Waiting for the dust to settle

sarahtravels — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Along with huge numbers of travellers I have been delayed by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. Plumes of ash sent high into the air create a potential disaster for jets when the magma would melt into glass at high temperatures and shut down the engines. Most of European airspace got closed down last Thursday and did not reopen until the following Wednesday. My flight was due out on Monday morning.

My tickets have been rebooked with a departure date of 8 days later, and my outward itinerary has been pushed back by the same amount. I am still going to visit Hong Kong and Bali, I'm very much looking forward to being on the road, or perhaps lounging by a pool in the warm sunshine.

The enforced interlude has permitted more online planning and preparation, and a few more details of the trip are coming together very nicely. In the meantime, I am at my parents being fed and looked after very well, it's a lot better for me than a number of the other "Volcationers". Air travel is back to normal now, but many stranded passengers still face huge delays in getting home.

Planning Phase

sarahtravels — Fri, 9 Apr 2010 01:52:00 GMT

I've been at home for 2 weeks now and have eventually sketched out an itinerary. Yesterday I purchased the flights and now I'm looking for travel insurance and vaccinations. I have got a travel bag, and I finally decided on the compromise of a wheeled bag, with backpack.

I leave on the 19th April, so I have about 2 weeks to finalise details and do my packing. Which will only be made difficult by the fact that I am to take very very little with me. How to achieve this?

Moonrise on the other side of the world

Waiting for the dust to settle

Planning Phase