Short story:

Hi. I’m John. In December 2004 I quit “real life” and started wandering around the world.

Longer story:

After living the proper life for 25 years (economics honours degree, 5 years work in Canberra) I decided that the thing I wanted the most in the world was more time. On December 22 2004 (independence day) I quit my job, left Canberra and started a new chapter of my life — Chapter 5.

For the last 4 years I have taught English in Korea twice, won prizes in three essay contests, was a volunteer lecturer (banking & finance) in rural Cambodia for underpriveldged students, went sky-diving over the swiss alps, floated down the yanzi river in China, had two books and six articles published, lost $40k in a bad investment, spent a month following the socceroos in south Germany, been travelling with Duncan, Darrin, Claire, Sam, Chris, HH & others, gone to two full-moon parties at Kho Samui (Thailand), done my “advanced”, “rescue diver” and “divemaster” scuba diving courses, got a eyebrow ring and a diamond in my tooth, learned some chinese, lost my underwear in Vietnam, tutored economics, got my recreational pilots licence, ran for federal election, played poker, started an education NGO in Cambodia, acted in two Bollywood movies and a Cambodian TV advert, was hit by a bull in pamplona, seen over 50 countries & learned a lot about myself.

When I travel I sometimes use the name “Temujin”.

My “serious” self still does a few things — running the NGO, managing a small investment company, freelance economics work and dabbling in politics. I also have my CV online.

Why Chapter 5?

Chapter 1 — early life (NZ, Armidale, Ayr) 1978-1987

Chapter 2 — school (Sunshine Coast) 1987-1995

Chapter 3 — university (Brisbane) 1996-1999

Chapter 4 — working (Canberra) 2000-2004

Chapter 5 — exploring (World) 2005-2008

Favourite stuff

Books — Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Free to Choose, Machinery of Freedom, How to be Good, Trainspotting, Communist Manifesto, Shanghai Baby, The God Delusions, anything by Lonely Planet.

Movies & TV – Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Trainspotting, Fight Club, West Wing, South Park, Cricket

Music — The Smiths, Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, Crowded House, Eminem, Lin Yilian, Live, Jack Johnson

Hobbies — Flying, Fire-dancing, Scuba diving, Guitar, Dancing, Travel, Languages, Surfing