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Just a quick update on my holiday planning...
I've finally got the Indian Rail Trip sorted with the help of Shankar Dandapani of SD Enterprises (http://www.indiarail.co.uk/). I am booked on the Indian Maharaja train (http://www.theindianmaharaja.com/home.html) for 25th January. The train winds down from Dehli to Mumbai via the Taj Mahal, taking in several palaces and holy caves and a Tiger reserve.
I've got all the Visas/Entry Authorities that I need before starting out. Most of Visas I will get on entry to the countres. The most worrying one was for India who normally only offer 6 months tourist visas starting from the date of issue. Since I am travelling for nearly 6 months and India is at the end of my trip, I had to ask for a 12 months visa. It arrived this morning (finally), so I can cross that worry off my list.
I've booked nearly all the accommodation that I intend to book before I start. As I said in my previous blog, in many places I've booked only a couple of days on arrival and will then book further accommodation once I'm in the country.
Oh, and the Gym is beginning to pay off. I've lost ~22 pounds, 3 inches off my waist and I am fitter than I have been in 20+ years. I'm not putting in my application for Riverdance just yet, but I think I'm getting to where I want to be. Big thanks to Lauren Brooker for geting me here.
The list of things to do doesn't seem to be getting any shorter, but does seem to be more focused on specific items:
- Travel Insurance
- Accommodation for Christchuch, New Zealand - still recovering from their earthquake!
- Shifting my flights so that I spend 4 weeks in Australias and 3 weeks in the Philippines - this makes the Philippine Visa easy and gives me more time to do something interesting in Australia
- Medical/Dental Checkup
- Get an International Driving Permit
- Start deciding on what I'm going to take with me
All the books I read say people who do this kind of trip report that they take too much stuff. But how will I possibly survive without my iPhone dock? I need my gadgets!!
In the meantime, I'm looking forwards to a weeks holiday with my parents, brother and sister-in-law up in the Lake District later this month. Hopefully this good weather will last...
Cheers,
Steve
- comments
Kit Hi Steve, It's been 6 weeks since you posted this so you must be a stick by now - you've probably lost 3 stone(?). Anyway I hope that you will be able to spend some time here in San Diego. If you let me know I can set up a BarBQ and invite the folks you know who are nearby. Kit
Steve Thanks Kit. It would be great to see everyone again. I'm not exactly sure of the date that I'll be in San Diego yet. I do expect to leave there and go straight to LAX airport for a flight out on Thursday 8th September. My best guess is that I'll be there by Tuesday 6th.