VI
EN
Richard sold all his possessions and quit his job so he could dedicate all his time to his passion for travel. The only thing Richard kept, accompanying him throughout his journey, was his beloved cat, Willow.
Let's learn about Richard and his beloved cat Willow's journey as they traveled over 50,000 km around Australia.
The journey began in 2014, when East quit his IT job to embark on a long vacation.
“I had been with the company for almost 10 years, had a stable career and many opportunities for advancement. However, in that environment, I felt lost and unable to pursue my passions. Therefore, I decided to quit my job to start a travel journey,” East shared.
He decided to repurpose the Volkswagen van into a mobile home for the duration of his journey.
"We've done so much together and seen amazing places. I can't imagine traveling alone without Willow. We've paddled across the Great Barrier Reef, camped in the mountains, and traveled thousands of miles from Bourketown in Queensland to the northern counties on gravel roads."
In their van, they traveled from one meadow to another, from one beach to another.
Richard shared that while some people might think traveling with a cat is strange, Willow is a special cat, a true companion and friend on every journey. “Willow wears a tracking collar so I always know where she is. She’s rarely leashed and loves to explore around the campsite. So with the collar, I feel reassured that if she wants to go for a walk, I’ll always find her.”
For Richard, it's not just about traveling, but also about sharing the stories he finds incredibly enjoyable.
“I feel so happy to share my adventures with everyone. I couldn’t be happier when someone messages me and says they were inspired after seeing our photos. It motivates me to keep going.”
Richard enjoyed lunch with his "fancy" cat.
Richard and Willow had become so attached to the roads that it seemed to have become an irreplaceable part of their lives. Traveling through forests and beaches one after another, their memories grew richer each day.
