What Really Happened

The actual itinerary of the cities we visited:

6/2/09 - Dublin, Ireland
6/5/09 - Galway, Ireland
6/7/09 - Prague, Czech Republic
6/11/09 - Agia Pelagia, Crete, Greece
6/13/09 - Rethymnos, Crete, Greece
6/15/09 - Hania, Crete. Greece
6/18/09 - Iraklio, Crete, Greece
6/19/09 - Perivolos Beach, Santorini, Greece
6/22/09 - Klissidi Beach, Anafi, Greece
6/23/09 - Hora, Anafi, Greece
6/28/09 - Naxos, Greece
6/29/09 - Syros, Greece
6/30/09 - Patmos, Greece
7/7/09 - Bodrum, Turkey
7/12/09 - Konya, Turkey
7/13/09 - Goreme, Turkey
7/20/09 - Istanbul, Turkey
7/25/09 - Sofia, Bulgaria
7/27 09 - 30 hour overnight train thru Serbia
7/28/09 - Budapest, Hungary
8/5/09 - Vienna, Austria
8/7/09 - Venice, Italy
8/10/09 - Rome, Italy
8/18/09 - Paris, France
9/2/09 - Casablanca, Morocco
9/4/09 - Rabat, Morocco


9/8/09 - Kokrobite Beach, Ghana
9/19/09 - Atinpoku, Ghana
9/21/09 - Somewhere on Lake Volta
9/22/09 - Yeji, Ghana
9/23/09 - Tamale, Ghana
9/27/09 - Mole National Park
10/2/09 - Kumasi, Ghana
10/4/09 - Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana
10/09/09 - Accra, Ghana

10/11/09 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
10/13/09 - Delhi, India
10/16/09 - Jaipur, India
10/24/09 - Agra, India
10/26/09 - Delhi, India
10/29/09 - Kathmandu, Nepal
11/5/09 - Pokhara, Nepal

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
11/8/09 - Tirkhedunga
11/9/09 - Ghorepani
11/11/09 - Chuile
11/12/09 - Chomrong
11/14/09 - Dovan
11/15/09 - Machhapuchhre Base Camp
11/16/09 - Annapurna Base Camp
11/17/09 - Bamboo
11/18/09 - Jhinu Danda


11/20/09 - Pokhara, Nepal

12/7/09 - Kathmandu, Nepal

12/10/09 - Bus to Saunali, bus to Gorakpur, then overnight train to Varanasi

12/11/09 - Varanasi, India

12/17/09 - Bogmalo Beach, South Goa, India

12/21/09 - Arrosim Beach, South Goa, India

12/28/09 - Chennai Airport enroute to Bangkok

12/29/09 - Koh Mak, Thailand

1/8/10 - Koh Chang, Thailand

1/16/10 - Koh Mak, Thailand

1/25/10 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

1/27/10 - Siem Reap, Cambodia

2/9/10 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2/11/10 - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

2/18/10 - Nha Trang, Vietnam

2/28/10 - Hoi An, Vietnam

3/4/10 - Hanoi, Vietnam

3/5/10 - Halong Bay, Vietnam

3/7/10 - Hanoi, Vietnam

3/8/10 - Tokyo, Japan

Back to the US!

3/9/10 - Guthrie, OK

4/12/10 - San Francisco, CA

4/13/10 - Sonoma Valley, CA

4/14/10 - Yosemite National Park

4/15/10 - San Francisco, CA

4/23/10 - San Diego, CA

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The Plan

Everyone asks, so what's the plan? The plan is to come up with a plan. The plan is to not have a plan. A man without a plan isn't a man.

At this point the plan is to work until May 1st and then spend the rest of the month packing and taking care of loose ends. Storing one car, selling the other. Donating or selling most of the useless crap we've collected over the years, packing the rest in a pod for later delivery to our new abode. Driving camping gear up to Moms house in Washington (for later use on the US leg of the tour - if we aren't broke and exhausted by then), and flying my cats to my Dads in Oklahoma.

The general itinerary is still under much discussion and debate. And it seems to double in size every time we talk about it. I'm in favor of pairing it down to a few places so we can spend more time, not feel rushed or hurried, and actually know what its like to live there. Basically, anywhere we can go back on a 2-week vacation later in life should be stricken from the list but it's sooooooo hard to not want to go EVERYWHERE!

Here is the first draft:
Greece
Italy
Netherlands
France
Ghana
India
Nepal
Thailand
Cambodia
Bali
Hong Kong
Peru
Brazil
Costa Rica
Belize

Ron also wants to add Egypt (me not so interested) and New Zealand.

I'm going to leave this post up unedited to see how close we are to what we actually do. I bet you a nickel it is not close at all and our best adventures haven't even been dreamt of yet. And the best part is that nickel will buy us twelve chai teas in Goa. So thanks in advance : )

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Shittin Pretty

One of my main curiosities about this trip is the bathroom situation. Hearing about squatty potties and all the new challenges, Ron seemed even more anxious then me for the familiar and the private so I bought this book for him. But I was heading to NY for business, and I always need a new book for the long plane ride and nights in the hotel so I took along it with me.

WARNING: this next section may contain what is commonly referred to as "too much information".

Well, now its me with the toilet anxiety, pardon the pun but you might call me scared sh*tless. I really don't want to squat in a hole shoulder to shoulder with a row of other women or be followed around and watched while I go pee because I look exotic. I mean c'mon, there should be some mystery! And I'm not really fast at all. Ron has me beat there, he can go in like 60 seconds or less. I take my time. I have a whole routine that just cannot be rushed. I need my coffee and my book of puzzles and my cat curled up at my feet and a half hour of quiet alone time. I don't think I can even squat for more than a couple minutes before my legs cramp up. I guess I should start practicing....

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Travel Partners-in-Crime

Ron, my boyfriend of 4+ years, has decided to come along on the trip! Since he has his own home restoration business, it's easy to tell the boss he's going to take a 52-week vacation. The only loose end he has is a condo he bought a few years back that he'll rent out and his cousin has graciously agreed to play landlord while he's away.

It's funny I've realized recently that the steady freddy man with traditional priorities, who I always thought of as the man of my dreams would probably never quit his job to gallivant around the globe with me. But how fortunate am I that Ron shares my dream of world travel and is ready to hit the open road.

We are so excited to take this once-in-a-lifetime trip together. Most of you know, our nickname for each other is "Critter" and we have a little saying every Friday that "It's Friday Critters!" so we get revved up for the weekend and spending time together. Well now it's Friday Critters for an entire year! Boggles my mind how fortunate we are to be able to do this.

Watch out for the International Critters coming to an exotic locale not-so-near you.

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