atmosphere,” he added.
THE IMPACT OF TRAVELLING
The Ulles discovered at the end of the journey that the experiences specially with the people that touched their lives has totally changed their outlook in life, in work, in their surroundings, in themselves and in the world, in general.
The couple also ended up loving each other more as they discovered so much of themselves and of their partners that they haven’t seen in a five-year relationship prior to their marriage.
“I saw how Melanie has bravely conquered her fears in the stunts she was required to take in some places and how she emerged as the hero of every person in the crew, and sometimes of complete strangers who just happened to be watching her. I saw a strength in her that I had never seen in the five years that we had known each other before,” Albin said.
Melanie, meanwhile, realized how financially responsible his husband was being the treasurer of the entire group. She was proud of how he successfully managed their budget, carefully checking their bills and making sure they had enough to last them until the end of the trip.
The life-changing trip has also affected the couple’s attitude towards their work, making them realize that there is more to life than just work. The Ulles do not want to return anymore to their present jobs and are thinking of shifting to a new career where they can be together.
“We do not have any regrets and did not have a hard time giving up our jobs for this trip. It was difficult though, to leave home. We did miss our friends, our family, and our dog, Ella. But if given a second chance to go on a trip again, yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat,” Albin exclaimed.
The Ulles, who are now expecting a baby in November, also bonded with the crew who later on became their friends.
THE BIBLE OF TRAVEL
Launched in 2003, Schultz’s book 1,000 Places to see before you die is an essential resource for the intrepid traveler. It delivers the promise of its around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of places, the most unique and wonderful attractions one must see on and off the beaten track. Places include sacred ruins, grand hotels, wildlife preserves, hilltop villages, snack shacks, castles, festivals, reefs, restaurants, cathedrals, hidden islands, opera houses, museums, resorts, and more. The user-friendly guide also includes addresses, websites, phone and fax numbers, and even the best times to visit.
(The 1,000 Places to see before you die series will run every weeknight from June 11 to 15 with encores every weekday starting June 18. For its premiere telecast tonight, the Ulles will take viewers to Alaska where they will join the Iditarod, the world-renowned dog-sled race, learn the history of proud, native cultures and glide along rivers into the heart of massive glaciers.) Source: http://www.mb.com.ph
