All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go (sung to John Denver)

With only 48 hours left; I settle in for my last night in the guest bedroom of my friend, who has pampered me with girly treats and good conversation during my time spent at hers. Tomorrow I'm being treated to lunch as I end my working contract and then collected after work for my actual final evening in NZ with my folks. 

My final list before leaving

On the side, to my left, I had a longish list of all the things I needed to achieve before the day was out - I just love a list that's been crossed and checked off, I feel like I've accomplished so much! The pictured list is my final one before the big day, I've had a great many since this journey has begun and every one of them was crossed off as completed, done, finito!. What a feat! Thanks to God for the motivation!

So this evening as I repacked, just because, I took some pics of some of the majors of today's list-checking excursion into Manukau City. I was pretty chuffed with the speed and ease of the fulfillment of said list.

It's pretty clear by now, I'm sure, that being a visual person by profession means I'm going to be showing a lot of pictures along the way - keeps ones focus and makes for a more interesting blog.

 So here it is - I think I'm officially going to leave now because I have:

It's boiled down to this - one passport, two airplane tickets, and NZ, AUS & THB currencies.
I've never had such an array of colourful play money at the same time before

My Thai Visa - only waited a few days for it - pretty isn't it?

I had a long list on the go when I applied for this baby. When I wanted to clarify with the NZ Thai Embassy they kept having internet problems, but we got there in the end. I was applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa. I wanted a 1yr multiply re-entry visa, yet it's up to the discretion of the custom's officer upon arrival what he stamps in my passport. I expect to do a boarder run every three months unless otherwise stated upon arrival.

For this lovely colourful, shinny visa, I needed to produce:

• Application form completed and signed
• Passport and passport sized photo
• Copy or confirmed travel itinerary - The Flightcenter charges $50 for this, as it's a lengthily process. But it's deducted from the cost of your deposit/tickets.
• Letter of reference from the organization in Thailand - Indicating my position, qualification, responsibilities and intended period of stay in Thailand
• My criminal record - easy to get in NZ from the Ministry of Justice, just print out the form, sign it and either post to them or scan it into the computer and email them. If you know you'll be applying for a visa, get on to them quickly as it takes a week or more to get it processed and sent to you. Up to 20 days if they're posting overseas. It's a free service also. I received a one page official document stating I had no record on file. I also photocopied it a few times to add to my files in stashed away places in each of my bags - justincase. 
• my personal CV
• Printout of the Job call 
• and $100 plus a self addressed courier bag

The embassy said there was a 14 day turn around and I was told from two different people it would take longer. I sent it on a Tuesday from Christchurch and it was in my fathers hands Friday morning in Auckland that same week. I had the strong impression I was meant to get there.

LIQUIDS, AEROSOLS & GELS - Passenger Information include, but not limited to: EVERYTHING! far out, what a lengthy list. But you'll find out when you get your own with your air ticket

my cabin bag liquid allowance choices

Maybe not so important for a 3 hr flight across the ditch to Australia, but I've got a back to back flight immediately after I arrive, up to the Gold Coast, so felt as if I should 'freshen up' along the way. Also my flight is a 6am, therefore arriving at the airport at 4am... I'm going to feel a little like death warmed up. Nothing like minty fresh breath, a clean face and perfume to keep one feeling on top of things.

For the Record

So I was in Sydney, Australia, September last (2011) attending a conference, when I got to spend a day with a friend who is a news anchor for Record InFocus, a Christian news/magazine program that aims to inform, challenge and inspire viewers. As I was able to enjoy a behind the scenes day my friend mentioned to one of the producers of my plans in becoming a missionary designer and he turned to me and asked if I'd write about it in about 300 words, for their magazine under 'My Ministry Idea'. It's a bit of fun to see yourself in print. So just for the record you can read the article.

Packing List

While I was scrounging the net, hoping to glean from others who have gone before me in extended travel, I became keen to learn about the items they took along with them. I was especially interested in reading through their packing lists and a couple of bright sparks even went as far as posting photos and videos. I'm not so savvy with video but I've spent my afternoon taking photos of everything I'm taking. In fact, this is great for itemised insurance purposes as much as it is informative for anyone interested in what to pack for world travel.

I was really none the wiser about luggage and how best to travel. I've heard snippets of instructions, such as: go light, roll everything, decide what you wish to take and half it etc... When my daughter went to Fiji last year for a school service trip for ten days, we went and brought a large duffel trolly bag at The Warehouse (cheap and poorly made). It was enormous! at least 100 liters! and she packed it - more like shoved it -  full of stuff. Heavy, cumbersome, but did the job.

So when it was time to think about what I was going to take, I researched some and settled on a similar but better quality duffel trolley bag. The first one was 100liters and I played with it for a week before returning it for my current one - at 47Lts.

I found plenty of advice online, in blogs and YouTube. I began to get interested in the concept of 'one bag' travel. Once I got used in eliminating my things the idea appealed to me to consider traveling with only with a carry-on. But I had to remind myself about the nature of my first trip. In all accounts and purposes I'm going to be spending 11 months in one place and making short trips from there.

So - as I said in my last post - I downsized from a 3 bedroom home, to fit all my worldly possessions into two bags. Each item is listed below with added photos. With every item out on my bed, I saw I could cull it still, but I won't at this stage, being my first trip, I wanted to get a feel for it and eliminate items from there. But my ultimate plan is travel with one bag.

I'm thrilled that the check-in luggage comes to about 15kg, well under the 20kg limit on Jeststar. Room for gifts? hmmm.

My carry on luggage

So let's begin with what I've decided to take along with me: My cabin bag has a total of 30 items but a few of these will be housed in my check-in bag due to weight.

Cabin Bag High Sierra trolly with backpack straps. I've been caught wheeling two bags before and it's beyond frustrating. This holds all I need for work, from my laptop, working files and as you can see everything else I find useful. I must say I'm liking having everything at my finger tips so far and it's interesting to note how little I can get away with for work.
Plastic bag with a copy of my personal ID: drivers license, passport, criminal record (um, it officially says i don't have one - because you were wondering weren't you?), extra photo, important numbers etc. I have one in my check in luggage also as well as with family members. 
HP laptop 15.6" (work bench) with a new battery, which sticks out a mile - not so great for travel, but will be leaving well enough alone at this stage.
Red Monster Space Saver lunch box holding all my power cables - first 'play' with a space saver
External Hard Drive 1TB (carried in check-in luggage, as it's a brick!)
Mesh case holding wireless mouse, flash sticks and multi-card reader.

Camera with Case and Tripod Canon Photoshot A450

Sony Walkman with sound reducing earplugs

Water Bottle

Bible NKJ

Day shoulder bag

Purse

Journal with 2 note books

Pencil case yellow with selection of writing implements

Drawing pen set of 4

Sharpener

Sleep mask/ear plugs

Detol hand sanitiser with moisturiser

Hand made Grad-bear lovingly made by Cassandra (Sofia's flatemate) - just because

Power Adapter plugs

Business cards with containers

Mobile Phone - Vodafone 845 on 2 degrees network in NZ, Optus in OZ
Sunglasses
Travel wallet with tickets, passport, insurance details etc
Mirror, tweezers, nail clippers with case (carried in check-in luggage)
CD holder with related work files and programs (carried in check-in luggage)
3 work files  coloured plastic files
Cuddle Buddy a gift from my daughter for the flight
Hanger convenience for organizing things (carried in check-in luggage)
Coming is my new Kindle Touch

Left: the monster lunch box space saver with all my power cables & connections inside.
Right: everything in my bag ready to go. Note: Cuddle Buddy does fit in the top

OK lets take a peek at my check-in luggage: Total of 62 items

Even this is too much I feel, but have stopped myself from culling

I've 14 tops. Have noticed that since I've been living out of this selection,
I'm only wearing about 4 tops constantly, so I've got room to cull should the need arise.

5 pairs of 3/4 length pants, 1 pair of shorts and 2 skirts

PJ's with 1 top (yellow one was thrown), 2 piece swimming costume with board shorts

1 sarong, 1 light scarf (for Muslim temples), 1 washing bag and sunlight washing soap,
hair brush, Sheewee (have a funny story with that item),
1 belt, 7 pairs of socks, 2 bras & 14 (!) pairs of knickers.
No idea why I have so many, but there you go.

Small space savers: sm: holds sanitary items,
med: medications - garlic pills, 12 mths supply malaria pills, Tea tree oil and cream
white flower balm etc, lg: fan, overflow of sanitary items, hair tidies, cutlery set
Backpack in a bag, quick dry towel

4 pairs of shoes: 1 black jandles, 1 black low strap heal,
1 white slip on sandle and a pair of white sneakers
1x 47Liter trolly bag - Antler

4x medium Space Savers - Kathmandu sale!!

Toilet bag with deodorant, face cleaners and moisturizer,
toothpaste & brush, perfume, body cream, shampoo/conditioner in solid/soap form,
body soap and puff (not in pic), & razors - no makeup, I don't wear any or jewellery

Now for the packing - everything is neatly rolled, as there seems to be more room. 

Underwear, sarong, hanger, power plugs. Inserted external hard drive and CDs - for protection

Pants, skirts, shorts and pj's

14 tops and bathing suit

3 pairs of shoes and warm vest. Sneakers left out to wear on flight

Toilet bag and smaller space savers

now ready to pack

I placed the heaviest space saver, containing the pants and skirts at the bottom of the bag for weight balance. 

The external hard drive was placed in the 2nd saver. I love the organization

with 4 space savers in the bag, there is room for more. So in goes the toilet bag

and the 3 smaller space savers, the towel and backpack in a bag

and it's all done, ready to close up with ease

once I have the bag standing on it's end I see that I can still put more inside. The Cuddle Buddy would be inside the computer backpack

Space savers - I'd heard about 'space savers' thought the process of researching travel. So when I saw them for sale for $5 and $10 (normally $39.99 each for medium bags) at Kathmandu I grabbed a handful to see if they'd work. Before using them by bag bulged with the same amount of things inside and without hope of ever finding what I needed in a hurry. I'm totally won over in using space savers from now on. I love that only a bag at a time can be opened without it bothering the rest of the contents.... ahhh space saver heaven.

Luggage - I read on One Bag that in choosing a suitable bag, I needed to consider 3 things "Good, Durability, Cheap - pick any two". I had another issue also, that fact of my hometown of Christchurch, NZ was/is still experiencing major earthquakes since September 4 2010 - just hit 10,000! as of writing. This meant that the bag shop (along with other businesses) missed out on 2 seasonal stock buying, which hadn't even crossed my mind would be an issue, so my choice wasn't as prolific as I'd hoped for. Still I'm happy with what I did purchase and got both bags on special. I think I chose 'durable and cheap', my Antler 47 Lt bag was reduced from $349 to $178 - I was a happy camper. While my High Sierra was reduced but not as much, I picked it up for $170 after asking for a discount, they gave me 10% - bless them (I was out of sale season).

Kathmandu - became my most favourite place when they had their annual 60% off sale. I purchased a few hundred dollars of gear there - they even had luggage, which hadn't occurred to me to investigate, but such is life. I found that what I was really after needed to save me space and weight and I got everything from there for 50%-95% off. I realised for me, economy is really important, I want as best as I can get for as least as I can get it for - don't we all?!

So that's it, I'm ready to leave - although I'm about to leave NZ in a week, I've been living out of these bags for more than a month, and it's been really easy and convenient.

I've been everywhere man

It's been a fast past, list making, life changing 4 months since my last entry. I was full of great intentions but haven't kept abreast of the sequence of events I'd hoped too on here, but instead of lagging behind even further I thought I'd just launch off and fill in the gaps as I go.

I've been reading other travelers blogs to get a feel of what they talk about on their travels, I'm into the details, the small stuff, as I love to plan and make sure I have everything covered. So I intend to follow the same route. Off course should anyone have a question fire away.

With a few months of hindsight, I look back at the last 4 or so months in amazement at the constant forward motion. Here's a recap:

November '11 Required some physical logistics between my studio to home, home to my parents storage unit, and home to home for the purpose of having all of my daughters things in one place ready of her move in the new year.

I preceded to sell all my worldly possessions - It seemed to take ages, and it became hard - emotionally - to get rid of everything. I'd have days of feeling too paralyzed with fear to do anything and would 'waste' whole days and part of a week before I had the courage to tackle it again, it was a huge undertaking on my own. 

L to R: My studio, Our home, packing and ready to return keys

Advice - allow yourself the time to go through it all, if you get stuck, that's fine, it's all part of the process of eliminating, and invite a close friend over for the hard bits - I did. My friend Sandra came over 3 times in total to talk me through it and help me surge forward.

In the end I was sick-to-death of TradeMe and lamented over the fact that everything I owned - everything - only saw my bank balance rise by about $1500. On a good note, Sofia received her inheritance early, taking the kitchen appliances and my car. In the end, what was left is being sold on behalf and I gained a new perspective of consumerism - if you can't carry it, don't buy it!. Still, I felt the freedom of having nothing. And laugh at myself now at what I did place in my folks storage - 3 small boxes of my CPIT working art books - justincase - my paintings for my folks to put on their walls and 3 or 4 books I gave my girl to look after for me. Phew - what a mission! With the house (with the help of my bestie) and grounds cleaned we moved out Dec 1st. Through this time Sofia learned she had gallstone issues and was hospitalised 3 times over 6 weeks with attacks, so that took its toll.

December '11 was filled with two different housesitting jobs, Sofia's high-school graduation, Christmas, parents visiting, refining what was left of our possessions and the beginnings of goodbyes for both of us.

Sofia graduating from high school, giving a speech, announching teacher of the year (Prefect - proud Mum!),
Xmas while housesitting, Dad on Xmas morning, Mum and I cooking Xmas lunch
Sofia and Jazz, one of the housesitting pets, sitting over everything, namely Sofia and my suitcase
Sofia mowing the lawn - a much loved chore, but only on a ride on!

January '12 was a buzz with preparing the finer points of leaving - visiting my accountant, paperwork for visa's, costs of flights, paring back further what I was taking, buying luggage and working etc. Sofia and Cassandra secured a home in Invercargill and Cass moved down the week before we did. We then spent a handful of days with a friend where she and her family allowed me to mess up half the kitchen table with work, while Sofia volunteered her week helping set up the junior hall for our churches annual Camp. The week long camp was a time of final goodbyes, then we packed the rest of Sofia's things in the car and drove the 559 km south to my girls new home. I was there for 2 and a half days when it was finally our time to say goodbye. It was bitter sweet yet we both felt good about it. After hugs, kisses, and tears, I boarded a bus to head back to Christchurch. A few days later I was on the road again driving North to the Picton ferry and the length of North Island to Auckland - 762.49 km.

Sofia and I on the road traveling south, love our family shots together

Top: from a 3 bedroom home to 15kgs and 2 bags
bottom Left: Cassandra, Owen and Sofia at their new home
Top right: Our final goodbye
bottom right: my chariot awaits

That is where you'll find me as of writing. I've contracted some work for the duration I'm here and staying with a friend and spending weekends visiting my parents. 

I've had to remind myself that's its not about 'getting there' but about the journey. I must say, I'm really enjoying myself.