Getting Started

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I was checking my files on ths blog and it says I didn't publish ths blog. I am almost positive that I did, but, just in case, it was the first one I did and I'll now resend it. Sorry about all ths confusion. I am definitely on the down side of the learning curve. I'll be now doing a new blog on my most recent adventures. It'll be from Darjeeling, where I now sit. Love to you all.



I'm retired, American, age 67 and am from the Northwest. I leave 9/11 (isn't that a date for departure. Little wonder it was so easy to get a ticket! Well, as one of my best friends has always said, 'Life's a risk, so you might as well just go ahead and do what you want."

Last night, I called the New Merry V Guest House in Banglamphu to make sure I have a room when I get there. I searched for the cheapest possible airline ticket. Al, who owns Dial Travel at 1-800-825-4630 ([e-mail]) got me a great rate, one way $536. Plus, he was super easy to deal with. No, bate and switch kind of tactics that I had experienced with another agency I was trying to deal with. One thing he warned me about is that I might have trouble using a one way ticket. I went down to the Thai Consulate here in Portland and was told that, as long as I have a visa, there's no trouble getting in with this ticket. So, for another $30 the problem was solved.

Of course, the downside of this ticket is that it has horrid connections. leaves at 7:30 pm to Seattle, 6 hour layover, then to Taipei, 4 hour layover, then on to Thailand. That's the price of 'cheap'.

First stop will be Bangkok. This will be my 5th trip to Bangkok and I'm going there specifically to get tickets to other places. If you don't know, Bangkok, London, and Athens have 'bucket shops', places that sell about the cheapest tickets anywhere on the planet (at least that's what what used to be - hopefully that hasn't changed). I'll be there for about 10 days, getting tickets and a visa to India (the one place I'm traveling on this segment that requires a visa a head of time and a ticket showing you are exiting the country.) The other places on the first phase of this trip (Nepal, Tibet, Laos and Vietnam are easier when it comes to visas).


Anyway, the plan is to spend about 9 months in Asia, then, around mid-June, when Asia becomes truly awful, climate-wise, depart Asia for Brazil. More on that later.

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Photos

me on ferry
last trip to see Seattle friends before start of trip. Ferry to Whidby Island in Puget Sound

Comments

[PJ]

You Go, Quintessential Woman!
Thus beginneth your wonderful world travel!

[Lance and Norio]

You go girl!
Hey there, Sounds like you are getting it all together for a great adventure. Have fun with all the planning and we will stay tuned. xxoo Lance and Norio

[PJ]

Cute as a bug's ear!
Hey there, you adventuress - that's a great picture of you on the ferry - you look as good as ever. I don't think we got this first installment of your travels; in your last on you were in Kolkata (sp?) chattin' up the local Raja...

[Steve]

Dial Travel
Al indeed does a great job getting the lowest fares. Check out his web site, http://www.dialtravelsupersavers.com.