Yey you've found me!..... A very big thank you for joining me on my travel adventure.
My journey last 6 months and will be taking me to the following countries:
- Thailand (4 weeks)
- Cambodia (3 weeks)
- Laos (3 Weeks)
- Vietnam (3 weeks)
- Philipines (3 weeks)
- Bali (2.5 weeks)
- New Zealand (3 weeks)
- Australia (4 weeks)
- Dubai (3 nights)
I embark on my adventure early February returning August 2017. It's currently late January and the countdown is on!!!
I'm currently busy trying to prepare as much as possible. Initially here are some of the usual and unusual things I've learned are a necessity .....
Vaccinations....Here's my list....
- Hepatitis A&B (allow 1 month (3 injections))
- Tetanus booster (1 injection)
- Typhoid (1 painful injection)
- Cholera (2 No. drinks - allow 3 weeks)
- Rabies (allow 1 month (3 injections) this costs circa £150 and doesn't actually prevent you from contracting rabies, it purely buys you time if you are bitten)
- Malaria (this only applies to Cambodia and Laos for my itinerary but still a whopping £75 for the melerone tablets)
- Japanese Encephalitis -This has proved the most tricky to decide. I have not had this vaccination as yet. This carries a £170-200 price tag and consist of 2 No. injections 28 days apart. Due to an existing condition i have decided against this, however can still obtain this in Bangkok if i change my mind later.
27.01.17 - I have now completed all my selected vaccines (the malaria tablets are to be taken two days before entering Cambodia / Loas and for a week after leaving) but I've had no adverse effects. Mission one complete!!
- Visa's (required for Australia and Vietnam) other required Visa's can be applied for on arrival to each respective country.
- Scanned copies of passport (should you lose your passport, it is easier to obtain a new one from the embassy if you have a copy)
- Unlock Mobile phone (to accept different SIM cards for each country visited) Ive had an old unused iPhone unlocked to use during the day and outside of Wi Fi zones.
- Notify bank of countries you'll be visiting to avoid your account being frozen
- Obtain a flexible credit card (i've obtained the Halifax Clarity card) which allows free withdrawals
- Back pack....i did lots of research on this but am still not convinced I've got this right. I decided on the Osprey farpoint 70 which consists of a large main pack with one compartment (rather than lots of small unreachable compartments) and a small back pack which has straps to attach it to my front to keep my documents safe :-)
- Luggage locks - ensure these are the approved locks to allow security to open if required. Master lock are the recognised lock by insurers. Take an additional lock for the lockers in hostels.
- Travel cubes (to compartmentalise my luggage)
- Ear plugs (perhaps some for other guests to cater for my night time acoustic performances)
- World wide travel adaptor
- Money belt
- Laundry net
- Mosquito repellant & net
- Wash bag with hanging hook - essential for hostels
- Travel pillow for the plane (I've gone for the trtl scarf....will keep you posted on the performance of this!)
- Travel diary to make notes on the road with compartments to store tickets and trinkets for memories
- Create a blog to allow family and friends to share my adventure.
- Camera / go pro?? .....not decided on this yet ....more research required to be continued.....
This list is not exhaustive and I will continue to add to this as I think of new things...note of course this doesn't include the general luggage items you would take on your travels.
I have booked my flights, initial transfers and first couple of nights in each country with the exception of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. I have flexibility between these countries to allow me to move on as and when i'm ready so i'll be keeping my eye on sky scanner for internal flights as i move around to optimise flexibility whilst visiting these countries. Other than this i'll be 'free styling' throughout the trip, staying longer where i'm happy and moving swiftly on where i'm not.
I'll be primarily hosteling in a combination of group and single dorms and will be using hostelworld, booking.com, airB&B, backpackers.com to find the best deals considering reviews and locality etc,
My concerns currently are (in order of priority)
- Safety and Security,
- Being scammed - I know this will happen for sure and will report but this will infuriate me (Note to self: Need to manage temper on this one to allow for cultural differences, no irrational outbursts....mmm gonna struggle with that one)
- Food - Spices, cleanliness and travellers tum... Ive packed immodium and dyralite because quite frankly, i know its coming ...I just don't know when!!
- Sanitation.
- Shared space (not one of my forte's as most know),
- Age gap (i'm expecting a lot of the younger partying generation in SEA)
- Heat - currently around 32 degrees in Thailand (27.01.17) keeping cool and hydrated will be challenging! - quick someone fetch the tiny violin!!
Well i'm all packed, weighing in at an impressively light 10kg for my backpack! I've deliberately and strategically reduced my packing knowing i can pretty much buy anything i need in my first port of call Bangkok for peanuts.
I'm filled with excitement and apprehension but will be leaving with the expectation of entering the unknown... delays, long days, disasters, elation and an ongoing battle with loneliness, disturbance (at nights with other hostellers) sadness of exploitation, poverty but fulfilled by the beautiful scenery and people i'll meet along the way!!
Until my next update ....bye for now, C x
