Well it's the last day of September, leaving me with four days to go until I leave just after mignight on Thursday morning. I have come down with a bit of a flu so I'm not the best, and my computer died last Tuesday so that's why it's taken me so long to post again, which leaves my goal of chatting (briefly!) about each place before I jet off in jeopardy.
It seems the week before i go is often filled with pointless dramas, and just increases my trepidation needlessly. And then there's the predicatable plane crash that comes within the last 2-3 weeks. This time a budget airline in Thailand hit the tarmac in a poor way, and few survived. Not something I want to think of really... and yet I do! I must think of better things...
Surely one of the highlights of the trip will be a place i've been to a couple of times before - London. Not a location where I will be doing much siteseeing this time around, instead hopefully it will be a good chance to catch up with friends and have a drink or two.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/england/london
There's a little link for all those keen readers who have never heard of London, Big Ben, the Bridge, Buckingham Palace....
The Globe Theatre and Stratford - Upon - Avon are (one) sidetrip I hope to make this time around. Somehow always missed them previously. SO today I am going to start packing, although I think I have most of the things I need so it's not all that last minute.
Next post I will prepare you for my big return... to WEST AFRICA.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Shaving Helsinki
Finland Finland Finland Finland
The country where I want to be
Pony Trekking or camping
or just watching tv
Hi folks. How are we out there?
I have 20 days to go, less than three weeks. I am a bit on the buggered side and face a hell of a lot of esxtra hours before I fly away. More money I hear you say... Well I wish I saw it that way, but I see myself hopping on the plane rather stressed out like I did last time. So from now on despite my busy nature I am going to try and relax wherever humanly possible. Yes it's a plan.
From St Petersburg and Vyborg I will take the train across to Helsinki, a city I have never seen before. Perhaps I will stay in the famous Stadion Hostel, located strangely enough in a stadium. What Shall I do with three days in Helsinki? I don't really know. Stuff probably. be cold. the usual. hehe
I have my passport back. In fact I got it back three days ago, it took 8 days. Pretty amazing, all the way to Japan, processed and sent off by courier back to me and all in 8 days. And to think getting the Russian visa took 3 weeks and never left australia. CRIKEY!
well
now packing lists need to be and so forth. I bought an electric battery-powered shaver yesterday so one can tell my life is full of excitment right now. Well, I can't for the life of me think why I stuck with the blade on previous trips. Cold water, carrying shaving cream around... what a silly hassle.
yeah yeah
til next time!
The country where I want to be
Pony Trekking or camping
or just watching tv
Hi folks. How are we out there?
I have 20 days to go, less than three weeks. I am a bit on the buggered side and face a hell of a lot of esxtra hours before I fly away. More money I hear you say... Well I wish I saw it that way, but I see myself hopping on the plane rather stressed out like I did last time. So from now on despite my busy nature I am going to try and relax wherever humanly possible. Yes it's a plan.
From St Petersburg and Vyborg I will take the train across to Helsinki, a city I have never seen before. Perhaps I will stay in the famous Stadion Hostel, located strangely enough in a stadium. What Shall I do with three days in Helsinki? I don't really know. Stuff probably. be cold. the usual. hehe
I have my passport back. In fact I got it back three days ago, it took 8 days. Pretty amazing, all the way to Japan, processed and sent off by courier back to me and all in 8 days. And to think getting the Russian visa took 3 weeks and never left australia. CRIKEY!
well
now packing lists need to be and so forth. I bought an electric battery-powered shaver yesterday so one can tell my life is full of excitment right now. Well, I can't for the life of me think why I stuck with the blade on previous trips. Cold water, carrying shaving cream around... what a silly hassle.
yeah yeah
til next time!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Crazy things with Passports
Hiya folks
Just under a month to go. Today I bought some thick socks for the Baltics and Russia.
YES RUSSIA
After Estonia I will be taking a bus along to St Petersburg, where I will be meeting a very special someone. But enough of that.
I ventured to St Petersburg in my first big adventure in 1999. I feel in love with this city. It is truly beautiful. I walked home (to my hostel) from the Metro Nightclub at 3am as snow lightly fell to the ground and it was pretty magical. Perhaps that was just the vodka...
But I never saw one of the world's most impressive buildings, the Winter Palace, aka the Hermitage. This time I will.
The metro there is great too, so many trains and the stations are housed in old bomb shelters with chandeliers. I think Melbourne's loop is a huge disappointment in comparison.
The Mali visa is a curious thing. Earlier in the year the consulate in Western Australia was told it could no longer issue visas. The same went for all consulates worldwide I was told, so only Malian EMBASSIES had the power to do this. That meant that Tokyo was the closest place I can get a visa. Luckily they cater for Australians and with an added fee will post my passport back to me, and process in a day too which is exceptional.
The basic fact is that i posted my passport to Japan on Monday morning, express post, wondering if I would ever see it again. I'll call the embassy on Friday and see if it has been received. I've posted my passport off to a few embassies IN Australia but this is a first.
Hopefully I wont be needing an emergency replacement passport at quick speeds before I go.....
Just under a month to go. Today I bought some thick socks for the Baltics and Russia.
YES RUSSIA
After Estonia I will be taking a bus along to St Petersburg, where I will be meeting a very special someone. But enough of that.
I ventured to St Petersburg in my first big adventure in 1999. I feel in love with this city. It is truly beautiful. I walked home (to my hostel) from the Metro Nightclub at 3am as snow lightly fell to the ground and it was pretty magical. Perhaps that was just the vodka...
But I never saw one of the world's most impressive buildings, the Winter Palace, aka the Hermitage. This time I will.
The metro there is great too, so many trains and the stations are housed in old bomb shelters with chandeliers. I think Melbourne's loop is a huge disappointment in comparison.
The Mali visa is a curious thing. Earlier in the year the consulate in Western Australia was told it could no longer issue visas. The same went for all consulates worldwide I was told, so only Malian EMBASSIES had the power to do this. That meant that Tokyo was the closest place I can get a visa. Luckily they cater for Australians and with an added fee will post my passport back to me, and process in a day too which is exceptional.
The basic fact is that i posted my passport to Japan on Monday morning, express post, wondering if I would ever see it again. I'll call the embassy on Friday and see if it has been received. I've posted my passport off to a few embassies IN Australia but this is a first.
Hopefully I wont be needing an emergency replacement passport at quick speeds before I go.....
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