I'm the Bionic Woman

Here's the latest in the preparations:

I have received my books for planning my trip and staying out of trouble... and I'm using every free moment to ravenously read through them. So far I've decided that I'm going to spend a significant amount of time in Chaing Mai, Thailand. There's a great surrounding area and many opportunities to do guided hikes in the mountains - and getting to stay in smaller, more rural areas. I'm looking forward to that. Also, there are cooking schools there that are really famous! I have plans to not only *eat* pad thai in Thailand, but also to learn to *cook* the way they do. The top school is "The Chiang Mai Cookery School". Check out the courses online at: www.thaicookeryschool.com

I've also been debating about visiting Phuket Island. It's really famous for it's beaches, but also becoming very touristy. Supposedly there's great shopping, nightlife, and hustle-and-bustle. I'm looking for a more rural trip overall, but I think that seeing it would be good and from there perhaps I can find a more quaintly small beachtown to enjoy. This area was one that was hit hardest by the tsunami and is now back to better than it was. I'm curious. The side-trip will be well worth it.

The highlight of this week is that I've been properly vaccinated and I'm safe to go. Yes... feel free to throw at me your worst case of Malaria, I dare you to attempt to give me Typhoid, Hepatitis A or B... what about Tetnus or Diptherea - I'll laugh at you! Mooohaaa ha ha! I'm immune!

Okay, enough of the silliness. I nearly choked when the pharmacist told me that my Malaria-prevention medication would cost $585 for the time I was away (because it's so long!) so I called my doctor. She ended up writing a precription for something that costs $40... *before insurance*. So, I've got the bargain basement vaccination. Yes, if nothing else this trip is on the cheap all around... but the doctor assures me that my risk of death (yes, death!) with Malaria is now nill.

Lastly, I've been picking up odd jobs and working at Hen of the Wood Restaurant to make extra money before I go and I had a disturbing realization tonight. I have earned more in two days than I would in 75 hours at my last job... and I'm sane. Mostly.

G'night.

It's Just Like Christmas

New gear! New gear!

Check this out... it's the coolest thing since a vegetable peeler! This is a water purification system that will keep me from spending a significant part of my trip on the toilet... or dehydrated. You can read all about it at: www.hydro-photon.com

Basically this little baby is a two-part deal. You first pour the water (if there's sediment in it) through a pre-filter and into a water bottle. You then immerse the light wand into the water and stir for 60-90 seconds and a UV light zaps all the bits n' pieces right outta there! Amazing, huh?

The online reviews boast that you can discreetly sanitize water even in restaurants in third world countries, but why do I think the locals may frown on that... I think I'll stick with my water bottle, thank you very much.

Also, some new hikers are coming my way - open and breathable for the HOT weather I will be enjoying. I plan on breaking them in thoroughly... yes, indeedy. Apparently you have to be very careful where you point your feet in Southeast Asia. People find it really rude to point them at others, step over other people's belongings (a bag in the aisle on a bus, etc.), and especially not at Buddah in the temples. It was important that I find something not only for hiking in, but also something that covers my toes, but still will keep me cool. The fact that they were on major sale with cheap-o shipping just helped me make the purchase!

Last on the list: First Aid Kit, and Memory Card for my Camera.

Coup, Coup, Cachoo

So, how do you pick a place to visit? Me, I pick a country with polical unrest and tanks lining the city streets - yes, folks, while the Prime Minister was away New York at a UN meeting the military took advantage. It was done quite peacefully, with no guns fired and no hostility. I watched video on MSN this morning from the Associated Press and no one there is really concerned. The tourists they interviewed said, "Why should we be concerned when no one who lives here is?"

What's a girl to do? Well, I'm still proceeding with my trip as planned at this point. Unless there's some major happenings between now and then. I'm trying to give my Dad more grey hairs than ever.

... Where are we with planning? Well, I've been buying and selling things. I officially am without loveseat and chair for my living room. It's really liberating to divest myself of things - knowing that at some point again I will own pieces to sit upon. Since I bought them from The Wood Carte and got them at cost, I got back what I paid for them - so that's good.

I went to EMS and found a great deal on a North Face Outrider 75 bag... check it out!

There are so many nooks and crannies to poke things in. I'm taking it with me mostly empty and filling it up with fun when I get there. It has the best suspension system to that you can fill it up with a ton of weight and still be comfy in it. I'll be thrilled to use it and since I got such a great deal on it, I'll hope to be able to sell it at the used outdoor gear store up here in Burlington - if I don't think I'll travel again for some time. Stacey was telling me that she'd expect I'll be ready to go some place new when I return to the States. Stace - let's pace ourselves here!

The latest things I'm looking for are a good water filtration system (being sick for weeks is NOT appealing!), a first aid kit, and some good sandals suitable for hiking and keeping me relatively comfortable in the 80 degree weather that has been promised. I'll also need some rain gear (even though it's their dry season) and a huge memory card for my digital camera. Without my laptop to download things to I have to be prepared to keep all the photos I take with me until I return. I have decided that bringing a piece of equipment equivalent to ten years of income is just plain, well, stupid. My MAC will have to miss me!

My guide books are slated to arrive on Friday to Dad's house in New York and next Wednesday I get my shots updated. Yeah, nothing like getting poked to prevent Malaria and Hepatitis. Those are NOT souveniers I'd like to bring home with me.

I'm so excited to be going and I'm planning, planning, planning.

Here's a great website to look at:
Click!
It tells about the Festival of the Candles that I'm so excited to see in Bangkok when I arrive! Here are some pictures that I pulled from this site and another, too. The sites I've found with
information on the Festival vary, but it's a safe bet that between November 1st and 5th the city will be glowing with light from the boats and waterways. I know, we do things like this here too, but something is truly exotic about how other people's traditions work. I mean, yeah, fireworks are fun... but how many times have we seen those?


That's all for tonight - I'm headed to bed!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Hello Everyone!

I'm officially starting a blog to document the craziness that is my life - I'm about to take things mobile. Yes, on November 1st I'm leaving to tour Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos... it's true! Let me fill you in:

Three major things happened:

1. I found myself no longer employed as a wedding planner.
2. I had no place to call home in less than two weeks.
3. I realized that life could take me anywhere - and I chose well... I hope. :)

So after parting ways with the owner of the Round Barn Farm I sat down with my thoughts and considered the past year - having two of the most all-encompassing jobs I could ever imagine. Being employed the way I was, there were good things about it (surely), but also I didn't have much *me* left at the end of the day. For some reason I think I unknowingly sought out situations like this to fill up my time and test my limits. Well, consider them tested!

I have always wanted to travel, but have never been out of the country and Southeast Asia seemed like the boldest place to start - and by myself, to boot. I applied for my first passport on Monday and bought my ticket Wednesday... talk about a rush.

I'll be flying out of JFK on November 1st, connecting in Hong Kong very briefly, and landing in Bangkok Thailand in the middle of the afternoon. Nothing like a 16 hour flight to get your body good and confused! Bangkok is a sprawling city like L.A., so I'll surely have fun exploring it for a couple weeks before hopping over to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. As you can only be in the country for two weeks (and let's face it, I aim to be law abiding), I will spend 14 days there before grabbing my pack and heading to Laos. Laos is by far the most rural of the countries I'll be visiting, however, the hiking is supposed to be amazing and the culture in the little mountain towns is to be extremely welcoming. Once my feet are too sore for hiking I'll return to Thailand for some sun and fun - seeing the vast beaches and numerous islands along the southern coast. I'm looking forward to taking great photos of all the temples, too! Christmas will be on a beach somewhere and New Year's will be back in Bangkok before flying out on January 3rd. I'll get a day in Hong Kong (which I hear from travellers is just about enough!) and then return to the States on the 4th. TWO WHOLE MONTHS!

The cost of living there is phenomenally cheap for the US dollar... with the average salary being the equivalent of $150. Hotels from $2.50 - $20 for luxury, meals for less than $1, and a bottle of water for $0.07. Not bad, huh?

So where am I in travel plans? I've ordered books which I'm yet to recieve - some more touristy and some rougher, backpacker type information. I through in a book on safe travel for women, as well - to make me and Dad feel better! Passport is on the way and I'm about to make an appointment to get my shots that I'll need. I'm in the market for a pack to take with me and some iodine tabs for iffy water sources in a pinch.

I'll plan out the first week or so only and then take it from there... letting the days progress as they will and seeing what amazing sights need more of my attention and which are just a good blip on the radar.

I'm really excited and nervous - and about a million emotions inbetween!

So what's the deal with this blog? I'll be posting to this blog from internet cafes during my trip - if you want to know *where in the world is Janice* this is your best bet. Bookmark the website and check every few days - I'll get to it that often, I'm thinking. You'll be able to see pictures of all the things that I gawked at, ate, people I met, and amazing vistas. Additionally, guests can post reponses that can be read by all - or e-mail my new account: travellingjanice@hotmail.com. (E-mail will be checked less frequently) Until my departure I will be posting stages of planning processes while I'm here in Vermont. I'll be back and forth to New York, too, working whenever and however I can for extra cash. If you've got a job - let me know!

Thanks for reading and participating in my adventure!
Janice :)