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March 10, 2005

Happy Birthday To Me!

salathai.jpg

And what a celebration it was!

Actually it was a pretty calm birthday, just went out to eat with family and friends at this wonderful Thai restaurant called Salathai (sorry the picture is so bad, had to get it off the net, we forgot to bring the camera), opened presents, and chit-chatted.

I received some really nice gifts for my birthday, a Megellan GPS from my dad, a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble and Let's Go guidebook (China, brand new edition) with some highlighters from my mom and also a leather journal, a book light from one of my brothers, a new notebook with little net carrying pouches from my other brother, and a leather carrying bag from my friend. I've already used my gift card once to buy the Let's Go Eastern Europe guide! I still have some $$ left on it, I'm just waiting a little longer in case any interesting new titles come out soon that I can spend it on.

This week was the longest week ever!! I've officially moved into a new house, moved everything...and I have a lot..of well..everything. I plan to have a garage sale soon to get rid of it all and earn money for the trip.
I've also worked quite a lot this week..glad I managed to get some work in as I wasn't able to do a lot of it due to the move.
My room is piled high with boxes because I have now come down with bronchitis or strep or something (each of my brothers had these recently and since we all live in the same house...it's one of those most likely). I have a bad soar throat but I have the seal cough too..so I don't know. What I do know is that this enables me to call out of my waitressing job this Saturday and instead work here at home (which is a lot easier), I hate my waitressing job, it just sucks. I've already requested off for the next two weeks after this Saturday at my waitressing job because I am going back to Texas with my immediate family to visit my extended family for a week, which should be a nice break from work and unpacking (or lack there of ;) ).

I've managed to work out a list of things I wish to visit in China..well Northern China any way and have kind of decided on a route from Russia. I guess I'll be spending a little time in Mongolia, as I here it is worth a stay, so instead of doing the Trans Mongolian/Siberian railway ticket, I will do point to point tickets, I've heard Lake Baikal is beautiful, so I might stop there for a day or two as well. What it all comes down to in the end is money.

I'll post as soon as I get more of my itinerary drawn up and something interesting happens!! *cough*
P.S. Thanks everyone who messaged me and e-mailed me birthday wishes!!!


What I Am Reading Now: 'Anywhere But Missouri, Mate!' by Steve Savage and have been browsing Let's Go China and Let's Go Eastern Europe.
What I Am Listening To Now: Haven't gotten my sound system setup yet :)
Current Savings For The Trip: $3,700 (yes it has declined due to some recent purchases...a new computer chair...groceries...)

Posted by Kailani on March 10, 2005 11:59 PM
Category: The Planning Phase
Comments

heya!

how are the let's go guidebooks,
i am thinking about buying those for thailand and se asia. any clue if they are better than the rough guides and lonely planet books. the let's go books are the most recently released ones of these 3 for these regions

Posted by: Dennis on March 11, 2005 02:02 AM

hey

just ran into yr blog, it seems we are heading off RTW at about the same time, unfortunately, I think we will cross paths somewhere over the Atlantic in our respective 747's, as I'm heading to Central America and thru into South America.

Just thought I'd drop you a line and say hi. I, like you, cannot wait for it all to start, its only six months but it feels like forever.

If only i could save more............

Posted by: roy on March 11, 2005 04:41 AM

DENNIS: Let's Go is really awesome, they cover a lot more and even offer sections on 'Gateway Cities' (cities that you would most likely be travelling from, aka popular destinations) for example, their new Eastern Europe guide includes 'Gateway Cities' such as Berlin, Vienna, Helsinki, and Beijing (they give lists of accomadation, nightlife, food, history, transportation info, embassy info, money info, maps etc...), also they even cover Mongolia in the guide just because you would most likely go through there on the way from Moscow to Beijing, they also provide an entire section detailing the Trans-Siberian Railway. Lonely Planet has none of these things and as not near as detailed, I know 'cause I compared them all in the bookstore. Although I own quite a few LP books, I've recently started collecting LG titles in their place, but LP does offer a lot more destination guides than LG, www.letsgo.com is their webstite. Oh yah, about your question in your last post, about Mallorca, my mother grew up there, she told me it was a beautiful place although she has warned me of the many drunks there, I'd still kinda like to stop in, but I guess I'll see in the end, I hear it's quite expensive, so I might leave it out for my budgets sake. :)

Posted by: Kailani on March 11, 2005 09:15 AM

ROY: Hey!!! Thanks for checking out my blog! Headin' off at the same time eh? It seems so far away huh? :( but I guess it needs to be in order to have $$ for the amount of time I wish to go. In the end it'll all be worth it!!! :)
Too bad we won't be able to meet up, I was thinking about Central/South America, but I live in North America so I can probably do another trip some other time down there. As for now with the amount of time I have (unlimited..well until I run out of money :)) I want to take the chance to visit all those places that are harder to get to / take more time to reach / cost more money to reach...while I am able to.
If for some reason I have massive amounts left when I've finished with Europe, Asia and Australia..I will head on over to S. America and uo through C. America to my home. That would be ideal!!!
Well, once again, thanks for reading up on my blog, I'll try to post as often as possible, it's just so much is NOT happening at the moment other than work and saving that it is hard to provide everyone with interesting entries that are worth a read, but in the future...oh september... :) it will hopefully become very appealing to any and all who read it!

Posted by: Kailani on March 11, 2005 09:23 AM

hey kailani, it's Sim from TheGlobaltrip blog, ... you had me at "I'm going RTW" .. looking forward to your adventures good luck & TAKE PICS! alot of them !

Posted by: sim on March 11, 2005 09:44 AM

Hey Sim!
(Quick reply huh...it's the blog-ahloic thing... hehe)
Thanks for checking out my blog!!! I plan to take millions of pics, I have a new Sony Exilim Digital camera and I am also a photographo-holic...haha :)
Thanks again!
Kailani

Posted by: Kailani on March 11, 2005 10:07 AM

I look forward to reading your blog as you travel. You are going to have an amazing time!

Posted by: myworldtotravel on March 11, 2005 01:17 PM

PS: Happy Birthday!

Posted by: myworldtotravel on March 11, 2005 01:18 PM

Hey thanks myworldtravel!! :) I can't wait to go! :) yayyyyy

Posted by: Kailani on March 11, 2005 01:22 PM
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