READY . . . SET . . . PACK!!!

This will be an adventure in many differing climate zones. Evenings and mornings in the Himalaya region will be chilly, while mid-day temperatures and humidity in India and Thailand will be high. South Africa will be moderate to warm, while Japan could be cool and wet. It is always better to pack light, while it is nice to have enough to be prepared and comfortable. The safaris in South Africa and India require good insect repellant, sun block and light clothing that covers arms and legs. Mosques and various holy sites in Turkey, Israel, and elsewhere will require a head covering and long pants or long skirt. We plan to each take one 14" by 22" by 12" bag which we will check, and one carry-on duffel bag. So we will bring clothing that will layer and is of light-weight fabrics; it has to be bath tub washable and fast drying. We are also bringing a laptop computer, iPad, camera, adapters and the necessary thing-a-ma-gig chords and attachments. Naturally the total items that make it into our bags won't be complete until the morning of departure and the front door is locked behind us. Naturally, one of us thinks about packing a lot (perhaps too much) as do a good percentage of those who are reading this, and one of us won't think about it any more than HE absolutely has to.

Need to Know Before You Go

Passports - most of us know that a valid passport is required to enter and leave most countries. But, before you go, make sure that your passport: 

• is valid for at least six months beyond the last date of the trip;
  
• contains at least one remaining visa page per country to be visited (amendment, endorsement, or modification pages do not count) additionally, requesting and obtaining additional pages, on a non-expedited basis, can take as long as 4-6 weeks;
  
• carry it, do not pack it.

Visas -many countries issue visas (commonly in the form of a stamp) to those holding normal passports upon arrival; however some countries require that a visa be obtained  from its Embassy or Consulate before entry. Careful review of country-by-country requirements is essential. Requesting and obtaining a visa, on non-expedited basis, can take as long as 6-8 weeks.

 

Immunizations  - are recommended for health protection for all travelers when visiting high risk countries and my be required for entry into certain countries. The following vaccinations were recommended, but none required, for this trip:  hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, seasonal influenza, H1N1 flu, malaria, polio, and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. Have your health professional fill out an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for each traveler; carry it, do not pack it.

Medical Insurance - for most health insurance plans in the U.S. no benefits are provided for or incident to out-of-country services. The risk of medical emergency costs incurred while travelling, including the cost of air evacuation, should be insured against.

Medication - speak to your health professional about medications including, but not necessarily limited to, azithromycin (upper half of body) and ciprofloxacin (lower half of body).