How does one break up the monotony of their day to day life and make a change? An Edmonton man found one way after hitting a low point in his own life.
Duane Perara had just gone through a break-up, and was about to turn 30 when he decided to drop everything and travel around the world.
Armed with his camera and an irresistible wanderlust, he travelled to 36 countries in one year.
"I was kind of flying by the seat of my pants," Perara said in an interview with CTV News. "[I was] just going where life took me."
Over the course of his trip, he tackled Kilimanjaro, experienced the Running of the Bulls in Spain, and made merry at Oktoberfest – and he documented every moment on video.
A running theme in his trip revolved around a popular soft drink, in each place he visited, he bought a Coke.
"I remember going to remote villages in Africa, and Asia, they didn't speak English at all, but they still knew what Coca-Cola was."
Videos of each of his adventures, plus documentation of Coca-Cola around the world, were posted on the internet, in the hope that others would be inspired to take risks.
It may be working; some of his videos have had hundreds of thousands of views, and dozens of positive comments.
Perara not only risked changing his entire life, he also risked his own financial security.
The year-long trip racked up $30,000 in credit card debt.
"[It was] probably not the most financially responsible thing to do."
He may get some help from Coca-Cola, as he said he's spoken to executives in the United States on his videos becoming part of a new ad campaign.
Regardless, Perara said it was the trip of a lifetime – and he's a rich man even if his bank account is in the red.
"This is an investment in myself," Perara said. "I've learned so much on this trip and I can take this with me."
With files from Sean Amato
