Less Than two weeks to go....(packing)

I am so excited! My trip of a lifetime is really getting close.

Someone asked me how do I pack for a 99 day trip. I got my first tips on this from a book called Rough Guide To First Time Around The World. While their books generally cater to the backpacker/trekker type of traveler, this book had some great tips for my more middle of the road trip:-) I got even more tips from the website, Onebag.com. As a result, although I don't have just "one bag," I do have one bag that will be about 30 pounds (way under the 50# limit), as well as a backpack that will weigh about 12 pounds. The key is to not take too many clothes. The weather should be warm to hot in most places, but I've got some layers for cooler evenings, and just in case Russia (I'll be there in the middle of their Spring) and Argentina (will be there from the middle to end of their Fall) are on the cold side.

Get ready.......to start following me Round The World!!

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Countdown continues...(visas)

Less than three weeks to go! This week I applied for my last visa....Brazil. Even though you may not see Brazil on my itinerary, will need the visa to step across the border into Brazil at Iguazu Falls-- a must-see, which is on the border with Argentina.

Have also obtained visas for Russia, Vietnam, Burma and Australia. I would have also needed a visa for Egypt if that leg of the trip had not been cancelled. There are companies that obtain your visas for you...but since I am in NYC, and not working, it was possible to visit all of the consulates myself to obtain the necessary visas (Australia was a simple on-line process) Each country has its own process (some require full itinerary and confirmations of booked hotel rooms), fee requirement and time frame (some offer expedited service for an additional fee). The most up-to-date information was the actual consulate website for each country. They each keep your passport so they can insert your visa, so it is nerve wracking waiting to get your passport back. So I will be relieved to pick up my passport with Brazilian visa on February 23.

Then Round The World I go!!

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One Month To Go.......

One month from today before I leave for my trip. Wow, i can't believe its so close! I'm publishing this post from my ipad so I can see how that works. It's been a lot of work, and a LOT of fun putting this trip together. It really is going to be a phenomenal trip! Ive had some real travel karma moments, which I'll share with you over the upcoming weeks of final preparation. And I've had some tense moments as I've been following some of my destinations....the floods/cyclones in Australia; the bombing at the Moscow airport; the civil unrest in Cairo. This last one did cause me to make a decision to cancel my egypt leg and reroute my trip through Budapest, Vienna and Prague instead. It was decision time today as my full payment amount for the Egypt portion of the trip was due today. I had wanted an extension of time so that I could decide closer to my departure date whether or not I should cancel. But the travel company, overseas adventure travel (OAT) was extremely inflexible and even charged me a $300 cancellation fee for canceling today!! Needless to say, when I do eventually get to Egypt, it won't be with OAT. More to follow in the upcoming days as March 5th quickly approaches!

Itinerary Coming Together....

I have been working hard on planning the itinerary for my trip, and this is what I have lined up so far:

March 5th:  NY > Honolulu (for a rest on the beach for a few days before traveling on to Australia)
March 11th:  Honolulu > Sydney (I'll do an Airpass for Australia to get around to other parts of the country, ).
April 3rd:  Sydney > Saigon (to visit my friend Sue in Saigon.  Also want to plan a trip up to the northwestern part of the country which I had missed on my last visit; and maybe a quick stop in Burma?)
April 15th:  Saigon > Tokyo (to see Mike, Natsu and Kai)
April 21st:  Tokyo > Moscow (will also take the train up to see St. Petersburg)
May 3rd:  Moscow to Cairo (to do a trip down the River Nile)
May 18th:  Cairo > London (to stop in on some of my Brit friends)
May 24th:  London > Buenos Aires (to explore the city and the wine country; the gauchos and the tango dancers)
June 5th:  Buenos Aires > New York (Home Sweet Home!)

This may still be tweaked some as I continue my planning.  But I am getting way excited as I plan this trip!!  Stay tuned as I fine-tune my trip!

Trip Planning

Today I started the planning process for my Round The World (RTW) trip.  I haven't finalized my stops yet, but am thinking about Argentina; Egypt; Greece; Czech Republic; Russia; Australia; New Zealand; Tahiti; Easter Island; to name a few.  I may also want to stop off to see friends who live in Saigon, Viet Nam and Milan, Italy, if the timing works for them. 

You may think there are some important countries that I've left out, but I'm trying to only stop in countries I have not previously visited.....for example, I have been to Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and Morocco in Africa....and to Japan, Thailand, Bhutan, India, China, Hong Kong, Viet Nam and Cambodia in Asia.  I have already visited 35 countries in total.  So with this trip, I am trying to add to that list!!

The first country I have been researching today is Argentina.  Has anyone been to Buenos Aires, or know someone who lives there?  Highlights of that stop would be the city of Buenos Aires, tango, Iguaza Falls, wine country and, of course, let's not forget the Gauchos!! 

Follow me as I plan the trip, and then go globeDOTTIng Round The World!!