Wanderlust

 

Walking through the airport with the weight of my pack on my shoulders.

That first step onto foreign land.

Breathing in.

Looking up, down, left, and right.

Squinting at the map in my hands.

The excitement of seeing something new.

Entirely new.

Or, a variation of new.

Being lost.

 

The thing about being lost while travelling is that you sort of know what you’re looking for. You’re finding you way back.

If only life were so easy.

You know when you’ve found your way back, when it comes to being lost while travelling. You can measure your success by finding your way back.

Or at least knowing you’re on the right path.

Each step you take, you know if you’re on your way back.

Life isn’t as simple.

Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes a Twentieth Step

(15/4/14)

 

The day is finally here!!

 

I’ve reduced my load by 1% (cut out the face towel and hair towel)

Haven’t decided on the cup noodles; they’re still tucked away on top of my bag.

 

I’ve done my web check-in, and to my horror my tablet couldn’t select the destination (I clicked on it, it refused to be selected), tried on my phone, it couldn’t even open to the page. Turned on my trusty old laptop, and had this displayed:

 

“Your reservation details have not been found”

 

 

Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God :: Oh God ::

 

 

I quickly Googled the local airline booking phone number (the one I used to make the booking in the first place, but had neglected to save) and made a call. It turns out they put my first name as my last name and my dad’s name (I don’t have a surname) as my first name. Weird, ain’t it? But the fella said it’s how they do it for my type of Passport, and assured me I wouldn’t have troubles in my journey.

 

So Web-check-in I did, and later before I head for my car sitter’s place, I’ll have it printed out at the gas station, then I’ll have to be at the city central station at 10pm (my flight’s at 3:25am, but because I’ll be checking in at the city central, not at the airport).

 

I asked, and my luggage doesn’t come out at my connection point (Abu Dhabi). It’s only 2 hours, so I’ll have whatever I need in my daypack (in which I have discovered tears to the lining *tsk tsk* not even started the journey yet).

 

Also, there’s a 75USD penalty should I decide to change my return dates. As in, if I decide to stay longer in Europe (ehem….), I can check with the airline if there’s a later available date and pay the penalty. Well, who knows, 75USD doesn’t sound too bad (especially if I can find a means to fund my trip along the way….).

 

I also signed up for membership with the airline (it was freeeee!) so I can earn miles when I fly. Hehe, I haven’t even started this one and I’m already looking forward to my next one.

 

So, in thinking of my next trip, here’s stuff that I think I ought to buy:

1.       A good backpack. (I’m using a borrowed one for this trip; hopefully I won’t make it worse for wear) It would be good if I could find one of those where the daypack is detachable. $$$$

2.       A jacket (one of those with super amounts of pockets)

3.       A digital camera (I’m only using my Nokia Lumia 800 for this trip)

 

Well, there’s not much left to prepare.

 

All my bags are packed

I’m ready to go.

I’m still sitting here, waiting the hour.

Already I’m excited I could die….(but hopefully not)

 

 

The next time I’ll be posting I’ll either be on my trip, or more likely after I return (I only have that one phone with me..no other gadgets).

 

 

Safe journey, and many great adventures to me!

Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes a Nineteenth Step

It's the night before I board my flight.


All I can think of is: Should I pack the cup noodles?

I packed too much. I know I did. But at the same time I have no notion of what I should cut down.

Panic ensues.

Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes an Eighteenth Step

(12/4/14)

 

Just a few days before I go off on my furthest adventure yet.

 

A friend of mine has graced me with metro/RER tickets. Apparently you have to buy 10 of those at a time, and she had some left over from her previous trip and she saw it fit to give them to me =) *super touched*

 

My colleagues have given me scarves to keep me warm. I already had scarves packed and ready to go, so I just put those away and replaced them with the ones my colleagues gave me.

 

I have last minute packing to do tomorrow. I wonder if I’ll find anything I can shave off from the pile.

 

My journal is packed with loving words from supportive friends. I’ll add stories of my travels to it. I wonder if I’ll fill it up, or will pages be left blank, or will I need to buy a new notebook there?

 

There isn’t much to do but make sure I’m fully packed. A boiled down list of absolute essentials:

 

a.       Passport

b.      Money

c.       Rail Pass

 

Anything else can be bought/obtained later. It might be troublesome, but things like flight tickets are e-tickets which could be reprinted; same goes to hostel bookings. I have a soft copy version of my itinerary. The rest is pretty much replaceable.

 

 

It’s astounding how far one can strip down their life to. Not too long ago I was lugging around a 3kg+ handbag and even that didn't hold all my needs. I needed a separate bag to hold my tablet and documents. Then another bag to hold my food.

 

Now the handbag is replaced by a money belt, strapped to my non-existent torso, the rest in my daypack, and the extras in my big (borrowed) travel backpack. It’s scary, but I feel awesome. And super excited.

 

So right before I go, let me boil down what preparations have been done to get me to this point:

 

1.       Decide on when to go and for how long.

2.       Buy flight tickets.

3.       Decide on whether or not to buy a Rail Pass

4.       Make a rough itinerary of cities to go to.

5.       Find the train schedules to those cities.

6.       Find quotes for hostel prices for budgeting purposes.

7.       And along the way, purchase nitty bitty things like disposable travel bottles and ziplock bags.

 

So, anyone out there who wants to go but think it’s too much work to plan, remember that I had those exact reservations that held me back. But here I am, ready to go on my first Eurotrip. I had help along the way, valuable advice and tips given here and there, but the most precious gift I have received to date is the support from those around me.

Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes A Cushioned Seventeenth Step

(7/4/14)

 

I know some would say this doesn't qualify as a "Step" and perhaps it just belongs as a normal post, but perhaps along the way I might mention something about this, so let me just begin here and now.

I’ve read tips packing, tips on dressing, on cutting down expenses. Not that my research has been very extensive, but one thing I read:

 

Buy insoles.

 

You know, that thing that you add to your shoe to give it that extra cush? Well, I put it off for quite a while. I was like, yeah, it makes sense that it makes the overall shoe experience better, and I will be on my feet an awful lot, but somehow no matter how many times I fingered the insoles at the pharmacies, I always ended up putting them back. No matter how many times I read of how it really helps the whole walking about chore turn into something much more enjoyable, I kept putting them down. I mean, I know the pair I was eyeing was cheap and all, but the other more expensive pairs didn’t seem that much thicker/cushier. How would it help? So I kept putting back the pair and leaving the pharmacy.

 

Until yesterday.

 

I made up my mind, I was buying insoles.

 

So I went to the pharmacy, bought the cheapest pair I could get my hands on, and I paid for it.

 

Got home, took them out….oh great, I have to cut them to size. How do I do that? I have a college degree!! Why can’t I figure this out?

 

I finally resorted to smooshing the insole into the shoe and finding the crease when it came off. A little snip, and there you go! In it went..

 

I tried on my shoes. Bear in mind, I had already worn the shoes in and about town, travelled to the city, gone running with those shoes.

 

But….

 

 

It made a hell-of-a difference!

 

 

My God….insoles are awesome…..so awesome..

 

And for someone who suffers from having flat feet (which means that I have a hard time “filling up “ a shoe because my feet aren’t thick enough. At least, not a standard thickness (err, I hope you get what I mean), this insole thing is awesome! It helps me fill up the otherwise gaping space between the tongue of the shoe and the top of my foot. But be forewarned, if you have thick feet, please buy a shoe with extra space to allow for n insole (if you want to take my plunge in comfort living and buy a pair of insoles)

 

Best part? It costs less than 2 Euros! Two! Less than!!

 

 

 

 

Awesomeeeeeeeee

Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes a Sixteenth Step

(5/4/14)

 

Oh gosh, barely 10 days left!

 

Have I prepared enough? Is there anything I forgot to do?

 

I only have €355 to my name as I depart.

Assuming I use cash for food – I’ve budgeted €10/day which will give me a total of €210

That gives me a balance of €145 for short bus/train rides, entrance fees that can’t be charged to my credit card, etc.

 

Bank A holds €200 in case I need to withdraw cash.

 

Bank B holds €150, but this is probably for swiping (IF for some bizarre reason cc can’t be used) as the withdrawal charges are higher.

 

My Primary CC holds €1100 worth of credit (added with the cash advance I’ve put in to the account.

 

Secondary cc has €500 worth of credit.

 

Oh, and because I’ve put in the advance cash, the statement date changed and I won’t have to worry about making payments to my CC bank while I’m away. Take note of this if you’re travelling..make a list of things that have due dates. You don’t want to have to be dealing with those kind of things whilst you’re away. If you can, pay for it in advance, or arrange for a standing order payment with your bank, or something.

 

I have to go to my CC provider to get my internet banking sorted out, and also to request for my 6-digit pin.

 

I think I have more than enough in terms of spending money. Especially if the tourist attractions can be paid for using my cc, I’m hoping I won’t have to withdraw the cash at all.

 

I’ve successfully (or so I think) packed my bag (save for undergarments, which I’m still using).

Some toiletries will go into the day-bag because: At the stopover in Dubai (short 2 hours transit), I might want to freshen up – brush teeth, wash face,..that kinda thing.

 

So here’s a list of things (and then some) that will be in my day bag:

-          Hoodie

-          Journal

-          Notebook

-          Novel

-          Pen

-          Flashlight

-          Flexi bottle

-          Travel docs

-          Wet & dry tissues

-          Contact lens solution and case

-          Toothbrush and toothpaste

-          Small towel

-          Facial cleanser

-          Face cream

-          Prayer clothes

-          Power bank, USB connector, and Plug

-          Wallet (a dud with things like student ID, a bit of cash)

 

 

 

In the money belt:

-          Passport

-          Cash

-          CC

-          ATM/Debit cards

-          ID’s

 

 

Oh, and I should probably list out things that I have to pack up last minute:

-          Sunglasses

-          Prescription glasses

-          Undergarments

-          Facial cleanser

-          Body wash

 

 

So tomorrow I’ve got a last meet with my friend, hope I haven’t forgotten anything major (though I’m pretty sure I’ve gone over things again and again, which will be very apparent when I actually get round to posting these up)

 

 

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Takes a Fifteenth Skip

(31/3/14)

 

The days is getting really near. I get butterflies every time I think of it.

 

So here’s what I’ve done so far:

Gotten a credit card (received, and used)

Booked accommodation for the first two night in Paris

Tried to pack my clothes (rolled and stuffed into ziplock bags)

Stuffed everything into the big backpack to see if everything’ll fit (so far so good!!)

 

 

This is what I still need to do:

REALLY pack (this’ll have to wait until the last minute)

Take out my simcard (I’ll either buy a European one, or just use my phone for wifi) to avoid roaming charges

Take off jewelry (especially the gold!)

Print out hostel reservation docs (…do I even need to?)

 

When I get there (to Paris), I have to:

Make my way to the hostel I’ve booked.

Find food (I’d probably be famished)

If I’m up for it, an afternoon stroll

 

 

 

Oooooh! And a friend of mine introduced me to airbnb

Check it out! It’s like a social site (sort of) where you can find people who host others in need for a place to crash. These are just people with extra space who sign up for it. The website verifies who you are and collects the payments upfront. The payment is only released after you check in. So if you’re unhappy or feel cheated (place is not where it was advertised to be, etc), you can complain to the site and they can hold the payment until issue is resolved (something like that).

You can also earn money if you invite people to join, and they can get discount vouchers for signing up.

 

I haven’t tried it out (have only signed up) so can’t give a review of that yet.