Gap Year.!

[Maximus]

Hi all.

Me, and my bests mates are going on a 4 month yap year starting on January the 25th. We are travelling from London to Russia, down to china via the Trans Siberian express. Then we are trekking about in china for a bit, after that we are going to Thailand trekking too, and hoping to go on diving course, we are then flying out to Australia, to higher out a camper van for 3 and half weeks, and finally going to Figi and New Zealand last.

As we have found out the trip is quite costly, about £6000 is needed. We are all working full time, and it is going to be an ask to get it. We are applying to a local trust hoping to get about £800 towards the trip.

What i was wandering do any of you know any charitable trusts to help in our endeavour, or ways in razing money towards our trip?

Or, if you have been to Russia, china, Thailand, Australia, Figi, or New Zealand, is there any recommendations or advice you can give me/us, about your experiences as it would be most helpful.

Many thanks, max and the boys.

[anzo]

My personal opinion on the matter - take it or leave it.

You say a 'charitable trust fund'; I don't see why I should give you £XXX for a holiday. If you can't afford it, you can't go. I'd possibily consider it if it were to raise money for a charity - although thats difficult to achieve, especially as you have 3 months to get it sorted.

Narrow your horizons a bit and visit somewhere you can afford - stick within Europe perhaps? Me and 2 friends have a joint account, we pay £20 a week into it, thats £60 a week, £240 a month, £720 in 3 months, £1440 in 6 months...as you can see the fund builds up pretty quick, and with it being £20 a week, you don't even realise its gone!

We're planning a holiday for June, by which time we will have over £600 each to spend on flights and hotel - so we can get far with that. Obviously, this is only appropriate for a 2 week holiday or whatever, but it could work on the same sort of principle.

[Dr. Nick Riviera]

down to china via the Trans Siberian express.

[anzo]

PS. When did 4 months turn into a year?

[Tony Harrison]

Year as in 'gap year' as in work for most of it and spend a few months 'travelling'. Often done by students who have bought into the whole 'your college/university years are the best of your life, enjoy it while you can' mentality (which is thoroughly depressing if you ask me, and purveyors of that attitude should be handed cyanide on graduation day).

I have some friends who travel, and they've been away from their native country for over two years, living here and there, working when possible, going on real adventures meeting real people. One of them is currently living in a tidy squat he's found himself in Paris, working from home each day using a stolen wi-fi connection and having the time of his life. His photos and journals tell a completely different story to the nauseating, sanitised, generic holidays that most 'gap year' students seem to go on.

Quite why some kind of trust is going to give you £800 to piss up the wall is beyond me. Still, the 'Student Loans Company' gave me ten times that, which I subsequently pissed up the wall. I'm told they're wanting it back now...

[anzo]

Well, if I'm missing the point here of not actually taking a 'year off' but '4 months off', what would be the difference in just going on holiday somewhere really nice for 2-3 weeks?

A lot cheaper, and possibily, a lot more fun!

Edit: Or a slightly 'different' kind of holiday, snowboarding/skiing, cruise...something away from the pissed up Geordies singing football chants.

Edited October 27, 2008 by anzo

[Tony Harrison]

what would be the difference in just going on holiday somewhere really nice for 2-3 weeks?

I think the idea is to try and cram in and experience 'everything' and as many countries as possible before it's too late.

[Jaffacakes]

The trip will cost you a hell of alot of money.

I used to live in W.A in Australia, and Whangamata, Raglan and hamilton in Enzed. There both really beautiful places. I was only on OZ for 6 months so didn't get to do that much moving around. I lived in the north island in NZ for 2 and a half years and I loved it, The people are all really chilled out and its a amazing country, (the newest on the earth) If you do go, Make sure you go to tongariro national park. It's a 6 hour walk that crosses 3 mountains, but its like another planet.

Make sure you go to rotorua aswel. Theres some amazing volcanic stuff going on there like geezers that shoot water 50 foot into the air

You have to go to raglan just to see this perfect left hand break. The rainforest around raglan is insane aswell. Mad water falls that go into chrystal clear lakes you can swim in.

Just do f**k loads of research before you go anywhere. I would type more but really cant be assed

[haydon_peter]

Christmas is coming, I hear Tescos will be employing loads of Christmas Temps....

Real life story:

When I was in Australia I met an awesome Irish guy who was getting money towards his trip from his work. He worked for the Forestry Commission (or something similar I cant remember) and they were paying him money towards his trip subject to him supplying them with photos and reports about the National Parks he visited in Australia and New Zealand.

Now being realistic... How the f**k do you think that someone is going to give you money to go gallivanting around the World? What do you have to offer them? Why should they give you the money?

Very quick Australia advice:

Blue Mountains near Sydney - don't miss them!

Sail the Whitsundays!

Fraiser Island is also pretty cool.

Cairns is OK

The Great Ocean Road is awesome

My Thread asking for advise before I went