Welcome to the third part of our new blog series following Jack Ashworth as he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure across the globe. After being granted a sabbatical by Burton Copeland, Jack is swapping courtrooms for camper vans, and case files for cultural experiences, as he travels across continents with his own version of a “Race Across the World”. In this series, Jack will be sharing honest, unfiltered updates from the road- the highs, the challenges, and everything in between. From unexpected travel disruptions to spontaneous decisions and life on the move, this is a real insight into what it’s like to step away from routine and explore the unknown…
Since my last blog, we’ve covered hundreds of miles and had a few assumptions completely turned on their head.
We arrived in Busan, South Korea, by ferry before heading north to Seoul — a fascinating, safe and surprisingly easy city to navigate.
Then came China, starting in Shanghai. Travelling here has required some adjustment. Our usual bank cards, maps and social media apps don’t work, meaning we’ve had to embrace the Chinese equivalents.
China was nothing like I expected.
What really strikes you is the scale. Journeys between cities can take 4–7 hours by high-speed train — difficult to comprehend with a British mindset!
We travelled through Hangzhou, Xiamen and Hong Kong, before experiencing the breathtaking Avatar Mountains of Zhangjiajie — genuinely unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Next came futuristic Chongqing and panda-famous Chengdu. Now it’s on to Xi’an and Beijing.
Perhaps the biggest lesson, though, is about home. Travelling has made me realise how fortunate we are in the UK and how easily we take it for granted.
Sometimes you have to travel the world to truly appreciate home and dare I say it-your job and teammates (who hopefully have been practicing at the Burton Copeland office pool table in readiness to try and beat me upon my return!)