Christmas...1 year from now...

Christmas Day on the beach in Sydney....that's what will be in store for us next year! Couldn't be more different to this year, we've been surrounded by snow for weeks now and spent Christmas 2010 with all the family. It's been fantastic but has made us think ahead to what Christmas 2011 will bring....

I've been doing a bit of Visa research today and I've discovered that it's not as complicated as we were expecting. Most places you get your visa on entry apart from Vietnam which may cause a bit of a problem as we'll have to get it from another SE Asia country, probably Thailand, but from what I've read it shouldn't be too difficult. China is the other awkward one, we will have to fly into Hong Kong first and get it from there. I've just read about how China don't recognise dual nationality and if you're HIV positive you will have to holiday somewhere else as you won't be allowed into China!! Very strange. We think we may spend quite a long time in China at the end of our trip as there are quite a few places we'd like to see there - the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, the Great Wall of China, Shanghai, and some of the coastal beachy resorts (cos we won't have seen enough beaches in SE Asia!!) before heading up to Beijing to fly home :-(

It's all becoming very real now, only 5 months to go!! Still a lot to do before then but we are well on our way thanks to Christmas presents - rucksacks from Mr Parsons Sr, travel towels (pink & blue!) from Lee and Claire Bailey, Dave's sexy walking sandals from his mam and my pretty Cath Kidston eye mask and travel pillow set from Kelly Parsons (essential for those overnight bus journeys)! Plus we have vouchers from good friends (Ste & Emma and Bonnie & David) to spend on some travelling essentials! Good job I like shopping.....

Here's to Christmas 2011 in Aus...it's bound to be a good one!!

Laura