Post your countdown here. Where are you going and for how long? Why did you choose that trip and that destination? Do you plan do activities such as diving, visiting museums, painting, working ... during your trip?
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before flight to Bejing
I am flying to Beijing with my 10 year old daughter next month. We will not be staying there though. Just around 10 hours in an airport lounge(which we have been given to relax in because of the very long flight delay), and then on to Bangkok.
We plan to make our way overland to 20 days in Sumatra. I want to go to Sumatra, because I like the way it is so highly recommended by major travellers on TravelBlog. Thanks for the recommendation folks, if you are reading this. 😊 I am so excited that it is now just around the corner.
Then, we will make our way back to Kuala Lumpur to meet up my boyfriend who is flying into Asia at the beginning of September, to join us for 2 weeks. The 3 of us will travel back to Bangkok overland together, to catch our flights out of Bangkok.
[Edited: 2011 Jun 21 10:33 - Mell:49612 ]
Reply to this At least, we will be spending the stopover in a very shiny looking airport. 😊
Reply to this Wow, that's impressive Mel. Do you suppose you'll see anything else quite so shiny on the trip?
I'll have to get my thrills here as I don't have any trips coming up this year.
Reply to this Beijing airport is massive - biggest one I've seen in my travels. It feels like a miniature city because of its sprawl of enormous buildings.
My first visit coincided with the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (the greenish Olympics help desk is in front of the photo) and this is when this image was taken. It appears that they have changed the red lighting on the roof for white now.
Either way you will be gasping in amazement at the airport, it is not as ostentatious as Terminal 3 in Dubai (Emirates Terminal) but it is something worthy of a few photos.
[Edited: 2011 Jul 02 05:12 - The Travel Camel:11053 - Changed photo for lighter version]
Reply to this I dont know if I will be seeing anything else so shiny on my trip, but hopefully the bright and shinyness of the airport will do something to keep me awake and pervent me missing my connecting flight. We are leaving Germany in the evening German time, and then stopping in Beijing for 10 hours. We will be exhaused!
Reply to this My countdown still wont post on the forum(those who fix things are aware of it, and will fix), so I am copy and pasting what it says here.
12 Days 03:02:24 before flight to Bejing
I dont know where this desire to scream it from the roof tops, that I am going on a trip comes from, but I do know I am not the only one. There are frequently threads to announce upcomming trips posted. Here is the latest.
I just held in my notice!!! Reply to this Mel,
I'm sure some psychologists would have a great deal to say on why we get giddy before our trips and want to share it with everyone but we suffer from that also. It must be the anticipation of the freedom, joy and wonder that you know you are about to experience. Moving at your own pace, savoring new foods, chatting with new people, gaining a deeper understanding of another culture, dabbling with a new language and learning or understanding more about history.
Shoot, there are times when we haven't been away for a while and I get excited about a weekend trip.
Let's see, your countdown clock should be about ten days now.....can't wait to read about every wonderful moment....and a couple of glitches. Happy Travels!
Reply to this Mel - I know EXACTLY what you mean. My trip does not start for five months, which feels like an eternity, however anyone who has come within a 50 metre radius of me knows all about it. I can't wait. Obviously I have to, in fact another:
121 Days 10:23:20
"It must be the anticipation of the freedom, joy and wonder that you know you are about to experience. Moving at your own pace, savoring new foods, chatting with new people, gaining a deeper understanding of another culture, dabbling with a new language and learning or understanding more about history."
That sums it up perfectly!
Reply to this 14 days and counting to Bolivia and Peru.....2 1/2 weeks, mostly in Bolivia with 4 days in Cusco and Machu Pichu. I have been to Peru before and loved it, but Sofia has not. I cannot think of a better place to play tag and hide and seek ( dont worry, I will be travelling with a friend) It will be the first time for both of us in Bolivia and she is looking forward to taking pics at Salar de Uyuni and to say Titicaca.
Reply to this Ah cool! The countdowns on the forums are fixed now, so I can spend the next 9 days staring at it.
Where are you off to, in 5 months Rachael?
THIS TIME NEXT MONTH, I WILL BE IN SUMATRA
Here is exactly where I am going to spend most of my time in Sumatra. The following blog is like a preview, so I was very happy to find it on the Front Page a few months ago.
scottandanny Reply to this I'm sure some psychologists would have a great deal to say on why we get giddy before our trips and want to share it with everyone but we suffer from that also. It must be the anticipation of the freedom, joy and wonder that you know you are about to experience...
The anticipation of travel is almost as exciting as the travel itself!
I used to get very excited a long way out, but now am more measured and tend to turn "on" the travel focused part of me only when I complete my last day of work before my holidays (usually only the day before travel).
However, in my mind, the 50 days from travel point is an important one as those last seven weeks tend to pass quickly. Thus, whenever anyway asks me about where I am going during these last 50 days, I burst forth with excitement!
Reply to this We both love the planning aspect of the trip as well.. I know I get excited before the trip and I even look forward to just the airport. Many people hate this place but for me I love sitting and watching people and see what they are up to, checking the big board with all the exciting destinations leaving soon. Airports are a place of emotion, parents saying bye to a child for a year or a reunion after several years etc.
Hats off to you Mel for taking your daughter on a trip 😊 Must be a great experience taking your daughter on such a journey.
Anyway our next trip is in 37 days and counting.. We are going to Africa for nine months. How we decided? Noticed a really cheap one way ticket one day to Nairobi from Istanbul and booked it. So it not really planned and we are yet to get a return ticket yet but thinking May next year.
We are planning quite a lot at the moment for the trip.. with the current situation going on in Somalia and the mass of refugees going to Kenya and the Dadaab camp we are going to volunteer there (which is quite difficult to do) plus volunteering in other countries as we make our way south.
Of course we will be trying to do as many blogs as possible during our trip 😊
Reply to this Hats off to you Mel for taking your daughter on a trip 😊 Must be a great experience taking your daughter on such a journey.
Thanks! 😊
It is a great and terrible experience all at the same time. Great, because it is something very special to be able to show my own child some of the world and share something I love doing with her, and terrible because the responsibility of travelling with a kid is huge and exhausting, when I dont have another adult with me to share the child vigilence and chores with. 😊
Reply to this Getting very close to your trip now Mel - you must be so very excited!
Have a wonderful time - hope that this holiday provides you with ample adventure, exploration and relaxation.
😊
Reply to this 3 more sleeps, before I get on a plane again. Yahoo! 😊
Reply to this Mel,
Are you one of those people who will not be able to sleep the last night before you leave? Are you able to sleep on planes?
On occasion I wake up during the night right before we leave. I love sleeping on planes. From time to time I've fallen asleep before the plane takes off.
We are excited for you and can't wait to read about the trip.
I just posted our counter on our page and it is depressing because it is a long way off. I'll try not to look at it for a while.
Reply to this I can sleep anywhere, especially on planes, busses... The sound of the engines makes me sleep, sometimes even when I want to stay awake and look at the view. I think, sleeping in transit is an old travel habit of mine. ie I sleep, move to a new location, save time and save money on accomodation all in one. 😊
...depressing because it is a long way off.
My counter had almost 300 days on it, when I first made it. I will post the one for Turkey, when I get back from Asia. I am going there in November. 😊
Post your countdown here on this thread too Merry Jo. I will have a much longer one after Turkey, that will make yours look less depressing.
Reply to this I'm impressed with both Mel's and MJ's ability to sleep on planes - I have absolutely no chance of it at anytime, unless I am in able to lie flat (i.e. find three spare seats or be in business class) and even then it is not assured.
Along with both Mel and MJ, I'll also be travelling in the October-November period - it is a good time of year to move around!
Reply to this Being in healthcare and not having kids we usually take our trips in fall and spring so the people with kids have enjoy the time off in the summer. Plus, usually smaller crowds ( in most places)
Dave falls asleep before I do. We are always calm once we get on the plane because we no longer have cell phones or beepers from work to annoy us! We hit that zen state.
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