Just in case you've missed it, depature date = November 1st 2012!

I'm feeling quite confident about going alone. I will be meeting others on my flight at the airport in London before flying to Hong Kong, where we will be staying together in a hotel for three days. Hopefully there will be at least one or two like-minded people for me to make friends with. I assume we are going to be sitting on the flight together soo..lots of time to make new friends :) Cannot think of many better ways to find out what people are really like than sitting cramped, tired and eating plane food together on a 12 hour flight..!

(My friend is flying out in Sept - we will meet up, so obviously not actually going to be alone alone forever)


My first dilemma is...massive backpack or suitcase?As a general rule, suitcases are for trips with one destination and backpacks are for multistop trips AKA the one I will be making! However, I hate backpacks with a passion, I don't always believe in rules aaaaand I did take my suitcase to the USA last year (mega multistop trip including dragging the suitcase across the Nevada desert!Link at the end) and it survived. So, do I be a sensible traveller and buy a massive backpack so I can actually be an official "backpacker" or do I be silly but enjoy my comfort of my suitcase? Do I go for the heavy-on-my-shoulders-rolled-clothes-everything-good-is-at-the-bottom approach or for the wheeled-but-public-transport-travelling-unsuitable-massive-pull-along-closet that is a suitcase?

Another issue with the backpack - is it actually called a rucksack?What's the difference?Not sure I like the word rucksack. Haha ok, I know I'm now just being picky :P. Anyway, enough of me being silly. I am going bag shopping when I get paid, which feels too far away, and will update you soon with my verdict and a pros and cons list!

PS: Dilemma #2 on the horizon...NYE in Sydney...!When people said you needed to book minimum 6 months if not 12 months ahead...they weren't joking!Everything is already fully booked!