< 60 Days to Go

Posted in Travel by Will on February 28, 2006.

eep. 59 Days to go. (Well, until my last day at work, - 62 days until I fly out)
Went to Sydney on Saturday to do a bunch of shopping…

Updated the Things to Get post

Looking for Backpacks

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 22, 2006.

Looking for a backpack that’ll fit 10-15 days worth of clothes, can take the camera, and has a detatchable daypack (i.e for camera+stuff, for on planes/wandering around/etc where I won’t have/need the full backpack)
I havn’t found anything much in Australia yet…

Eagle Creek’s Men’s Fit Continental Journey - Magellan’s Travel Supplies (US, just as an idea)

Aussie finds:

High Sierra Backpack

Black Wolf Cuba 90 Litre

Black Wolf Cedar Breaks 75 Litre

Black Wolf Grand Tour 85 Litre

High Sierra Compass Travel Pack 102 (96 Litre)

High Sierra Compas Travel Pack 103 (102 Litre)

More:

http://www.myshopping.com.au/PT–113_Handbags_Luggage

http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_41

$4,685.60

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 20, 2006.

…thats how much money I just spent.

Consists of:

Singapore Airlines flight, Sydney, Singapore, London: $1,550 + $462 Taxes
10 Day Tour w/ Kumuka: $1800 (Tour) + $270 (Food Fund) - $225 (Discount)

7 Day/4 Country Eurail Pass: $423
Travel Insuance: $282 + Excess $180 - $56.40 Discount

Itinerary is here: http://will.hughesfamily.net.au/travel-itinerary/

Neat photo of a Cactus Flower

Posted in Photography by Will on February 15, 2006.

Cactus FlowerThis strange looking cactus flower only comes out at night, for a few nights per year.

Looks cool… :)

Tentative Itinerary (Locked in)

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 15, 2006.

Check here for the final itinerary: http://will.hughesfamily.net.au/travel-itinerary/

Flights Updated

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 15, 2006.

Mini post…

Austrian Airlines are no longer in consideration - it’s now down to Singapore Airlines (prelim prices ~$1700 ex Taxes) and Emirates.

Flight Centre are having a ‘travel expo’ on Sunday, so I should be able to get a discount on a tour/flight/insurance combo.

Things to Bring

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 14, 2006.

Electronics

Canon EOS 20D

  • 28-135mm IS f/3.5-4.5
    + UV Filter
    + Circular Polarising Filter
  • 50mm f/1.4
    +UV Filter (need to get a new one!)
  • 480EX Flash
    +2x AA Battery Sets
    +Universal Charger
  • Extra Battery for 20D
  • BP311a Universal Charger + UK Plugs
  • 2x Sandisk Extreme III 1GB
  • 1x Sandisk Ultra II 1GB

Nomad Jukebox 3

  • Universal Charger
  • 2x Regular Sony earbuds
  • 1x Sennheiser Pro headphones (for flight - noisy)

Dell AXIM X5

  • Universal Charger

Nokia 6610i

Things to Get

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 13, 2006.

Clothes

  • Shorts * ? (may need a few more)
  • T-Shirts * ?
  • Casual Shirts (Short/Long Sleeve Mix) (still need to get a few more though)
  • Long Pants (got)
  • Light + Waterproof Jacket/windbreaker thing.
  • Jumper (Fleecy) (got)
  • Socks + Jocks/Boxers= lots (2 doz?)

Essentials

  • towel, washcloth - possibly travel shammy towel via mountain designs
  • soap, toothpaste, toothbrush
  • deoderant * 2
  • shaving kit

Luggage/Gear

  • Backpack for Camera + clothes + essentials… Updated: Got a Mountain Designs Oddesy 75L, has daypack etc too
  • Sleeping Bag (Spring for Europe, and mainly indoors - so nothing heavy Got it

Electronic Gear

  • Vosonic X-Drive II VP3320 @ 60GB. Updated yet again: Got it :)
  • 28-135 Clean+Service via Legend. Updated: Done
  • Tripod (short, must have bag/strap, light) Updated: May be able to borrow Ian’s.
  • Wireless card for PDA (+ Load Skype) Updated (3): Done, Linksys WCF54G on it’s way.
  • CR123A * 4
  • CR2016 * 2
  • CR2030 * 2 Updated: Got the Batteries.
  • (Organise for over there) GSM SIM Card Updated: May be able to use Ian’s spare… or just get one whilst I’m there.

Misc Stuff

  • Lonely Planet Guides - England/other euro countries on the tour…
  • Savings Acct w/ St George / someone, Maestro Acct. Updated: Maestro are a RIP OFF .. $4 per transaction + 2.5% Total. F— that. Got a Cash Passport instead.

Holiday planning

Posted in Planning, Travel by Will on February 10, 2006.

Where?

Definitely England at some point for about a week.

Thinking about touring Scotland.
Thinking about Touring Europe.

Budget?

All up, I’ve got AUD$12K (I’ve got more in savings, but I still need to buy things here).
That has to include Airfares, Insurance, Food, Acommodation, etc. You get the idea.

When?

Total Non-Working period is Saturday 29th April, 2006 through to Sunday 18th June 2006
I don’t want to get back to Sydney any later than Wednesday 14th June. This gives me a few days to recover from the flight, and re-adjust to the timezone.
I’m planning to leave on about the 1st of May.

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