1 Week to Go…
While creating this website I thought it was only fitting to test post on the blog. Fingers crossed I won’t have to spend hours formatting and arranging text boxes. So far I rate this higher than Microsoft Word in that moving one section does not cause a cataclysmic event sending all my widgets sprawling across the page.
We have 1 week until we embark on our 7-month adventure. We are travelling to Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam-Philippines-Indonesia-Malaysia. Packing our lives away into 60-litre hiking rucksacks is challenging, especially with Robin’s 10-step face routine. We are aiming to bring 2 weeks’ worth of clothes with us with the intention to do a wash within this time. One item which is exempt from the 2-week rule is underwear where I am bringing no less than 20 pants. The elusiveness of underwear is something we are both overfamiliar with considering 2 or 3 went missing weekly whilst at university. In addition to clothes and toiletries, Vick has insisted we try to fit in a purifying showerhead she bought. It’s supposed to filter the water in the pipes to protect from hair loss as the water in SE Asia can be harsher than what our scalp is used to. Due to the shape, it is an awkward fit and I would rather have a mosquito net and no hair than be covered from head to toe in grape-sized bites. Aside from the showerhead, everything else we have packed is general for a backpacking trip in SE Asia: shorts, t-shirts, linen shirts, flowy trousers, and waterproofs. If anything is forgotten we will haggle with a local for the best price guaranteed!
The excitement is beginning to set in now. It feels as though the last year and a half has flown by. Countdown reminders went from 6 months to 3, to 2, to 1 week away. The long work hours are starting to appear worth it as we google places to stay, food to try, and activities to do. I am so proud of Robin for persevering with work this past year to save up for this trip. Not only did she contribute to smashing our savings goal but she graduated uni with an exceptional grade! This trip defines the leap into post-grad freedom and adventure. See you guys on leaving day!
-M
