PHOTOS: 'Incredible' - couple drop everything to spend 18 months touring the world

Dermot Carlin and Jodie Darge, who live in Harrow, spent 18 months touring 20 of the world’s most iconic countries - including Russia, China and Thailand.

The pair left from Harrow and Wealdstone Station on February 3 last year and took 40 buses, 38 trains, 15 taxis, eight planes, seven boats and one motorbike station to reach their final destination – Sydeny.

Mr Carlin, who worked as a photographer for Harrow Council for 20 years, said: “I felt like I needed a new challenge.

“We were looking at round the world flights, but we realised we would be flying over loads of amazing places we wanted to see. It may have been more hard work and more expensive but it was so much better.”

They rented out their flat and set off – but on the 17th day of their trip as they made their way through Russia, Mr Carlin was diagnosed with near-fatal appendicitis.

He was forced to travel over 80 miles for hospital treatment through the Siberian forest in -30 degree weather and heavy snowfall to reach a hospital.

He said: “It was very traumatic. Although the pain had subsided they told me my appendix had burst and it was slowly poisoning me.

“I was determined to carry on. It was a trip of a lifetime and I didn’t want to miss out on it.

“Actually that experience made the whole trip even better. Because I came so close to losing my life, it made me appreciate how lucky we were to be doing the trip.”

Seven days later, Mr Carlin was given the all clear.

They then travelled to China, Laos, Thailand and several other countries before reaching Sydney, where Ms Darge’s family are from.

Mr Carlin said: “Our time in Australia was amazing. We were living by the beach and the lifestyle and weather were incredible.

“When we were there we were just constantly outdoors. It was great.”

During their time in Asia, Mr Carlin bumped into three people he knew from home.

He said: “I have an uncanny knack for meeting people from Harrow wherever I go.

“I met a man from South Harrow when we were in China, he was there brewing his own craft beer.”

Mr Carlin said he was also recognised by a traffic warden from Pinner when he was on Palomen Beach in India, and met someone he went to Scouts with in Singapore.

The most memorable part of their trip was the two months they spent in India.

And little did Ms Darge know that during their six months in Australia, her boyfriend had asked her father for her hand in marriage.

He had originally planned to propose after they completed the Camino de Santiago de Compestela walk across Spain, but Mr Carlin developed a painful leg condition and did not feel in a fit state to do so.

He instead popped the question during a picnic under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where they celebrated Ms Darge’s ‘yes’ with champagne and French cheese.

They have have now settled back into life in Harrow, are back at work, and have started planning their wedding.

They blogged their experiences under the name Chasing Summer.

He added: “I won’t lie, once the euphoria of seeing my family again had subsided I do really miss it.”