Preparation before the big day

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In case all of you were wondering what it takes to go on a trip like this, I can at least give you an idea of what I've been up to.

To begin with I had to figure out some kind of plan of attack. This could be a trip where you could just get one plane ticket to some place and as you went just buy a ticket using whatever means of transportation it takes to get around to the next place you want to go. As fun as that sounds I liked to have my options on cost. Cost is really the big determining factor in what you can do. Some may disagree but if you decide to go to many many different places, that will usually mean that you can do many extravagent things in each of those places (depending on budget of course). This is yet another reason why I cut down the length and number of destinations so I can do crazy things like camp in the outback, get scuba diving certified in the Great Barrier Reef, hang gliding and Zorbing in New Zealand, get a relaxing spa/mud bath in Rotorua, schedule a tour to hold a Koala, get a tour of the Sydney Opera house, see Baths in England, enjoy the scenes of Wales, visit the Monty Python Castle and see Loche Ness in Scotland, climb the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland, kiss the Balarney stone upside down, and visit a remote island in Southern Ireland...Oh, sorry got a little carried away. Ok, so you get the point. It is first and for most, important to figure out what you are willing to spend.

Once you determine what you are willing to spend then one would need to figure out where to go. Of course this can be easy or hard, just like everything else it takes to plan a trip like this. If you are someone like me, then you would want to just spend the rest of your life spending time in every nook and cranny of the world, then maybe, just maybe, someday come back and settle down. So if that is how you are this part can be quite difficult. From my first post you can see that this trip had quite an evolution, ending me up where I am basically because... well honestly I don't know why. When I was little I always remember telling my dad that Australia had to be our next vacation. When we went to France, my dad told me that simply me saying "Dad, when are we going to France?" was all it took for him to book the tickets. I have since tried that same trick to get us to Australia. So Australia is a place I have been trying to get to for a long time, honestly, I mainly wanted to go just because I thought it would be cool to go on the other side of the world. I mean Australia seems SOOOOO far away. The other places I had been planning on going to in my first form of this trip have been more recent desires, so I guess that was why I chose Australia and while I was there, I might as well do New Zealand too. Plus, if I hadn't decided to do this then I was going to send in a video application for "The Worlds Best Job Ever" being a cartaker at Queenstown Australia. So, no matter what I was going to find myself in Australia.

As to why I chose Great Britian, that is a question I get a lot, since it is no where near Australia. Well for one, I had a close friend move to London a year or so back, and though I was able to see her last year on my travels, I did not get to see much of her. Plus, my feeling was that if I'm going to be out and about why not just stop on over. So, that gets me at least to Great Britian. As for why I'm going to Wales, Scotland, and Ireland....because I can. I want to go, so I am.

Well, now you know why I chose where I wanted. Hopefully that can give some inspiration into choosing a place if you were to ever decide to go on some large trip. I guess it is just like choosing ANY location for a trip, this is just on a larger scale.

Next step is to decide how you want to travel. For the most part for a large travel trip like this planes are your typical starting points, but they don't have to be. A whole trip could be planned around taking a boat, or if you wanted to stay in this continent there is always the option of trains. I myself have chosen plane so as to not loose time through the beautiful land of New Zealand. I have booked my plane tickets for all of my trip and I have done that so as to make sure I do at least get to the other countries fairly hassle free. Here's hoping. Again this is each persons preference. I myself am a planner, so I need to some security in knowing that at least on such and such date I will be flying from.....to.... However, anything in between the flights is fair game. In Europe I used trains. I got the Eurail which is a pass that you can use all throughout Europe on their train systems. It is meant to save you time from waiting in lines, you pay a flat rate and basically can just hope on any train without having to buy a ticket. There are of course many different packages you can get depending on your trip size. I have also been told buses are a great means of travel through Europe. They are cheaper and you get to see way more scenery. They are, however, longer rides and you may see a few more characters.

As for how I plan on getting around. I will try to use buses in most cases, but there may be times that train is just the best suitable way. I know in Ireland buses will most likely be my best friend. This is something I will just see as I go. The only place I have a real plan of transportation is in Australia. I am cheater there and am getting a hop on/hop off bus pass. This is mostly due to the fact that they have many other activities planned through them that I possibly would not have to opportunity to experience because of lack of transportation, lack of knowledge, lack of a discount, or various other reasons.

The last main thing to think about is packing. Before last summer I had always done some kind of rolly bag. Never thought twice about it. This is not the way to travel doing a trip like this, well of course unless you are going to rent a car and can pack it to the brim and will be staying in a nice hotel or be stay in one place most of the time. This is why I can call myself a backpacker, because I will be carrying a backpack around with me. When you are hoping on and off buses and trains and moving around on a regular basis it makes life easier if you can just strap your stuff to your back and move on. I even made the mistake last year of taking a duffle bag too. It made traveling such a hassel. So first you begin with a backpack. (Note backpacks are not very large)

Then it comes to packing this backpack.

This year I am oddly enough cutting down my packing list for my 4 month trip from last years 1 month trip. I learned that I don't need at many socks and underwear, just more quick dry things. Last year was a great way to learn what I needed. I found myself thinking I had brought just about the right amount. There were a few things I wish I had left behind. For example, I wished I had not brought nicer shoes or a nice dress. This year I am compremising by taking a dress that can be casual, nice or a shirt, and I can layer under it. (Very practical) Shoes, I am cutting down. I have only sneakers and flip flops, and a pair of shower shoes. However, last year I took a pair of jeans and a pair of kahkis. I thought it was the right amount, but I wished I had brought capris, so on warm days I didn't just have the option of a dress. (I took a couple summer dresses). So this year, this is what I'm taking:

All the clothes:


Everything:


Everything all packed up:


Other little things that I've had to think about were:
What to do with Binx, my cat while I'm gone. She is currently at my parents place. She may move back to my place some time while I'm gone, but that is still to be determined.
I had to make plans with my job. Luckily I have a job that can't give me a lot of work over the summer so I am able to just say what day I'm leaving and what day I'm coming back, and they say, "Great, have fun!"
I had to figure out how my place was going to be paid for. A friend of mine has so kindly offered to sublet my place so that is less worrysome, plus it's a friend and not a stranger in my room.

Aside from all that, it's a piece of cake.... Really though it may sound like a lot of work, but it is well worth it, and now... I am off to the other side of the world. I'll see you all on the flip side!!