Addresses

SO on top of all this I just realized I don't have the word document that I created and did not move to Google documents. PLEASE send me your addresses (if you want) to katherine.a.obrien@gmail.com.

Lesson #1

Schedule a really really long layover when you don't want to miss a flight.

Ramada Plaza JFK

Yes. I'm still in New York. I should be over the Atlantic.

Here is the play-by-play:

9:45 a.m. Left home
11:45 a.m. Arrived at BWI - waited in line for an hour to check in
1:15 p.m. Got to the gate - flight delayed
1:45 Time the plane was supposed to leave
2:30 Boarded the plane to JFK
3:35 Plane arrived
3:30 Time I was supposed to check in with Olympic Airlines
4:00 I arrived at the Olympic Airlines desk (running running running from the end of Terminal 8 to Terminal 1 - taking the Air Train that only goes one way)
4:01 Started crying when they told me I couldn't get on the plane. Continued crying because Olympic Airlines told me I have very little chance of getting on a plane tomorrow because they are all full for a week. Three other people on my flight from Baltimore also missed the connection. Someone behind the desk actually came over to console me.
4:30 Walked to American to see about a hotel voucher and my luggage. Waited in line for one hour. Got a hotel voucher and three meal vouchers.
5:30 Went to the luggage desk at American. Waited 20 minutes. My bag is no longer in their possession but with Olympic Airlines.
6:00 Went back to the Olympic desk to find out about collecting my luggage. The desk is not staffed. Went to the Olylmpic baggage desk. That desk is not staffed either.
6:05 Called my travel agent. Asked about my options. (1) standby for an indefinite number of days (2) buy a new ticket with one day's notice for approx. $800 with hope but no guarantee of a refund of any kind. Got a useless 1-800 number for Olympic that no one ever answers. Gave up on the luggage. Told the travel agent I'll call her back in an hour because she can't call me because I have a UK number.
6:30 Back on the Air train for the fifth time to the hotel shuttle pick-up. Took the shuttle.
6:50 Make phone calls to my parents and called my travel agent four times. She didn't answer.
7:25 Went to the bar.

Running Late

Will have to update you when I get to Athens! We're off to the airport!

The pack. Empty.

empty pack, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

The contents. Exposed.

contents, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

Ca-ta-la-ven-e-te Ag-li-ca?

I've been listening to a Basic Greek audiobook. I can say:

Hello madame/sir/miss. How are you? Do you understand English? I don't understand Greek.

Where is Victory Street?

Please.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Things I'm NOT taking with me (that people have asked about)

1. Revolver
2. Coffee maker
3. Mace
4. Tent
5. Laptop
6. Sleeping Bag
7. Bass
8. Bicycle

After

mary moshi moshi, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

Mary and I after the cut.

Before

moshi moshi, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

Nearly there...

moshi moshi midstream, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

Found Euros

found euros, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

Sunday afternoon I found €60 filed with my passport and random IDs from King's College. These Euros have been sitting there since I went to Ireland to do my dissertation research (which turned out to be a failure of spectacular proportions) in the summer of 2003...which means I've made quite a handsome profit in the meantime...€60 are now worth about $80. Back then, not so much. The dollar is not quite what it used to be...

Robbed!

I've been preparing myself to deal with theft - I lost a long list of things during my last backpacking adventure and had my camera stolen and a few other small things, too.

But, I didn't expect anything to happen before I left! Yesterday, my car stereo was stolen at a park and ride lot in Carrboro. Boooooooo!!!

Visas

Yesterday, I picked up a visa for my visit to India at the Consular Wing of the Indian Embassy on Massachusettes Avenue in DC. I could have done this through the mail but I'm paranoid about giving up my passport (especially with only a few weeks to go), and it gave me an excuse to visit some friends. The process was surprisingly efficient.

India is the only country I'm going to that requires obtaining a visa before arrival in country. I also need visas for Turkey, Nepal, Cambodia, and Australia but I can get those at a port of entry. Greece, South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand and Fiji just ask me to show up with my passport. Some want proof of sufficient funds and a guaranteed exit strategy (partly why I went ahead and bought all of my plane tickets in advance). All together I'll pay about $250 for entry and visa fees - and some departure taxes, too.

Mobile Phone

You can call me! I can call you! Email me and I'll send you the phone number. It's a UK-based number so you may want to pick up a phone card to save a bit of money. The World Clock is helpful but here is a quick list to give you an idea of time differences...relative to Eastern Standard Time.

Athens + 7 hr
Istanbul + 7 hr
Johannesburg +6 hr
Cape Town +6 hr
Delhi +9 hr 30 min
Kathmandu +9 hr 45 min
Bangkok + 10 hr
Sydney + 13 hr
Auckland + 15 hr

Reading Material

travel books, originally uploaded by kkqc8135.

I've been reading a ton of books in preparation for the trip. Still don't feel quite prepared. Any recommendations?

Immunity

I opted for some, but honestly, not all of the recommended vaccines (I left out rabies, hoping for the best despite my history of animal attacks). This involved several visits to the travel clinic and quite a few shots (not bad, really) over the course of a few months. Here is the list...

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Diptheria
Tetanus
Pertussis
Japenses Encephalitis
Typhoid

In addition to the above, I'm taking along malaria pills and extra-strength medication for the, uh, traveler's upset stomach. I'm travelling alone and can't think of anything more inconvenient than being ill so I'm currently eating a lot of probiotic yogurt, taking along Emergen-C (I'm a believer) and an extensive first-aid kit. I have bug spray with and without DEET and serious sunscreen. And, of course, medical insurance. Cross your fingers please.

Itinerary

May 30 Depart Baltimore, Maryland
May 31 Arrive Athens, Greece

July 10 Depart Istanbul, Turkey
July 11 Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

August 25 Depart Cape Town, South Africa
August 26 Arrive Delhi, India

September 24 Depart Kathmandu, Nepal
Arrive Bangkok, Thailand

October 22 Depart Phnom Phen, Cambodia
October 23 Arrive Sydney, Australia

November 14 Depart Sydney, Australia
Arrive Auckland, New Zealand

December 15 Depart Auckland, New Zealand
Arrive Nadi, Fiji

December 18 Depart Nadi, Fiji
Arrive Los Angeles, California

(Don't worry - not moving to LA! Still need to get back to Baltimore/North Carolina but too early to buy a ticket)

Enough already - the blog exists

Dear friends,

The opening post to this blog has been written and rewritten. Let's stop the madness. In this tiny bit of the vast (in the true sense of the word) virtual universe you can read about my upcoming trip around the world - if you like. I, personally, would love to hear from you. Some of you are colleagues (so I have to keep it clean) and family members (who I can't let worry) but the rest of you will have to wait to hear the good stuff. Mom, I'm kidding! It's totally cool. But, please, give me a break - I am NOT a professional blogger...I am merely a person trying to avoid sending mass emails and jamming inboxes with photos.