OK, so I didn't have enough information available for the travel agent when I went to get my ticket. I did get my bank stuff figured out though and that's ready to go. Gonna go to REI today to pickup a few things to make life easier on the road (as advised by EVERY travel guide). Woo Hoo-there's an REI in Eugene, too. Saves an hour driving/gas each way. I thought I was gonna be driving to Portland today. Seems weird to not want to have to travel to get ready to travel but the more I save here and now, the long/farther I can go once I get going.
So-I now have my basic itinerary ready for the travel agency. I'll be fine tuning it over the rest of the weekend (and throughout the trip) based on travel advisories I will seek out on the net as well. Here's the plan I'll deviate from:
PDX>>>London>overland to Greece>>>Somewhere in India and overland to Calcutta >>> Bangkok >>>Ho chi Minh>>>(Maybe overland to) Hanoi>>>Taipei>>>Shanghai>>> Seoul>>> Osaka> overland to Tokyo>>>PDX
Tentative departure date: Sept 1st
Tentative return to PDX: March 31st
It looks like Sept to year's end in Europe and the start the new year in India. Jan and part of Feb to go across India and in to Thailand, spending the bulk of Jan and Feb in Bangkok (I've heard great things about it). By mid Feb I'll be finished up through Taipei, some of the travel between the cities between Bangkok and Taipei maybe overland, and on my way to Shanghai. Feb and March will find me exploring Seoul thru to Tokyo and then it's non-stop across the Pacific in time for the rainy season in Portland. So if you know of anyone in those vicinities who can put (or put up with) a weary traveler for a day or so, pass along my contact info to them and ask to pass their contact info to me. I'm assuming I'll be able to find internet access in most cities I visit at places like internets cafes, public libraries, universities or even US consulates. I foresee a dead zone, though. However, as I will be hosteling most of the way, I hope to have had enough encounters with other travelers to glean info about what's ahead.
Like I said, that's the plan I'll deviate from. I've read the literature and most of the RTW info says that most folks doing this find that doing an RTW in less than two months is overwhelming. Just too much going on to to cram in to such a short amount of time. Six months is the average 'maxed out' and then it's time to decompress. I know how I am and to shoot for the max my first time is typical as is falling short the first time. So I'm going to be the typical me and go for it. One of the reasons for the trip is to get away from the norm. Maybe by doing that, I'll also get away from being normal (well, normal for me, anyway).
OK, I gotta go research rail travel through India. . . and REI opens at 10. . .and Oh, hey Rhys Thomas is performing at the DaVince Days festival tonight!
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