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Published: December 5th 2010
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the goods
all packed and ready to go! :) A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lao Tzu
It's a beautiful quote isn't it? Every time I read it, the travel bug in me expands by a few miles (or kms, for those metric folk out there). It has a very special place in my heart.
So what if you do actually decide to pack up your things and just...go? YEAH, that's right...just take off and give that travel bug a chance to spread those eager wings. Simply take a leap into the unfamiliar. Literally taking that single step. Yup, it's a pretty big deal. Kinda what I was going for 😉. I guess when all your bookmarks relate to travel in some way, it is impossible to ignore the inner curiosity. So I simply came to the conclusion that I just had to go for it.
Well enough of my cheesy chit chatter and babbling for now. Just gonna invite you to join me on my crazy adventure. And say HELLO to Asia 😊.
Peace,
Chantal
Alright, a little bit of insight always makes us a whole lot wiser. Don't want you all to think I have lost my insanity somewhere this summer haha. So let's get to the deets shall we? I have been planning this trip for a good few months now. Working at Quarterdeck for the summer made me realize that I wanted to work towards making this trip happen. As in work my friggin' butt off and get some cash saved up. The internet got me hooked on ideas and many websites gave me the tools to put it all in motion (many thanks to those who contribute information from their own experiences to these pages of knowledge). I wonder how many times I have typed in the words "backpacking" and "Asia" in google. Countless times..really haha. God bless the world wide web! South America was my first choice, but through the web I got more intrigued and interested in Asia. I mean, if I am gonna go on this trip. Might as well go a little further from home. Why not!
Was opting for Thailand as my first stop, but wanted to make it a little bit more of an adventure. Add an extra (large) dose of culture shock to my itinerary. To travel to India it requires you to apply for a Visa before arrival. Well before you know it, I am shipping off my passport, permanent resident card and application to the Indian Consulate in Toronto. The waiting game was on and I was really ready to start getting into the details of my trip and the places I was going to explore. And YES, I was thrilled to say the least. Getting a visa really does feel like the next best step into making a trip the real deal.
After receiving my 6 month double-entry Indian Visa in the Mail after 3 weeks, it was all game on from there (I was a very happy gal that day!). I had been researching India vigorously and had a hard time picking out places I wanted to add to my trip. It's a pretty big country and there are many areas and provinces that have their own unique landmarks, people, climates and cuisine. Ended up with this neat line up of destinations, which I have been told is a pretty good route for my time frame (about a month, give or take of course).
1. Delhi (India's capital) - 2. Agra (home of the Taj Mahal) - 3. Mumbai (India's most populous city) - 4. Goa (India's smallest province by area)
Arrival will be on December 15th. The plan is to stay in Delhi for 3 nights. Spending more time there is not recommended, simply because it doesn't show you the true India. Gonna hop on the bus and take the 4 hour ride to the majestic Taj Mahal. CAN'T WAIT! Also want to see the Agra Fort, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very picturesque indeed. From Agra I will travel to Mumbai (aka Bombay). Will spend a few days there. I found a great 2 day itinerary on Wikipedia for Mumbai. Here is the link for it:
Two days in Mumbai It includes the famous Gateway of India, which is a must see. Will use that itinerary as a guideline. This is very much a peak into the future of my trip, and I am guessing by now I will have met some fellow backpackers and travelers 😊. After Mumbai it is off to the beautiful state of Goa located in South West India. The smallest province in the country and a former Portuguese colony. It is known for it's amazing beaches. Ahh, bring on the sunshine! Plan is to ring in the New Year in Goa! Expect some postcards from overseas people! 😊
Next destination on the list is Bangkok, Thailand! Will fly from Goa to Bangkok around the beginning of January and continue my travels into South East Asia...
Ah! And I am gonna type my TO BE CONTINUED right about...now. India is going to consume this blogs first few posts. So going to wrap up this introduction to my trip and say...let's get this journey started!
You must do the thing you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt
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jolanda
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whoohoo
Finally; the moment has arrived. After months being stuck on the internet its time to get your plans into gear. Happy Travels and be safe love you mom