Today is the 13th and that means we will be flying out in 19 days...

For those who don't know the background story, after graduating BSSC I moved to Melbourne to work for CGU Insurance. I've been saving up so that my boyfriend, Julian, and best friend, Shae and I could visit our friend Jaclyn's uncle Peter, who lives in Bangkok.


We were just starting to plan for our trip to happen in early January when, 3 weeks ago, I was invited to a wedding in New Delhi, India.

Whilst peering whistfully at an atlas, a thought occured to me; Why not do both trips? Why not attempt a real epic adventure, spend a month or so travelling India and trekking through Nepal, and then fly straight to Bangkok to lounge on beaches and explore hill tribes? Luckily Julian was game, and so we started researching passports, visas, and tours.


We decided we would concentrate on the few areas we really wanted to see on the trip; specifically India's north-east regions, the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, the mountainous regions including Everest, and the famous Chitwan National Park, and central and northern Thailand, including the elephant sanctuarys and night markets Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and of course the floating markets of Bangkok.

My passport was completed yesterday and my Indian visa application is all drawn up and ready to be submitted tomorrow. The flights have been booked and paid for, and the tours confirmed and awaiting a few last minute details like pre-and post accomodation for a few nights here and there.


We will be travelling independently, through various climates, so we've chosen to backpack most of the way. I'm planning to packing disposable (a.k.a. cheap) clothing so that I can give away or throw out what I don't need as we travel from perfect Indian cool season, into wintry cool Nepalese dry season, and on to a tropical Thai summer.


This is my first time overseas, I could'nt be more excited... So far enthusiasm is outweighing anxiety but I have no doubts the balance will shift as the plane lifts off...


Wish me luck :)

vonni