RTW Day 0: Preparation

Ok, here we go.

My itinerary:

1. Lima, Peru
2. Cusco, Peru
3. New York City, NY, USA
4. Cape Town, South Africa
5. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
6. Tokyo, Japan
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. Melbourne, Australia
9. Queenstown, New Zealand
10. Auckland, New Zealand

Originally I planned to go to New Delhi, India, but my Visa application has been delayed for over two months now. Rather than pay several thousand bucks to reschedule my flights and push my trip out, I'm going to visit Japan instead. I lose the money I spent on the Visa application, I have to fight with several agencies to get my passport back, and I'll likely lose out on the time I wanted to spend in Lima. Obviously I'm not too happy about it, but at least I still get to go on my trip!

While I wait, it's time to pack. I have everything I need, and all I need to do is stuff all of this...

 

Into this:

Osprey Farpoint 40

Here's the inventory:

• 2 pairs pants
• 1 pair shorts
• Swimming shorts
• 2 quick-dry shirts
• 2 button-up shirts
• 4 pairs socks
• 4 quick-dry boxer-briefs
• Flip-flops
• Waterproof hiking/casual shoes
• Quick-dry full towel
• Small cotton towel
• Toothbrush/paste, deodorant, Q-Tips, etc.
• Talcum powder
• Lip balm
• Waterproof medical kit
• 30 iodine water tablets
• Water filtration kit
• SPF 50 sunscreen
• 100% DEET
• Aspirin, Tylenol, Doxy (malaria), Cipro (diarrhea), and Tamiflu (influenza)
• Camera, two chargers and three batteries
• Universal EU/Asia/Australia power outlet converter
• Flashlight
• Folder with paper, itinerary, notes, etc.
• Travel journal
• Kindle Paperwhite
• Small pocket-size travel books
• Passport/ID bag that is hidden inside pants
• Random Alaska gifts just in case someone wants them

And a small mini-backpack that folds up nice and conveniently. All of it fits with room to spare.

This one 40L backpack is all I'm bringing with me, so hopefully it's enough. A little heavy, but much better than the big Kestrel I brought to Thailand and Ireland. Now that I more or less know what I'm doing, I feel like I can get away with bringing only one bag. Plus I don't have to worry about checking bags at the airport, airlines losing my luggage, or having to stash heavy bags during the day.

Now I wait. I expect to depart on Thursday as long as they can overnight my passport, but we'll see...

What is an adventure without a little adversity?