Dani and Tom Wooldridge sold their home, gave away their possessions, and bought one-way tickets to Indonesia with their three children to embark on an indefinite, round-the-world travel experience, bbc.com reported.
Selling Their UK Home to Travel
Before launching their global journey in May, Dani, 39, a nurse who ran an aesthetics business, and Tom, 38, who ran a construction business, spent about seven years transforming a 1970s house into their family home in the UK. They eventually decided to sell the property rather than rent it out, wanting to avoid managing landlord responsibilities from abroad. They initially brought too much gear, but have since given items away to locals along the route, narrowing their luggage down to two large 120-litre backpacks for the parents and two 100-litre rolling packs—one of which is dedicated to educational materials. Not so much the material things we had,
Dani reflected on shedding their possessions.
From Thailand Holidays to Indonesian Islands
The inspiration for the trip crystallized nearly two years ago during a month-long Christmas family holiday in Thailand. After that trip went smoothly, the couple researched other traveling families, weighed the pros and cons, and committed to the lifestyle change. Can we do this?
Dani recalled wondering while making lists of positives and negatives. Their travels over five months have taken them through the Indonesian archipelago, including visits to Bali, Lombok, Ubud, and Mount Batur, alongside encounters with Komodo dragons. While the adults and younger boys—Morgan, seven, and George, four—embraced the plan quickly, their 12-year-old daughter, Olivia, felt more apprehensive about leaving her new high school and friends after starting classes the previous September.
Maintaining UK Curriculum Education on the Road
Education remains a central focus for the family as they move through south-east Asia. Olivia takes online math lessons from her former high school math head teacher in Rhondda Cynon Taf, who also taught Tom at the same school.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wooldridges’ Journey
Why did the family decide to sell their home instead of renting it out?
Dani initially suggested renting out the house to have something to return to, but Tom wanted a clean break. The couple ultimately realized they did not want to manage property responsibilities from another continent.
How is the family handling schooling while traveling?
Olivia takes online math lessons from a former high school teacher back home, and a primary tutor works with the younger boys and helps with Olivia’s science and English.
What are the family’s travel plans after Indonesia?
After spending five months across Indonesia and Lombok, the family is heading to Malaysia to visit an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo. Their rough one-year itinerary also includes stops in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
What Comes Next for the Family in Malaysia
After concluding their time across the Indonesian islands, the Wooldridge family is moving on to Malaysia. Their upcoming plans include visiting an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo and enrolling the children in another world-schooling centre to give them more opportunities to socialize with peers. Beyond Malaysia, they intend to travel through Thailand—where Dani’s mother and Tom’s parents plan separate visits—before continuing onward through Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines as they evaluate their route continent by continent. However once the plane had taken off and the goodbyes were behind them, the excitement started to kick in,
noted Tom, adding, We remembered where we were going.
It just felt so great exploring with them,
Tom added.
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