There is something that seems out of place about John Waite the first moment I see him. We’re in a youth hostel and the common area is full of backpackers – chatting, drinking, playing guitars and doing whatever else backpackers do on a sunny afternoon to pass their elastic view of time. John is hanging out with everyone but he’s not like the others. He doesn’t have the impetuous spirit you sometimes find, nor does he have the veiled insecurities of some of the other travellers. John is grounded. John is content. John is 89 years old.
When John’s wife died in 1982 he decided to leave his adopted home of Melbourne. He didn’t pack up his house or break ties with his children and grandchildren. He just decided to make the world his home – and almost 30 years later he is still on the road.
He travels on the cheap… the life of the backpacker suits him. Every night he stays in hostels, surrounded by young travellers who are separated by generations but brought together with a simple introduction and a chat.
“I went into a hostel in Dubai one time,” he remembers.
“The woman at the reception said ‘this is a hostel for young people and they make a lot of noise’ and I said ‘well if I can’t sleep when I go to bed then you’ll probably find me in the middle making the noise with them’.”
He chats with the other guests at our hostel as they wander in and out of the common areas and he brings a cheeky but innocent tone to the conversations. Those who have been here for a while know him well and they share stories about the day – and about the past. John says he enjoys the company and community of the backpacking life.
“I was in the army for long enough to get used to sleeping in dormitories,” he explains.
“I meet wonderful people. They’re all younger than me, ok, but everyone likes to talk.”
John prefers not to talk about the war, even though he mentions it quite often and uses it as a reference point for many of his characteristics and decisions. He just doesn’t go into detail because it’s still something that’s just too raw.
“Sure I have a nightmare or two,” he says.
“I think I was shouting out in my sleep last night and the two who were in the room must have thought ‘what the hell’.”
He pauses.
“But it’s more entertaining than snoring.”
We both laugh.
Originally from England, John moved to Australia decades ago when a pound could buy you a boat ticket to the other side of the world. He’s always had a sense of excitement and you can see the adventure in his eyes. During his travels he’s collected an anthology of stories that would leave any global nomad impressed. He’s trekked with monks in the snow of Pakistan, worked with the United Nations in Sudan and even parasailed in India. Oh, and he was 75 when he did that.
Whenever he returns home to Melbourne to see his family, he shares the stories. There’s always one thing the young ones notice, though.
“My grandsons go through my photos,” he says, “and they say they want to come away with me because I get better girls than they do!”
More laughter.
John travels light – really light – and his backpack normally weighs just 5 kilograms. He has one change of clothes on and one change in the wash. When he’s in colder climates he finds someone is usually happy to lend him a jacket or a jumper. He’s not one for creature comforts. One hostel he tells me about in China had a room where he slept with more than 40 other people.
Over the 30 years of travel he’s developed a few favourite countries. He loves the United States and has a lot of good friends across America. He also likes Denmark, Norway and, slightly ironically, Germany.
John is the one who uses the word ‘ironically’ when he mentions Germany. Many people assume he would dislike the country because of his past. He says it’s actually quite the opposite.
“The army never taught me to hate,” he says. “It taught me how to kill but not how to hate. I’m sure the Germans were the same, and I’ve got wonderful friends there.”
His travels have brought him into danger many times. Sometimes in places you wouldn’t expect but, more often than not, in regions that are embroiled in conflict. John doesn’t go looking for trouble but, at the same time, he wants to see the world. That’s why he’s on this journey. He’s had 89 good years on this planet and he’s spent the last 30 exploring it. He’s not prepared to compromise at this stage in his life.
“I don’t have a death wish but if you’re going where there’s troops and firing going on you’re going to get your collection as well somewhere down the line,” he says.
“But I want to live, I love it.”
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Turtle, like the name suggests, likes to take things slowly. Luckily that's one of the best ways to see the world - and that's exactly what he's doing at the moment.
This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.
104 Responses
Great post. One of the best things about traveling is meeting interesting people and you definitely got one in John.
The Travel Fool recently posted..Photo of the Week
Did I ever! We sat there for so long chatting about everything. And I think I could have sat there for days more and listened to his stories. Such an interesting guy!
I met John at the India House in Nola & he just makes the place even more magical.
Dani Ny
That’s where I met John too. He’s a great person to have around the hostel. And those stories – wow!
What an amazing person! Travel has no age restrictions – I’ve realized this while meeting some great mature backpackers on the road.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..India Is | Video Competition
I’ll tell you what – he was a lot more fun and active than many of the young backpackers at that hostel!!
you have found a true gem. this man is amazing and i hope he can countinue for as long as he likes. life is a journey and you found one of the guides.
What a lovely way to put it. Thanks for taking the time to read about John’s journey!
Fabulous article as always. Looking forward to the next issue!
Fabio recently posted..Bike Rides: A Chain on The Coast
Thanks Fabio. Just wait until tomorrow when John shares a few of the exciting things that have happened to him on the road.
Noooooooo. I want to read the second instalment now!!
My dad is 78 and travels the world a couple of months at a time, staying in a mix of cheap hotels and hostels. He’s not quite like John though, more like Mr Bean. He returned from his latest adventure last month, recalling the time he ended up in a Belfast nightclub til 3am with two 24 year old nurses. He complained about not recognising any of the music so I asked him why he stayed out so late. He answered, “Because it was open.”
With age I have realise that I am indeed my father’s daughter.
Can’t wait to hear more about John.
Well, exciting news! The second part of the story is up now!
And that’s cool about your dad – you’ve really got to admire people who keep on moving.
He is really an amazing person. I learned a lot from John, but I’m sure there are more valuable things to learn from him. He will serve as my inspiration. Such person is worth remembering. I salute you John.
The most important thing I learned from John was that nothing’s standing in your way – not even age!
What an inspiring story! I hope I meet John in a hostel one day.
If you do ever meet him, make sure you take some time to sit down and have a good chat! You won’t believe half his stories!
89 Years old and still travelling. that is my kind of hero
Zablon recently posted..Volunteering abroad and Universities
Yeah, exactly! If we could have even half the energy that John has, then we’d have some big lives ahead of us!
Lovely story!
Sophie recently posted..Travel Bloggers Give Back
Thanks Sophie – glad you enjoyed it. I definitely enjoyed writing it!
Great story. There is a guy I see on a regular basis here in Appleton who runs wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and tennis shoes. He’s in his early 90′s. He looks like he’s going to fall over dead any second, but he’s out there every day. Amazing!
Unless styles are different in your region, I could see he has the typical out-of-style look of too short of shorts. I see a lot of older men wearing shorts that were in style 20 years ago. It always makes me smile!
Curt recently posted..Tuna & Potato Chip Casserole
Ha ha – yeah, there’s something about fashion and old people that always makes you wonder when they stopped buying clothes
At least John’s shorts keep the weight in his backpack down…
This is such a great story! How nice it is to read about someone doing what he loves, even if he’s not your “average” backpacker!
Amanda recently posted..Your Input Needed! – Help Shape the Future of A Dangerous Business
He’s certainly not your average backpacker… although I tend to think that even if he was 30 he still wouldn’t be your average backpacker
Fascinating story, and John seems like a fascinating character. Reminds me of my favorite poem, Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” where he says “old age should burn and rave at close of day.” Hope i”m still as spry and spunky when I reach that age!
Bret @ Green Global Travel recently posted..TRAVEL BLOGGERS GIVE BACK- To Write Love On Her Arms Helps Those Struggling With Depression, Self-Injury & Suicide
Great quote! I’m going to look up that poem – sounds like it might come in handy in a few decades
Wow. What a great story. You were very lucky to have met him. He makes me feel like such a baby when I don’t want to sleep in a dorm room! Good for him – I hope he’s my roommate in Paris!
beth recently posted..Riad vs. Resort: The Marrakech Smackdown
I know exactly what you mean! Never again will I complain about a dorm room. If John can do it for 30 years then it’s about time I manned up a bit!!
“But I want to live, I love it.” i will remember this words.
I am gonna stop worrying about everything and enjoy life, just like him.
Oscar recently posted..Yucatan Cooking with Chef Oscar
Apparently if you live without worries you live until at least 89!
keep on going mate well done you only live once enjoy so much more to see and learn
What a truly inspirational man to have met, fantastic! I would love to hear some of his stories. Good for him!
Who knows – maybe you will meet him one day. John’s hard to miss!
This is so inspiring. Makes one wanna go travel the world. Thank you for this wonderful post.
Glad he inspired you! It’s never too late to start your travels!
Thats amazing! Good for him!
Jade Johnston – OurOyster.com recently posted..The Bridge to Nowhere – Midweek Snapshot Feb 2011
Yeah, a really amazing story!
What an amazing story!! I loved hearing about his life and his adventurous spirit. I hope I run into him somewhere, I would love to hear his stories
caz Makepeace recently posted..Photo – First White Person on Nias Island in Sumatra, Indonesia
Thanks. It’s been fantastic to see so many people get behind him!
What an inspiration! Good on him. Hope he keeps going.
Spencer recently posted..Today’s Super Hot Hotel Deals for the Dominican Republic!
What a wonderful story! I hope that I am at the same hostel as John someday – would love to have a chat over a cup of tea with him. Looking forward to the next installment!!
Cherina recently posted..Arctic Dreams: The Polar Bears of Churchill. PART II
What an amazing guy. I love the fact that he doesn’t let his age stand in the way of anything. A lovely post
Wow — what an inspiring and entertaining read. It’s been a long time since I read a long post like that all the way through. (Am I allowed to admit that?) Bravo!
Abby recently posted..Holiday contest: win travel funds here!
Ha – I think that’s a fair admission. I know the long posts can be a bit intimidating but for ones like this, I think it’s worth it!
We can only hope that we bump into this guy at some point on our Trans-Americas Journey. What an inspiration!
Trans-Americas Journey recently posted..Tikal Basecamp #2 – Flores, Guatemala
Hopefully you do get to bump into him. If only John had facebook and we could keep track of where he was!
this is really incredible and inspiring!
Maria D. recently posted..Miami Art Basel: Up & Coming Artist Carmelo “Memo” Rios
Thanks Maria!
This was a splendid read on this stuffy Monday for me. Thanks for highlighting John — the world needs more folks like him!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted..Travel from Point A to Point Z
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment!
Great article. John is a great example, inspiration and my kind of guy
I hope I still will be able to be on the road at that age! I wish him many more travel years!
Fida recently posted..Travel In Kerala On A Budget
Hopefully there’s no reason why you can’t still be on the road then!
I wonder if he was the gentleman in Brooks-Silva Braga’s backpacking documentary?! There was a very old backpacker in that film who I so admired and his story was not unlike this one.
Kirsten recently posted..B is for “Take me Back to Barbados”
Oh, I hadn’t heard of the doco. I’ll check it out – thanks!
This is a great post! I can just imagine meeting this guy – wow! To have been a traveler for the last 30 years… Just think of the changes he’s seen, countries that have come and gone…. Amazing. I’ve been gone for just over two years now, and can only hope to aspire to this!
Tiffany recently posted..It’s the smell!
Only 28 more years for you! Easy!!
When I get at his age I hope to be still traveling …
Laura recently posted..Nativity Scenes From Around The World
No reason why you can’t be! (Well, to be honest, there are probably lots. But good luck anyway!!)
This must have been absolutely inspiring! It’s lovely to see people living the philosophy of “Forever Young”.
You’re right – it’s a great philosophy!
Love these blog posts – John is my hero! I hope I am still backpacking at 89! This backs up my belief that age is all in the mind. If we decide to get old, we do .. if we decide not to, we don’t. Way to go, John .. I wish you a good many years of backpacking and you have a place to stay if you ever come to Vancouver (BC, not Washington).
If only John had facebook or email. I’m sure he would now have invites for places to stay all over the world!
This reminds me of a man that was staying at my hostel in the Atacama Desert in Chile, although John seems much more spry. This man had to have been at least 90 and I never saw him do anything but sleep or shuffle back and forth from the bathroom. He must have been doing something out there in the desert though, and I was just impressed that he was there at all. I hope I’m still travelling at that age!
Jesse recently posted..On Board for the Future
Ha ha. To be honest, if I was out in the Atacama Desert and was 90 years old, I wouldn’t be doing much either! Good on him for still giving it a go, though!
one of the best interviews i’ve ever read, John is quite a fascinating man…
Thanks. He was a great person to chat to!
Often I think that people believe there is an “age-limit” on this type of nomadic, independent, budget travel. John is an inspiration, and shows us all that the limits exist inside our own minds. It’s a priceless lesson, thanks for bringing it to the world.
You’re right – absolutely no age limit at all!
I LOVE meeting people like this when I’m on the road. In Mexico, I met a Vietnam Vet who was in his 60s. He had terminal cancer and was making the most of the last days of his life. I wrote about him here: http://girlunstoppable.com/2010/12/do-not-go-gentle/
We were at the same hostel for a couple weeks, and I have so many great memories of sitting on the roof listening to his fascinating life stories. I’ve met quite a few backpackers who think backpacking is for the 18-25 set (which I’m a few years beyond now so I’m old in their eyes, haha), but really some of the greatest people I’ve met on the road have been in their late 50s and beyond.
Ekua recently posted..A First Time Solo Traveler’s Guide to Hostels
That would have been so nice to have heard the stories from that guy. There is a lot to be said from making the most of the time you have – however long that may be! Your post about Jim is beautiful!
This guy is definitely one of a kind. Traveling proves to be good for his health because he looks really good. His sense of humor is uncanny, these types of people are definitely worth writing about. Thank you for sharing!
Alexa Meisler recently posted..Las Vegas Travel Tips For First Timers
Yeah, I loved his sense of humour. Such a funny guy!
I don’t often stay in hostels while traveling, but I might have to consider doing it more often, if it means meeting the world’s oldest backpacker.
Chris Ciolli (@ChrisCiolli) recently posted..Burano, Italy: Beaded Peacocks and the Crone Among Rainbow Houses
Ha ha… but once you’re hooked, you might end up doing it for as long as John!
Wow! This is so inspirational! Thank you for sharing John with the world!
I love his attitude towards travel and I giggled at his response to the Dubai hostel that warned him of the young people.
Great post.
Melissa – The Mellyboo Project recently posted..Nomad Adventure Tours: Day 18
Ha ha – yeah, I loved that answer that he gave to them. Just proves what a great guy he is!
Inspirational… You’re never too old to get out there!
Gerard ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Our Shark Encounter in Hawaii
I hope his story inspires many others. Not to travel, necessarily, but just to not let old age stand in the way of what you want to be doing!
What a lovely post highlighting that age is no reason to go out there and travel! If I meet John one day, I’ll be sure to sit down and have a long chat with him
Aggy recently posted..Obssesion on Windows
I hope you do get a chance to meet him one day. He’s a very inspiring man!
Thanks so much for the story; I’m sixty-two; I just returned from hiking trip in Utah with my oldest son and a couple of his friends; he sent me the link to your article about John. I’m enjoying my newly started retirement: again what an inspiration and great story!!!
Thanks Lindon! That’s great to hear you’re making the most of retirement. People like John show that you’re never too old to do anything you want. So pleased to hear you got some inspiration from his story! Ps. I’m very jealous about the hiking in Utah. I would love to go there and do that sometime!!
This gentleman show the age is immaterial for traveling. Some people think, they need to be rested and taking long flights, adventures etc.. are not suitable, when you grow older. But I think, we should not allow our age to restrict us?
sanjeewa-padmal travel blogger recently posted..Sri Lanka secured 22nd place in the Happy Plant Index
Exactly! There’s no reason to ever be restricted if it’s just in your mind!
what hostel did you find him in?
Hey Dana. I met John at the India House hostel in New Orleans. He had settled there for a few weeks to have a bit of a break.
Amazing person! Such a positive and fearless person who reminds me of my father. Well, John is more adventurous than my dad, but he left a legacy to prove that he has adventure in his blood. ;D
Lyndsay/ Discount Travel Blogger recently posted..Boat Ride at Thale Noi’s Waterbird Park
Dear John is definitely fearless. I’m so pleased he’s been such an inspiration to people. It sounds like you had an inspirational guy in your life too! You should feel really lucky.
Wow, what an inspiring guy! Would love to meet him. I hope I’m like him when I’m older!
If everyone was like that when they were older, this would be a fun world to live in!
Hi I am Catherine Aik John Waite is my Pop. I have sent all of this to my Pop so he can have a look at all the post up on here thank you
Thanks so much Catherine! I would love to hear from him if he ever gets the chance to write an email or leave a comment on the post!
Good on him – I hope to still be cruising around the world at his age!
Anthony The Travel Tart recently posted..Australian Souvenirs and Gift Ideas – Kangaroo Scrotum!
I hope to be doing anything at his age!
I have had the privilage of living across the road from this inspirational and amazing man for the past 20 plus years we have shared many a whiskey and a beer or 2 in that time he has always been there for me in many ways and i have the utmost admiration and respect for him as they say “you cant keep a good man down”, and “age is a state of mind” he is living proof of both !!!!!!
Wow – you’re a lucky man, Ken. I would love to have spent a bit more time with John and heard more of his stories (especially over a whiskey or a beer). He was such a nice man and it doesn’t surprise me at all to hear that he helps out his neighbours. Please give him my regards when you next see him!
This is so inspiring – I bet he has lots of stories to share.
He has years worth of stories. John is a fascinating guy and I bet he could talk for days if you had the time!!