Goodbye Toronto…

Well, with only hours to go I thought I would make one last post from home base at my parents’ house in Toronto. The packs are packed, boarding passes have been printed, flight status has been checked. There is literally nothing left to do.

Don’t forget, you can track our flight (CX 827) here:

http://postphoenix.theweathernetwork.com/features/flighttracker/

or here:

http://mobile.flightview.com/TrackByFlight.aspx?loc=tbf

We just weighed our packs, mine comes in just over 13kg, and Courtney’s is just under 12kg. My carry on (daypack), however, is only 3kg, and Court’s is 7kg, which is the maximum allowable. So technically she has more weight. Just thought I would point that out 🙂

Here are some other interesting numbers:

• Since I lost close to eleven pounds over the last few weeks, my current weight is sitting at 126.4 lbs, so it should be interesting to see how much more (or less) I weigh when I get back.
• The current temperature in Bangkok is 26 degrees celsius (34 with humidity). And it’s only 6am. *sigh* What a tough life we have!

This is COURT and ALEXIS, signing over and out. We will check in from the other side of the globe. The next post I make will likely be from either Bangkok, Thailand or Siem Reap, Cambodia, so stay tuned!

Peace out Toronto, See you in three months!

One more to Go!

Oh my bags are packed, I’m ready to go…. wait wait stop right there.

With only 33 more hours to go, I’m beginning to feel the panic set in. Did I remember to pack such-and-such!? Where is my US cash!? Why don’t I have a camera case!? OMG!

I started the anti-malarial treatment today, in the form of Malarone, a small red tablet that is probably the most valuable thing I will have with me. Thankfully, I haven’t felt any of the possible side effects, so I’m very relieved. I’ve heard horror stories about anti-malarials in the past, so I’m very glad to have avoided them. This now brings my daily pill total to two. More to come I’m sure.

On another note, I’ve been asked many times over the last few months what sort of shots I had to get for the trip, so I thought I would post a list of the vaccinations I received since October:

– Japanese Encephalitis x 2

– Rabies x 3

– Typhoid

– Hepatitis A

– Typhus

– Measles, Mumps, Rubella

I’m pretty sure there was one more but I can’t remember what it is right now. Will post tomorrow before I leave, right now I must get ready to see Avatar – I just couldn’t leave the country without seeing it!

Lex

What’s in a Pack…?

So I have been steadily accumulating items for my trip over the past five months… it started with shoes and sandals and a few items of clothing (to take advantage of the awesome travel store summer clearance sales!) and now has grown to include toiletries, multi-use clothing, bags, accessories, and more!

I wanted to create a packing list, to guide future travellers and also so I can compare at the end of the trip what was a good thing to pack, and what was useless. I’m going to try and make it as comprehensive as possible, so bear with me as I update over the next couple days!

Clothing (most clothing is lightweight, breathable, antimicrobial, and wicking):

• 1 pair pants (that zip into shorts)
  

  My pack, ready to be packed

• 1 pair lightweight capris
• 2 skirts (1 short, 1 knee-length)
• 1 pair shorts
• 5 tank tops
• 2 short sleeve tops
• 1 long sleeve top
• 1 lightweight, breathable jacket
• 1 bikini
• 4 pairs underwear
• 2 bras
• 2 pair socks (merino wool)
• 1 sarong
• 1 pair trekking shoes
• 1 pair water sandals
• 1 pair flip flops

Toiletries

• hand sanitizer (!)
• anti-perspirant (Degree Clinical is the best I have found so far!)
• shampoo/conditioner (all-in-one!)
• laundry wash
• razor and refills
• moisturizer
• sunscreen
• Dove soap
• bug spray (1 for nighttime, 1 for daytime)
• aloe gel
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• qtips
• moist towelettes
• 1 roll of toilet paper
• hair mousse
• floss
• 3 lip balms
• tweezers
• nail clippers
• nail file

Medical/Drugs (about half these things are for battling travellers diharrea):

• 90 tablets Malarone
• 100 capsules Florastor
• Imodium
• 20 tablets Zithromax
• 10 tablets Levofloxacin tablets
• Advil
• Tylenol
• Tums
• Antisceptic wipes
• Bandaids
• Polysporin
• Melatonin (for jetlag)
• Gravol
• eye drops

Accessories/Miscellaneous

• Headlamp
• travel sewing kit
• 6 mesh bags
• 1 first aid bag
• electrolyte tablets
• 40 Crystal Lite
• 2 books
• cards
• cable ties
• lanyard
• drain plug
• clothesline
• pill box
• adapter plugs
• waterproof case
• travel alarm clock
• silk hostel sheet
• travel pillow
• travel towel
• digital camera and memory cards
• journal
• passport, 5 photos

All this must fit into a 65L pack and 2L day pack! Wish me Luck!

Lex

T Minus One Week

The route of the Intrepid Trip we will be taking

So pretty much anyone who knows me knows I’ve been waiting for this trip since I booked my flight way back in June… and here I am, one week away from a 23 hour and 45 minute journey which will eventually land me at Bangkok, Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. For those of you who are interested, the flight details are as follows (if anyone is bored at the office on Monday morning you can actually track my flight here http://mobile.flightview.com/TrackByFlight.aspx?loc=tbf)

Flight No: CX 0827
Depart: Toronto, Canada, 12:15AM EST, Monday January 4, 2010
Arrival: Hong Kong, 5:00PM EST, Tuesday January 5, 2010

Flight No: CX 0713
Depart: Hong Kong, 9:10PM EST, Tuesday January 5, 2010
Arrive: Bangkok, Thailand, 11:00PM EST, Tuesday January 5, 2010

At that point, I will be exactly 12 hours ahead of Toronto time, and will be in this time zone for the duration of the trip.

Right now I just remembered I need to take my second dose of Dukoral, which is an oral vaccine for travellers diarrhea, so off I shall go to drink this nasty-tasting drink. I hope it’s worth it! I’ll be posting hopefully more this week as I pack and make final preparations before takeoff, so check back to see if my procrastination exists outside of school!

Until next time,
Lex