The End

After 5 continents, 22 countries, and well over 40 000 miles, we have now finally, and sadly, come to the end of our journey.

Just as we'd hoped when we set out, we've seized a rare opportunity to see the world as most people never will. Along the way we've witnessed the marvel of nature and, upon it, the dramatic influence of humanity and its ever-changing melee of creativity, compassion and individualism.

In doing so we have had one hell of a ride. We've been shown hospitality and generosity by people who could hardly afford to. We've been exposed to far flung cultures and societies and had our sheltered paths crossed with the lives of extraordinary individuals whom we otherwise would never have met. We've travelled through time and space; gained hours and lost days. We've had dinner in the morning and breakfast at night. We've surfed with dolphins and dived with sharks. We've sprained our ankles, bumped our heads and left more than a toe nail in Tahiti.

We've witnessed the relics of forlorn generations, a living history of mankind, etched into stone, carved out of wood and built ground up from blood, sweat and tears. We've seen the greatness and the sorrow that religion can achieve. We've met politicians, musicians, poets, soldiers and asthmatics. We've experienced how the past can dictate the future, but also how quickly things can change, when there's a collective will.

We've been to Modern and Ancient Marvels of the World. We've seen hundreds of UNESCO World Heritage sites, taken 30 000 photographs and know first hand the splendour of a Patagonian sunrise. We've travelled through forests, wastelands, deserts, lakes, mountains, valleys, and remote jungle villages in Laos. There is no doubt in our minds - this Earth is an incredible place.

Of course, we've also seen the other side; the ugly side. The selfishness, the pollution, the corruption, the killing, the needless suffering and the never ending greed of human beings. We've been prodded, pushed, yanked, laughed at, sworn at, shouted at, over-charged and under-served. Just as we've developed a new way of looking at the beauty of life, we've also grown eyes in the back of our necks. Although we're more open minded, we are certainly also more cynical. It's a sad truth, that in this incredible world we live in, there's much to be sad about.

However, as we weigh up the overall outcome of our journey, the sum of all the parts, we are absolutely convinced, and very happy, to conclude that anything is possible. Where there's hope there's a future. Because whatever you believe in, be that a world with no God, a Christian God, a Muslim God, a Buddhist God or a one-eyed elephant God with four arms, one thing is for certain. Good things can, and do, happen.

Death is a part of life, and life is a part of death. People suck; people are amazing. We just need to keep looking at the future, and remind ourselves to look out for each other. Despite being so very big, our planet is only very small.

So, as we shove our backpacks into the back of our closets and settle into our Swedish future, one of flat-packed bookshelves and social welfare, tax brackets and drinking songs, smoked herring and cobbled streets, we can at least look back at this eventful part of our lives and say, 'we did it'. And, what's even better, we did it our way.

To all those who have helped us along our journey, we are truly grateful. For all the floor space and cups of tea, for your kind words and everything else, our deepest thanks.

Over and out.



Our Travel Video. 8 months in 8 minutes. (17.5 Mb)