I just realized from looking at the log of posts I've made that this entire trip from conception to booking of flight took only 22 days - thats quite a lot I've done in such a short span of time to get something as complex as this trip off the ground.
The idea of a trip, the destination, the itinerary, the research, the travel permit, the medical treatments, the gear, the advice and the flight. All in 22 days... and now I have to wait 48 days until liftoff.
Interesting set of numbers. 22 to plan it, 48 to wait for it, and all told, 82 days away. Almost half a year of my life will have passed by the time I get back home from the day I started planning it. And I will be spending my birthday there too. And to top it all off, I will be there for Holi. Don't know what Holi is? Watch the video below. Me, I can't wait for it... I've planned my return to Delhi just to be there for it!
In Search of a Sunrise
Friday, November 26, 2010
Got My e-Tickets
So, I have in my possession the e-tickets sent to me by Flight Center. It's absolutely a done deal now. I can now move forward into the hotel selection phase for the first few days in Delhi while I acclimate to the culture and everything else.
In my excitement today, I decided to add two more stops on my itenerary - Haridwar and Kollam. One is a most holy place and the other a beach to kill for.
I only have two more days left in my home and after that everything I own will be in storage for 4 months.
But I will have a trip of a lifetime, followed shortly after by a very empty bank account.
In my excitement today, I decided to add two more stops on my itenerary - Haridwar and Kollam. One is a most holy place and the other a beach to kill for.
I only have two more days left in my home and after that everything I own will be in storage for 4 months.
But I will have a trip of a lifetime, followed shortly after by a very empty bank account.
Flight is booked!!!
I just finished booking my flight (using Flightcenter). Grant total with the non-medical insurance (RBC) was $1240.00. The insurance covers cancellation and interruption, so it was worth taking, if only for peace of mind should my flight be axed due to any reason whatsoever.
That was a scary thing to do! I'm now committed 100%... at least I will be once my transaction clears my credit card and the e-tickets are emailed to me. Just waiting for that to happen and I'm not sure how long it will take.
I'm scared now, honestly. It's not just words on a blog or thoughts in my head or plans in an excel spreadsheet. It's reality now, and I am shitting bricks.
That was a scary thing to do! I'm now committed 100%... at least I will be once my transaction clears my credit card and the e-tickets are emailed to me. Just waiting for that to happen and I'm not sure how long it will take.
I'm scared now, honestly. It's not just words on a blog or thoughts in my head or plans in an excel spreadsheet. It's reality now, and I am shitting bricks.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Two Days Until...
Found a flight for $1006 taxes included. Going to book it Friday!!! And then, there's nothing much left to do other than book my first hotel in Delhi to acclimate to India for a couple of days. Still not sure which one I want to pick, but it will definately be in Paharganj. I've got a few I'm looking at, but have yet to make a decision. Lots of time left to do that anyways... Im not leaving until the 13th of January.
Look out India, here I come!!!
Look out India, here I come!!!
Money Stress
So I've been working on my budget and stressing not so much over what the trip will cost me all told, but more to the point, on how much money I'll have left to my name when I come home. Not having a home to return to is very stressful, especially when you have no possessions to rebuild your life with.
And thats exactly where I was the last couple of days. I know I will need to buy all new furniture and everything else I'll need. I will literally be starting from scratch (minus the tv, I have that at least). So yeah, finances are totally messing with my brain.
But, fuck it... I need this trip. After careful examination of funds, I have found money I didnt see at first. I know I'll be okay if I can stay within my estimated range of expenses. And you know what? The memories and the sense of pride in the accomplishment of doing this trip solo are worth every penny that I may be missing when I get home.
And thats exactly where I was the last couple of days. I know I will need to buy all new furniture and everything else I'll need. I will literally be starting from scratch (minus the tv, I have that at least). So yeah, finances are totally messing with my brain.
But, fuck it... I need this trip. After careful examination of funds, I have found money I didnt see at first. I know I'll be okay if I can stay within my estimated range of expenses. And you know what? The memories and the sense of pride in the accomplishment of doing this trip solo are worth every penny that I may be missing when I get home.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Bought Some Gear - Started Packing
So this morning, I did a video test to see how the new camera looks in morning light - I was impressed with the colours. The zoom absolutely sucks, but what can you do for a fixed lens camera at $200. I'm going to do another test at around noon local time to see how that looks - I'm sure it will be crisp!
Just got back from MEC. I just had to start buying those items I know I'll need on the trip. And since for the next week I am living so close to it, I couldn't pass up the time to go do it now. When I move out of the apartment, I will be too far away to make it feasible.
So this morning I bought:
Grand total for this mornings trip to MEC was $56. There are still a few items I need to buy, but they can wait until the next visit. I intend to buy a head lamp, a toiletries bag and maybe a travelers alarm clock. Although, it may be cheaper to buy the last two somewhere else. I don't know yet. I'm going to look around at discount stores to see if I can find something relatively the same, but cheaper. Cost is everything right now.
I also spent some time last night stocking my first aid kit. MPie was nice enough to let me pilfer through hers for sterile syringes, latex gloves and varies types of wipes, some small bandages and gauze pads. I do need to buy some polysporin and more band-aids though, of varying sizes. You can never be too safe when it comes to health and safety. I will need to get some immodium and pepto bismol soon too. I've got tylenol, tiger balm and other small items I'll need to keep in top shape. All of that is now packed in my backpack.
Later today, I have to begin packing my belongings to move out of the apartment, so I'll likely just stuff the summer clothes I'll be taking to India in the backpack too. May as well do it now so that I don't have to dig through boxes and the like later to do it.
Okay, got a lot to do today, so until the next time...
Just got back from MEC. I just had to start buying those items I know I'll need on the trip. And since for the next week I am living so close to it, I couldn't pass up the time to go do it now. When I move out of the apartment, I will be too far away to make it feasible.
So this morning I bought:
- A role of nylon thread @ $2.50
- A money belt to wear under my pants @ $9
- A mosquito net @ $20
- A retractable cable lock (24") @ $9.5
- Protective cover for my backpack @ $9
Grand total for this mornings trip to MEC was $56. There are still a few items I need to buy, but they can wait until the next visit. I intend to buy a head lamp, a toiletries bag and maybe a travelers alarm clock. Although, it may be cheaper to buy the last two somewhere else. I don't know yet. I'm going to look around at discount stores to see if I can find something relatively the same, but cheaper. Cost is everything right now.
I also spent some time last night stocking my first aid kit. MPie was nice enough to let me pilfer through hers for sterile syringes, latex gloves and varies types of wipes, some small bandages and gauze pads. I do need to buy some polysporin and more band-aids though, of varying sizes. You can never be too safe when it comes to health and safety. I will need to get some immodium and pepto bismol soon too. I've got tylenol, tiger balm and other small items I'll need to keep in top shape. All of that is now packed in my backpack.
Later today, I have to begin packing my belongings to move out of the apartment, so I'll likely just stuff the summer clothes I'll be taking to India in the backpack too. May as well do it now so that I don't have to dig through boxes and the like later to do it.
Okay, got a lot to do today, so until the next time...
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Video Test
Okay... just a stupid little video to test what it looks like. Shot this at 720p just because its going to downrez anyways on youtube or whatever. Starting to get dark out, so the image isnt as crisp as it should be in broad daylight. Not much to be done about that, it is what it is for a $200 camera. Although, I am not unhappy with the result, with the exception of the microphone - seems a little thin and doesn't pick up my voice too well. Again, a $200 camera. Its more for the imagery it'll capture anyways, as I know I'll do voice overs on all my vids when I get back... And now the test...
Well, the conversion from the raw mp4 HD format to windows media format (Windows Movie Maker) took some of the clarity out of the video and introduced some artifacting, likely due to the interpolation and down rezing. Still, for an internet video (like Youtube), it isn't too bad. But the reviews were right - this camera is not that equipped for low light situations. Good thing I plan to sleep at night when in India... LoL!
EDIT: It looks like absolute crap now... Movie Maker down sampled it to 480p and now the blog site has downed it again to 240p. Seriously... if this is the quality when compressing, I'll be glad to be making DVDs from my trip footage... damn thats pixelated!!!
EDIT #2: Gonna try uploading directly to youtube at 720p and see how that works out (sending the original mp4 from the camera). Obviously I wont be able to do that lter when I cut my trip video together, but by then I should have a solution to reducing the distortion.
Well, the conversion from the raw mp4 HD format to windows media format (Windows Movie Maker) took some of the clarity out of the video and introduced some artifacting, likely due to the interpolation and down rezing. Still, for an internet video (like Youtube), it isn't too bad. But the reviews were right - this camera is not that equipped for low light situations. Good thing I plan to sleep at night when in India... LoL!
EDIT: It looks like absolute crap now... Movie Maker down sampled it to 480p and now the blog site has downed it again to 240p. Seriously... if this is the quality when compressing, I'll be glad to be making DVDs from my trip footage... damn thats pixelated!!!
EDIT #2: Gonna try uploading directly to youtube at 720p and see how that works out (sending the original mp4 from the camera). Obviously I wont be able to do that lter when I cut my trip video together, but by then I should have a solution to reducing the distortion.
Seems to work A LOT better, but still defaults to 360p when you first start watching it... BUT, you can change it now to 480p and 720p... glad I didnt do the test in 1080p! That looks so much better and gives me hope that I can send home small videos to people while away.
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