Gillian enters the blogging world
My first entry!
14.12.2011
Well hello blog world!
I wasn't sure if I was going to do a travel blog because it seemed a little too cliche, but I realized it's the best way to keep all of my avid followers up to date on my exciting travels!
So let's see where this started. Probably from the start of my university career I decided that I wanted to graduate in the typical 4 years and start my travels after. I figured I would get some friends on board and we could go around the world together.
That isn't how it worked out.
Getting people to commit to long-term around the world travel is apparently no easy feat. So after I had a few people make tentative plans with me and end up cancelling, I decided to set out alone.
For anyone thinking I am crazy to head out in the world alone, a solo female traveler, I didn't think I could do it either. I thought it would be too dangerous, or I would be lonely, or I couldn't go where I wanted and do what I wanted to do if I went on my own. But I have done a LOT of research, and turns out Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, is the safest destination for solo female travelers.
So yes, I decided to set off on my own to Thailand. I've been doing lots of reading, and checking out blogs and reading tips so I am super excited.
Then Mallika came along and changed all my plans!
I was supposed to head out beginning of January direct to Thailand, but then Mallika invited me to come to India with her! So the plan NOW is to get into Goa sometime right after Christmas, travel with her and her family to Mumbai in early January AND THEN head out on my own. With this change of plans I also decided to stick around and see more of India before heading to Thailand. I am hoping to see the Taj Mahal, and I've been advised to check out hte Golden Temple. Then I might go up through Nepal and Bhutan before getting down into Thailand.
The whole point is, nothing is booked! I'm just heading to Asia and I am going to play it by ear, take things one day at a time. Hopefully I meet some nice people along the way.
Where I'm at so Far:
- Sent in my Indian visa application, probably did it too late though but I had my LSATs to worry about first. SO my actual departure date is riding on when I get my visa approved.
- Got some shots yesterday. My arms are killing today! I still need to get malaria pills but I'm having trouble with that. My doctor got me to pay her $65 for "travel advice" for her to tell me that she doesn't know what kind of malaria pills she needs to prescribe me and I need to go to a public health clinic to find that out. Turns out you have to book a $56 appointment to get this kind of advice from them. Still working on that!
- Hopefully going backpack shopping tonight after work! Then I can figure out what to bring/what not to bring in terms of my clothes.
So that's where I'm at! So excited to be leaving in a couple of weeks (hopefully) and setting out on the biggest adventure of my life! Who knows where my travels will take me.
Posted by GillianArfin 09:13 Archived in Canada
Malarone is the malaria prophylactic of choice, Gillian. Light on the body. No side effects. Taken daily. But.... expensive, as in $5 to $6 per tiny little pill. Now that you've dropped 65 bucks on your trusted doctor, see if she will issue you the needed prescription to get some at a pharmacy. Plus some careful googling should indicate where (and where not) to take malaria prophylactic. For example, higher elevations such as Bhutan tend to be too cold for mosquitos. If you want a reliable tropical medicine specialist, Dr. Scappatura at the Travel Medicine Centre has been my guy for shots and detailed travel medicine knowledge since 1995. His clinic is at 700 Bay St, #609. (416) 340-8222. India!
14.12.2011 by Uncle How