One Way Ticket by Mark Phipps
At 19 years old Mark headed off into the world on his own. First stop Australia where he came face to face with his own fears and lack of preparation. After an anxious, stress inducing first few hours in a different country, not to mention continent he settles in and begins to connect with the other roomers in the hostel. The other travelers didn’t judge Mark based on family wealth, sexual preferences, or accents. They wanted answers to the “Standard Backpacker 101 Questionnaire” and to see who was the most traveled.
-Where are you from?
-How long are you traveling?
-Where have you been?
-How long are you staying here?
-Where are you going next?
Finding work was a struggle, but his persistence finally paid off and he fulfilled the requirements of his work visa. The year in Australia had changed him. Now feeling resilient and independent, he understood responsibility. He felt like he “knew myself better than ever but I realized, I really knew nothing about myself. The more I learned, the less I knew.”
Returning home after his year abroad, he soon began dreaming of getting back out there, next stop South East Asia. He didn’t head out on this trip for the comfort and safety of home, but for discomfort and growth, adventure and exploration. He earned his Scuba qualifications in Thailand.
Stopping at the Killing Fields in Cambodia, the reality of what kind of evil humans can be capable of shocked him to his core. Returning to Australia for a second year, an unexpected phone call from his mother rocks his world, and the stability he had always had growing up.
He developed unique views on life. That one’s life shouldn’t be lived in one place. That there isn’t only one route through life, -school, university, job, marriage, house, family, then death. And that it’s ok to choose your own path through life. In Thailand again, Mark developed a philosophy of life; “Get paid to do something most people pay to do.” Although he didn’t really know what direction he was going, he avoided committing his life to only following one path.
This travelogue takes the reader on a journey around the world. Filled with life lessons, and humor. It seamlessly blends the funny into the struggle, just like life. I enjoyed reading this book. I felt the travel bug myself by the time I was done. His life lessons can be enacted in even non-traveler lives.
Below are some other links from the author.
Author: One Way Ticket
IG: @mjphipps1990