Draft Packing List

Been thinking about what to bring on the trip. I'm referring to my one of the most helpful people I know. Brook Silva-Braga is the producer and main star in his documentary "A Map For Saturday." His blog has been ridiculously helpful with prepping for this trip.

Here's what I've been thinking about:

Clothes:
* 1 pair of jeans
* 1 pair of shorts
* 1 pair of board shorts
* 4 t-shirts
* 1 sweater
* 1 polo
* 1 patagonia rain jacket
* 5 pairs of underwear (wow... lets hope this works)
* 3 pairs of socks
* 1 long sleeve sun shirt

* 1 silk sleeping bag liner
* 1 pillow case
* 1 backpacking pack (50L? - 70L?)
* 1 over the shoulder bag
* leatherman
* first aid kit
* tennis shoes
* sandals
* sunglasses
* headlamp
* UV filtered water bottle

* 11" MacBook Air
* iPod Touch
* Nikon D3100
* Int'l Converter Plug

Geeze... this stuff seems to be adding up. I guess I can add or prune as I see fit. I'd like to stick to the mantra that I can get whatever I need when I get there.

Off to drink!

New Toys for Trip

What's a guy to do on a perfectly beautiful Friday afternoon in mid November in San Francisco? Well this guy went shopping for what I'm hoping is going to be the most important thing I bring along on my trip. Yup, you guessed it. My brand spanking new camera.

I dolled out a whopping $849 for a brand new Nikon D3100. What brought me down the road to the Nikon over the Canon? I'll be honest my heart was pulled toward the Nikon since I owned an old SLR from my photo class days at BHS. On the other side I've enjoyed playing with Betsy's Canon DSLR. In the classic Ford vs. Chevy debate I wasn't sure what to do!? The guy at the camera shop told me to take some pictures with each one and see what "felt best." In the end the Nikon was lighter so I opted for a "lighter DSLR." Whatever that means!

I know is this baby gives me 14.2 megapixels of amazingness. I also picked up a second lens. So I have an 18-55mm VR and also a 55-200mm. Hopefully these will get me through my journey with some pictures I can share with my grand children when I get back.

Its funny but I was reading in a travel book about "coming home" and under this section of the book it explicitly says to plan a return party so you can catch up with family and friends. Here's the nugget of gold, "Some travelers have a party with a data projector flashing through their photos in the background - just don't turn it into a slid-show night, because no-one will be as interested as you are in your photos." I LOVE this idea. It cracks me up b/c when I think about "the most important thing" I've been wanting for the trip its really just for me. I guess thats indicative for what this trip is, "its just for me."

$58.30

Just booked a ticket with 40,000 United Mileage Plus Miles on South African Airways from Mumbai, India to Cape Town South Africa on May 23rd, 2011. Damn it feels good to pay $58.30 to be in the air for 9 hours. Who said my job didn't get me anything for this trip!? Ha!

One Shy Of Seven

O.S.O.S.

One Shy Of Seven = One continent shy of seven in the next 50 weeks. I'll be traveling to the following Itinerary:

N. America
Australia
Asia
Africa
Europe
S. America

I only wish I could get to Antarctica but I guess I'll have to save that for another time in my life.

This will be my blog to keep in touch with family and friends on the trip. Check back for updates. T-minus 49 days and counting!

-AKM