coming together

It’s been a while since I last posted…

I’ve been stressing about so many things,

[sometimes I think this blog is just so I can vent and make myself feel better,

Im pretty sure no ones reading, if you are, drop me a hello!]

but also a lot of stuff has come together.

JW finally got his passport in the post!

And we bought our backpacks, I went for the 35L in the end and JW the 65, I wasnt sure about the size (i thought they were too big) but when you look at the bags of travel stuff Ive got so far, it makes sense to go bigger.

Also, Ive been looking at flights, which is another headache, but exciting all the same

New Year, New Plans...

Happy New Year!

Its 2011, and the year that we really get our asses in gear and go travelling!

There have been some early hiccups though,

After a bit of research, it became clear that the China visas are going to be a little harder that we orginally thought.

We were hoping for a 6 month multiple according to advice, the most we are going to get is a double entry visa valid for 60 days at a time.

Giving us only 4 months in China.

Even this visa might not be doable, because apparently China are constantly changing their visa rules...we might only be able to get a double entry 30 days at a time, giving us only 2 months!

So, this is going to make a big difference to our trip...

If we can only get a double entry, it will mean that we will have to do Taiwan first before we enter China, and leave out South Korea, so our 1 exit can be to Mongolia.

Really stressed about it when I found out, because I'd been looking at our planned China trip in minute detail and this might mean cutting out the majority of places we planned to go to.

BUT, the truth is we always said we would be flexible about our route and stuff, so we will have to adapt.

If we cant get the Visa we want, we’ll just have to agree to come back another day and do the bits we missed out on!!

AND, it frees up some money to spend more time elsewhere- like the Philippines or Indonesia! OH YEAH!

All I want for Christmas...

I asked people to not to get me anything that is not travel related this Christmas, because in a few months I'll be giving up most of my wordly possessions anyway!

Here are some of the awesome things I recieved...

1. My Dad very kindy got me a new camera.

this one

Really excited to get using it!

Ive wanted a good camera for a while, and this is about as close as

you can get to a good camera before breaking the bank.

2. My lovely JW got me some travel goodies form MUJI (which I love) He got me a torch, a compass, and seperately got me a little book about Bangkok.

3. My sister got me a travel washbag and some travel size tolietrie goodies

4 And my mum has not yet got, but promises me a pair of binoculars. (I asked for these because when we were in SA I really wished Id had some to see the whale and other wildlife better)

5. Oh and my Dad bought JW this penknife!

I'm so stealing it!!

All I want for Christmas is...

My sister asked me what me and JW wanted for xmas yesterday,
I told her that I only want travel related things, which Im not sure went down all that well!

Anyway, Ive been kind of self gifting for the last few weeks getting some things for travel
so far Ive got...

Travel pillow
Its a blow up neck pillow for long bus/train journeys, the picture on ebay it looked like a fluffy soft thing, but when it turned up, it was actually a hard plasticy thing covered with a thin fleece cover.

Gifts for kids along the way
I bought a load of packs of little colouring pencils, looking forward to giving them out along the way, but my mum pointed out that it says age 3+ on the box, so have to be careful about that one!

Playing/picture cards
I found these randomly at a little stall while waiting for JW in the train station, they are normal playing cards, but have pictures that can be used to point at and communicate with people along the way.
No need for this anymore!

Travel washing line and universal sink plug
You never know if you might need these (although my Dad told me he always uses a sock to block the sink hole when travelling!)

Ballet pumps
I got these cos I thought that they would come in handy along the way, but when I got them home I realised they said 'made in china' on them, doh!

Jackets
I couldnt resist, I got this jacket in chocolate, and a grey men's one for JW.

brrrrrr update

Almost a year ago (how time flies)

I posted about Tibet and how its going to be really cold for part of our trip, well...

Im looking again at jackets at Uniqlo and this one... ...seems a lot more practical than the one I mentioned in that post,

It is made from special down material and stuff designed to keep you warm, and is also lightweight (250g apparently) and fits into a bag when not in use...

I likey!!!

Only £39.99 (eek!)

A new map post

So, now that the ball is rolling (eek!)

I started making some serious decisions about routes and dates (double eek!)

I did a lot of research on adding Mongolia to our trip,
And also maybe venturing to Papa New Guinea.

Nothing's set in stone, and that the good thing about it.

I also thought about Air Asia, and it makes sense to use the cheap flights to cut time and expense when travelling through places,
so I decided that we should use KL as a jump off point for The Philippines and as a end point to fly back from (or to fly from to HK and fly back from there

A very rough and unfinished idea of dates and routes...

Feb/Mar- Arrive Hong Kong

Mar-Oct- China, Taiwan, China, S.Korea, China, Mongolia, China, Tibet, China

Oct- Vietnam

Nov- Cambodia

Dec- Laos

Jan- Thailand

Feb- Malaysia

Mar/Apr- Philippines

Apr/May- Malaysia

May/June- Indonesia

June- Malaysia/HK

June- leave to London

China route map

Ive finally completed the rough guide to our route through China,

Starting in Hong Kong,

and leaving China to visit Taiwan, Japan and South Korea and then finally leaving China for the last time into Vietnam at the friendship Pass...

This picture isnt that clear, but you can see the general route,

Also, this isnt set in stone, it will change and evolve as we travel...

It exciting!

Train times...

Just found this guide to train times,
Its by Thomas Cook, and updated every 2 months...

Apparently it covers Asia (along with a lot of other areas like Africa) which is pretty amazing!

Ill have to get one before we go (I hope its not too heavy!)

I love lists

Im freaking out about how little time we have to do all the stuff we need if we are going to go travelling before Christmas.

So this is my list of priorities...
1. Save money
2. JW's British citizenship
3. Chinese visa (and any others that we'll need to apply for before we go)
4. JW's driving licence and International licence
5. Figure out routes and book flights
6. Get healthier (for all that trekking!)
7. Buy gear (backpack, cold weather clothes etc)
8. Sort out money (how we will draw our money? what account we need etc)
9. Health stuff (Do a doctors and denist trip before we go)
10. Any injections/ malaria tablets etc that we might need.

Rough Itinerary

Nov- Arrive in China

Dec-China

Jan-China, visit S.Korea (Seoul)

Feb- China (chinese new year in Beijing?)

Mar-Japan

Apr- Japan (till early April- My Bday) then China

May- China, Vietnam

Jun-Vietnam, Cambodia

Jul- Cambodia, Laos

Aug-Laos, Thailand

Sep-Thailand, Malaysia

Oct-Malaysia, Singapore

Nov-Indonesia

Dec-Indonesia, Philippines

dreaded visas...

how confusing are visas?
I get my head in a spin just thinking about them.

what Ive figured so far is...

China- 6 month, multiple entry is around £50 and will be bought in advance (In the UK)
Korea- 90 days on arrival free
Japan- 90 days on arrival free
Vietnam- from Chinese embasssy, 30 days
Cambodia-on arrival 30 days £13
Laos- In advance 30 days £15
Thailand- On arrival (by air) 30 days
Malaysia- on arrival 90 days free
singapore- on arrival 14, 30 or 90 depending on citizenship free
indonesia- on arrival 30 days £16
Philippines on arrival 21 day free


Im so confused by it all, but hopeful it will all work out

All moved and raring to go!

After lots of stress and a few arguements, I moved everything I own into one room in my parents house this weekend.

I'm back to work today, and can now really start thinking about where, what, when and how much?

I've been reading my lonely planet books like crazy, and trying to get together plans where I can!

So now have a few more route details...

Hopefully, should be starting in Kathmandu in Nepal, then travelling from there to Lhasa, Tibet.

On the way doing Everest base camp.

From Lhasa, travel through Tibet to Golmud.

Through Qinghai province to Xining,

Then on to Langzhou in Gansu.

And head towards Xi'an.

Brrrrrrrrrrr

So the recent weather got me thinking about warm and cold clothes to take with travelling.
(Also I watched the Michael Palin Himalaya when he does Everest base camp and felt inspired and itchy-footed as always!)
When we travel through Tibet, its going to vvvvvery cold, but the further South we go, the warmer we get and less clothes we'll wear... But eventually we will be heading south again through Japan, and could get to some pppretty cold places in the North.
Not sure what the best thing to do is, and I can imagine in a steamy Cambodia we might be quite pissed off that we have to carry the jackets etc in our luggage (on our backs ) the whole time.
Judging from forums, a lot of people just buy as they travel, or send stuff home- but both cost money which will be tight already so I'm not keen.
Not sure what the best thing to do is........?

Either way, I know its probably not great at keeping you warm... but i want this Jacket from Uniqlo..(only £19.99-whoo!)...

Inspired...

At the weekend I watched some of Michael Palin's 'himalaya'

He reminds me so much of my Dad, actually he was travelling through Sudan at the same time my Dad lived there, shame they didn't bump into each other!


Anyway, I was watching the one where he is travelling through Tibet, and it made me really inspired and excited about going...

Dream, dreamer

Im daydreaming a lot about travelling.
I wish I could just go tomorrow.

This is really the hard bit, the waiting and planning stage. I'm not looking forward to the next few months.

At my Christmas party last Friday (particularly messy by the way) it was announced that our offices are moving across London, this coupled with the fact that I am moving to nowheresville (with my parents) really left me pissed off.

I'm just going to have to brave the 1.5 hour bus/tube journey everyday, and get used to getting up earlier.

(bye, bye 10 minute tube journey I love you and will miss you)

Also, my mother called me in a super stress about us moving in with her, saying that we wont have enough time to do everything. And even suggesting that we should stay where we are and offering to help pay our rent! As amazing as this offer is, it pissed me off even more, because I feel like all the set-in-stone, already-made decisions are crumbling and I'm not sure where we are with our plans.

Besides, our landlord hates us, cos the last ever rent is going to be a few weeks late, as we are so broke, and he is probably not going to be happy if we turn around 3 weeks before we are meant to leave and ask if we can actually stay because we changed our minds!

Also, I think we can save much more money by moving in with my parents than staying where we are, even if they were helping with rent.

And on a non-selfish train of thought, my parents really don't have much money to spend on me (my Dads retired, and my mum is almost there)

I know its a bit early...

But as I get rid of stuff in my flat (sold the dining table- yay!), I start to think about stuff that I need to buy for travelling.

Here a few things that I want to take with...

1. Swiss army knife- Reminds me so much of my Dad whist in some middle of nowhere, and Dad always had his swiss army knife to cut up an apple or tweezer out a splinter. I really want one, you never know when you'll need a corkscrew in the middle of the jungle right?

2. Cushtie- Every time I'm at a service station or airport, I mull over buying one of these, I figure now that I have a good excuse I can justify spending a tenner on a bag of beans (I secretly want the elephant one!)

3. Good boots (not too stylish, but useful)

4. A large sarong

5. Backpack not sure what size yet, depends how much junk (like the stuff listed here) I take!

Ok, I'm moving back in with my parents...

I left home when I was 18 to live with a boyfriend, and apart from the odd visit here and there I haven't been back. But, from the middle of Jan I am moving back in with the rents, along with JW!
Basically, the only reason is money- if we want to go travelling and ever get ourselves in a situation where we can afford it, we have to stop paying our crazy London rent.
So after doing lots of maths and thinking, talking and arguing we settled on spending a few months staying with my parents to save money.

I have already been given 'the talk' about keeping the place tidy, and not running up massive phone bills etc.
Otherwise my parents are pretty chilled and liberal about things, they dont mind JW being there (in fact sometimes my mother acts like he is an adopted son)

But I am going to have to get rid of a LOT of stuff, I dont really have all that much stuff really, just a few bits of furniture built up over the years.
I dont want to get of everything though, cos I dont want to come back and have NOTHING, but I think it will be kind of liberating to get rid of stuff and make a new start!

where, when, how?

The plan is to start in Tibet, travel through china for a few months.
Then through
Cambodia
Vietnam
Laos
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore

Then spend a few months exploring Indonesia

Through the Philippines, Taiwan.
Explore the Islands around Japan, then spend a few months travelling through Japan.

Then, possibly travel to Australia and New Zealand to do a working holiday for a few months

(possible detours through Northern India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and North and South Korea?)