Adventure awaits...

The flights are booked and the countdown begins. T- minus 29 days. And yes, I postponed my "trip of a lifetime" by two weeks for good ole alcohol. Who wouldn't?? Instead of flying out the last week of September as I told most of you, I now head out on my adventure on October 10th.

My flight plans now take me through Dubai and since I have a couple friends willing to hook up for a few days, I've decided to have a 6 day layover in the "Sandlands". So why the delay??? Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, starts September 12th and ends October 12th. Since they frown on alcohol during this time, I figured I better wait until I can let loose and start my adventures off with alcohol flowing in my veins. I am an Embro Boy afterall!

So here's the game plan...which may change at a drop of a hat based on how I'm feeling and who I'm partying with.

After six days hanging in Dubai (who needs President's club for those in TELUS) I take a 17 hour (ouch) flight down to Sydney. From there I plan to start my four month Aussie adventure in the North East city of Cairns. Then down the east coast with many stops along the way. I plan to hang in both Brisbane and Sydney for up to a month living like a local to see what an Aussie life would feel like. Then down to Melburne and Adelaide to finish off Australia.

I'll find myself in New Zealand for six weeks. Probably on the North Island for 2-3 weeks and on the South Island for 3-4 weeks.

Then on to South East Asia for a month. Hanging in Thailand for two weeks, Vietnam for a week and Cambodia for a week.

Then off for a three hour cruise (make that 3 month adventure) of Europe. I hope if I find myself stranded like Gilligan, that both MaryAnne and Ginger are close by. And if they turn out to be Swedish in this scenario...that's OK too.

Europe may feel like the "Amazing Race" as I plan to hit quite a few countries. The path may differ based on the weather as I hit Europe May 1st. Today's gameplan will have me starting in Greece, followed by Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, maybe Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic (maybe a few other smaller countries around the vicinity), then up through Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Scotland and Ireland.

And although I didn't have any plans to spend time in England...since my flights take me there, I'm sure I'll check out a few of the sites.

And my present flights have me returning August 1, 2008. Will you miss me?

Whew...I'm tired already!!!

Since I'm living back home in Embro (since September 1st) with the parents...that's right...the 38 year old virgin has moved home to live with Mom and Dad until departure...this will be my last posting until I'm off on my adventure due to the fact that my folks only have dial-up capabilities. For your sanity...I suggest NEVER going back to dial-up...my blood pressure is already up an additional 100 counts as most web pages take about 20 seconds to finish downloading. PAINFUL!!!!!

See you in Australia!!