Six weeks today, at roundabout this time I'll be 8 ½ hours into a 12 hour flight to Hong Kong (woohoo.) And so I feel this "6-week to go" milestone deserved a post, and I am also bored so wanted something to do to pass the time.
I will start by apologising as this is not an exiting post - There is stuff on credit cards and gyms and inoculations, so not that exciting, but I need to make note of things for my book-that-will-make-me-rich-and-get-me-into-journalism. I also ramble a bit, arguably more than usual.
And so, since my last post I have been preparing, cos there is nothing much else to do other than work - which is technically preparing anyway as all I am working for is to earn money for travelling.
I have been to the opticians and the doctors where I had the two inoculations I need. Not for Australia but for Mexico and Malaysia, should I go. I have had one for hepatitis and one for Typhoid, I didn't need anything else as I am all up to date with my inoculations which cover me until I am 24 or so. The Hepatitis one hurt as well and I need a booster in six months time.
I have also been looking at getting a credit card for emergency use. I will have my Australian bank account but when I leave Australia I need something else and my current HSBC one is CRAP. I get charged around 2.75% for any transaction (not just cash withdrawals) abroad. So the plan is for my mum to apply for a new credit card, as I don't earn enough to get one, and add me as a card holder and then give her access to my account (hmmm) so if I use the card (which I plan to - will say why in a second or two) she can get money out of my account in England and pay the card off. I do plan to use the card cos I think I may travel around the Americas until my money runs out, then I’ll just need to pay for transport to the airport and possibly a flight change if I didn't get the dates and timing all right.
Apart from sorting out a new credit card I need to sort out an International Driving Permit (IDP). Although not needed in Australia it is recommended and it is only £5.50. I have been told not to bother but I am paranoid and would rather be safe than sorry.
Also, in preparation, I have joined a gym so that I will be all fit and healthy for the Australian er… heat - yes I shall stick with heat as my reason. I joined my local 'Profiles' gym that the local Culture and Health Trust run. For a government thing it's actually quite good, no joining fee, just £7.50 for the induction and I pay £33 per month which includes my gym entry at my local gym (Howe Bridge) and I can go whenever I want and I also can go to any Trust ran gym or swimming pool in the Wigan area. . I plan to go 4 times a week and so far I have kept this up and if I didn't pay £33 its £4.30 a session and I have already been 8 times so it’s easily worth its money.
And the most exciting thing I have done is gone and bought an MP3 player. Well I say me, my parents, brother and sisters bought it for me as a birthday and Christmas present as I won't be here for them. I bought a Creative Zen Media 30GB rather than an Ipod (cheers Tom for the recommendation.) It’s really easy to use, the sound quality and picture quality is ace and it has a radio - although it didn't come with a plug which I have had to purchase separately. I have added all my music from my computer onto it (and still have lots of space) I just need to go through my CD collection now. I think I can add photos onto it abroad, I just need to see if I need to use the creative software or not. I decided to take photos so show people, and also show the size of it, and the size of it compared to the box it came in. Packaging gets ridiculous at times. I also wanted to see what it was like to upload pictures on here before I go away - bebo.com isn’t very good as it doesn’t allow me to upload large enough files, nether does facebook.com and no one uses ringo.com - so hopefully my blogspot will come through with the goods.
Don't think I have done much else I am just waiting, will get lots through the post in around two weeks with all the flight details and a list of everyone going on the same trip. And so all I really have left to do is
- Sort out the above credit card
- Sort out my Australian Back Account (need to wait for them to contact me though)
- Shop for clothes then....
- decide what to take
- Buy a funky padlock for my bag that only customs can get into and no one else
- Get an IDP
- Got to the dentist (this is what I am most looking forward to - honest)
- Wait,
- Also probably something else I have forgot
End of post, told you it wasn't exciting, but at least you got photos.
