On our final night, we sat down as a family to look back on the past 17 months. Before dinner, we each took time to reflect on a few questions. That night we traded memories, surprises, laughs, and a few tears. Here’s a glimpse into that conversation.
Places That Stayed With Us
What are your top five favourite places?
Kim: Croatia, Southern African Safari, Bolivia, Cambodia, Egypt
Jackson: Croatia, India, Italy, Egypt, and Indonesia
Mason: Croatia, Indonesia, Italy, Egypt, and Australia
Derek: Croatia, Italy, Southern African Safari, Egypt, Cambodia
Describe the most beautiful place using your five senses.
Kim: The view from the top of Padar Island. I had dreamed of visiting Indonesia for years, and it was exactly as I imagined—three turquoise coves wrapped in lush hills, one glowing with a soft pink hue. I could hear the gentle lap of waves on deserted shores, feel the sea breeze on my cheek, and taste the salt in the air. I longed to dip my toes into the sand and feel it sift between them.
Derek: The Plitvice Lakes in Croatia were spectacular. The lakes flowed like a natural staircase, with water cascading from one to the next—sometimes in a soft trickle, sometimes a roaring fall. Light danced off the water and trees, and the scent of moss and forest surrounded us. I could taste the cool morning dew in the air. As we walked the wooden paths, the shift from sun to shade was perfectly balanced.
If we could go to one more country, where would it be?
Kim & Jackson: Brazil to see the wildlife and the elusive jaguars in the Pantanal.
Mason: Norway, to visit relatives, and I would love to see a polar bear.
Derek: Philippines, to go scuba diving in the reefs
The Moments We’ll Never Forget
Top 5 Favourite activities or experiences
These were the experiences that came up again and again around the dinner table:
• African camping safari through Namibia and Botswana
• Swimming with whale sharks in Mexico
• Meeting a pangolin at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Cambodia
• Camel trekking in the Sahara Desert
• Seeing Komodo dragons and giant manta rays in Indonesia
Each of us had our own take—Jackson loved the tiger safaris in India, Mason couldn’t stop talking about the pyramids and mummies in Egypt, and Derek will never forget paragliding off Table Mountain. But the five above were the moments that seemed to stay with all of us.
One favourite memory, and why
Kim: Sitting at the waterhole in Etosha National Park, where Jackson and Mason sat in quiet wonder. Watching them experience these animals for the first time, through the same lens we had years ago, filled my heart. This was the moment we came for. To share our love of animals and adventure with them.
Jackson: Seeing tigers for the first time in the wild.
Mason: Petting a pangolin because pangolins are my favourite animals, and I really wanted to see one.
Derek: Standing on top of a dune during our camel trek, with Kim, watching the boys sandboard and realizing that we were actually on the world trip.
Funniest moment
Kim: When we walked up to a waterhole in Etosha, we saw our first rhino. Derek and I were so thrilled, we immediately broke all the wildlife rules we’d just drilled into the boys. Instead, we were whisper-yelling “Rhino! Rhino!” and frantically waving at the boys to come over. Cameras out and excitedly taking selfies… It was the exact opposite of calm. The boys teased us for the rest of the trip. We had officially lost all safari credibility.
Mason: All of my dad’s dad jokes because every “dad joke” makes me laugh.
Most memorable meal
Kim: The night Derek and I grabbed take-out pasta and wandered around the streets of Venice.
Jackson: Seafood feast in Ston, Croatia. It was the first time I tried mussels, and I loved them.
Bumps Along the Way
Not every day was easy, but every moment added something to the story.
Least favourite memory
Kim & boys: Anytime someone was sick. Travel is tough at times, and being sick away from home or watching your loved ones when they are distressed is the worst.
Derek: The night we were separated from each other in Bangkok, I didn’t know where Kim and Mason were for half an hour.
Something you regret not doing
Kim: Attending the outdoor Maroon 5 concert in front of the Great Pyramids.
Derek: Snorkelling with seals in Cape Town.
What pushed you out of your comfort zone?
All Four: Trekking through the jungles of Sumatra in search of orangutans. It was muddy. It was sweaty. And, as Mason said, “By far the hardest thing I have ever done.”
We were pushed beyond our comfort zone and were rewarded with something far greater than standing face-to-face with wild orangutans. We left the jungle with scratches and bruises, sore legs, bug bites, and soggy clothes — but a sense of accomplishment we’ll carry for the rest of our lives.
What We’ll Carry Forward
We returned home with more than memories—some things we’ll carry forever.
Biggest fears before the trip
Jackson: I had a fear of heights, but now I’ve faced it several times. I went paragliding off Table Mountain in Cape Town, climbed to the top of a huge sand dune in the Sahara Desert, and went parasailing in Cancun, Mexico.
Derek: Missing things at home. Now, my biggest fear is missing travelling.
What are you most proud of?
Kim: Overcoming my anxiety around food-borne illnesses and my ability to adapt and make the best of challenging situations and living conditions.
Jackson: I’m most proud of my ability to speak to strangers. Before the trip, I was shy and couldn’t speak to new people. Now I can speak to anyone if I want. I feel like this is a good skill to have.
Mason: The thing I am most proud of is the orangutan trek because it was very difficult, very hot, and very long.
Derek: Doing the trip to begin with.
What are you most grateful for?
Kim: I’m most grateful for the time. The time spent together. The time to see the boys grow. The time to dream with and love Derek. The time to create unforgettable memories. The time to push myself and experience new things. And the time to slow down and reflect on what is most important.
Jackson: Seeing the world and exploring it with my family.
Mason: Having a filtered water bottle because a lot of the places we went to did not have safe water to drink.
Derek: Time spent as a family… whether it was good or bad, we will always remember it, and we won’t get it again.
How has the world trip changed you?
Kim: Throughout our journey, I’ve been deeply moved by the kindness of strangers, especially those who have so little to give. This trip has enhanced my belief that the world is good.
Jackson: I have grown more confident in talking with people, and I know how good I have it living in Canada. Also, I’ve learned the world has its own “wonders” in each country.
Mason: I find that I am not as shy as I used to be, and I have learned that there is more poverty in the world than I thought.
Derek: I used to want a lot of stuff/things… I feel like now, I want more experiences.
More Than the Moments
That dinner table conversation was full of stories we’d heard before—and a few we hadn’t. In a way, it was the final destination of our world trip: not a place on the map, but a shared understanding of just how much this experience had meant.
Ready to Get Started?
Check out these related posts to help plan your World Trip:
• Around the World in 17 Months
• How much does a World Trip cost?
• Building a World Trip Itinerary
• This or That? Saving to Make it Happen
• How to Involve Your Kids in Planning a World Trip?
