Around the world for honeymoon in 604 days

Hong Ju-won, The Korea Herald Publication


When Koo Whan-hoi was photographing the sunrise in Istanbul in December 2003, three dogs jumped up and bit through his thigh. The fear of having rabies prompted him to think twice about what he truly wanted in life.

"Rabies is said to be deadlier than Aids. Thinking I may not have much time left, I asked myself what I wanted to do," said Koo, the author of the book Crazy Honeymoon 604.

Some people might say his decision to quit his job as travel journalist, get married and go on a 20 month trip around the world with his wife could be the very symptom of the disease (if insanity is one of them.)

Koo married Park Jin-young in May 2005 and they went on their journey the following month. Park was delighted with Koo's honeymoon plan and jumped at the opportunity.

"Who doesn't like to travel? You have to think simple and just leave," Park said. At the announcement of their departure, both of their mothers responded by fainting. But the couple remained unyielding and set off to explore 40 countries in 604 days with only 43 million won (about $46,800).

Koo with his stubble and Park without any makeup stand out among the busy bees around the City Hall. They are now back home to tell the stories of their very long honeymoon.

The platter of Peking duck on the table at a Seoul restaurant seemed to make them reminisce of the days when they were in China. Koo said Peking duck is the most well known, but there are better delicacies in China. Once, they recognised the Chinese character standing for pig on a menu and ordered the dish. However what came out didn't look or taste like the pork back home. After stripping the bones clean, the two assembled the skeletal remains. It formed a figure of a tail. Park didn't fail to add that pig's tail is nothing in Chinese cuisine.

The couple thought English would take them around the world. It did until they hit South America. When body language met its limits, they nestled in Guatemala for a week for a crash course in survival Spanish. When asked what one needs to know in order to survive, they replied: "Agua (water) and muy caro (very expensive)."

They said a traveller should pack an altimeter. When they were driving up Karakoram (a mountain dividing China and Pakistan) they experienced the four seasons change. It started off steaming hot, then it started to drizzle then sleet, and at the peak of the mountain there was a snow storm. The plants and animals also changed as the altitude rose. As they experienced their atmosphere change within a matter of minutes, they couldn't help to wonder "how high up are we?" They regret they didn't have an altimeter so they suggest it for a traveller's must-have item.

When their lengthy journey around the world came to an end, Koo said he was excited to return to his jobless life in Korea. This was possible because he learned how to appreciate the smile of a little girl in Laos, chai made from the pond waters of India and the crystal clear sky of Uyuni, Bolivia. Park said that "If you know how to find happiness you can be dauntless wherever you are in the world," Park said. So even though their lives in Seoul were unplanned, they knew they were going to be happy.

In Italy when the couple lost a bag which had their camera, PC and other personal belongings, they were devastated at first. Later they felt it was unnecessary luggage and grew to be more comfortable without it. It would be wise to live the way they travelled, discard the luggage we own called worries and travel light in life.

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