4 days to go

The months of meticulous dreaming and lackadaisical planning are over. The course of vaccinations, which cost an equivalent amount to the street price of 15 grams of heroin, is complete. I feel like the shots should have had some kind of discernible impact on my body for that price, perhaps a discreet tattoo somehow emerging on the upper thigh from within, proclaiming immunity to typhoid. I suppose I'll just have to hope that I'll have the good luck to encounter a few rabid dogs along the way, so I can ascertain I've got my money's worth.

The picture above might seem organised and full of exciting travel goodies to those of you who have never ventured further than Gretna Green, but anyone who has embarked on a lengthy trip to more exotic climes will note the absence of several bits of equipment yet to be sourced. Dave is responsible for purchasing just about everything sensible and also potentially embarrassing, such as the laxatives and anti-diarrhoea tablets every guidebook recommends to take. Who would have thought four years ago that our relationship would descend to such levels of familiarity and horror! I am responsible for purchasing lots of brightly coloured t-shirts for myself which I will then find for a tenth of the price on Khao San Road. Also for printing out lots of nice copies of a million documents I will probably never need but which look very business like indeed in my lovely new document wallet. This was a present from my good friend Jonny, which proves he is much, much more thoughtful than I could ever be. He is also one of the many people who have requested a postcard from every country I visit, which I am happy to oblige with although I fear that in combination with this blog and facebook you might be sick of hearing from me before long!

Six months seems both like it will last forever and not be long enough. At the moment I feel scared about going away, but also scared about coming back...