Whoops, forgot to mention meeting Caron and Haidi last night, my fellow Queenslanders on the Trek for Tibet. We met up at the airport after having made contact by email, and was good to have some time to get to know each other before the flight. Haidi had come from Townsville, and Caron's another Brisbaneite.
Sat together on the flight as well, so we're really getting to know one another now! We compared fundraising techniques - Caron in particular has been impressive with her fundraising, and Haidi had some good ideas as well.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Singapore
Don't think I slept at all on the flight from Singapore last night, so was feeling exhausted by the time I went into the city this morning. It was typical tropical weather - very hot, humid, and the sweat was pouring off me as I walked around. Went to the Boat Quay area, one of the old commercial areas of the city, that apparently was seen as being a good omen for business as the bend of the river was like the belly of a carp. Some of the old godowns are still there but it's very touristy now, with al fresco dining all along the river front, where last time I was here (some 30yrs ago) it was a bustle of commercial activity.
So I'm feeling a little refreshed now after a shower and a sleep in the Rainforest Lounge at the airport. Had such a long shower; what a luxury after so long of 4 minute showers in Brisbane - I'd forgotten how good it felt!
And off to Delhi in a couple of hours.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Last minute preparations
Leaving tonight at 2345!! And naturally I've been doing those last minute preparations - buying some Rescue Remedy (thanks for the reminder Deb) - and then while in the pharmacy, hmmm better get some paw paw ointment, ah, and some paracetamol, ah yes, some betadine ointment might be good too. And then off to get the pegless clothes line. And a strap for the camera could come in handy, yep, got that too.
Deb and Kris were shaking their heads at breakfast I'm sure - being Virgos, they have no conception of leaving things until the last minute like that. They would have had everything packed a week ago.
Heading to the bus stop to go home - whoops, I was going to get noise cancelling headphones. Right, into JB HiFi - there's a pair that seems pretty good, I think Sennheiser's a good brand; damn, I was interested in getting a Bose set that I read about. Well too late now, it's either this pair or nothing, just hope that they're as good as the blurb and the price tag suggest. The credit card sure is taking a pounding. Glad I thought (only after suggestion from somebody at one of the banks) to notify my credit card institutions about travelling, as they might just cancel any further transactions if they can't get in touch with me to check that it's really me using it in India and Singapore.
Yesterday was getting the travellers cheques and the US dollars cash. I was feeling smug about the fact that because the US dollar is so low at the moment, I got more dollars than I would have otherwise. Until this morning when I saw the headline on somebody's newspaper that said the greenback is in freefall. Took a while to sink in and then realised, that means I get less back when I cash the cheques and cash. Ah well, no point stressing about it - won't be huge amounts of difference.
So, that's all I can think of for now. Next entry probably from Singapore airport, unless I'm moved to do another one before I head off tonight.
Deb and Kris were shaking their heads at breakfast I'm sure - being Virgos, they have no conception of leaving things until the last minute like that. They would have had everything packed a week ago.
Heading to the bus stop to go home - whoops, I was going to get noise cancelling headphones. Right, into JB HiFi - there's a pair that seems pretty good, I think Sennheiser's a good brand; damn, I was interested in getting a Bose set that I read about. Well too late now, it's either this pair or nothing, just hope that they're as good as the blurb and the price tag suggest. The credit card sure is taking a pounding. Glad I thought (only after suggestion from somebody at one of the banks) to notify my credit card institutions about travelling, as they might just cancel any further transactions if they can't get in touch with me to check that it's really me using it in India and Singapore.
Yesterday was getting the travellers cheques and the US dollars cash. I was feeling smug about the fact that because the US dollar is so low at the moment, I got more dollars than I would have otherwise. Until this morning when I saw the headline on somebody's newspaper that said the greenback is in freefall. Took a while to sink in and then realised, that means I get less back when I cash the cheques and cash. Ah well, no point stressing about it - won't be huge amounts of difference.
So, that's all I can think of for now. Next entry probably from Singapore airport, unless I'm moved to do another one before I head off tonight.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Finally!
Brisbane, Sunday, and less than a week to go now until I head off on the trek to India. People keep asking me if I'm getting excited, and right up to the last few days I've had to say 'No'. But at last I'm starting to feel excited about it all, as it all becomes real.
The last couple of weeks have involved getting lots of trekking gear, especially the cold weather stuff. Mountain Designs in the Valley in particular has been a favourite spot, and done very well out of me.
And now it's less than a week to go - next Saturday at 2345hrs my Singapore Airlines flight should be taking off. This time of anticipation reminds me of my first trip overseas back in the 70s, when I flew from Perth to Singapore on British Airways. The week or two before I left was a time of the most delicious anticipation. I'd given up work, and was staying at the beach shack belonging to the cray-fishing family I'd boarded with in Perth.
This little shack that the men used to stay in after their time out on the boat was just behind the first line of dunes; at night I would drift off to sleep with the sound and feel of the waves crashing on the shore maybe fifty metres away. The beach and sand hills were pretty well deserted, and during the day I'd swim - a bit chilly in August but felt great - and then run through the sand hills.
So I'm looking forward to this next week or so, and hoping to savour once again something of that some wonderful anticipation.
The last couple of weeks have involved getting lots of trekking gear, especially the cold weather stuff. Mountain Designs in the Valley in particular has been a favourite spot, and done very well out of me.
And now it's less than a week to go - next Saturday at 2345hrs my Singapore Airlines flight should be taking off. This time of anticipation reminds me of my first trip overseas back in the 70s, when I flew from Perth to Singapore on British Airways. The week or two before I left was a time of the most delicious anticipation. I'd given up work, and was staying at the beach shack belonging to the cray-fishing family I'd boarded with in Perth.
This little shack that the men used to stay in after their time out on the boat was just behind the first line of dunes; at night I would drift off to sleep with the sound and feel of the waves crashing on the shore maybe fifty metres away. The beach and sand hills were pretty well deserted, and during the day I'd swim - a bit chilly in August but felt great - and then run through the sand hills.
So I'm looking forward to this next week or so, and hoping to savour once again something of that some wonderful anticipation.
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