NNM Day 13 :: Travel Day

good

great

excellent!

Since I'll be on the road for the rest of National Nutrition Month, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post. I may try my hand at some videos or highlights of what I'm eating while in Nicaragua. Whatever I miss while I'm away, I'll make up when I get back... blogging every day is hard!

So, for today let's talk about ways of approaching food/nutrition on days where you're travelling. In my opinion, these ideas can be implemented across every different kind of travel.

(+) If you're flying, do your research so you'll know if you'll be fed. Some flights offer meals, some offer free snacks, and some offer.... nothing.  If you're driving know if there are easy rest stops (some of the mini-marts I encountered on Rt 90 had produce available!). If you're on a train, look into what the snack car might have. Knowing before you go will help you plan accordingly.

(+) Bars. Keeping one or two in your bag could be a lifesaver. Instead of having to reach for a crappy-chippy-thing or idkwhatsinthis cookies, you'll have something that you're familiar with.

(+) Apples. They travel really well. I've never had my produce snacks confiscated. Apples in particular have the fiber to keep you satisfied and sugar if you're hangry and need a boost.

(+) Eat. Don't make the same mistake I did:: I have had several instances where I was too turned-off by my food options (airports, flight meals, and rest stops) that I didn't eat anything at all. No matter when or where you're travelling, you need to be on your A-game and "have your wits about you" (as my parents say!)... that is really hard to do when you're hungry and tired from low blood sugar.

(+) Stay hydrated. Common sense, I know. However, it can be really difficult to remember to get adequate water when you're on the go. It is especially important when flying-- something about flying is super dehydrating.

(+) Carry wet-wipes. Not exactly related to nutrition, but you're going to touch hundreds, if not thousands of surfaces when you travel. Your hands are going to be gross.

So from here on out, you may not hear from me every day... the formatting of posts will be terrible (yay phone writing!).... and topics may be a little abstract. Let's see what happens!

You don't Need That: 6 things that you shouldn't pack

15 days, 3 climates, 42L bag + carry-on!

A few people have asked me about what to pack recently. The short answer is: it really depends on the location and length of your trip. The easier question is: "What should I NOT bring?" Based on my my experience, I have a list of things that rarely make the luggage cut.

Denim.
Anything denim is bulky and difficult to pack. If you're going somewhere cold, maybe wear 1 pair of jeans and pack one more. Denim is super easy to spot-clean, so if you spill soup at dinner or drip ice cream in the afternoon.... it'll be super easy to treat and dry your denim item overnight in the hotel/hostel.

Too many shoes.
This is one thing that requires a little bit of extra planning. If you're planning to hike and beach and go out or a nice dinner.... limiting shoes may seem difficult. I would say never bring more than 3 pairs (1 on your feet and 2 in the suitcase). Make sure your footwear can multitask. There is no shame in wearing your hikers to the beach-- you're just going to take them off once you hit the sand! And odds are you're not going to end up somewhere so fancy that would judge you for your flippyfloppies.

Towels.
Do your research before you go. Most hostels and hotels include bath towels, and some hotels offer even offer complementary beach towels for guest use. When I go for long trips, I pack a small hand towel just in case. Some places in Asia usually opt for tiny towels, and it is surprisingly easy to manage without the megatowels we use in the Western world. If you're going to be beaching, invest in a small towel and a sarong- BOOM! Something to lay on and something to dry yourself with!

Anything valuable.
Earrings, bracelets, expensive camera lenses (unless you're a travel photographer), computers, etc... You won't need it. No.... shhh... shhhhhhhhh no. You won't. You think you'll "get some work done" or need it to book accommodations and transportation-- but you won't. I was able to find an internet cafe on this tiny, barely inhabited island off Thailand, so I'm sure you'll be fine. I limit myself to: phone, camera, and maybe my tablet. All jewelry is costume and all (ok, most) clothing disposable.

Too many toiletries.
Try to keep them under 3fl oz and limit them to only what you know you can't find at your destination. Sometimes plans change and you decide to take a puddle-jumper to a small island and cant check your bag-- so keeping all toiletries under 3fl oz will ensure you can remain flexible without needing to throw stuff away. You'll certainly be able to purchase (if its not included in your accommodations) suitable shampoo, conditioner, and sunscreen when you get there. Things like face wash, deodorant, and contact lens solution are the 3 thins I always bring with me... everything else is negotiable.

Too many clothes.
Especially when you're travelling to warmer places, the impulse to over-pack can be strong. The rationalization of "but these clothes are smaller, so I can pack more!" is super overwhelming. Think of the activities you'll be doing. If I'm unsure, I usually have 1 outfit that can be worn on super-active days, 1 nice-ish dress/outfit, and the rest is just day-to-day clothes. It can be particularly difficult when you're going somewhere cool or cold- you just have to edit your packing list. Remember: as long as you have enough clean underwear, you're all set :)

More than 1 sweater or jacket.
I usually have a light jacket and a sweater. I purchased a super lightweight jacket that is really easy to pack, so I don't feel bad about having the extra sweater. Even warm places get cool at night and I don't love super-cold AC in hotel rooms.


Other things to note:
You might need an umbrella if you're going somewhere wet. Don't pack one "just because"... because you may then forget your favorite 'brelly in Bali. Whoopsie! Check the weather and make a judgement call.

Medications. If you are prone to headaches or have allergies, then you might want to stash a few doses of whatever brand you prefer. Yes, you can probably buy ibuprofen or antacid at destination, but it'll likely be in a different language, and meds are not something I would gamble with.

I love my guidebooks, but they can be a drag to pack. Personally, I would rather swap out 2 shirts to be able to bring my guide, but not everyone feels that way. Odds are good that you'll be able to ask someone or look on your smartphone to get the info or maps. Or, if you're like me (and yes... I do this even if I'm bringing the book) I make a list of all the places I want to visit, so I don't have to thumb through the book between each stop.

Bagan: Pagodas and stupas and temples: Oh My!

Overlooking the Hilo Minlo Temple, Old Bagan

Bagan is about to blow up. As a formerly forbidden beauty; its abundance of temples, reputation for a killer sunrise, and hot climate will surely make it a popular destination for expats living in Asia and touring seniors alike. While we were there, there were oodles of tour buses, mostly seniors touring from Australia, however we also encountered some Canadians and Americans in the mix. I was a little surprised at the number of families we saw. I’m always a little surprised when I see families in Asia outside of the resort portion of Phuket in Thailand. Southeast Asia has a bit of a reputation for having wild parties and loose regulations when it comes to drugs. If that’s what you’re looking for… don’t go to Bagan.

If Bagan has made it to your Myanmar “to do” list, I recommend going there first. If you have sought out cultural hot spots in any other Asian countries, you’ll know what it means to be “templed out.” There are so many Buddhist temples, pagodas and, stupas that it’s difficult to wrap your brain around what each is for (I have had it explained to me several times, and I still don’t get it). I don’t want to say that temples are all Bagan has to offer, but if you’re on a budget or pressed for time you’ll end up only doing temples. It’s worth it to note that when you enter Bagan (ie getting off the bus, at the airport, or at the boat port) you’ll pay a regional entry fee. You’ll pay something like $5 and receive a ticket that entitles you to enter many local cultural spots. We had only 2 nights and 2 full days to explore, with the added burden of a teacher’s salary budget. Mandalay and Inle Lake offered more varied options, but since we did Mandalay first and saw a lot of temples/pagodas/stupas there, by the time we arrived in Bagan we were nearly templed out.

Spectacular view of the sunrise
from the boat

We took a long boat from Mandalay down the Ayeyarwady River (nee Irrawaddy) to Bagan. The trip took about 9 hours total, but was totally worth it considering we would have lost nearly the same amount of time via bus and flying would be quick but expensive. We caught an incredible sunrise from the boat, and the undeveloped river banks with the occasional hut and livestock was like nothing I had ever seen before.

Our hotel was at the Yun Myo Thu Hotel in New Bagan: a great value and perfect for backpackers. We both expected there to be a lot more in the area where we were staying, but even finding a “convenience store” was difficult. The roads were so dark, but thankfully a friend who had been before recommended that I pack a flashlight. I recommend you pack a flashlight. We had dinner at The Green Elephant. It was fine. You don’t find the same deliciously cheap options as you do in other Southeast Asian countries, as Myanmar is still fairly new to the backpacker/tourist scene.

We opted to hire a driver for our first day. Most of the things to see and do in Bagan are spread out in such a way that walking between just doesn’t make sense. We passed loads of tourists struggling on bicycles, so we were pretty proud of our decision to have a chauffeur. We stopped at a small temple, which ended up being the most interesting place that day. A Burmese man struck up conversation as we were walking out of the temple; the typical “What’s your name? Where are you from? What is your job?” fare. We eventually got the impression that he wasn’t actively looking to sell us something, so we figure there was no harm in chatting. He ushered us to a smaller pagoda behind the temple and told us to “climb.” It took a little prodding to get me up those steep steps, but I figured that if I made it down alive, the view would be worth it and I would get a cool story out of it. It was terrifying. I’m not afraid of heights, but man those steps were steep.

It turned out that the man was a local artist. He told us that we didn’t need to buy anything, but would we please listen to the story behind the pieces. He asked us to touch the painted surface and explained that the roughness we felt was actually sand taken from the river banks and then he painted on top of the sand. He explained the Buddhist symbols in his pieces and thanked us for listening. Naturally, we both ended up buying something. The story and the image were just too interesting to pass it up.

Shwezigon Pagoda

The Shwezigon Pagoda was the most ornate place we visited in Bagan. The complex was quite large and we spent maybe 30 - 45 minutes wandering around taking in all the color and shine. It was a welcome diversion from the earth tones of all the other temples and pagodas. The gold pagoda was the centerpiece, with colored glass columns and the beautifully tiled floors in surrounding buildings.

We saw another temples and then took a break for lunch. The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant is an absolute MUST in Bagan. The staff was so friendly, the outside seating was lovely, and the post-meal treat was what got us back there again the next day. The waiter recommended the tamarind curry with coconut rice. Simply put, it was amazing. I had never encountered tamarind prior to that meal. After the meal was finished, they brought a small dish of maybe 15-20 tamarind candies that we demolished in about 5 minutes.  

After lunch, we took in a few more temples and pagodas, then headed back to the hotel. It had been a long day of walking and climbing in the heat, so we went to bed pretty early.

On day two, we took a late start, grabbed the same driver, and did one more temple. Ate lunch at The Moon, bought some of those tamarind candies, and were about to call it quits for the day (it was a really, really hot day). Our driver recommended we check out the National Museum. It was fine, a good way to waste some time. Truthfully, it was a little creepy. There weren’t hordes of people there like there are in all the other museums I have been to. We had dinner at the barely-par Green Elephant, showered and grabbed a bus for Inle Lake.

Overall, Bagan was beautiful. The landscape dotted with temples, pagodas, and stupas was beautiful. We didn’t have enough money to do one of the recommended hot air balloon rides, or enough time to catch the sunrise (we did happen to catch a good portion of the sunset on day 2). There aren’t a lot of touristy things to do other than the temples, museums, and food. If you have a lot of time and money you still probably only need about 3 days.

I recommend:

• Traveling between Mandalay and Bagan by boat. It’ll be hot, but interesting. They serve a meal, have more food for purchase, and the best part: beer! There are a handful of interesting things to see along the river. Totally worth it!The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant. It’s in a little market area with a ton of other restaurants… but The Moon is magical. You won’t regret it.
• Shwezigon Pagoda
• Hilo Minlo Temple
• The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant. It’s in a little market area with a ton of other restaurants… but The Moon is magical. You won’t regret it.

Packing for different climates

Back in October, I found myself in a precarious packing situation. I was heading to Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Right there, I had a range of temperatures, one place with extreme wind, two with rain, and one that is temperate.

My bag is a 42L no-name backpack. The main compartment is is like 39L, top flap compartment 1L, and a 2L compartment on the bottom. My personal packing style is to compile all the essentials and lay them out in on the table, then put them all in the bag. Toiletries are always in the top flap compartment, shoes in the bottom, and everything else in the body.

I tried to multitask items:
-North Face jacket can be worn in Chicago because its wind resistant, SanFran because its lightweight, and the PNW because its also fairly water resistant.
-A sweatshirt of some sort.
-Shoes that can handle water and walking a lot, and something warm.

After packing an re-packing many times, I finally settled on:

North Face jacket, 2 pairs of jeans, thick leggings, 2 layering tanks, 1 sweater, 1 sweatshirt, 1 long sleeve t-shirt, 3 random shirts, 4 pairs of underwear (to be washed mid-way through the trip, fyi), 3 pairs of socks, rain-resistant booties (that did double-duty as nicer shoes), suede walking boots, and sneakers.

I had a little room to spare, knowing I might need to purchase an item or 2 depending on the weather. I'm glad I left space. ALWAYS leave space in your luggage! I made a few Christmas gift purchases and I accidentally on purpose found myself in a Forever 21 and bought a cool sweater. Also, leaving space allows you to pack really quickly. Everything fits really nicely when its folded neatly and carefully placed. However, sometimes you sleep past your alarm or are on the verge of missing your bus. That little extra room budgeted will allow you to throw things into the bag and have them all fit.

Packing tips:

• Check the weather before you go!!!! It may rain so hard that boots are a must, but then again it may only drizzle and you'd be ok with sneakers. Always check.
• Do a quick calculation of how much walking you'll be doing and bring appropriate footwear.
• Lay everything out on a table before it goes into the bag. Looking at everything at once will help you realize if you have missed something.
• Pack a plastic bag or 2. You'll generate dirty laundry and need somewhere to quarantine it.
• Check your accommodations and the amenities they provide. If they have shampoo in the showers, then you can skip packing it. Same with hair dryer, towels, and linens.
• Be wise about your bags. As a woman, I can be a little more creative with my bag combinations to create more space in my luggage.
• IF you're doing a long-haul trip, throw a plastic bag with a change of underwear, shirt and other absolute essentials (for me its glasses and a travel deodorant) just in case you want to change on a layover, or worse.... luggage gets delayed!

The importance of the daypack

When I'm packing for a trip, the absolute FIRST thing I take into consideration is what I'm going to need have on me at all times/day-to-day.

The Bag:

What: You'll want something small, lightweight and with multiple zipper pockets (bonus if there are mesh pockets on the side)

Why: You'll likely have personal items that you want to keep close and don't want flashing around (ie, passport, cash, travel tickets, etc...)- an internal "secret" compartment is perfect for those. Mesh outside pockets are great for easy water access or a wet bathing suit. Keep it lightweight because if you're in a hotter climate or doing a lot of walking that day, you'll be glad to not have something super heaving weighing you down.

What goes in:

Important materials: Cash, passport, or anything you don't want to leave in the hostel or hotel.

Lip balm: If it's hot: you'll need it. If it's cold or windy: you'll need it. If you're doing a lot of walking or hiking: you'll need it. Trust me, just take one. My favorite is the Vaseling brand mini- its small enough to sail through airport security, hang in your pocket, and it's really good for your lips and skin!

Hand sanitizer or wipes: You'll likely be touching some gross surfaces and in some countries, you won't necessarily have access or want to use public sinks or washrooms.

Map or guidebook: Unless you purchase a SIM card (which may or may not be a good idea depending on price), you'll be without technology on your excursions. Having a printed map with the hotel location can be clutch if you get lost! Guidebooks are great because they offer ideas of things to see and places to eat- sometimes all the choices can be overwhelming! 

Snacks: Pack something to eat.... just in case.

Water: Make sure you stay hydrated no matter what your planned activity.

Pen and paper: I've found that especially when I'm travelling solo, I wind up meeting people who have great suggestions of things that they have done/plan to do in the area that I hadn't thought of.

Gum: You'll be trying new foods and you'll like most of them! However, on the off chance you don't like something, you'll be glad you have something minty fresh!

Items worth considering (climate depending):

Hat: Really hot? Really cold? Try a hat!

Lightweight jacket: Hot places tend to cool down in the evening. Weird, I know. Sometimes that excursion runs a little later than planned or you meet some cool people you want to grab a drunk with and don't want to run back to your hostel. This can come in ESPECIALLY handy if you're visiting a religious country. You never know when you may happen upon a cool temple and you'll need to be covered. Hm, you might also want to consider a.....

Scarf or sarong: Cover those legs in temples. Sit on some grass and eat that snack. Surprise beach trip. Wow, my neck is cold/getting sunburned. In Asia especially, this one works for men, too.

Extra t-shirt: Sometimes.... you sweat through your t-shirt at the Angkor Temple Complex. Whoopsie.

Pain reliever: You never know.
Bandanna: Because you're badass.

US Tour

I'm finally taking another trip! I felt as if my circadian rhythm was off having not been up in a plane/moved time time zones in a little over 6 months.

I think 6 months is my limit. Even approaching the 5 1/2 - 6 month mark, I start to feel really antsy; like I need to get up and go somewhere.

On this trip, I'll be headed to Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.

This trip has been a little difficult to pack for. I'm going to a cold and windy Chicago, to a warm SanFran, and then wet but fairly temperate Portland and Seattle. For a 42L backpack, this is not easy! I have a few multitasking pieces. My North Face is wind and water resistant, and pretty warm as long as I layer-- but won't make me sweat bullets if I need to wear it in the rainy, mild Pacific Northwest.

Rolling, not folding. No "going out clothes." Yes to fancy necklaces to dress up my casual clothes should I decide to go out. Three pairs of shoes.

BOOM! Let's go....

What to wear.

You're going on a long trip.
You don't know what to wear.
Maybe you're going from one climate to another.

Don't fret!

Things to know:
*Airports are typically kept at medium temperatures: they'll feel pretty much the same in the winter and in the summer. I've been in a few low-budget terminals in southeast Asia, and those don't have temp control. However, I think that phenomenon is not normal.

*You'll be going through security and may be required to take off jackets, sweaters, scarves, and shoes.


DO:

• wear well-fitting shirts and pants
• wear shoes that are easy to remove/put back on
• wear a sweater or sweatshirt -- regardless of the weather outside
• have/wear socks

DON'T:

• wear super loose-fitting clothing-- you're asking to be pat-down!
• try to avoid sandals-- unless its a quick flight (planes can be cold and I've been stepped on more in airports than I have anywhere else- ever)
• wear a ton of jewelry. I usually limit it to a bracelet I never take off and earrings.
• be a carrying excess baggage. Keep carry-ons to a minimum.
• wear too many layers. Yes, it might be cool on the plane, but 10 layers plus a winter coat is excessive. 
• wear clothes you don't want to risk getting sweaty. Odds are, you'll end up running the gamut from boiling to freezing and back again.

I think my biggest attire tip is:

...always pack your winter coat. Don't bring it on the plane with you- stow it in your checked baggage. The airport temp is controlled and the plane is controlled. Except for that nano-second or two when you're between the gate and the door of the plane, you're not really even going to get a hint of the outside temp. You'll have access to the coat as you're walking into the airport before you check, and then as you're walking out of the airport after the baggage claim. Huge cumbersome coats are definitely a DON'T for on-board!

What's in my bag?

I have learned to keep pretty well focused when I'm packing my carry-on bags. I usually have a backpack and my purse (or "personal item").

I very rarely have less than 2 flights, so my lists describe items that are good to have for trips with connections.

So what's in 'em?

Personal Item:

(mine is a medium-sized purse)

• wallet with ID
• phone (with extra battery)
• headphones
• socks
• sometimes planes and airports are cold
• hand wipes
• any OTC medicines
• lip balm
• pen (black or blue)
• if you're traveling internationally, you will probably need to fill out an arrival card and customs form-- which will need to be done in black or blue
• a little powder concealer
• again, if you're travelling internationally, you may need to pass through a quarantine checkpoint... I've never been stopped, but I'm always really aware of how crappy, pale, and greasy I look after flying for a long time

NOTE: I don't keep my passport in a bag. I keep it on my person or in my hand. I keep my boarding pass in the passport.

Carry-on Bag

(mine is usually a medium-sized, every-day style backpack)

• electronics
• Laptop or tablet
• iPod
• camera(s)
• chargers for all electronics
• I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a wall charger with a detachable USB cord. I'm able to charge my phone, iPod, and camera with 1 wall unit so I just need to pack the small USB connector cords.
• converter plugs
• a tightly-packed change of clothes
• underwear
• socks
• top
• (2) zipper bags with toiletries
• 1 with face wash, moisturizer, toothbrush, and toothpaste
• 1 with a face cloth (alone in its bag so when you use it, it wont get the other supplies wet!)
• small snacks
• water
• anything breakable
• anything you'll want/need during a layover (ie; magazine, book, nail polish, etc...)

Next up:

What to wear.

Travel Tips for Long Haul Trips

I've done the trip from New England to Korea several times. Counting each flight set as a one-way, I've done 7 international long-haul jumps to/from the US from/to Korea. I have also done some medium-length and short flights within Asia. I've been stuck in lines during disembarkation with people who have said things like, "Get me off of this plane! This is my second flight and I just want to be home" or "I can't believe I have another hour drive home after that 6 hour flight." I want to sack those people... like full-on, linebacker-style take.them.out. On my last trip home, I was feeling sassy so I responded with "26 hours ago I was in South Korea... a bus, international flight, 6 hour layover, and another flight later, I'm here and I still have 2 more planes before I'm home." A dumbstruck woman replied with a "Well for all that travel, you look great!"

After all that, I feel qualified to offer some advice on coping with long trips. Let's break it down into two categories: "What to Bring" and "What to Do."

[What you put in your checked baggage is your personal business, so let's focus on the items that will be accompanying you on the plane.]

1. Take advantage of the baggage capacity; but for GOD"S SAKE do not surpass it. There are other people on that plane, unless you have a baby or are carrying classified information that needs to be on your person at all times, there is no excuse for excessive carry-on luggage. Backpackers and people carrying-on animals get a little leeway.

2. Pack a small bag of toiletries. Mine usually includes:
-toothbrush / toothpaste
-lens case / solution (under 3oz / 100ml)
-glasses
-face wash / moisturizer
-wetnaps
-hand sanitizer and lotion (under 3ox / 100ml)
I like to wash my face and brush my teeth every 3-4 hours or so on the plane (if I'm awake) then again during my layovers.

3. Dress comfy. Seems logical, right? WRONG. In Asia, its all about the airport fashion. Ok, fine... do that, but pack sweats. If you're doing the 12 hour trip between SanFran and Seoul, you will definitely regret wearing a miniskirt or tight jeans.
I usually wear
-leggings
-long shirt or dress
-socks
-sweater
-2 scarves (one I wear and 1 in my bag)
I usually bring (to change):
-underwear
-leggings
-shirt or dress
-socks
Wear something comfortable and easy so you can....

4. Change your clothes. Bring an alternate outfit for layovers. If you will be traveling on more than 1 plane, you may want to change your clothes. Sometimes you can feel really gross after a flight, especially if its over 6 hours; and even more so if you have multiple long flights. Changing your clothes makes you feel better so you can.....

5. Stay sharp. There are so many different kinds of people in airports so you want to make sure that you have your eyes open and you're minding your belongings.

6. Eat the food. Even if it doesn't look very good, eat something. It's easy to pass, and something about the dehydration on the planes-- it makes me feel less hungry, and then I end up paying for it later when I'm trying to get through an airport and I'm totally dragging. It's ok to pack a snack or grab one through security.

7. Map it. If you have a layover that is less than 2 hours, you may not have the luxury of time if there is a delay with the first flight. I was lucky because this happened to me (deicing in Philly made me late to SFO for my flight to Seoul) ad I had 25 mins from arrival to the next departure time... I happen to know SFO pretty well (especially the routes between the Domestic to Int'l terminal. Know where you need to go, and approximately how to get there-- because you may have less time than you originally planned!

Next up....... whats in my bag?!

Cambodia: Getting there

I'm in Cambodia!

Roughly a full 24 hours after I left my apartment, I touched down in Phnom Penh. It was a pretty eventful voyage, too.

Left my apartment at 6:30pm thinking my train was at 7. It was 7:15. Whoops. The train ended up being 30mins late getting to its destination for some reason... which was particularly annoying because it was supposed to be the fast train. It should have made the trip in 3 hours and 40 minutes; not 4hours and 10minutes. It made me worry a little that I would miss the last airport train, but I made it in plenty of time. Sat on that train for another 40mins.

As I was walking through Incheon Airport, I encountered this really cool hallway between the metro station and the terminal hall.

Naturally, the airport jimjilbang was full (the spa-type place where I was going to spend the night). I knew of another so I ran up to the info desk on the arrivals floor and girl told me that the jimjilbang down the road was "no," which I took to mean that it was closed (in hindsight, she may have only been telling me that there was no bus to get there). So I went back downstairs to beg for a spot, and by the time I got there someone had checked out so I was able to get in!

Showered and got a good soak in before I tried to sleep. Everyone was already sleeping, so I had the whole sauna area to myself! I was able to sneak a few pictures of the facilities.

Unfortunately, empty sauna means full common area. All the sleeping mats were taken, so I had to get creative... I slept on one of the wicker benches in the locker room. I figured whenever the noise of people in the room woke me up, that would mean that mats had become available in the sleeping rooms. I was right. In total, I slept off and on for about 2 hours on the bench and then another 2 hours pretty steadily on the floor mat in the sleeping area.

The lines for check in were the longest I've ever seen. I waited for about 45 minutes! They were checking in 2 international flights at the same time, which were 5 minutes apart in departure times. Security and immigration were also pretty bad. It was about a 15-20 minutes wait total.  Incheon Airport is usually really quick and easy to get through, but that morning was really tough.

Made it to the gate in perfect time. Boarded. I've never seen such insufficient leg room on an airplane. Even on the discount airline Air Asia. It was a pretty miserable 5ish hours.

Super easy transfer in Ho Chi Min City. The flight between HCMC and Phnom Penh was only 40mins! The taxi driver I had was also really cool and explained to me about what was going on with the elections that day.

The hostel is nice an has a good restaurant. Last night (was starving, by the way) I had a chicken pesto wrap and pumpkin soup. Both were pretty good.

I went to bed really early because I was so tired from the travel and having a very full belly.  I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing today. I have 2 days worth of plans to cover. I'll probably head down to the restaurant to see if anyone has anything they're planning to do today and maybe if our ideas line up I can head out with them.

Almost over now

Why do hair elastics always do this after one use?!:

Last day of school!

Up, up, and away!

I'm going to Cambodia on Sunday!

I fly out on Sunday morning and arrive in Phnom Penh in the afternoon. Hopefully I will have some time to walk around and hit a few of the sights before dark.

I'll be there for probably 2.5-3 days, then I'll head up to Siem Reap for a few days. I'm really pumped to do Angkor Wat! I've heard great things about Cambodia on the whole, so I'm sure its going to be an awesome trip.

After Cambodia, I fly to Hanoi, Vietnam. The travel agent I used was awesome and she was able to arrange so that my friend and I (flying in from 2 different places) arrive within about 45 minutes of each other. We're doing Hanoi for 2ish days then on to Hoi An, and wrapping it up in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

From HCMC, we'll fly to Thailand... somewhere. That still hasn't been 100% decided. We're meeting 2 more people, so we have to coordinate with them where we want to go. Hopefully we'll be able to go to the Half Moon Party... definitely something I need to see to believe! Assuming we have enough time and money, we'll do one night in Bangkok (pun intended) before we come back to Korea.

If this was my job, I would be a bigger jerk

I like it here. I don't have to be nice or politically correct or censor what I say to keep from seeming like a nutcase.

That
being
said

I want to start flipping desks up in hurrrr. I stepped up again this year to plan a trip to the Boryeong Mud Festival because apparently I didn't learn my lesson last year. I made the event on Facebook, invited people from Yeosu and waited. I got notifications when people joined the event and I noticed immediately quite a few names I didn't recognize, but I thought "oh well, we usually have a few out of town friends join us." By the end of the first week the event was listed, the group was more than 1/2 people from a couple other local cities.

"No big deal," I thought, "we always have a few people from out of town."

Then the group got bigger, and more people from Yeosu joined.... and more people from the other cities joined. The name of the event is "Yeosu Mudfest 2013" so why are so many people from out of town joining?

I think it was one of those mini-feed things. Someone saw that their Yeosu friend joined an event, and then they joined and told their friends. It eventually got out of control, and I was getting messages from people asking for me to coordinate the bus so that they could get on in their city.... then it turned to getting their own bus. So many people joined that we would have needed a second hotel. So 2 hotels and 2 buses.

Then, I had gotten a message from someone in Yeosu asking if there was still room on the trip for them because they saw so many other people. At that point I realized that I had to ask the out-of-towners to do their own thing. They had enough people to form their own trip. It was ok when it was stragglers, but having to be responsible for 22 people from another city-- with no commission-- was too much for me to handle.

I asked them to leave the event and do their own thing, and I thought I did a pretty nice job of being as polite about it as possible. BEFORE I did that, I sent a message to someone asking who their out of town friends were, and saying that it was cool if those friends joined, but we couldn't accommodate all the other random people. I got a response saying that they had decided, in light of the out of towners being asked to leave, to go with the people from the other city (even though I offered them all a spot in our trip). Mind you, this was AFTER I booked the bus and hotel. So we had total trip cost worked out, and the price skyrocketed when the 5 people left. If they had told me TWO hours prior of their decision, it wouldn't have been an issue.

So then after that, someone asked if she and her friend could join, I said yes, figured them into the price..... and then, as I feared, they cancelled.

I don't think people realize the affect they're having when they cancel last minute. If you commit to doing something, you need to just do it and be responsible. Now I'm in the awkward position of asking my super awesome and helpful friend to do yet another thing and call the hotel to cancel a room. It will mean that we might have to squish into the rooms, but the cost will be a bit lower.

I'm afraid if I present the cost to people right now, more people will cancel because it will be too expensive.

So this is how I dealt with it:

So. Much. Packing.

I've hit a packing "snafu." Apparently, according to the website, the carry-on weight limit for my flight from SanFran to Singapore is only 15lbs, whereas the flight from Bos to SanFran is 40lbs.

I need to do some serious rearranging, and I think I may have to leave my bedding and just buy some when I get there. I think it may help if I wear my heaviest pair of boots on the plane, and just have my slippers in my carry-on to change so I don't have to wear leather boots for 20+ hours of air travel.

Today:
Dedicated to make sure I'm able to get things packed adequately.
Stopping by Lepre to get all my exercises and equipment.
Stop & Shop and/or Target for toiletries (deodorant, razors, lens solution, etc...).
Best Buy for a camera case.
...all of which Kelly will be coming along for. Got to see Adam yesterday, Kelly is today, hockey game with Christa, Jess, Megan, & Allison, and if shes not working, probably trying to stop in and see Aprile.

I feel bad that I haven't been able to see everyone. I only decided/realized I could go on January 15th, and the past few weeks have been dedicated to recouperating after surgery and finishing my last 2 weeks of work. Seeing everyone just isn't possible. Its public knowledge that I'm leaving, but I didn't want to send out a mass message because I knew people would try to get me to visit, which I would have loved to do.... but the more people I individually told, the more I would feel guilty i I couldn't see them. Its been hard enough trying to see my family. I'm not going to be able to see Beth, John, and the girls; Nanny & BuddyGrampa; Fran, Susan, & the kids; Richard, Mike, & Kathryne; etc...

I feel really scattered so I hope I get everything I need and get things done.

ready, set, pack!

I think I'm severely underestimating the amount of time it will take to prepare me to leave.

I have 2 vacuum sealed bags down. And that's just my shorts and t-shirts I can't yet get over my head. I still need to physically pack:
-summer tops
-winter tops
-work pants
-work shirts
-sweaters
-underwear
-shoes
-electronic accessories not going in the carry-on
-toiletries
-bedding

And I still have to buy:
-hair dryer
-Bare Minerals
-6 month supply of eyeliner & mascara
-1 year supply of deodorant
-1 year supply of toothpaste
-lens solution
-webcam
-memory card (for my awesome new camera!)
-case for aforementioned camera
-prescriptions

And I still need to:
-clean out my car
-clean/consolidate my room so Kelly can move in
-see people

So my schedule looks like:
-W: PT @ 11
Work 12-6:30
Pick up prescriptions

-R: Boston to get my visa
Possibly stopping in to see Beth & the girls on the way home
Meeting MF for dinner at Prov Place for a meal

-F: Laundry
Buying all the things I need but couldn't afford until I got paid
Packing
Hockey game w/ Christa, Jess, Meg, & Allison because they're retiring Nick's jersey

-S: Last minute packing
Afternoon dinner w/ my family
Driving to Boston
Staying w/ Margaret

-Su: Mom bringing me to the airport @ like 4am
Fly Bos-SanFran; SanFran-Seoul (thank GOD I'm traveling with someone!)


Why hello, panic.