Time to leave 30Jan12

I’m sitting in Heathrow airport, and I’ve just had a sausage sandwich and a pint of Guinness. I wanted to have something very English before I head off. I actually wanted a fish finger sandwich but they had run out, and then I realised you can’t get more English than a sausage sandwich (with red onion relish, turbo English). I’m in The Bridge in terminal 4 at Heathrow, and might I say old friend that it was a jolly good sausage sandwich! My flight is in 1h45min. I got here really early, but its way better this way, I definitely hate the last minute rush and stress... running for the train, leaping onto it with a second to spare with wild eyes, running down a hundred stairs into the underground with luggage crashing through commuters like bowling pins, knocking over old ladies and children to pounce onto the tube just before – you imagine – the doors squeal shut (inevitably at this point, the doors stay open and the announcer says ‘we are being held here for a few minutes at a red signal’ and you have a banker, an Albanian family and a hipster all staring at you shaking their heads while you stand there sweaty and frantic but also pretending you had purposefully meant to zoom like a bat out of hell onto the carriage). And this is before you even get to the airport! No, early is better.

I’m writing on my new (well, 2^nd hand) little Acer laptop. It’s white and small and cute and has Windows 7 and all the right programs etc for a traveller wanting to type/blog, upload photos, watch movies, change music collection around on SD cards and the rest of it. I will be doing my own reviews of all (the 50 tonnes it feels like) of equipment and gadgets I’m taking with me. I don’t really care intensely about having The Ultimate technology (hope my potential employers won’t be reading this) but I read reviews and asked around before shelling out for the stuff I have with me, so I can at least tell you how crap or how good it is.

I’m also suffering from a really nasty flu, probably because I had all 400 of my vaccinations in 3 weeks instead of spread out over 3 months like a good organised traveller. Whatever the reason I feel run down, snotty, achy and like I want to go home, make some hot chocolate and get into bed to watch 90210, I mean News Night. WELL that’s not going to happen. Instead, I’m going travelling in 12 countries in Asia over 8 months... poor me!

Getting ready for this trip was pretty interesting. I had to sub let my room – thanks to the lovely Sarah who will be wearing a dark brown wig and all my clothes so my housemates don’t notice I’m gone – get tons of vaccinations and jabs, buy a shit load of stuff, wrap up my job, get all the finances sorted, say goodbye to dearly beloved friends and house family and mentally prepare myself to be pretty much alone and completely wired and energetic for 8 months. Sitting here at the airport I’ve realised some things.

1.       This trip is going to cost an extortionate amount of money. Travelling on a shoestring this is not. I will be handing over my first born (of nondescript nationality) child to the bank on my return. *jokes Mom!*

2.       I have way, way too much stuff with me. My back is aching already and I have a backpack, wait for it... with wheels!  

3.       My hand luggage is completely not appropriate. It’s a canvas bag with no pockets or side pockets, stupidly tiny and one you sling over one shoulder. Oh no, I need much bigger, multi pocketed padded mini backpack with lots of secret pockets and apartments to keep all my really important shit separate! I am seriously considering buying a really expensive one here at the airport (see point 1).

4.       My little ukulele is going to take some really painful knocks. (see point 3 about hand luggage) And I will definitely be annoying one or more people in my vicinity when trying to learn ‘When the saints go marching in’.

5.       Writing this blog really kills time pleasantly. I was 2 hours early and now its half hour before boarding... nice.

6.       8 months seems like a seriously, seriously long time and I’m scared!

I’m supposed to be staying awake on this entire 12 hour flight so I can sleep on the next 12 hours before waking up in Auckland. Doubt that will happen as I’m totally exhausted with excitement and activity. Just had a really strong coffee so I hope that helps.

Next stop, Auckland!