Now the Planning Starts

2011-09-27

This is just what we are planning to do.  If anyone has any comments, please feel free to chime in.  Most things we are doing, we are doing because friends have suggested that we do them!  🙂

We are starting with the tightest schedules first:

  • Barcelona:  Only 1 real day.  We arrive at noon, have a day to play, then leave at noon the next day
  • Cambodia:  Only 2 full days.  We arrive at noon, have 2 days to play, then leave at noon the next day.
  • Thailand:  5 full days.  Arrive Tuesday at noon, then leave the next Tuesday at noon.

Spain, Barcelona

Frommers thinks we can squeeze in a lot in a single day if we really want to:

This is going to be a very full day, so make an early start at the Plaça de Catalunya. Spend the morning wandering down La Rambla to the Mirador de Colón beside the port. Return via the Placa Reial and explore the neighboring Barri Gòtic with its central Catedral. In the afternoon visit Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, and the Parc Güell before returning to the Raval and Poble Sec districts on the western side of La Rambla. From there, take the funicular to the top of Montjuïc for a fine view of Barcelona and its harbor. Explore the gardens and castle museum, and if there’s time, pop into the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya for a glimpse of the finest collection of Romanesque relics in Spain.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/barcelona/0045020766.html#ixzz1ZBPTGjBm

So, that is the initial plan.  Only really important one for me is Sagrada Familia.  The rest is gravy.  Now we just need a hotel!

Cambodia, Siem Reap

Again, friends to the rescue.  Chris suggested we look into Pavillion Indochine.  With the help of the miracle that is the Internet, we have contacted them, and are making reservations.   We will probably have them provide a guide and a TukTuk for visiting the Wats.

Thailand, Bangkok and some islands

Sandy and I visited 10 years ago, and would love to do all the same things all over again.  However, we saw a short bit on a Lonely Planet video about John Gray and kayaking in the sea-caves “hongs”.  Once again, the Internet stepped in and I have contacted their website.  I hope that we can do the 3 day, 2 night self paddle trip.  This one includes travel on a fast, longtail, meals on the beachs, and a night paddle into a hong.  I am willing to organize the rest of our Thailand trip around this!  🙂

 

We have tickets!

2011-09-22

We are now much poorer, but we are going around the world this fall!

Schedule so far:

  • SASKATOON SK – CALGARY AB (FRIDAY, NOV 11)
  • CALGARY AB – LONDON (FRIDAY, NOV 11)
  • LONDON – BARCELONA (SATURDAY, NOV 12)
  • BARCELONA – ROME (MONDAY, NOV 14)
  • ROME – KUWAIT (TUESDAY, NOV 22)
  • KUWAIT – BANGKOK (TUESDAY, NOV 22)
  • BANGKOK – SIEM REAP (TUESDAY, NOV 29)
  • SIEM REAP – BANGKOK (FRIDAY, DEC 02)
  • BANGKOK – SYDNEY AU (FRIDAY, DEC 02)
  • SYDNEY AU – AUCKLAND (SATURDAY, DEC 03)
  • AUCKLAND – LOS ANGELES CA (THURSDAY, DEC 22)
  • LOS ANGELES CA – DENVER CO (THURSDAY, DEC 22)
  • DENVER CO – SASKATOON SK (THURSDAY, DEC 22)

Lots of flights.  Lots of time in airports.

The trip is better summarized as:

  • 2 days Barcelona (just see the Sagrada Familia cathedral)
  • 8 days Italy (Rome and ???)
  • 7 days Thailand(Bangkok and some islands)
  • 4 days Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
  • 19 days New Zealand (probably just the North Island, with Closson’s)

 

 

Holidays booked for Round The World

2011-08-24

My dates for Round the World 2011 are now booked.

I am free from November 10th, through Christmas.  New Zealand and Thailand are our expected destinations.

Sandy is already off work, and we will pull Keiran out of school.

TIme to start planning.