Today...

Last blog entry from the United States. We're leaving soon for the drive to Newark Airport. Flying on British Air in early evening. I'm not looking forward to the long travel time (7 hour flight, 3 hour layover, 9 hour flight) but know that's something we have to put up with if we want to travel to faraway, interesting places. Will arrive in Delhi after 11 at night (their time).

Managed to get EVERYTHING into my one suitcase. I decided to take an extra pair of shoes so I won't have to rely on one and my sandals. That takes up a lot of space but necessary. Backpack is filled with vitamins, meds, travel papers, camera, extra batteries/memory cards, PDA, comfy special airline seat pillow, neck pillow (just in case I want it), extra shirt & underwear (just in case I want to change at some time since it will be a long, maybe sweaty travel time), light jacket, a book (won't be bringing it back home since I'll read it on the trip), and a couple of other small items. I do have a fanny pack, too, but that can go into the backpack if necessary. Wow Seems like a lot to me!

Hoping to upload more to the blog during the trip, but not sure how often.

Almost...

OAT: Heart Of India

Countdown: Only 1 day

• Sep 26, 2009 Depart!

Almost time to leave...

Finished getting everything organized. Decided to take battery fans. Definitely will get a lot of use during the HOT days.

I usually check in online for flights, but had some difficulty with British Airways. Had to call them and was told there was probably a problem since reservations were made by a tour operator. Never had a problem with it before and have flown BA on other GCT/OAT trips. No problem checking in at the airport since we'll have a lot of time.

Stan is driving us to the airport and will pick us up when we return. Decided to leave earlier than originally planned.

Taking Sean to kennel in the morning and then will finish with the suitcase. Have all morning since we're not leaving until 1:30 in the afternoon.

Hoping to be able to write and upload while on the trip.

3 days...

Haircut today. Happy it's short so I won't have to deal with hair on my neck in the HEAT that we will be dealing with. High 90s..

Completed the last of the errands today. Bought some pencils and markers that I'm taking for a school gift. Will probably add some other items before packing it in my suitcase. I already assembled the small gifts for the home-hosted visits. Looks like there will be two of them on this trip.

Tomorrow is the big day... serious going through everything to have it ready to pack. I've done most of this but not totally finished. I want to pack Friday morning. If I pack too soon, I might have to unpack if something was left out. That's annoying!

Six days...

I can remember when it was more than 200 days until the trip. My excitement level for this trip hasn't changed at all. Before we know it, we'll be on the plane on the way to London and then on to Delhi. Tonight I was checking the time difference between NY and India. It's 9 1/2 hours. Yes, not an even number of hours. Since we're supposed to start taking the anti-malaria meds about 2 days before getting there, I had to figure out what time to take it at home Friday night. That was easy. Hard part is figuring out when we'll take it in transit. It's supposed to be taken with dairy and/or food so I can't just get some water to take it. Best to take it in India when we have breakfast since that will be the most consistent meal.

This map shows the areas where malaria existed last year. Makes a lot of sense to take the meds. Much better than the alternative. Next trip we take WILL NOT be to an area that we need special meds for altitude or malaria. I'm sure my doctor will be much happier if I don't ask him for scripts for meds he's not familiar with. Fortunately, he gets advice from a doctor friend of his who knows a lot about travel meds.


I've been asked about which med is best for anti-malaria. My doctor preferred I take the malarone which was okay with me after I did some research. I've heard that some people have adverse reactions like bad nightmares. When we took it last year in Cambodia and Thailand, we were okay. Only thing that happened with us were mild headaches for about an hour after taking the pill the first couple of days. No other effect. Thank goodness!