The big trip this year is to South East Asia and I’m sat at the gate ready for my flight, I’ve already lost my neck support pad for the flight….that was my one luxury and now the flight is delayed Eek!
The planning for this was an interesting process in itself because this time I’m travelling with someone else.
Not one to make my own life easy I’ve also decided I’m visiting South America with another friend later in the year that needed my attention too!
Anyway needless to say, I was a bit stressed in the run up to my flight so I won’t be doing two big trips in one year again! I also won’t work right up the last minute! Famous last words!
I meet Tatjana at Doha (I hope) as she is flying from Germany. In truth we don’t know each other that well as we only met a couple of years ago through Servas (https://servas.org/) but, we really ‘got on’. Tatjana suggested the trip as we both wanted a long adventure and have skills the other can use. However time will tell and to paraphrase my Dad describing us to someone “they are both very well traveled. Debbie is the muscles of the outfit, her German companion is the linguist”. It’s funny to hear what your parents think of you. Hmm…. all 5’4″ inches of me! Really? I love it!
Servas is a nonprofit member organization and NGO that builds peace and cross-cultural understanding through day visits or overnight home stays among members and is affiliated with the United Nations.
Tatjana suggested we try and promote Servas as we travel as Asia seems a little sparse in its membership. So after a short flurry of emails, we have T-shirts and other bits and pieces.
There are a number of other organisations that offer a similar experience and I’m a member of ‘Couch Surfing’ and ‘Be Welcome’ however I rather like the ethos of Servas and looking forward to meeting our hosts and seeing Asia from a more local perspective, time to time.
We are traveling light. My bag weighed in at 13kg and Tatjana has trumped that at 7kg. I thought mine was light!! I can see I’ve got my work cut out!
The Travelling Bee 
Hi Debs no neck rest then 🙄hope you and Tatiana have a great time and no going where you shouldn’t this time ! The T-Shirts should help 😂. Lee will be looking forward to seeing pics of you both, the Architecture and culture .i will email you later today, stay safe xx
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Round one to Tatjana 🙂 … unless she ends up borrowing your kit?!! Would be interested in hearing comparisons on this packing – spaced out already, huh? :o) Good luck and oodles of noodles! xx
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