Packing

24May06

My Current Itinerary:

Keep in mind that, though this is the itinerary on my tickets, I don't actually plan on using the part of it past getting to Tokyo. I'm intending to get to South Korea by ferry and, obviously, not head back to the mainland. Nonetheless, in case I need to it's there.

04Jun06 Sun
Northwest Airlines #219
SEA-HNL 8:45 11:45 - 6h 07m

05Jul06 Wed
NWA #9
HNL-TKO 11:00 13:55 - 7h 55m

07Aug06 Mon
NWA #7
TKO-Seoul (SEO?) 18:55 21:35 - 2h 40m

05Sep06 Tue
NWA #8
SEO-TKO-SEA 11:10 8:15 - 13h 05m

So, got my pack mostly working with fitting all the things that need to go into it. I *know* I'm probably taking too much random crap, but I won't know that until I get out there. It seems to all be fitting, but there ain't much room left over either. Might have to abandon a few things that I want to take, like the yoga mat and thermarest. I can't afford to take too much comfort, eh? I've been walking around the neighborhood with my parents a bit to train (and generally get exercise) and did it with the pack today. Heavy, but it is reasonably comfortable. Friday I think we're going to try hiking up stone mountain (largest exposed grey granite formation) to get some exercise and shake down any further problems. We'll see.

The first thing that didn't make it so far is my aikido gi, which I had really hoped wouldfit. Alas, all that bulky cotton doesn't fit, surprizingly. I may just take the pants and work with a t-shirt or perhaps see if I can borrow, or get a lighter summer gi-top. My hope is to get around to several of the dojos in Hawai'i, and of course Japan, so we'll see how that works.

Otherwise, it's just getting the final prepartions done here and there. Working out a final going away party with the family and relatives. Still need to get my travel insurance and resolve some other financial matters. T-minus one week till Seattle and some Jason Webley Tomato Camp.

I promise.... pictures soon as well.

Also, if anyone has recommendations to add to my list of journaling suggestios (i.e. things to journal on) I would be happy to hear them. The current list goes as follows:

First impressions
Food eaten, avoided, etc.
Cost of items, stays, etc.
Details of specific parts, events, observations
Interesting thoughts and reflections, usually detailed

Additionally, this blogspot service is becomming more and more annoying and dissappointing to me. The options I would like to have are not nearly available as other blog publishers. Whine! Nonetheless, I'll let people know if anything changes around here; look here for the time being. As I'll be doing a lot of the backdating of posts, look at the top for the date it's originally written.

Home

My apologies for not updating sooner, it's been a busy several weeks.

Following my rather quick departure from my apartment, aided greatly by several rather benevolent friends, I found I had a lot more things in my apartment than I had previously thought I owned. I spent most of the first week of May distributing boxes and sorting through books, clothes and random crap to give away (mostly to Vina Moses), sell (books to the Book Bin and Powels, and some random things for my friends to sell eBay for me), and store with friends and family. My thanks to everyone who helped me through the process. I hope to make amends with gifts from afar.

Not that the hectic week was without fun and diversion. Spent a lot of good quality time with friends and family. Managed to get to Bagby's hotsprings and enjoy some of the forest land and warm bathing. My friend Kathy threw a fantastic going away party and managed to receive some monetary gifts for my travels. It was a bit more rushed than I really would've liked (I had hoped to relax in all of that last week), but it was still enjoyable, if full.

After that, it was off to Atlanta and my parents house and some needed rest and relaxation from all the activity (this would make it May eighth I arrived) . Spent my first week here being excessively lazy and geeking out with games, movies, and other things. I did also help my mom with some chores around the house though. Got in some yoga and have been getting my mom into it more. Managed to get to some gaming sessions with my dad's group here at Emory University. Went to my mom's local Contra dancing group and danced with her for a bit of a mother's day gift. Spent some part of the weekend shopping for some remaining items for travel (boots, rain jacket, bits, etc.) at REI. Went to a mom's day brunch over at an uncle's house and saw same extended relatives and cousins. I could go into more depth, but it is terribly mundane. Enjoyable in the moment though.

This last week was a bit more of the same. More trip preparations and enjoyment of not working. Updated many of my online resources for travel like my address book and bookmark list. Planning and reading about my travel destinations in Hawai'i and Japan, reading up on learning some Japanese, and researching final insurance plans and travel needs. More boring details for you folks. I do hope to eventually detail some of the things I've been doing, costs and packing lists and such, but perhaps later.

This weekend was spent with more dancing with mom and a local board gaming convention my father wanted to get to. Some fun 12 hours of gaming or so. Today (Sunday) was spent leisurely and we went to check out The DaVinci Code movie (partially to support the movie, but also because it was rather interesting). I haven't read the book yet, but perhaps when I have time.

I'm going to try and make some more posts in the next few days about current thoughts about some of the details I mentioned previously, but for the time being, this'll have to do.

I'm also preparing this on my improved Palm pilot and keyboard writing method (while watching the History channel and their DaVinci code show fest...interesting indeed). Hopefully this will work well and save some costs for the internet cafe's later.

More pictures soon as well.

Later. :-)