Hooray! I'm going down South for some serious GOOD TIMES! I'll be back on Monday the 12th. That means no blogging for you so suck it up big time!
As it happens I'm pretty sure no one reads this blog so it doesn't really matter anyway?
Happy new year!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Vaccinations! again
Buenas tardes mi amigos! (God I completely suck),
Two more shots this morning! Hep A/Typhoid and Rabies: Mach II. That's six shots in seven days! I am a living voodoo doll. Man that is a moronic thing to say. In a couple of weeks I have to get Rabies III: Look Who's Immune Now and then I'll be just about sorted. My right arm is no longer sore from the yellow fever shot last week, although it took its sweet time. Ro's still hurts. Speaking of which, is she ever going to post on here? Did I give her the incorrect password? Do I actually have a travelling partner or is she just a Paluhniuk-esque product of my battered ego? Keep reading. The answers will unfold before your very eyes.
Feliz Navidad everyone! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Lion
Two more shots this morning! Hep A/Typhoid and Rabies: Mach II. That's six shots in seven days! I am a living voodoo doll. Man that is a moronic thing to say. In a couple of weeks I have to get Rabies III: Look Who's Immune Now and then I'll be just about sorted. My right arm is no longer sore from the yellow fever shot last week, although it took its sweet time. Ro's still hurts. Speaking of which, is she ever going to post on here? Did I give her the incorrect password? Do I actually have a travelling partner or is she just a Paluhniuk-esque product of my battered ego? Keep reading. The answers will unfold before your very eyes.
Feliz Navidad everyone! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Lion
Monday, December 22, 2008
Work is basically the worst
Planning is actually going kind of well, insofar as I am not completely panicking about it. A good start. I still need a debit card and travel insurance and some shots and quite a lot of equipment (specifically trekking shoes and a warm jacket but also a million other little things). But I'm waiting until after Christmas for that.
Today I realised that there are only (approx.) 22 days left that I have to spend in my office before I finish up at work! My verdict is: this is awesome.
I will probably never get a job again. They are so boring.
P.S. Mum I am just kidding.
Today I realised that there are only (approx.) 22 days left that I have to spend in my office before I finish up at work! My verdict is: this is awesome.
I will probably never get a job again. They are so boring.
P.S. Mum I am just kidding.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Vaccinations!
On Tuesday morning I got my first cervical cancer vaccine, as paid for by the Australian government. Thanks guys!
This doesn't have anything to do with travel but I thought I would tell you so that you would feel more sympathy when I tell you that last night, Wednesday, I had jabs for:
-Rabies
-Tetanus/diphtheria/whooping cough
-Yellow Fever
My right arm (cervical cancer/rabies) is doing okay but OH GOD my left arm (DTW/Yellow Fever) is so SORE, I couldn't sleep on it last night. The jabs didn't hurt much at the time but hoo boy I am feeling them now.
Ro got it worse than me. She had to have four shots in the one day. How brave!
I still have to get Hep A and two more rabies shots. The first rabies shot was completely gross! A little bubble forms in your skin around the site of the shot. It didn't really hurt though, and it was much worse looking at Robocop's "little bubble" than my own. Also the surgery had a really revolting picture on the back of the door of a man holding up a tapeworm that he had somehow retrieved from his intestines. It was incredibly long. I am so glad that I don't eat meat.
Vaccinations are really expensive you guys!
This doesn't have anything to do with travel but I thought I would tell you so that you would feel more sympathy when I tell you that last night, Wednesday, I had jabs for:
-Rabies
-Tetanus/diphtheria/whooping cough
-Yellow Fever
My right arm (cervical cancer/rabies) is doing okay but OH GOD my left arm (DTW/Yellow Fever) is so SORE, I couldn't sleep on it last night. The jabs didn't hurt much at the time but hoo boy I am feeling them now.
Ro got it worse than me. She had to have four shots in the one day. How brave!
I still have to get Hep A and two more rabies shots. The first rabies shot was completely gross! A little bubble forms in your skin around the site of the shot. It didn't really hurt though, and it was much worse looking at Robocop's "little bubble" than my own. Also the surgery had a really revolting picture on the back of the door of a man holding up a tapeworm that he had somehow retrieved from his intestines. It was incredibly long. I am so glad that I don't eat meat.
Vaccinations are really expensive you guys!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Packing with Lion, Part I
Alright! I am awful at packing so I am trying to get prepared well in advance. Here are some things that I am considering taking:
CLOTHES
Sarong: People keep saying that these are basically the best things any traveller has ever packed on any trip to anywhere. I don't really like sarongs but who am I to eschew the wisdom of the travel gods?
Shirts: Can I get away with only three of these? Two for day and one for "dress-ups"? Apparently singlets are considered slutty especially on pale blonde tourist girls so I am kind of angling for t-shirts.
Skinny-ish cotton black pants that are hopefully vaguely stylish: If I can find such a thing. I figure they will dry quickly and transition nicely from day to night.
Not skinny-ish pants that are not at all stylish, colour TBA: Hot daaaamn I hate the thought of wearing cargo pants but they seem like they are a pretty useful thing to have. At least I could wear them hiking and such and with thermals underneath.
A couple of scarves & bandannas: A cotton one for casual/outdoorsy times and for awful hair days. A nice one for INSTANT STYLE. A nice toasty one for when it is cold.
Swimsuit: I am kind of torn here. On one hand you are not really meant to wear revealing swimsuits but apparently in Brasil you get LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN just for wearing an American-style bikini! (Apparently the bottoms look like nappies.)
A light-ish jacket: For days that are not incredibly cold.
A warm jumper: I have a Mountain Designs one, and it is horrible and unstylish, but at least it is fleecy and toasty.
A warm jacket: That fits over the warm jumper. God it's not like I'm going to the Antarctic, maybe I'm just being silly.
A warm hat: For my cold head.
Gloves: Socks for the hands
Two (?) pairs of warm socks: For hiking on chilly days.
Three (?) pairs of sport socks: For chilling on Chile days.
FOOTWEAR
Black low-top sneakers:. For day wear. I have a pair and they are pretty alright, they are more comfortable than Converse low-tops but look better than regular sneakers.
Hiking boots: I don't have any. They are heavy to carry, a pain to wear in and kind of an investment. But a spot of hiking seems probable so maybe I should just go ahead and invest.
Some kind of shoe that I can wear to a restaurant or nightspot: But what? Maybe just black ballet flats.
Rubber thongs: For the beach, oh man seriously do I really need to take four pairs of shoes?
TOILETRIES
Big old notebook: Containing addresses and emergency contacts and all that business. But also for writing things in. OH and a couple of photographs of family members etc., apparently the locals are into that kind of thing.
Pen: Okay this list is getting silly and I am really bored so I am going to stop making it for now.
CLOTHES
Sarong: People keep saying that these are basically the best things any traveller has ever packed on any trip to anywhere. I don't really like sarongs but who am I to eschew the wisdom of the travel gods?
Shirts: Can I get away with only three of these? Two for day and one for "dress-ups"? Apparently singlets are considered slutty especially on pale blonde tourist girls so I am kind of angling for t-shirts.
Skinny-ish cotton black pants that are hopefully vaguely stylish: If I can find such a thing. I figure they will dry quickly and transition nicely from day to night.
Not skinny-ish pants that are not at all stylish, colour TBA: Hot daaaamn I hate the thought of wearing cargo pants but they seem like they are a pretty useful thing to have. At least I could wear them hiking and such and with thermals underneath.
A couple of scarves & bandannas: A cotton one for casual/outdoorsy times and for awful hair days. A nice one for INSTANT STYLE. A nice toasty one for when it is cold.
Swimsuit: I am kind of torn here. On one hand you are not really meant to wear revealing swimsuits but apparently in Brasil you get LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN just for wearing an American-style bikini! (Apparently the bottoms look like nappies.)
A light-ish jacket: For days that are not incredibly cold.
A warm jumper: I have a Mountain Designs one, and it is horrible and unstylish, but at least it is fleecy and toasty.
A warm jacket: That fits over the warm jumper. God it's not like I'm going to the Antarctic, maybe I'm just being silly.
A warm hat: For my cold head.
Gloves: Socks for the hands
Two (?) pairs of warm socks: For hiking on chilly days.
Three (?) pairs of sport socks: For chilling on Chile days.
FOOTWEAR
Black low-top sneakers:. For day wear. I have a pair and they are pretty alright, they are more comfortable than Converse low-tops but look better than regular sneakers.
Hiking boots: I don't have any. They are heavy to carry, a pain to wear in and kind of an investment. But a spot of hiking seems probable so maybe I should just go ahead and invest.
Some kind of shoe that I can wear to a restaurant or nightspot: But what? Maybe just black ballet flats.
Rubber thongs: For the beach, oh man seriously do I really need to take four pairs of shoes?
TOILETRIES
Toothbrush: Don't Forget Your.
Toothpaste: Also useful
Hairbrush and hair ties: For my hair.
Mascara and eyeliner: You got me, I am vain. Well-spotted.
Razors: Still vain. May decide to eschew these eventually, but I want them to begin with. To feel at home.
Sunscreen: Can you buy 30+ in South America?
Soap/shower gel: Which is better? I figure that soap is less likely to explode in my bag.
Shampoo/conditioner: Two-in-one makes my hair kind of greasy, but maybe it just needs to get used to it?
Medication with letter from doctor: So I don't bleed to death once a month.
Nail clippers: I figure I can use them for other stuff too.
One of those fancy towels: Are these expensive? Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas.
OTHER
iPod: On one hand I think I wouldn't mind leaving this behind. But it would be good for keeping my Spanish podcasts and phrases. Opinions?
iPod: On one hand I think I wouldn't mind leaving this behind. But it would be good for keeping my Spanish podcasts and phrases. Opinions?
Lonely Planet: Look this is going to be my first ever international trip without a parent or guardian and I am basically just trying to survive.
Passport & photocopies: Note to self! Important!Big old notebook: Containing addresses and emergency contacts and all that business. But also for writing things in. OH and a couple of photographs of family members etc., apparently the locals are into that kind of thing.
Pen: Okay this list is getting silly and I am really bored so I am going to stop making it for now.
Oh god oh god oh god.
At roughly five o'clock this morning I woke up in terror and thought to myself, with a savage revelatory jolt, I leave the country in EIGHT WEEKS!!!. I'd just had a horrible dream about an enormous cockroach trying to crawl its way into my mouth and I'm not sure whether it was the dream that provoked the anxiety or the anxiety that provoked the dream but either way it was most unnerving. Naturally I was aware that I was in fact headed for South America in two months, but I'm sure you know as well as I do that two months is a very different amount of time to... EIGHT WEEKS!!!
I had to wake my boyfriend Mark up and make him wrap his arms around me and talk to me about things other than (for instance) packing up my apartment, the apparent millions of vaccinations that I should have had months ago but didn't, and the panicky phone calls from my mother I was likely to receive in upcoming weeks. So we had a sleep-deprived-yet-animated conversation about what it would theoretically be like in heaven (the main thing we agreed on was that heaven would necessarily entail the rigorous collection of statistics, e.g. someone's job would obviously be to tally the amount of antelopes on earth that were hungry at that precise moment.)
And eventually I calmed down and went back to sleep. Then the alarm went off. So we put it on snooze. And then I calmed down again and went back to sleep. An hour later Mark woke me up and said "Oh shit Caro the snooze didn't work you're late for work" which gave me a whole new set of things to worry about.
Anyway I made it to work so now I'm back onto worrying about things I need to do, and one of the more exciting and less urgent things on the to-do list was "CREATE BLOG" and so now at least I have this gruelling part of the procedure out of the way so I am free to focus on "LEARN TO SPEAK SPANISH WITH FLUENCY AND WIT" and "WORK OUT WAYS NOT TO DIE". I figure it is a pretty good start.
I had to wake my boyfriend Mark up and make him wrap his arms around me and talk to me about things other than (for instance) packing up my apartment, the apparent millions of vaccinations that I should have had months ago but didn't, and the panicky phone calls from my mother I was likely to receive in upcoming weeks. So we had a sleep-deprived-yet-animated conversation about what it would theoretically be like in heaven (the main thing we agreed on was that heaven would necessarily entail the rigorous collection of statistics, e.g. someone's job would obviously be to tally the amount of antelopes on earth that were hungry at that precise moment.)
And eventually I calmed down and went back to sleep. Then the alarm went off. So we put it on snooze. And then I calmed down again and went back to sleep. An hour later Mark woke me up and said "Oh shit Caro the snooze didn't work you're late for work" which gave me a whole new set of things to worry about.
Anyway I made it to work so now I'm back onto worrying about things I need to do, and one of the more exciting and less urgent things on the to-do list was "CREATE BLOG" and so now at least I have this gruelling part of the procedure out of the way so I am free to focus on "LEARN TO SPEAK SPANISH WITH FLUENCY AND WIT" and "WORK OUT WAYS NOT TO DIE". I figure it is a pretty good start.
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