The answer to the query “can you tell me how to travel the world?”  Is quite simple: Just do it.  When you think and think and think about something long and hard, you will think of all the awful things and all the dangers and all the possible problems, and you will think yourself out of doing it at all.  If you just dive in and do it, however, you will find that it’s so very, very much easier than you think.  When you are at home looking for how to get from Vientiane, Laos, to Vang Vieng, it seems complex and hair-pullingly difficult.  When you are finally in Vientiane, however, you will realize that every single hotel (and all the travel agents nearby) sell buses to exactly where you want to go (with pick-up service!) for only four dollars!  Honestly: once you are in the situation, the dangers disappear and the wonderful parts and easy things materialize.  Just do it!