Another Modification

After much humming and hawing we decided we want to spend more time in South America. That being the case, here's the lates route modification...

Buenos Aires
Iguazu Falls
Rio De Janeiro
Salvador
Cuzco
Puno
Arequipa
Cuba
Nassau
USA (East Coast)
Canada
USA (West Coast)
Hawaii
New Zealand
Japan
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
China
Hong Kong
Mongolia (Trans Mongolian Express)
Russia (Trans Mongolian Express)


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We've also shifted Japan to between NZ and Singaore to avoid China multiple entry (ouch) visa issues. Currently the best quote for tickets are Travel Nation. We're also in talks with STA travel but they seem a bit rubbish at getting back to us. If you don't have the customer service, you don't get the business!

Mild Modifications

It's funny how countries that are the so called "Land of the Free" turn out to be the land-of-the-locked-up-petty-and-hypocrytical. Because we want to visit Cuba, we have to do it from a jumping point other that the USA as they have a travel embargo (it's currently illegal for US citizens to visit Cuba and a fine of $20k can be incurred). Not only that, we can't have Cuba on our round the world ticket as if we do that, we can't take any flights with American Airlines and there's more - we will probably encounter hassle in the US if we have Cuban stamps on our passports so we have to avoid that....Jeez!

So, the new plan is to get from Salvador to Miami and then Miami to the Dominican Republic, then to Havana, then to the Bahamas and then back to Miami as a wee "we didn't go to Cuba, honestly guv." Carribean Adventure. We also need to consider our Chinese visas as the original plan was Vietnam-China-Hong Kong-China-Japan-China-Mongolia. The problem there is that you can get single entry or double entry(!) visas to China but a third entry (!!) would likely be a problem and we're not sure if going to HK counts as leaving China. If anyone knows please let us know. Looks like we may fly from HK to Japan instead as it'll just make life easier - it's all the same to us really.

So, that all means that the new, improved, get-your-clothes-whiter-than-white route is....

Peru
Brazil
Dominican Republic (via Miami)
Cuba
Nassau
USA (East Coast)
Canada
USA (West Coast)
Hawaii
New Zealand
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
China
Hong Kong
Japan
China (again)
Mongolia (Trans Mongolian Express)
Russia (Trans Mongolian Express)

Quotes should come through from the various ticket providers over the next couple of weeks. The Carribean adventure will have to be a separate purchase so if anyone knows about cheap flights round the Carribean islands let us know (American Airlines can get us to and from Miami for not much cash.).


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The Tour Starts Here

OK, so many of you have probably heard us talking about our travel plans and maybe not believed that we'd do it. However, the time has come to get it moving. Paul's contract at the Uni ends on the 31st July so once Tinto Summer School, the last Chemical Connection trip (to sunny Billingham) and the Ethno are over and done with, it's a case of wrapping up our stuff, passing the flat onto the new tenants and heading off. The provisional date to leave is the 4th August and the current itinary is...

Peru
Brazil
Cuba
Antigua
USA (East Coast)
Canada
USA (West Coast)
Hawaii
New Zealand
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
Hong Kong and China
Japan
China (again)
Mongolia (Trans Mongolian Express)
Russia (Trans Mongolian Express)


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The trick is to book a round the world trip - as far as we can make out, there's two main providers, Oneworld and STA Travel. We're seeing the STA Travel folk tomorrow and are desparately trying to get hold of Oneworld - it's proving a little tricky as you contact them through BA and they're currently not really answering as everyone's phoning up to find out whether their flights have been cancelled becuase of the snow.

We're currently looking for...

Companies to book tickets with
Things to do and places to see
Folk to rent the flat for the 11 months we're away for

This is the start of our big adventure and planning it will be as much of an adventure as booking it so we've decided to start the Blog now. It's all a bit scary but most of all it's going to be massively exciting and we hope that you'll share it with us through this Blog. It's the journey man!