Flight time v's Destination - the STATS!!!

I have just been looking through my flight itinerary and it is pretty impressive, even if I say so myself.  But to actually sit down and look at some of the stats it really starts to sink in that there is a downside to travel - and something that just cannot be avoided.  Okay it is all great to travel and it is a life experience that you just won't get anywhere else...

BUT

People forget the 'non' fun part and that is the part of AIR TRAVEL. Airports, checkin, security, the cost of airport food, customs, immigration, airport staff ( who NEVER seem to enjoy their job ) and the list goes on.  I would love to complain about airline food but I actually like the stuff so that is a positive in the airlines defence.

I will be travelling approximatley 74,543 miles as the crow flies, which is about 119,965 km!  To put that into perspective I am 35km just short of being about to travel around the world 3 times based on km travelled.  I did look at the moon stats but it is approximatley 420,000km to the moon, so I wouldn't even get halfway there - as impressive as that would have looked!

I will pass through and visit approximatley 45 airports and travel on 15 different airlines - some of which I haven't even heard of.  But in some regions it is the only way to get there.  That moto 'life is just too short' will come into play in these instances!!!!

Actual 'sitting in a plane' comes in at 151 hours - that figure doesn't seem so bad does it?  9060 minutes.......What would that work out to be?  That could be 18 days of 8 hour sleeps? Or to really look at it it is literally spending 6.29 full days sittting on a seat only just big enough to fit your frail elderly grandmother who is a size 6! 

I have added my flight itinerary on my home page - check it out - next time you think what a lucky devil I am remember it is is not all cocktails and foreign men - there is a down side to the travel bug but one unfortunatley that can not be avoided for any holiday maker.

Okay so the 'stats' start to not look so 'impressive' now.  There is alot of airport and airplane time and I think I will push to the back of my mind! I'll keep thinking of the exotic cocktails and the foreign men thank-you very much!!!

Visa Visa Visa

My new passport arrived last week.  I got the larger one with 80 pages in preparation of having enough room / pages for the stamps and visa's that I expect to get on my journey.  It was sad to see the last one go - besides the fact that it still had 6 years validity - my passport photo didn't look like I had just served 10 years hard time in a prison somewhere!!!  Needless to say this photo isn't as good - but I would like to know why you aren't suppossed to smile in a passport photo?  I guess if you have just come off a 15 hour flight you are more likely going to look like your picture with no smile than some-one who has holiday glow getting their picture taken forgetting just how long that hell flight actually is before they reach their paradise!

My main concern is the visa's I need to get while I am on my trip.  Normally they are not such a big deal.  Most consulates are represented in Australia, you send your passport off with forms and photos in tow and in approx 2 weeks your passport is back.  The tricky thing with an extended trip is whether the visa once in your passport is valid from the time it is put in there or does it start from when you land in that particular country.  I have done the home work and I need to get 14 visa's in total.  4 of those I can get before I go, 4 of them I can get on arrival, I need to get 2 in London, 1 in Cape Town, 1 in Paris and one has to be pre-applied for off their web site and approved for before landing in the country.

I just need to have faith in my organisational skills and be a little patient.  When I want things done it generally means yesterday and not all things can be hurried - especially when involving foreign consulates. I have their local addresses and I have google mapped where they are in relation to where I am staying - the best I can do for my piece of mind................

Shopping - Not the Fun Kind

Well I am off to the 'CAMPING' and hiking shop tomorrow after work.  Anaconda.  I need to make some practical purchases - like a wet / all weather jacket that I will actually use.  Mainly in Mongolia, China, South America and Antarctica.  I've always bought the cheapy versions from KMart on the off chance I may use it.  I have a feeling that it will be an essential artical of clothing.  Also on the list is thermal underwear which I have never owned but also apparently highly recommended for the cooler parts of the trip.  That will be a good look on my Contiki tours ba ha ha ha ha ha..... Other purchases needed and hopefully I can purchase while at the CAMPING shop include a Swiss Army knife and also a good pair of walking shoes.... Oh yeah I'm shopping - but not the fun kind - like going food shopping.  I might head to Mt O after and buy something fun for the Contiki side of the trip......

Welcome to my Blog

I said I wouldn't join Facebook and those were my famous last words a few years ago.
I now consider myself a self appointed Facebook Queen.

I was confused about blogging and asked what the hell would you 'blog' about?  But I am happy to say that I see the value in blogging my trip, as D Day looms 6 months away - it will be a great way to  keep a record of my journey, share the up and downs of travel, as I traverse 6 Continents, approx 45 countries and endless miles of air and road travel and of course introduce all my new friends I am going to meet along the way!

Stay tuned for the itinerary and all comments-feedback- tips are always welcome!!!