Getting Prepared

This is a bit of a boring post but thought i'd just explain some of the things we've done to get prepared for our trip!

First of all we've bought a load of books about where we're going, which despite costing a bit (go on amazon to find some bargains!) are so worth the money. We've got lonely planet guides and they have so much info in them, as does the websites. We want mainly to create a list of the places we want to visit on the way, rather than a strict itinerary, so allowing us to be flexible with what we do.

I've only started looking through it all today and have learnt so much about Vietnam in just an hour or so of looking through the book.

Wanderlust magazine is also quite good, and includes some really detailed reviews, although not always on a budget!

My tent also came in the post today! We decided to get one mainly just for emergencies, but on looking into it there are loads of opportunities to camp in South America, and the beaches in South East Asia so am looking forward to the cliche sunrise and sound of waves on the beach!!! I've used a website called GORP a lot, which is really good, as well as http://outside.away.com/ which is absolutely excellent for advice on getting all the gear, so have compiled a few things now.

I think clothing, which i overlooked at first, is one of the most important things. Have just got a pair of really lightweight and compact quick drying trousers, which you can turn into shorts (sounds so geeky!) but in the humid weather i expect they'll be a lot better than the jeans i had intended on taking!

Probably the best advice i have got though is off the travel nurse, who advised us to purchase some travel needles (£10-£15) as if anything happens you can ask them to use them, and obviously they are sterile so you avoid getting HIV or Hep B etc which is definately helpful!

That reminds me, had the injections too the othe day. WE gt the advice off MASTA on the internet as well as the travel nurse, although my Emily was given completely different advice than me, which is quite worrying, so get a range of opinions if you can!

Anyway, here is some of the stuff i've got which looks excellent and has some great reviews: