Monday, October 15, 2012

Inauspicious Beginnings

Woke up with a severe nosebleed and pouring rain then,later, an incorrectly and unhappily-made breakfast sandwich at Tim Hortons.
(Life Advice Tip #1: Never to buy coffee at an establishment that’s 80 percent gas station).
Trend continued with an unacceptable emergency exit row assignment- extra leg room does not equate for inability to recline chair. Got that switched in a hurry and received bonus window seat upgrade.
Wish I’d kept my water bottle for refilling and I miss my Blackberry already. Flight and lay over in Vancouver airport uneventful.

Assigned another crap middle seat for 14 hour flight to Hong Kong- flight’s full, no switches. Discover window seat mate is a young mom with 14-month old baby. Obviously I’m doing penance for something! Baby is a gorgeous China doll named Gabriel and I enjoy entertaining him and bouncing him on my knee to help his harried mother. Been there- got the deep furrows.

Unfortunately the angel Gabriel is replaced by arch angel Satan about 4 hours in--- right about when the novelty of seatback entertainment wanes and I’m yearning to sleep. Sleep eludes me of course because I’m cramped in a 2X6 jackknife position with a screaming Satan beside me whose talents at kicking and punching my left side put me in mind of a young Jackie Chan.
 In an effort to gain a millimetre of space and perhaps a nanosecond of sleep, I place my right arm on the armrest, shifting towards Creepy Chinese Guy. Next thing I feel him stroking my elbow, suppress a scream, and immediately draw back into an upright, locked position.

Young Mom takes this as a signal to take Satan for a much-needed diaper change. I figure I might as well tag along since its been such a good time so far. Half way up the aisle, I realize in my groggy state that I’ve already removed my shoes for in-flight comfort (there’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one). Should I go back and risk an un-chaperoned slide over Creepy Chinese Guy , or brave the bathroom barefoot?
One peek inside that toilet halfway through a 14 hour flight with 300 people aboard tells me made the wrong choice, but I stick to my commitments. I’m somewhat reassured when I confirm most of the bodily fluids are pooling at the back of the washroom and hurriedly complete my business. NO PAPER TOWELS!
Figuring the water can only help the conspicuous gravy stain on my shirt (received from the inflight “meal” which did little to help my hunger, but triumphed at tasting like wet cardboard), I use my top as a napkin and return to my seat.
Figuring things can only get better from here, I take a sleeping pill.

At least I think it’s a sleeping pill. I have a habit of tossing all kinds of pills together in bottles to take on the road or to work (for convenience of course). Some people may consider taking unknown medication  espacially on a long haul flight as unacceptably dangerous, but I deem it just a Calculated Risk. Most of my alcohol, drug and relationship decisions fall under that category.

Whatever I took, it worked and I was able to get a few ZZs over the next few hours, Satan and Creepy Chinese Guy bedamned. Woke up groggy but excited on the Hong Kong runway.

Friday, October 12, 2012

THREE WEEKS, ONE BACKPACK



OK, and a fanny pack and side tote bag but  still---3 weeks and a temperatures range between 28C in Hong Kong and 8C in Beijing—means I’m travelling LIGHT and highly challenged to do so.  I’ll be washing clothes in hotel sinks and disposing/buying new on the road. Clothes and shoes are very cheap in China-regardless, it's far preferable to dragging a pack of dirty laundry on planes, trains and boats across a large country.
FANNY PACK:  wallet with health insurance card, drivers license and business cards (gold when meeting people in foreign countries especially Asia), passport, tickets, hand cream, earplugs, sleeping mask, iPod, iPod earphones and charger , lip gloss, lipstick ,hair pick, money belt with cash, medium binderclip (useful in so many situations), hand sanitizer. Yes this is a big fanny pack!
 
TOTEBAG:
small pen , camera plus 8 spare batteries (my camera EATS batteries) and spare memory card, inflatable pillow, travel book on China, bottled water , protein bar , apple,  laptop and power cord, keychain(with mini flashlight, bottle opener/usb drive, caribiner clip and wrist loop),  small pkg of hand wipes , sunglasses and case,  stretchy mitts (sometimes I freeze on planes and Beijing will be @8C during the day and below freezing at night)
 
BACKPACK:
black bandanna (multiple uses)
Copy of tickets, itinerary and passport, hand wipes, combo compass/flashlight/flint/mirror
flip flops in Ziploc bag (for germy shower floors)
box of protein bars (for when my meal is looking back at me)
door stopper (safety measure- many foreign hotel door locks are questionable)

CLOTHES: spare bra, 4 undies, 5 socks, 2 t shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts , my “Travelling Pants” jeans, capri/full leg convertible cotton pants, black wide-brimmed sunhat, black toque
TECH BAG: cigarette lighter charger for laptop, universal adapter/converter, universal card reader
TOILETRY BAG: Concealer,  BB cream , night cream, baby oil , facial wipes, travel sized shampoo and conditioner , hand sanitizer,  2 hair clips , 10 elastics, mini hairbrush , Moroccan Oil hair treatment, eyeliner , 2 eye shadows, body cream,  toothbrush and paste, razor and blades, tampons, condoms, QTips, deodorant, tweezers, small hotel soap for laundry, travel sunscreen, travel bug spray, travel perfume
 
MED BAG: Airborne immunity tabs, Advil, Cipro, Gravol , ginger drops, Imodium , allergy meds, Reactine, asthma puffer, First Aid pack, travel Polysporin, spare medium and small Ziploc bags for various uses
 
AND MS PURDY WILL BE WEARING:  black yoga pants, thermal tank top, black high zipneck thermal running top, black hoodie, rainjkt, wool socks, trail running shoes, wide fabric hairband, black stud earrings, divers watch


Friday, October 5, 2012

BIG TRIP PREP LIST

I travel several times a year for business and fun and follow this prep list as required for every jaunt. Sometimes a little OCD comes in pretty handy....

6 MONTHS AHEAD
Confirm financial feasibility
Announce intent to boss/colleague to confirm time off
Make childcare arrangements
Book trip
Buy travel insurance-medical, baggage, interruption and cancellation
Start researching details: entry/travel visa requirements, vaccinations, Must Do/Sees, hotel info (elevator/stairs, breakfast included, bedding/bathroom features, location in relation to transport and major sites), transportation details (bus/plane/train boat- amenities included and not included), weather, local customs, currency, safety, baggage allowance etc .
Resources: Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Trip Advisor, various online and book sources, travel agent/tour operator, fellow travellers

4 MONTHS AHEAD
Get any required vaccinations or medications. Research yourself or visit a special travel clinic ($$).
Do this well in advance! Involves 2 or 3 medical office visits plus a pharmacy pick up, as you may first need to be tested for immunology from past immunizations i.e. hepatitis, and sometimes pharmacies experience delays in obtaining certain vaccines.
Tip: keep a detailed record of your immunizations as many require boosters at intervals or expire all together after a length of time. Ask your doctor or public health for a vaccination record book, or make your own- record type of vaccination, booster/full dose, date and any reactions noted.
Your detailed itinerary should be well drafted by now.
Confirm your passport will meet requirements- many countries require at least 6 months remaining before expiry.
Cement arrangement for your spending money while on the trip.

2 MONTHS AHEAD
Draft Pack List based on itinerary, accommodations, weather, baggage allowance, transportation logistics, personal discipline and back strength. Ensure you have your bags chosen by now and that they are in good condition. I recommend Carry-ons ONLY- it’s too hard lugging around suitcases and airlines habitually lose luggage. Any bags you are not carrying on your back, waist, or arm should have wheels.
Start accumulating detailed Pack List.
Plan house/car/pet-sitting arrangements

1 MONTH AHEAD
Obtain travel visa/entry requirements. This generally takes a week or two but I live in proximity to all major foreign embassies- give yourself a month or 6 weeks leeway.
Make 2 copies of passport, tickets, itinerary and trip contact information. Originals stay on your person, 1 copy goes in bag in case of emergency, second copy stays with your emergency contact back home. Scan another copy and email yourself so you can get it on the road if needed.
Plan dates for any household work (close pool, order firewood, oil change) that should be done before you go, your Test Pack, and any beauty /grooming appts (hair cut, tanning etc).
Notify your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling- dates and locations so they don’t put a hold on your account when you are trying to book a boat cruise in Laos--bummer!
Order foreign currency from your bank if you will be bringing some. Banks generally carry USD but even  Euros can take a couple weeks to get. I bring foreign currency and my bank card and VISA, knowing many places will accept only cash.

2 WEEKS AHEAD
Do a Test Pack- all items on your list get packed and you carry it around wearing all the clothes you are travelling in on the day. Allow a wide open area, at least 2 uninterrupted hours, coffee and a strong drink for this frustrating activity. Take notes of everything you missed on your list and need to buy. Keep everything packed if possible as you fill in the blanks approaching Departure. Put away the 50% over pack and resign yourself to wearing the same underwear 4 times.
Make rounds to visit friends and family who all want to see you before you go.
Cement designates and work plans/deliverables for execution in your absence
Arrange to pre-pay any bills etc that will be coming in while away
Prepare and test any electronics: virus scan, defrag, updates, charging, download books, movies, apps and music
Start panicking about everything left to do!

 1 WEEK AHEAD
Meet with boss and team for pre-departure checkpoint- review work plans/deliverables
Start popping vitamins and Airborne in earnest to build immunity.
Secure rides to airport if required
Confirm car/house/pet-sitting arrangements
Give copies of itinerary, contact info etc to emergency contact
Start losing sleep with excitement!

DAY BEFORE
All beauty/grooming routines completed
Out of office email and voicemail messages ON
Confirm departure times and arrival location weather
Bags in car or next to door for departure
Book taxi for departure if needed
Set 2 alarms! Not that you’ll sleep a wink…

DAY OF DEPARTURE
Turn off all unnecessary household power requirements/ reset household routines (reprogram thermostats, security systems etc.)
Chuck any food in fridge that will expire and empty all trash cans (ever come back to fish scraps that have been poaching in a 30C garbage can for 2 weeks??? -------NASTY!)
Last minute prep of house /car /pet for sitter
Enjoy the journey!