So can you believe that From Delhi to Hong Kong takes 5 hours? That's about as long as the "express train" takes from Amritsar to Delhi. By the time I reached HK, I was exhausted. Esp as I didn't sleep on either the train or the flight.

Leaving Julundhar was tough. I felt such at home with the Sandhu's, after my Pingla stay, that I didn't really want to leave. However, I have plans to keep, so I zoned out in Delhi, just going from the train station to get to a hotel and then to get some food before leaving for the airport. Having reached HK, I immediately found the hotel and dumped my bags. Our tour meeting was due at 7pm that night but I really wanted to hit the old haunts and check out HK, abit briefly, before meeting the tour group. I walked down Jordon Road and right down Nathan Road to the pier and caught a Star ferry straight over to the other side. I reminded me of my commute to work (but in reverse as HkD lived on the island and now I was staying Kalwoon side). I wandered up to Lang Kwi Fong which is quite changed but it's still the same. It's the bar/club area of HK and every single bar/club has changed but it's still the bar/club area.

I took a tram to Causeway Bay and then back again before hitting the Metro. I just figured that I should do all the modes of transport while I could! Ricky, our tour guide, told me that since the handover, there has been little change in HK. China sees it as an open market and HK residents still differenciate themselves with a HK id card rather than a Chinese Passport. I visted the Jade Market, Temple Street (night) market and tucked into big bowls of noddle soup at meal times. After 5 weeks of Indian food, the rice and noddles make a refreshing change but I figure after 18 days of the tour, I'll be sick of the sight of rice and noddles. There's always sushi in Japan right?

The tour group is made up of mainly younger travlellers who are either finishing/starting their long trip and the odd couple who are just on this tour. My roommate, Ann, is just on a 3 week holiday. She is from Toronto and I'm sure to meet up with her when I finish off my world tour!

We had the rest of the next day in HK, and I found the post office - "Mum, look out for a postal package" - and managed to get my money changed at Chungking Mansions. Yup, that's still there. Right next to it used to be Mad Dogs, my second job the first time I stayed in HK with HkD. I started off as a bouncer-in (my job was to encourage people to come in to drink but I ended up talking to the pimps from next door most of the time)and then I became a waitress...in reminising, I have fond memories of Mad Dogs, not because the US Marines used to frequent the place but because we used to have such fun working there. It's now Murphys Bar. OK, so I went in. OK, so I had a glass of Guiness. OK, so it looked exactly the same...but that is only because it's down in a basement and there is only so much you can change down in a dungeon!

By 4.30pm, we were heading off on the Metro to the train station. We were due to get on to a 13hr sleeper train to Guilin. And it looked comfortable. The sheets were clean and it seemed as if 6 of us would bunk up and enjoy our brought dinners, chat and sleep. The first two things went without problem. Sleeping on the other hand...It wasn't that the bunks were hugely uncomfortable or that they were dirty or and anything bad but there was no way any of us got any sleep. We have 4 more nights on sleep trains!

We arrived in Guilin and checked in with a hearty breakfast and then we headed off into town for an orientation walk. The town is fairly geared up for the tourists and there are bike hires, cave tours and bamboo boat trips. We took a bamboo boat trip but now the boats are not allowed to be made from bamboo anymore as they are cutting down the really old bamboo and not replacing them. So now the boats are made out of plastic pipes. we went down river - there might be some photo's on flickr - and stopped for a kodak moment. We didn't linger as it was so cold but headed back on a 1hr trip back to the hotel. By the time we got back to our hotel, we arranged to meet up for dinner with our guide as he wanted us to experience Beer Fish, the local speciality. I had the first real Chinese food last night - Duck in Ginger sauce, Lemon Chicken, Sizzling Beef, Mushrooms and bamboo, pac choy. It was all so Yum! Today we went on a bike ride to see the Half Moon Hill. Hill is an understatement but it did make me realise that I'm not ready for Macu Piccu. I'll have to work on being able to climb the 500 steep steps up to the half moon - a hole created in the centre of the limestone mountain.
Guilin seems strangely fimilar and it's because I've seen photo's before but also because it looks like Hanlong Bay in Vietnam.

Tomorrow we have a free day and I intend to go for a massage and heavy lunch before we hit another sleeper train for 13hrs. Except after that, we have 5hrs bus ride to get onto our 2 night Yateze River boat. Our guide has warned us not to expect too much comfort and he also mentioned RATS! How did I possibly think this would be a nice holiday!! Nice is the Raddison in Jalundhar at which I was being wined and dined in, last Saturday night!

Still I'm here for the experience and the experience is turning cold. Bejing is apparently -10 with snow. So today I brought a coat for 20pounds. I think it's a fake North Face but if it is fake, it's a really good one! Thank goodness for the leggings and tights that I brought for under my jeans. I think the changes in temps will be a little bit difficult for me to manage as once I hit Oz in Jan, it's going to be hot again. One of the reasons for doing the timing on this was to have 3 summers in a row but I didn't really think about the 3 weeks in between India and Oz.

Obviously, I'm not going to be finding a internet cafe on the Yateze River and with no phone until Oz, you lovely people will have to contend with a blog silence. Speak to you all from Shanghi.
Love B

but not without a quick post as a big "thank you" to the Sandhu family of Julundhar who took me in for my final few nights and showed me the other side of India. Do you know it is wedding season in India and in my whole live i've only been to 7 weddings and now that has increased by the three nights I was in Jul. to hit duble figures! In the whole month i've been here, it's been friday and sat nights in with a book but 3 nights in Jul. and it was out every night.

I think I got to see how the other half of India live and it ain't half bad...are there any suitable boys out there who could give me that lifestyle? (Suddenly, the 'talk' I get about settling down doesn't seem so bad if that lifestyle can include a cook. driver, kitty parties and more...)

None-the-less I leave India with a little sign of relief but knowing that cultually, China is likely to be just as strange and this time, I don't have the language to help me along. I suppose I should thank goodness for the tour idea! Totally inspired if you ask me but then again there was all of that planning............

I imagine that I will return to India, not anytime soon obviously but I have met some amazing people here. The residents at Pingla certainly left an imprint on my heart and getting to know family has been a huge bonus. Suddenly, I can appricate M & P more, kinda understand their love for 'home' and remain in awe of the fact that when they got married, they did this - in reverse but that doesn't make the culture shock any less I'm thinking.

For my part, it makes me miss everyone at home and in giving up the phone - I should have another number in the New Year - I feel slightly out of touch, so keep commenting to let me know what's going on at home dear famiy and friends.

I'm keeping this post short as i should be arranging a taxi to the airport rather than sit at a cybercafe and I do want to reply to some of your comments.
Hugs until China.
B

There is an internet connected computer in the main office of Pinglawara!!! In all of my 3 weeks, I've been hunting out Internet Cafes and noone told me that there was a computer I could use in the main office. OK, it's 10kms from my Manawala complex but noone mentioned to me that there is a 'teachers' bus which leaves the Manawala complex at 2.30pm everyday!!! Are these people too busy with the 'compliments' to let me know the important stuff!!

Oh Well, you lovely guys get an additional posting as I discover these things. I have tried to post some photo's again and there are a few here in my scrapbook, which you might have to hunt for. Otherwise a few of you know my flickr account, so share that between you as I seem to have better luck uploading direct to there.

OK, so what's new? I did a day at the male ward and realised that there is only so much that I can do as a carer. The MH experience isn't really necessary as they have their routine and it's not really for me to come in and start saying "we don't do that in the UK", "you should do this" or give any points of advice. The long and short of it is that we don't do any of this in the UK without Government or Charity help & Pinglawara is doing it all on the whim of their founder who helped people in need based on his religious faith. So if there isn't too much management or orgaisation or medical/mental treatment, it's not for wanting to do something where Pingla fails. It's in the fact that the people they help aren't deemed important by the very people who work with them (staff). The organisation is hiarcharical - on numerous occasions, I hear people saying "we must get permission" and I don't undestand why grown up's like my LOM need permission but apparently they do.

There are those who are driven to improve the future of the residents and it's a joy to share ideas with those people and get them enthused about working with individuals. I'm assuming that in 5-6 years, Pinglawara will have created all of the infrastructure it needs - there is a brand new state of the art deaf school due to open on 12 Dec - and will start thinking about it's vision and staffing. I do think it's encouraging that Bibiji seem to be more open to recieving Volunteers from abroad and this could be the exact thing that will help train the caring staff who themselves are often uneducated and from poor families.

So, I've returned to the Deaf school as it prepares to move buildings. There seems to be a complete review of the syllubus going on as well. I think they really want this to be a new start for them. I've picked up some sign and am amusing the children by encouraging them to be MY teacher rather than I theirs.

I've now been to the Golden Temple each time I'm in Amristar proper and it a great ying and yang feeling in comparision to being at Pingla. I'm not sure it's made a complete believer but I'm still open minded on that front plus I have a number of faiths to discover as I travel so who knows on that front...

It's felt like a long time since I left the UK and it's weird to think this is the first month and I have another 7 to go - as I approach the end, there's a part of me that just thinks I should go home now. I think I've had all the experience I can handle. Then I think about getting to see the Great Wall and I get all excited again. Here's to that new adventure which is only a week and a half away!

Have no idea if the photo's are uploaded or not - camera battery ran out at crucial moment - you might find them in the scrapbook section or check out my flickr account.

At least I now know how to upload photo's so you might get some more next week.
Love B

Gosh, I'm missing the internet at Pingla!

Otherwise, things are going OK. Been busy in the female ward this past week: a proper 6 day working week. In that time I did true Sewa. Apparently, "true sewa" is in the cleaning of communal toilets (yuck), backbreaking digging and gardening and serving food. I did resent the fact that I, with all of my MH experience should be cleaning out toilets which were - I can't describe them for you - anyway, by the time I finished, I did have a strange feeling of achievment. Is this what Sewa truely feels like? Great! Glad to have experienced it but never again. I just assumed I'd be put to better use within the female ward. Hopefully, I won't have to re-experience this in the male ward this week.

3 weeks in and India is making a lot more sense to me. I'm understanding why Mum get's up at 5am to bathe and do her prayers. Why wouldn't you when the call from the Guardwara starts at 4.30am? It's making sense of the fact that you don't take off your Kucha when you bathe. Why would you when you have to have a bucket bath with cold water? I still can't make any sense of why they honk their horns at every possible opportunity...maybe there is no sense in that!

It's also making sense when everyone expresses their opinion about you to you. It's only really the staff at Pingla and not the whole country but they do seem to have an opinion about everything. Generally, with me, it's the way I look - from hair to face to weight (apparently I'm fat), to explaining in great detail the message of the Guru's (I want to tell tham that I have read a book or two or that I don't believe in God but I think that would tip them over the edge about us British Born Indians and I don't want us all tarnished with the same brush!!) Apparently, I don't speak modern Punjabi, I wear "old" fashion clothes and generally almost everthing about me is "wrong". I've tried expalining that that is because I'm not wholly Punjabi but NRI but I guess you have to leave people with something to laud over you!!! I'm finding my tolerance for arugements waning and generally I just nod my head in agreement. That's nodding up and down, not side to side (lol).

I did get my camera out alot this week - the Special Needs children won medels and cup at their special olympics in Jullundhar. It was Children's Day yesterday and we had a public school come and perform for us. So was hoping to give you some photo's of the Pingla residents today. I think you should find them in my scrapbook.

Thank you all for you comments. I have 10days left at Pingla and after the highs and lows of the past few weeks am looking forward to having a organised tour planned for China. I'm bound to post before then, so keep reading and commenting. With love to you all. B

Thank you all for my amazing comments:
Simran: I have no idea how the postal system works in India so you may have to wait until China.
Cassie: Cold and Dark, well it get's dark about 6pm here which if I'm not mistaken, now that the clocks have gone back in the UK, means it's lighter here for later than there (hee hee).  We're also in a heatwave but it's "too cold" for the teachers at the school!!
Madeline: welcome to the blog (Debbie/Hartej - you have some postings to do)

Well, I found an internet cafe in Amritsar and I just have to share my trip to Jullundhar and the Humindarshaib Paart Ive just attended. 

Jullundhar was great.  I got the direct bus and was fully intending on it being one of those local buses but when I saw the "delux" bus parked right next to the normal bus, I couldn't help but spend the extra money on the AC, Video version.  It was all of 30Rs more and well worth all 50p of it!!  The last time I was there, it was for a family wedding (you know who's) and I didn't have time to really see the city.  I arrived late evening and left within 24hrs, so not much chance to see the city this time either!  I did get to see the old market as Banjhi has some shopping to do.  I met the Atwal side of the family who invited me to the paart they were having the next morning to bless the new farming season.  I met the Mumbi in-laws (i've realised there is no way for me to describe the relationship as it's far to distant and requires in-laws as well as first cousins!) who have a Paart for their new granddaughter - Muhal (sp?) - I arrived last night and sat listening to the paart at the very top of the Golden Temple until I felt it time to go and find the family.  As I left the temple, they were arriving but thanks to mobile technology, we touched base and listen to the prayers some more.  At 4am this morning, I went to watch the Granth Shaib being brought into the temple.  I never really thought of myself as religious but the History of the Sikhs that I've just finished reading has Guru Nanak saying that he was not looking for God in idols but in the trees, his heart, his intergity and being and the Golden Temple is the one place that I believe it to be true.

It's been nice to see the traditions of the Golden Temple with people who explain what is going on because although I think I know what is happening, it's slightly different by GT standards...I'm planning on returning as there the temple has NRI rooms at the Guru Gobind niwas - AC & hot water included in the 300rs price.  That's a bargin in Amristar.
I also hope to get to Jullundhar again and spend some time with family.

School is good.  Picking up some sign language and working with the kids using computer technology (no internet though).  Next week is a week of Sewa in the female ward.  Have made some friends in the male ward - don't worry I go to visit the Babaji's who are about 70/80 and they tell me of their history.  There's something about Punjabi old men with their white whiskers which I like.  Their stories are unique and it's them rather than the cute kids that I think I'd like to take home with me.  Memories of Dad I guess?

Anyway, need to head back to Pingla for an afternoon of sewa - might fall asleep after my 4am start.  Hopefully will update you all soon.
Again thanks for the wonderful wishes with your comments.  It's so nice to know that some one is reading this blog. lol
Hugs and kisses to you all.
B
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Two nights in a row!  I could get used to this...

In the absence of internet over the long weekend - it's Guru Nanka's birthday on Monday 3rd Nov - I shall try and make the most of Uncle's generosity and give you guys some real life information about Pinglawara.

There's something about it getting dark at 6pm & you have no TV or any reason to potter around the house, which means you tend to go to bed early and at about 4.30am the local Guardwara loudspeaks a call to pray.  So, I'm getting up early - I never understood why Mum get's up at 5am to bath and pray but now I do! - School starts at 8.30am for both 'Normal' and MI schools.  There's prayers and excersise first thing and then breakfast. I'm torn between having breakfast with the twins who live within the guest house where I'm staying and having breakfast at school with the children.  I'm not eating 2 breakfasts though, don't worry! but it is a challenge to share my meals equally!  The twins are actually conjoined from the waist down and seemingly unique here in India.  They draw visitors but are amazingly fiesty for 7 year olds - just like other 7 year olds, they want to be electricians and are into every gadget I've brought along with me.  My powermonkey (solar charger) seems to interest them the most.

I've been enjoying conversations with Bhajan, a nursery nurse from Hayes.  She's set up a baby play area within the women's ward which has been quite sucessful over the past year and she returns bi-annually to maintain the resourses and train staff.  I speak Punjabi during the day and it's great to gear back into normal english with Bhajan.  My punjabi has held strong although there are a few laughs when I use the old world term rather than the Hindi equivilant that most people speak here now. It reminds me of when my Niece-in-law came over and used to say that modern Indian now speaks more english than punjabi.  That's Mum's fault that is -she's taught me the punjabi of the 1950's and not now.  Still, hopefully I should be improving my modern punjabi within the next few weeks.

Pingla's Maniwala complex is the biggest complex that Pingla own.  It  has it's own printing press, prosthetic centre, sewing room at which some of the girls learn suit making, light & play theapry room, libary and meeting hall, a new deaf school is being built as I type, and that's not forgetting the 4 patient wards.  The complex is about 13k outside of Amristar - the GT address being mainly admin - and is home to Bibiji who runs the whole organisation.

The children are so affectionate - almost overwhelmingly - and we have been playing "Simon Says" & "Duck Duck Goose" during 5pm playtimes - I've amended simon say to 'Baba Says'  - but both the deaf and MI children have picked up the rules remarkably quickly.  I'm spending a week at the deaf school next week and am keen to see if my British standard sign language is up to scratch.  Hopefully, I can refresh it in Punjubi style!  I also have a weeks shift at the men's ward which includes an Older persons wing and then a week at the female ward.  I haven't really got a sense of how adults with Mental Health are treated here in India, so am looking forward to those 2 weeks.
 
Excuse the spelling - I'm not going to spend time spell checking as I'm sure uncle didn't expect me to be on the www this long but I've been reading the comments left on this blog by my nearest and dearest and they make me feel more connected (no pun intended) with F&F.

Am hitting Amritsar on Sat to visit the Golden Temple and an internet cafe, so will try and respond to personal emails then - you know who you are.
B

so an I begged and borrowed a laptop with dongle.  Thank Gosh for the 21st centuary.  I am worried about coping without internet but to make matters worse there's no TV!!  Still the work at the school keeps me busy - currently I'm working in the MI school (mentally ill) and there is something about playing with kids who have no chance of rehabilitation and for whom Pingla is a home for life. Having come from QM where the ethos is to cease the institualisam of people, this is hard to get to grips with.

Next week, I'm in the deaf school.  Am hoping to learn Indian sign and refresh my sign skills.  There are wards where MI people live and there's work to be done there too.  There doesn't appear to be any intergration going on but that's not the work of Pingla and it's all charity and/or Sewa.

I'll have to keep this post short as this is not my laptop, but will try and write more about  my observations later...

Well 2 days alone in Delhi is enough I think - especially when you don't want to shop and don't have the energy to sightsee - not that i haven't.  Managed the Red Fort yesterday in between meeting Meeta Pubi & going out to Delhi Catt to collect my train ticket. 

Delhi certainly has it's fair share of buildings of beauty and character & although I blend in somewhat, it's still very male and with that comes stares and attempts to "practice english".  Not that I mind when it's an apparent english student but when it's the busboys at restauarnts and taxiwallers I just want to say "can i get served or get to where I'm going before the chitchat...  Nevermind, i guess I'm intrested in people and like to know why they are here or what they are doing so i try to be a friendly tourist.

So today, I hit the train station which, as I was wondering around yesterday seemed busy and chaotic with real live Coolies hanging around at the taxi rank.  I really thought this was a dead profession given that every suitcase has it's wheels for ease of mobility.

The train should take about 6/7 hours to get to Amritsar and Pinglwara will most likely be closed at 10.30 so I am planning on returning to that little hotel I stayed in last time (am not going to share the name cos then you all might turn up and make it not so quite and quaint!).  Can a girl relax more???

Nearly didn't make Delhi as BA had overbooked their flight but at the last minute, I got on and it was a non-descript flight.  Watched 2 films, slept and wondered how the spanish couple next to me would manage in India with no english or hindi.  I suppose everyone has to travel no matter what.  At least it gave me confidance that I know the culture and language so I should be OK.

Delhi is as busy as I remember it to be n I'm kind glad that I'm only here a short while.  I suppose that anyone arrivng in Ldn would feel the same but that's MY town and it's comfortable to me - this on the other hand!!

Still there's places to investigate and food/drink to be found so I shall keep this post short but sweet.
Love & Hugs B

Mixed emotions as I finalise my packing - can I really manage 8 months abroad with only 4 pairs of shoes???

It's been a rollercoaster week since I left work.  There's been a big family wedding - well 2 infact - and the worldwind (no pun intended) of parties that ensued.  I thought it was going to be easy to say goodbye to my loved ones in amongst the parties, concerts and dinner parties (Family & Friends can check out the photo's on FB) but it's been harder than I thought.

It's weird to think the next time I post, will be from Amritsar or China & I am strangely excited and less nervous than I thought.  I guess all that is left for me to say is: see you next year but post to you soon.  XX

Finished work.  Now What?

Well there's the big family wedding which is going to take up a whole week (yes that's unusual but I'm grateful that I have something else to occupy me) and I still have to sort out my currency.  Do I really just take a Visa card & various amounts of the 11 types of currency I need?  Or do I just go with US$ and a visa card?  I'm going with $US and Visa card cos there is probably a HSBC in...everywhere.

Other than that, have:
Visa - check
Immunisations - check
backpac - check
stuff to put in the backpac - check
tickets and confimations - check
I-pod - check
Phone - still wondering whether I need one but hestiating to give back the work one which I have had so long, because I feel it is MY number.  Work is going to notice paying for international mobile calls though, right?

Everyone has been so considerate about my leaving presents.  I have been given a fantastic head torch which is going to be valuable in dark times and through unknown territorty.  My St Christopher's is going to keep me safe and sound, no matter which religions meaning it comes from.

I have to say a huge thank you to all my traveling girls (H-Girls, know who you are) for the equipment and advice they have "lent" me, which is going to be so practical and will allow me to kick back and enjoy the wedding (s) without having to do that "last minute stuff" - and has saved me from spending loads more £.  All the better to upgrade myself when and where it's allowed!

So, I'm here at the beginning of my 'once in a lifetime' trip but at a place where I can celebrate the wedding of my smart, funny, charming and beautiful nephew - I have no favorites - and I get to celebrate with them as they begin their little maritial trip too.  What could be better?

Not all thoughts and energies are being spent on planning and preparing for my trip.  I still have a final week at work where I have to finish off projects and handover to my fantastic replacement (Peter, note the big up?).   I am going to miss work a little bit.  OK, not work per se but definitely the focus and structure it gives me.

Plus, I was thinking earlier this week, as I was clearing out the work garden shed before my last managers meeting, whether I'd get the opportunity to worry about work deadlines, office politics and the rest of the stuff that comes with work.  Then again, I have also been wondering about how I will cope without having to do simple household chores like the hoover, scrubbing the toilet etc for the next 8 months.  I concluded I'll cope fine on both fronts!

After my final day, I will be able to focus more on the trip and focusing on the trip does make me nervous - I just wish I could get the first day over and done with cos the anticipation is almost worse than doing I think.  Just wish me luck in my final week at work.
B

So, am back.  Refreshed and ready to get back to planning and arranging the trip.  Refreshed may have had to do with the fact that the holiday to Greece was great and then after a  4 day working week, was off for another week which finished with an ultimate Spa Day.  How can I not be refreshed?!

Back to the planning and arranging - have extended the trip by 2 weeks to ensure that I fit in a final to Toronto.  There is a good (family) reason to do so.  Things seem to be falling into place and I feel ready to leave in Oct.

I'm glad that I'm hitting India and Pingalwara first.  I know there must be numerous charities that I could work for, but this is a charity that is close to my families heart and it seems adapt that I can go to Amritsar and put my people skills to use.  Check out: http://www.pingalwaraonline.org/about_pingal/intro.htm.  It's not the best www I've seen but I'm going to help with which ever endeavor I can, not because they have an all singing and dancing www.  A big "Thank You" to Mr Gurbakhash Silvia of Gravesend, who has helped me get this placement and for showing me the meaning of 'seva' through his constant fundraising for Pingalwara.

I'm most looking forward to seeing what China has to offer, in terms of nature, history and culture - excited about the Great Wall!  But that really is the tip of what great things I will be seeing and experiencing.

Trying to learn a little bit of Spanish via those 'repeat after me' CD's.  I've picked up a little bit of vocab but still don't remember how to say "where is the toilet?".  Think I'm going to need that phrase...?  Latin America is still a little unplanned - it's not until 2010 and so I am feeling that it can wait awhile but as my leaving date approaches, I think I still have some planning to do.  Better get on with it then.

B

As my leaving date rolls nearer, I find I am in a panic about handing over my workload to someone new - it's a control thing.  The stress and strain is showing - maintaining a full time job, fitting in the necessary "leaving dos", rearranging flights, picking up visas, getting the GP/Dentist to quickly fit in treatments to ensure nothing is problematic whilst I'm away, carrying out research - thank goodness for the www - and trying to coordinate lodging's is taking a toil. 

To ease myself through the next few weeks, I've decided to take some annual leave and take a week off and go with my girlfriends to Greece.  What could be better than island hopping for a week before all the big events build?

It won't leave me much time to finalise things but I am confidant that all the work now, will pay off.
So yeah, short break.  Be back with an update in Sept on how things are going.

...it's all coming together.  Have managed to arrange the Austrailan Visa - they make it so easy with a e-visa that is issued within a day of application.  Now I have to get the Indian & Chinese Visas.  I can't imagine these will be so easy, they allow you to make e-applications but at final submit, the whole page crashes.  Ain't that typical!

The Nurse said I didn't need Denagu immunisations.  Great!  But in calculating the other jabs I need, I'm counting 10 plus Malaria tablets.  I hadn't really factored in the cost of the prescriptions or the general unwellness that comes from getting a Rabies shot but I guess that's all about the experience too.  Damn the experience!

Hotels in China, Tokyo, Perth all booked and confirmed.  Still checking out the LoTR tours in New Zealand - so many sneers about this but I laugh in the face of those who think dressing up as an Elf and wandering around the country is geeky - and Spanish schools in Santiago.  So quite a way to go yet.

I've started my summer of "Yes" and have realised that I have 3 months to go.  In that time, I have 1 holiday; 1 birthday; 1 wedding; numerous nights out with and numerous projects at work to tie up.  Phew!  After this, will need a good break.

Huge thanks to Trailfinders in Ldn, for sitting with me for over 2hrs yesterday to work out the detail for each and every flights that I will need for my trip.

Itinerary can be changed right up until September but ....
I leave mid-Oct

I'll be in India for a month - starting my travels with not a lot of travel as I do some Vol work
Then straight into Hong Kong for a tour of China which will include Terracotta Army and the Great Wall
I'll be spending Chrismas in Tokyo
Perth by New Year, with about 5 weeks total in Oz to fit in Arys Rock and the Great Barrier Reef before I fly out of Sydney
New Zealand - I just have to get on a LoTR tour!
Into Chile - anyone know of a good Spanish school?
Planning on getting myself down the Chilen coast and back up into Buenos Aires before hitting Brazil
Then finally Peru - including the Inca Trail

Oh, forgot about New Orleans and finally Chicago.  HkD - didn't get enough time to fit in TO but I'm assuming you'll meet me Chicago?

All that's left is to arrange is the Visa's, Jabs, Hotel's, Money, Austrialian Train Trip, Inca trail tour.  Have I left anything out?

OK, so have been meaning to do this for ages but...



As some of you might know, I have been thinking about taking a little bit of time off work this year and going on a bit of a holiday.  It's turned into a Sabbatical and Around The World!



So to keep you all informed and up-to-date with all things planning and then actually doing, I've reactivated my LJ.  Let's see how this goes, so that when the trip starts (Oct 2009) it'll be like you're actually there with me!!