Savings Goal Accomplished!

Last April I sat down and sketched out a savings plan.  I am not only going to reach it but exceed my goal and that makes me very happy because everything is falling in place.

Now, if I can only get all the little stuff done.  The snow (in Spring!?!) isn’t helping the one last trip I want to make to REI today.  Oh, and the usual pre-trip nightmares have started but I know that I am well prepared and that there’s nothing to worry about.

Starting Monday is my last official week at Dakota Creek.  I’ve been there for almost five years and it’s my longest held job.  I’ve learned so much about the marine industry and business.  I will miss my family-like workplace but I’m also excited by what the future may hold for me.

Nine more days!!

Itinerary Update

I have officially changed my flights to miss Sri Lanka due to the ending of the cease-fire and that many experts believe the civil war will only get worst.  I think it will work out for the best though.  The weather isn’t the greatest that time of year anyway.  Emirates Airlines didn’t charge me anything to change my flights AND to cut out Colombo.  I haven’t even flown with them and I already hold them in high regard.  Try doing that with an US-based airline.

It will be real easy to fill an extra month in South East Asia.  Bali… Borneo… Myanmar?  I think I’m going to wait until I arrive in Singapore and “go with the flow” so to speak.  But, I’m definitely open to suggestions.

I leave in less than 5 weeks when I jet off to Madrid for a couple nights and then dive head first into Morocco.  After that, I’ll meet a friend for cruising around the Greek Islands and then off to Turkey.

And I received the perfect fortune cookie today: “Your future in the next month looks bright.  Enjoy this time.”

Sri Lanka Troubles

With great displeasure and disappointment, I am looking to modify my travel plans to avoid Sri Lanka due to increasing violence resulting from their civil war.  Until recently, the civil war was contained to the far north and did not affect the capital city of Colombo or the tourist areas in the hill country.  Locals are afraid to leave their homes now.  Buses and trains are targeted, which would be my main form of transport.  A bus was bombed on a route between two cities that I would have taken.  While foreigners are not directly targeted, I feel it is in by best interest to steer clear for now.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZGcTRtJMZLW0vCle1z0quu3y2TgD8UQT8EO0

Right now, the Gov’t of Sri Lanka is bombing Tamil Tiger bases in the North.  But, I highly doubt this conflict will resolve by August.

My alternate plan has me going straight on through to Singapore to spend an extra month in SE Asia which I can easily do.  Bali, Borneo Malaysia and Myanmar are all options.  My mom likes to bring up that nightclub bombing in Bali in 2002.  (How and why she remembers that is beyond me.)  But, everything I’ve read about Bail is beautiful beaches, a thriving art scene, and excellent food.  Sounds like my kind of place.  I’m not much into the “let’s get wasted because we’re in paradise” thing so I would probably avoid Kuta (where the nightclub bombings were) all together.

What do you think?  Should I hold on and see how Sri Lanka pans out?  Or should I just go straight to Singapore?

So Much Left To Do

Now that I’m less than 70 days away from leaving, I’m starting to freak out about my massive “to do” list.

Most of it has to do with buying gear, clothes, and a new backpack.  Luckily, I have a birthday coming up (29! Yikes!) and have already expressed my desire for REI giftcards (or money) so the shopping bit of it shouldn’t put too much of a dent in my trip savings.  I’ve done a lot of research of what I should pack but I’m always on the lookout for more tips and tricks.  Remember, I’m the girl who comes back from traveling wishing I had packed more.  I’m trying to find a happy medium.

Other things to do include putting my mom’s name on all of my accounts (just in case), cleaning and washing my car (so that my future brother-in-law can use it if needed), seeing the doctor about shots and pills, and getting a fresh supply of contacts (yea! for the vision benefit added to the medical insurance this year).

I’m also looking into the best debit card to take i.e. the least amount of fees etc.  Wells Fargo likes to charge me $5 a pop plus conversion fees.  So, I’m going to go to the bank and see what they can do for me.

I guess it’s just a whole lot of little stuff.  But, the days are ticking down… tick… tock… tick… tock…

Welcome

Welcome to my official Round the World (or RTW) blog.  Please have a look around.  I think you will find that this blog will be much easier to use than my previous ones.

Comments will be easier to leave.  I love comments especially while I’m away and even if I don’t personally respond to every comment just know that I appreciate them while so far from home.

I’m going to try to update about once a week while on the road but not as much before the start of my trip.  As far as uploading pictures– we’ll see.  Big files and dial-up internet connections don’t play well together.

I’ve added an “Email Subscription” function so that you can receive e-mails everytime I post a new entry.  See the right-hand side to sign-up.

Countdown to April 7th!