Packing rehearsal

There was a growing pile of things on my kitchen table, which I hope will accompany me on my travels. The question being, "will that all fit into my bag" ?

It's quite a question, actually, since my bag is not that big. It's a handle and wheels one I bought in Thailand last year, following the demise of the bag I had been travelling with previously. That was courtesy of rough airport baggage handling techniques.

Because I don't like to take a big or heavy bag, I was determined to confine myself to the designated one. So, imagine my delight when everything went in ! I didn't even have to open the zip for the expanding additional space area... all of which means, I'll be able to take more stuff than expected.

A little over two weeks to go now :-)

Three weeks and counting

Having spent so long planning this trip, it's gradually sinking in that it is almost upon me. I leave New Zealand in three weeks' time !!! It's all becoming very real.

I have been hunting high and low for a particular belt I want to take with me. It's a travellers' trick, because it has a big zip on the inside and is perfect for concealing notes (such as dollars or euros) inside.. away from the sight of thieves or corrupt officials. If only I could find it ! I've had it for years, but simply can't remember where I've put it. Somewhere very safe, clearly.

So today, I went to a couple of outdoor-type shops and bought a new one. Just $24.95 - and now I've done that, I'll probably find the one I already had in a simple and easily accessible place like a drawer.

I'm currently looking at hotel options for Mumbai in October.

The itinerary

So many places to see !

JUN: Japan (Sapporo, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo)
Spain (Madrid)

JUL: Spain (Antequera, Madrid)
Germany (Frankfurt)
Portugal (Lisbon)
UK (Lincolnshire)
Bulgaria (Sofia)

AUG: Hungary (Budapest)
Finland (Helsinki)
Russia (St Petersburg, Moscow)
UK (Lincolnshire, London)
Switzerland (Zurich)
Germany (Munich)

SEP: Germany (Hamburg)
Denmark (Copenhagen)
Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Chile (Santiago)
Uruguay (Montevideo)
Brazil (Sao Paulo)
Germany (Berlin)

OCT: India (Jaipur, Agra, Mumbai, Goa)
Singapore (Singapore)
Indonesia (Bali)
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Cambodia (Siem Reap, Battambang, Phnom Penh)

NOV: Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Halong Bay)
Thailand (Pattaya, Bangkok)

Russian visa

When I got up yesterday it was cold, grey and wet. I ventured out to take the number 18 bus to the Wellington suburb of Karori, where the Russian Embassy sits up on a hill. Inside the consular section it was, at least, dry and warm. AND.... success, my passport was returned to me with a visa covering the nine day period of my forthcoming visit to St Petersburg and Moscow.

I now have visas for Russia, India and Vietnam. Everywhere else I'm going I can just turn up and be allowed in. In fact, I could do the same with India. There's a new scheme being trialled, whereby citizens of five countries (including New Zealand) qualify for a visa on arrival. The cost is about the same, but I felt I would rather know for sure that I have the visa in my passport before boarding a plane to Mumbai.

Some flight plan statistics

Number crunching...

Total flying hours during trip : 156 hours, 39 minutes.
OF WHICH... 55 hours, 25 minutes will be in BUSINESS CLASS !!

Longest flight : London to Buenos Aires.
Shortest flight : Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

First post, four weeks to go !

Getting ready for departure

I've had a "things to do" list for a little while, and setting up an online travel diary was on that list. So, here goes ! I've never done one before, but it seems like a good way of letting people know how I'm getting on while I'm away travelling.

It's mid May, and I depart on June 16th. Exactly four weeks from now !

Oh, in case anyone's wondering about the photo.... it's the soap monster that comes up from the hole in the floor of my bathroom when I take a shower and have used too much gel !!! It'll be a reminder of the home comforts :-)