"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night!"

"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night,

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu,

Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu!"

It's all beginning to get a bit real! In less than 12 hours, I will be flying out of Adelaide, filled with excitement, nerves, anticipation, and no doubt a sneaky Maccas breakfast on the way to the airport! Just 12 hours til my whole world changes forever, and I think I am just beginning to realise what a big adventure I have managed to sign up for! A whole year away from my family, my friends, and everything I know, understand and appreciate. A whole year of changing sleeping surfaces almost every night, of having to search for, pay for, and wait around at laundromats, a year with no car, of standing on crowded public transport or putting my life in danger just to cross the street to buy lunch, or admire yet another creative car-parking attempt.

By January 2013, I will have been exposed to over 55 countries and cultures, attempted basic communication in languages I don’t even know exist yet, and no doubt will have met, traveled alongside and laughed with people from all over the world – however at times I know I will miss home! I went out to dinner last week with family and friends, and as much as the idea started out as a ‘farewell dinner’, it didn’t end up like one at all. It felt like a celebration. A celebration that I am finally doing something, I have made up my mind on where to go, how to go about it, and have stuck to my decision. A celebration of what’s to come, yet an appreciation of what I have done to get to this point, and the people I have met and come to call friends along the way. The food was great, the company was excellent, and the conversation even better, and I thank everyone who came to celebrate with me, and look forward to seeing many of you at various points along my way!

However, it hasn’t all been fine dining and wonderful conversation – there is still plenty of work to get done before departure!

I've almost finished packing my bag, which is easier said than done! With so many compartments, zips, clips, locks, tags, dividers, pockets and options, just getting my head around what goes where was half the challenge! I think my main problem was most of the available space/weight had already been claimed, even before taking into account the basics like clothes. There's the compartment for Haighs Chocolate (I received a pleading email from the Ali's in Nepal last week), the pharmacy compartment (I have JUST managed to fit all my meds into a 2L container, after removing all the packaging and squeezing the blister packs into sandwich bags!), and the compartment for things I am certain I will need, and will no doubt never use. I've got hiking boots, lotions, potions, books, gadgets, computers, maps, itineraries, tickets, my sleeping bag, AND the small air mattress for my overland trips (not that anyone will know I have it, for once I lie down, I am sure to overhang all four sides).

As I head out into the world tomorrow morning, I wish you all a very happy and safe year, and thank you for joining me on my journey from Smiley Fritz to Santiago!