In Australia
Both of us are in our sixties, but we don’t like the term “senior citizens.” It sounds outdated, like the setting sun—close to the grave, even if it’s called the “sunset glow.” We prefer the word “young,” which implies passion, vitality, and hope. So we coined a new term to describe ourselves: senior youth; we also adopted the shared online alias “Senior Backpackers.”
We hope to overturn the traditional retirement model. Two years before retiring, we began planning our post-retirement life. The general idea is: not to spend our twilight years in the small park or hospital near our home, enjoying the comfortable life of walking the dog, raising birds, growing flowers, and doting on grandchildren—that’s not what we want. We want to seize the tail end of life and live it more brilliantly. So, we chose a new life goal: traveling the world.
At some point, a saying started circulating online: for the price of just half a square meter of property, you can travel around Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand; for the cost of one or two square meters, you can visit Europe and America; and for three or four square meters, you can go to magical places like Egypt and South Africa... Over the years, you could travel the whole world without even spending the cost of a toilet. So, we made up our minds: even if we have to sell our house, we will travel. Actually, for our generation, frugality has become a habit. Travel might cost a lifetime’s savings, but we think it’s worth it. If we run out of money, we’ll mortgage our house and keep traveling.
For us, travel is no longer just an embellishment to life—it’s a form of retirement, a healthy and joyful way of living. We still look at this colorful world with the curious eyes of children, exploring and seeking.
On February 10, 2011, we published a declaration: after three months of effort, we finally obtained visas for five countries, and the main nodes of our global route were connected. Our one-year around-the-world trip was entering the countdown and about to be put into action.
We booked flights for our round-the-world journey, crossing Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Oceania, as well as the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. In Ushuaia, Argentina—the “end of the world”—we sought a “last-minute” research vessel or icebreaker to visit the icy wonderland of Antarctica. The itinerary was so thrilling that our hearts were filled with anticipation, longing, and a touch of anxiety.
The journey was full of highlights: watching the turbulent meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans at Cape of Good Hope in South Africa; hiking the Inca Trail in the Peruvian Andes to pay homage to Machu Picchu; exploring the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Brazil; then the relaxing Hawaii, driving around Australia to see Uluru, and hiking the fjords of New Zealand’s South Island...
The cultural attractions were equally captivating: wandering through charming South American towns steeped in colonial charm; staying for a while in wine estates away from the hustle and bustle of the city; visiting the floating huts of indigenous people by Lake Titicaca. There was also football in Argentina and Brazil, the melancholic tango, and the exuberant samba...
Splendor came with risks, beauty coexisted with difficulties. We knew very well that the 180-day around-the-world journey wouldn’t always be easy and pleasant. In distant and unfamiliar countries, language barriers, physical illness, getting lost, being scammed, robbed, or in car accidents—risks were everywhere. Unpredictable natural disasters and human misfortunes could strike at any time. All these unknowns and uncertainties often left us anxious and fearful.
Every leg of the journey was fraught with countless difficulties and risks. The beautiful scenery, hidden behind these challenges, became all the more mysterious and irresistibly appealing, drawing us forward without hesitation.
We are no longer young, our hair has turned white, yet we still chase the dreams of our childhood, seeking the happiness in those dreams. Decades of life experience have taught us: dreams bring joy, and joy always hides behind difficulties. The journey around the world has repeatedly given us one experience: behind every difficulty lies joy, and the joy gained by overcoming hardship is doubled, and then doubled again.
Six months later, we succeeded. We completed a self-funded, independent trip around the Southern Hemisphere, fulfilling our original plan: a global independent journey. We traveled for six months, 180 days, visited 14 countries and regions, and took tens of thousands of photos.
Along the way, countless people helped us. We’re deeply grateful to those who supported us, and also thankful to our family for their backing.
The journey was full of obstacles. Aside from the language barrier, there were many dangers and unpredictable challenges, all of which we overcame one by one.
Our greatest gain was the stronger bond between us as a couple during the trip. Without this foundation, it would have been hard to persevere. Life is about supporting each other, showing love and overcoming difficulties together. There may be no smooth sailing, but there is always a path that goes on forever.
The 14 countries were all different, each with its own beauty. We camped in Antarctica, slept in hammocks in the Amazon, attended a black Easter Mass in a church, searched for history in Machu Picchu, swam in the wetlands, observed all walks of life at weekend markets, experienced the sentiments of ordinary people amid luxury, spent nights under the starry sky by the campfire, exchanged stories with friends from around the world in youth hostels, and learned the importance of travel insurance after being hospitalized due to illness.
180 days is neither too long nor too short in the lives of people in their sixties, but it’s a period we’re incredibly proud of—a highlight of our later years.
We want to show everyone through our actions: Chinese people can also explore the wonders of the outside world. Take action—whether young or old, the world is beautiful, and you can see its vibrant colors.