John McCarten (Johnny)

""Not all those who wander are lost" From an early age I was always the "wanderer", going on adventures in shopping malls to finding ways to escape the fences that surrounded my house to go off exploring in the nature reserve next door..... I was 4. - (I ended up when going out, having one of those 'kid leads' so I wouldn't take off from my parents) We moved around a lot as a kid for dads work, going to many schools and meeting lots of new people, I believe this is where I got my "social butterfly" aspect from. At 20 I took off overseas for my first solo trip, a life long dream to Hawaii, a 3 month stay which saw me get to know the inns and outs, cultural history and locations on the island of Oahu. Soon I was renting mini vans and taking people from the hostel I stayed in on tours of the island - showing them the sites and sounds of the city and towns, to the beautiful mountains & beaches, & even famous film & tv locations like Jurassic park, 50 first dates & even Lost. Time passed and every year I managed to travel to different locations in the world. Fiji, Thailand, Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand. By 25 my life was set up, great job, townhouse, car and lots of stuff. I went to Europe on a TopDeck tour that changed my life. 3 weeks of seeing all those landmarks I only ever saw on TV where now right in front of me. I had the most amazing guide who inspired me to want to travel even more. Upon returning, my desk job felt like it was sucking the life out of me, I had this huge adventure and was living, and now it was back to staring at a computer screen all day. The post holiday blues had kicked in. I woke up one day and decided it was time to take risks and start living. I applied as I guide for TopDeck and went trough the different stages of the interview process over the space of 3 weeks. Finally the results were in and I was offered a spot on the training course in Europe, starting in 6 months time. It was time to hit the books and learn more about all the Countries I was going too visit. Without a definite job at the end of it, I decided to sell most things in my life. All this "stuff" I had collected didn't seem so important anymore. I moved out of my townhouse I'd been in for 6 years, sold the car and got back to the basics. By the time I left all I really had were some sentimental items I stored at mums and my sisters, & left with just a backpack of clothes. The Training Trip was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, but it made me develop new life long skills & grow as a person, finding out things about myself I didn't even know I had in me. 3 years later, going into my 4th, I'm still here and loving it. From all the amazing locations across Europe. From the deep history in France, Italy & Germany, to the clear Blue waters of Greece and Croatia, to the snow capped mountains of the Swiss and Austrian Alps. Tour guiding has opened up a world where I get to do as much 'wandering' as I like. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than hearing the "ooohh and ahhs" from my passengers when we reach new destinations. Seeing their faces when trying new food, Developing the amazing friendships and bonds amongst the group of people on the tour. They become more than just friends, it's like a family. Sharing an experience together they will never forget. Tour Guiding is an endless rewarding job, which really doesn't always feel like a job. When you love what you do, the passion and excitement comes naturally. Being a young 'wanderer' as a kid, has truly led me down the right path to find exactly what I want In life and also what I want for others. What I love about being a guide is to be given the opportunity to take people on these adventures, open their heart and minds to new experiences, getting out and exploring parts of the ever changing world, to take risks, be themselves, live their lives, and never to stop being their own little 'Wanderer.' "