Soon I need to do some ironing.

Yes... In half an hour or so I need to get into some ironing as there are a lot of unironed shirts in a box at the end of my bed that have been waiting just far too long. And some people wonder why I continue to travel as often as I can.
So the date to fly out of here is the 4th of October. That is just over two months away now. I have been foolishly counting down the days until i depart (67 for those who care) and boy does it make the days go slower. That and at the moment I am afflicted with a fluey-cold thing that refuses to go away. So is it any wonder I just wish to be out of here? Plus working six days a week is really starting to get to me as well. That's to be expected I suppose.

Well, so a little preview. My first stop will be Stockholm, that illustrious capital of Sweden. Ok, perhaps that's not the perfect word. I mean, I was there in 1999 and remember things like the make-shift hostel (in a school) and getting my jacket dry cleaned for a wedding I was going to in Germany. And a wonderful place that served a buffet lunch for a reasonable price.
I was there in Summer and it was 35 degrees most days as they were in the middle of a rare heat wave, I even went swimming one day. The weather will not be so agreeable in October. I am well aware of this but I can't say, living through a Melbourne winter right now, I am as happy about that as I was when I booked my flights at the end of one of the hottest summers Melbourne has ever had. Still, four nights there and the main purpose of that is to counter any jetlag I am sure to experience after 22 hours in flight. Crikey!
I have picked out a hostel:
http://www.fridhemsplan.se/main.asp?lang=eng

It seems to be the best one in Stockholm. The plan is to pay extra money for a single room and really get some quality shut-eye. Also I want to see a couple of things around town, including the Skansen Amusement Park and the Royal Palace, both of which I somehow missed the first time around. Hopefully I can find that eatery too, although I fear that I will again be consigned to cooking for myself. Sweden ain't the cheapest place on Earth folks, in fact your standard dorm bed is at least $35 Australian. Double that for a single. Worth it I suspect for a few good night's sleep.
I'm planning on a little preview for each country I visit like this one. Can't promise anything of course.... but that's another little plan, so watch this space!!!!

MISSION: Dakar or Bust!!!

Time ticks away and things are in motion!!! A new passport is required as I have used too many pages in my old one... so a few days ago i sent that away.
This trip will see me take in many places indeed, and some extremes in weather. From the cold of Scandinavia and the Baltics to the heat of Africa... it's going to be one hell of an adventure. Visas will be an issue, and i will be sending off for a Russian visa when i get my passport comes back. The visa for Mali will be more of a challenge.
It seems that Mali consulates no longer have the power to issue visas, it must be done through an Embassy. Problem: No embassy here in Australia, only a consulate in Perth. I called the 'Consul' to Mali in Melbourne, and confirmed that the place to go to for visas is Tokyo. JAPAN.

Strike me pink Ailsa!

Well, I was sent an application form and it seems actually to be reasonably straight forward. For a fee they will even post it back. I will need to do this around the start of September. It can't be sent too early either - the visa needs to be used within three months.

So now plans begin in earnest. I want to save more so i can afford myself a few luxuries i didn't have last time in Africa (ie nicer hotels etc). I have 96 days until I fly out. so... woo-hoo. The other news is that my friend Paul from the UK is joining me for the Mali section of the trip. I also have Siggi from Germany coming along for Lithuania... and meeting up with someone special in St Petersburg. This won't be the 'solo' sort of trip i've known in the past it seems. Also will have heaps of friends to catch up with in London.

But the ultimate destination is DAKAR, Senegal. This will be the third trip with it on my itinerary, and I desperately hope it is third time lucky for me. Two failed attempts to make it to this city have made it my determined destination. It's my Timbuctu (incredibly ironic as Timbuctu is in Mali where I'm going... not to Timbuctu to though, just Mali). The 2004 trip was entitled 'Dhaka to Dakar'. I failed to give last year a title more than 'The 2006 Trip' but in 2007 it's definately

DAKAR OR BUST!!!!!!