Getting ready for my first backpacking adventure...

Miss-Nani — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’m feeling excited and anxious.

My upcoming trip is a first for a lot of reasons: I’ve never traveled alone, limited my luggage to just one backpack, stayed at a hostel, nor visited the West coast. This is also the first of many trips I’ll be doing for the next 12 months. A lot of due diligence is required and there are many learning opportunities coming up.

The departing flight is scheduled to leave Charlotte around 6am, stop in Ohio for an hour, and arrive in San Francisco around 11am PST. I’ll be staying in a 4-bed female dorm ensuite for about $31/night in a hostel near the heart of the city. More details during/after the trip. With the big ticket expenses taken care of, it’s time to focus on what I’m taking with me. The weather should be mostly sunny, ranging from 61 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a little chilly for my warm-natured self.

Perusing dozens of travel websites and blogs helped me prioritize what items to pack. For now the list reads as follows:

-Large off-brand backpack to fit all items and can be left at the hostel during the day.
-Small and lightweight Under Armour backpack designed for hiking and large enough to accommodate my netbook, camelback-style hydration pack, camera, scarf, and small items I might purchase along the way.
-Toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste
-Deodorant (will buy shampoo and soap in SF)
-Chapstick
-Fast-drying hand towel
-Fleece sheet with pillow
-Extra pillowcase
-4 tshirts, 2 jackets, and 1 hoodie
-2 jeans and 1 pj pant
-4 socks, 5 panties, 3 bras
-Closed sandals and versatile semi-flats
-Dell netbook and charger
-Camera, extra SD card, usb cord/charger
-iPhone and usb cord/charger
-$40 cash for emergencies
-Printout of flight schedule and reservations
-Ziploc bags and waterproof bags to fit clothes in case it rains while walking to/from the hostel

So far that’s all I’m packing, really hoping it will suffice for my short 4 day trip.

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

Miss-Nani — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

i no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu (Japanese proverb)
The frog in the well does not know the ocean

Step 1: Fly from the nest, go independent.
Step 2: Get a "grown-up" job to finance wanderlust.
Step 3: Plan to incorporate traveling into the lifestyle.

Done, done and done. Life is good.