Never Fly at Midnight

Hello universe! I’m just about ready to get on my flight to Manila. I’ll be leaving Saturday night and arriving in the Philippenes Monday morning. Sunday, of course, is my birthday and – thanks to the international date line – I’ll literally skip it. Ah well. The next 1.5 months will be enough of a celebration I think.

I realized recently I should have starting blogging this trip months ago. The amount of planning that goes into a vacation of this size is incredible. I’ve had tons of shots, more prescription drugs then you’d believe (anti-malaria, antibiotics, sleeping pills, the list goes on), hotel booking, trains, and planes, and visas…but I think that stuff is probably a little boring. My guess is that’s all you want to hear about it!

The best story of the bunch is this one: China REALLY doesn’t like American journalists. In order to get my single-entry visa I had to sign a document swearing I wouldn’t conduct any reporting or journalism while in the country. They also wanted a signed letter from my employer saying I wasn’t on assignment. As a freelancer, that wasn’t exactly possible, so they settled for a letter from me detailing what kind of journalist I was, what topics I cover, and more swearing that I’m not writing anything. The result is a Visa that has branded me a journalist on vacation. I fully expect harassment at every border and passport-showing location.

Anyway, that’s all over. Here’s the itinerary for the next six weeks:

Manila, Philippines –> Chaing Mai, Thailand –> Krabi, Thailand –> Bankok, Thailand –> Siem Reap, Cambodia –> Phnom Penh, Cambodia –> Saigon, Vietnam –> Meekong Delta boat trip –> Hanoi, Vietnam –> Hong Kong, Hong Kong –> 24-hour train ride to –> Beijing, China –> Anji, China –> Shanghai, China –> Manila, Philippenes (and a few towns on the outskirts) –> San Francisco!

Jealous?

P.S. The “Pow!” in the title refers to my friend Pow Belgado, who will be my travel buddy. No doubt, you’ll see posts here from her as well.