Digital exploration

Visited the Royal Geographical Society this morning and, using the resources in the Foyle Reading Room, started planning a more detailed route. In the afternoon I updated my travel-journal skills in 'Geoblogging for Travellers', an excellent course led by Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop of Digital Explorer. Learnt how to include maps and video clips in my web log and met interesting people, some of whom I'd follow anywhere. . .

Pre-planning the expedition

Started to compile this web log, I'd already begun a trip check-list and read a few books like The Career Break Book, First-Time Around the World and Expat Money. Reviewed my travel library and planned an initial route - France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, China (Tibet), Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
Booked a half-day workshop at the Royal Geographical Society on geoblogging for gap projects and made appointments for vaccinations:

• Dip/Tet/Polio (Revaxis):1 dose, free, 10 years (due 28/1/19)
• Typhoid: 1 dose, £25, 3 years, 1 dose (24/5/12). Due 24/5/15, less risk nowadays and easy to treat with antibiotics so no need to revaccinate.
• Meningitis (ACWY): 1 dose, £25, 5 years (due 20/2/14). Risk mostly in Africa and most common in 16 to 20 year olds. No need to revaccinate.
• Hepatitis A (Avaxim): 2 doses, 20 years (due 5/9/26)
• Hepatitus B (Engeri x B): 4 doses 0, 4, 8 weeks, booster 12 months, £24 on 21/5/10 (rapid schedule), 5 years (21/5/15) only if antibodies low, unlikely.
• Cholera (Dukoral): 2 oral (drink) doses, £48, 2 years (14/2/11) expired
• Rabies (Rabipur): 3 doses 0, 7, 28 days , £110, (+2 dosses if bitten), 2-5 years if travelling to remote areas (due 6/3/14). Two doses if bitten.
• Japanese Encephalitis: New JE vaccine: 2 doses 0, 3-12 months, 1,050 Bhat or £21. Booster 570Bt or £11, 1 shot (24/11/15). Booster, 1 shot (due 24/11/17)
• Tick-Borne Encephalitis: 2 doses, 0, 7 days £112, booster 5-12 months (7/8/09-7/3/10) not available, 1 year (7/3/11) expired. New vaccine: 3 doses, 0, 1-3 months, 5-12 months. (asap)
• Yellow Fever: 1 dose, 10 years (14/5/12), 1,230 Bhat or £25 (due 14/5/22)
• Malaria pills: Doxycycline, £57.49 for 525 capsules, 1 per day. Low risk tourist areas of SE Asia.

Visa photo:
Blood group: B+
NHS Direct: +44 (0) 845 4647
UK Passport advice: +44 (0) 870 521 0410
World Nomad Travel Insurance
Policy no: WNGBR10008151
Cover: Worldwide, including USA
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
+44 (0)20 7183 3751 or
assistance@specialty-group.com

Countries I've visited before this trip