My intrepidity began humbly as a child where a wander around the block could materialize into a great adventure. My first real adventure began in 1978 when I was sent off, aged 10 year old, on a 5 day rail journey across the state of Victoria on a primary school vacation called Mobile aboard a splendid c1920s sleeper train. The cosy twin berth cabins consisted of a comfortable bunk bed, complete with bevelled glass Art Deco head lamp and a stainless steel hand basin in the shape of a conch shell which folding from the wall. Sweeping vistas past by from the comfort of the dinning car windows every morning, where bacon and eggs were served on fresh toast by bow tied Victorian Railways waiters. This was a small glimpse into the golden age of rail travel - fast disappearing in the modern world. Then to our delights there was a new place of call each day, such as seemingly exotic destinations to the likes of Castlemaine, Bendigo and Swan Hill. We were far away from the confines of the Melbourne suburbia. I was not so privileged again for the long-haul rail experience of this kind until a journey in 2004 took me from Beijing to Moscow on the Trains Siberian Railway.
In 1993 and after years in the planning I set off on my first round-the-world trip in an attempt to Overland it to Europe, starting from Melbourne! Months followed, acquiring a girlfriend in Alice Springs and dengue feather in SE Asia. By the time I had arrived at the Indian subcontinent for 6 months of tramping about on trains, buses and camels my life had changed from armchair traveller to worldly explorer of a sort.
From New Delhi I flew Aeroflot to Prague, via Moscow. 18 hours in the no-man's land of the Sheremetyevo II transit lounge was interesting enough spent with it's multitude of African refugees trying to get into "fortress Europe". The privilage of the Kangaroo and Emu coat of arms on my passport worked wonders, unlike the poor souls from countries to the likes of Burkina Faso. Some of them had been there for weeks. I gave out Indian oranges to a man from Nigeria who thought it was Christmas receiving such a gift of fresh fruit.
At last in Europe, a kind of "mecca" for those from the far fringes of the globe I first landed in Prague during the cold spring of 1994. The coming months were an endurance visiting contacts obtained in Asia and living on the edge. Sooner or later I arrived on that dumping ground of many a weary traveller - Amsterdam. This city became my home for five "interesting" months, where I lived with some 45 people in a "kraaked" (squatted) school. We were all world wanderers in search of a temporary home. However I had no "real" job, was largely in a foreign land and after 15 months all up, I came back home with empty pockets. However full with worldly dreams I soon discovered that I was fully infected by the travel bug.
Since I have travelled abroad three times for extended trips ranging from 10 to 22 month. In 1998 I attained an artist residency in Budapest - living the bohemian life. In 2003 / 04 I worked in South Korea as an ESL teacher, this largely to finance further travels. This stint inspired me for the next journey by ferries, rail and eventually foot took me from the Pacific to the Atlantic in 2004. The final leg walking some 720 KM across Spain - on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.
In 2002 I got on my bike and cycled from my front door in Melbourne and across the Australian continent to Darwin - completed in 90 mentally and physically enduring days. Then in 2008 / 09 I continued this madness and decided to go all the way from Singapore to Cape Finisterre in Spain - travelling some 9000 km on a bicycle pilgrimage. It was a true eye opener for me and the accompanying Intrepid Duck! If it could speak it would surely be a fine bound volume trilogy awaiting some publishing house.
Now I have travelled to some 42 countries in total. The number of countries one goes to isn't important it is the journey its self which really matters. My most recent travels have once again been self propelled on the bicycle and on foot. These are the modes of transport I have discovered which suit me fine, particularly as a photographer, and from where one can truly appreciate what can be best described as the slow travel movement!
Copyright Sean Deany
