"There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it." -- Charles Dudley Warner (American Essayist and Novelist)
My lack of posting in the past week is due to my frenetic preparation for the trip - I'm such a prograstinator! My to-do list included the following:
1) Buy backpack - After consulting the backpack guru(thanks David!), I finally decided on North Face Skared 55 in size small. The nice salesgirl from North Face shop on Newberry Street recommended it as the ideal option for ultra-lightweight packers on the go.
http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AZJ8
The last time I "backpacked" in France and Italy (right after my Stern graduation), I wheeled around a carry-on sized luggage for a month, which makes me as true a backpacker as Ashlee Simpson a real rocker. So time for me to gain the street cred with real backpack.
2) Buy trip clothes - I just realized after 4 years working in Corporate America, I don't really own any t-shirts/sweatshirts (and I can't squeeze myself into those leftovers from my college days regardless of how hard I try to suck in my belly...oh Jenny Craig, where are thou when I need thee?). I took advantage of the tax holiday this past weekend and hit Marshalls - why pay full at Abercrombie&Fitch when you can get the same shirts here for 50% off?
3) Buy camera supplies - I bought my Canon SD200 a year ago online but never used it. Went to Best Buy and bought 2G SD card, SD card reader (for easy digital photo downloading at internet cafes) and replacement battery.
4) Buy miscellaneous supplies - first aide kits, travel guides to India and Egypt (I prefer Rough and Lonely Planet), mini-sized toilletries (the fluid regulation for carry-ons are obviously NOT designed by women. I mean one quart sized plastic bag per person? how am I suppose to fit all my essential beauty supplies in that tiny space?)
5) Miscellaneous errands - Cancel my utilities for my apartment, change addresses for various bills, pause my mobile phone service, etc, etc.
It's almost here people! I promise I will upload pictures when I actually start traveling!
