Sights and Sounds: Sultanahmet at Dusk

The call to prayer 

The "Remember To" List

Before taking off on long term travel, it's important to tie up any loose ends you might have.  This is my "Remember To" List I kept going in my iphone during the last few weeks of my trip. 

*forward mail

*make copies of EVERYTHING (leave them with someone you trust)

*change address on student loans

*register with the state department

*back up computer(s)

*set up a blog

*address book

*Moo Cards (I love business cards, so this is a fun way to keep that going.  You can upload your own pictures so the card is suddenly a conversation piece.  I'm loving them!)

*taxes

*pay lawyer

*ebay

*renew NZ visa

*pick one person to go through your mail/notify you of anything going on – leave a few checks, etc.

*make a detailed list of your stops, etc. for parents or others

*update ipod

*update nook

*pack earplugs and an eyemask for the plane

*remember to pack a scarf and chap stick!

*extra passport photos

*research the weather

*medical insurance

*visa requirements

*consign clothes

*donate clothes

*vaccinations 

(Vaccination Resources: The Adventure Doc’s vaccination page, CDC’s Malaria Map, CDC Traveler’s Heath recommendations, World Health Organization’s Country-specific Reports).

Keeping this list on hand no matter what I was doing was really helpful.  Your brain goes a million miles a minute when you're preparing to leave, so it's important that you have a pen and pencil handy when the thoughts come.  By the grace of the dear lord I managed to get all of this done and am now footloose and fancy free over here in Turkey!  I can't wait to share my thoughts with you on Istanbul, but I think I need to let the city soak in a few more days to have a more accurate perspective.  First impressions though, what an interesting layer cake.  It's ancient but modern, conservative but progressive...the city in itself is an oxymoron.  Today's explorations include a ferry across The Bosphorus to the Asian side as well as The Blue Mosque, The Grand Bazaar, and the Basilica Cistern!

Here are a few shots taken yesterday that will inspire you to plan that big trip!  Enjoy :)

That Time I Got a Misdemeanor While Traveling

You know those movies where you see folks get in trouble while they’re traveling?  Think Brokedown Palace and Taken.  Whether I like it or not, these movies are always on my mind, so I try not to make some of the stupid mistakes the characters in those movies make.  Up until this point, I’ve been going strong.  On December 29, however, my luck changed. 

En route to the wonderful city of New Orleans, I headed to the BWI Airport for my direct flight to MSY on Southwest.  Buckets of snow were falling the entire time we were headed up, so I began to worry if we’d even leave.  Alex and I split up at the ticket counter for some reason, so I went ahead to the security line thinking I’d just meet him after.  Shoes off, laptop out, coat and scarves in the box.  “Ma’am, we’re gonna need you to step over here please with you bag.”  “Sure!  No problem” I say thinking that I most certainly forgot some nail polish in my bag.  Imagine my surprise when the police officer pulls out a small black box.  One I don’t recognize…for about five seconds.  “Oh no” I think to myself.  The officer pulls the taser out of its little black case and pushes the button.  Turns out that my mad dash to the airport and the subsequent grab of a bag out of Alex’s closet – any bag, just pick one – held a sweet little gem.  The current of electricity snaps and crackles it’s way into stardom as six uniformed officials walk over to me.  At this point, I just let the officer know that he can confiscate it, no problem, as 1) I didn’t even know it was there and 2) it was used when I tutored in Anacostia, a job I no longer have.  I’m still smiling at this point and relatively apologetic.  My smile is wiped away when the nice cop pulls me aside and explains that I shouldn’t panic, but I need to go ahead and contact my lawyer.  “Contact my lawyer?  Why?  Why would I have a lawyer on speed dial?”  “Ma’am, most people have their lawyers on speed dial.”  “We’re giving you a felony weapons charge, one that will hopefully get dismissed when you explain the situation to the judge.”  Like a volcano, boom, waterworks.  At this point, I’m about twenty minutes into the inquisition and thinking about Alex.  He’s probably panicking since he cannot find me at the departure gate.  Ten minutes later he walks up to the mob of policemen surrounding me and sees me, read face and tears rolling down.  Humiliating is most certainly an understatement, as most of the security line can see what’s happening.  You might ask yourself, can things possibly get worse?  Turns out yes, yes they can.  “What’s your address?” “I just got off a plane from New Zealand and I’m in transition.  I don’t have one.”  “Why are you flying on a one way ticket?” “Because I’m going to New Orleans for New Year’s and then driving back to Arkansas with friends.”  “Where is your driver’s license?” “It was lost in New Zealand.” “What is your cell phone number?” “I haven’t hooked one up yet as I’m just recently back in the states.”  Oh yes.  I just got labeled.  These gentlemen had a field day.  About 45 minutes later, I had a yellow ticket in hand.  Turns out it was written as a misdemeanor instead of a felony – the good cop said he did me a favor.  The charge, “interfering with security procedures.”  “Your lawyer will know what that charge means ma’am.”  No, no he actually never quite figured that out, but that’s just an aside. 

How does a 25 year old with a squeaky clean record go about finding her very own criminal lawyer, especially in a city she has never spent time in – Baltimore?  Turns out the process isn’t fun, so I think I have a bit more insight into why people who get into trouble stay in trouble.  The clerks are unhelpful, the officers gruff, and everyone sort of hates you all the time.  Things take forever to process, and you are pretty much left without a prayer.  Fortunately, a friend knew someone who knew someone, so I was set up with a fantastic criminal lawyer in the Baltimore area.  He had been practicing for 30 years and has a law degree from Harvard.  Yep, he’s my guy.  How much do criminal lawyers bill?  $625 an hour it turns out.  On the eve of an already frugal 5 month trip, I was devastated and am still figuring out ways to pay this bill.  I’ve sold a handful of very nice things (goodbye Kate Spade, DVF, and Tori Burch) on Ebay as well, so I’m almost there!  This mostly makes me wonder, why the hell am I not a lawyer?  Well, a lawyer from my lawyer’s time who already has that much experience under his belt.  I’m not exactly sure I’d want to be a lawyer to day, but that’s an aside.

So the legal saga has continued for two full months.  Dozens of phone calls, meetings to find the right lawyer, paperwork, pleading, the whole thing.  Finally, on February 22, I get an email from my lawyer letting me know that the case has been dismissed and expunged.  It’s a pre trip departure miracle!!!  I can get my NZ Visa renewed for year 2 of grad school, and I can stop worrying so much about whether or not I’m going to jail for 90 days.  Thank goodness.  Thanks to all of those out there who kept me in mind, it was so so appreciated. 

So let this be a lesson to you – check your purse.  Even if you’re always super careful – check again.  It really is a nightmare.  

What's In My Bag? A Packing List For Your Extended Travels

Trying to get organized enough to pack life up and head out for an extended period of time is a challenge.  When I look at this word, challenge, I sort of think soul crushing is a better term to describe what the process feels like.  I arrived back in the US from New Zealand on December 7, 2012, and I head out on this trip to Turkey, Jordan, France, Italy, and Greece on February 25^th.  Preparing for this adventure has taken every single bit of the time in between December and February, and I’m so glad that I had the time off to get myself in order. Of course, I had a few hiccups (That Time I Got a Misdemeanor While Traveling) in between now and then, but I have somehow escaped the lasso that almost kept me from going on this particular round of traipsing. 

There are a number of blogs and websites that have been invaluable in this preparation.

Legal Nomads, Answering Oliver, Yallah Bye, REI, and finally, Sierra Trading Post.  I probably read 100 travel blog entries on trip preparation, but they were so incredibly different based on trip length, location, purpose, etc. that my head sometimes started to spin.  After much thought, I finally have my list pinned down.

Casey's Packing List

Packing Aids

Osprey Farpoint 70 pack with detachable daypack (my second Osprey pack - and so far my absolute favorite.  This pack is AMAZING.  It is both a pack and a travel bag and has a zip up for all the straps in case I need to check it.  Since I need to hike and check into airports with this baby, it's absolutely perfect for me.  The front compartment is actually a zip off backpack as well.  Osprey thinks of everything.)

Outdoor Research Ultralight Compression Sack – 25L (pictured)

Outdoor Research Ultralight Compression Sack - 8L (pictured)

Eagle Creek Packing Cube (pictured)

Large Hefty plastic zipper bags

Electronics
15" Macbook laptop and charger

Laptop case

Headphones

Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive with USB cable

Canon Rebel T2i  battery charger

Memory Cards (2) (not pictured)

Nook and Nook charger (thanks mom!!)

Ipod

Iphone 4s and charger

Meds and Such

Ciprofloxacin (for diarrhea)

Benadryl

Benadryl Anti-Itch Cream

Dramamine (motion sickness)

Ortho tri cyclen

Neutrogena Suncreen 60+

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen 30

Band-aids

Bug spray with 100% DEET

Moleskin

Kleenex

Multivitamin

Folic Acid

Tide

Toiletries

Shampoo

Conditioner

Dove Bar Soap

Face lotion with sunscreen

Anti-Acne Treatment

Hairspray

Comb

Headbands (2)

Bobby pins

Hair ties

Makeup

Mini loofah

Wet wipes

Body lotion

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Vaseline

Diva Cup (Courtesy of Nadine and Anna)

Face scrub

Tweezers

Deodorant

Razor

Cotton Balls

Bun Ring (LOVE this thing)

Misc.

Ducks Unlimited Hat

Moo Cards

Kavu Crossbody Day Bag

Raincover (for pack)

Large Ziplocks

Petzl Headlamp

Mini flashlight

Swiss Army Knife

Ear Warmers

Quick Dry Towel

Clothing

In an 8L Outdoor Research Compression Sack:

ExOfficio underwear (1)

Panties (4)

Sports bras (2)

Regular bra (2)

SmartWool Socks (3 pairs)

Bikinis (2)

Work Gloves

Winter Gloves

Sleep shorts

Nike running shorts

In a 25 L Outdoor Research Compression Sack:

Royal Robbins Hiking Pants

Lululemon Groove pants

Skargorn Jeans, Madewell

Alice and Olivia Olive Shorts

Wet Seal Pink Scalloped Shorts

Old Navy Convertible Maxi Dress

Old Navy Fold Over Jersey Skirt

Floral Summer Dress (Ended up taking this out)

Lululemon Blue and White Striped Tank

Lululemon Hot Pink Tank

Banana Republic Black Button Up Silk Blouse

St. Croix Striped Blouse

Black cami

Cotton On Striped Long Sleeve

Glassons Merino Long Sleeve

Merrell Ophelia Shirt

Cotton On Chambray Long Sleeve

Cashmere Cardigan

Blazer

Marmot Raincoat

Northface Denali

Northface Vest (Ended up taking this out of my bag for size)

Running shoes

Merrell Hiking Boots

Havaianas Flip Flops

Black Cap Toe Flats

And of course, gotta have a tiny bit of bling for the road.

Documents

Extra passport photos

Jordan Dinars

US Dollars

Passport

Credit/Debit Card

Print Outs / Reservations and Itineraries

Total weight of pack - 11.2 kg = 24.69 pounds

*Update

I've just arrived in Istanbul, and let me tell you - 25 pounds doesn't feel so light after you have to take public transportation standing up for 45 minutes post 24 hours of travel.  My pack has a feature where you can zip a small backpack off of the main pack.  In this pack are all of my electronics - weight that is not calculated above in my main bag.  I also have a small sleeping bag with me for the desert in Jordan.  

What are your packing strategies?  Can you think of anything I missed?  Alex is carrying my adapter and a few meds, but aside from that I think it's golden!!

Travel

Travel to me is like a plate of pancakes; comforting, delicious, and laden with sweet maple syrup and, if you’re lucky, occasional hits of bacon.  On this particular day, said pancakes are brimming with blueberries and vanilla – tastes that call to mind two distinct places.  Blueberries from the blueberry farm outside of Hot Springs and vanilla seeds from the fragrant vanilla beans I picked up in the Fa’a Airport in Tahiti.  Travel and food take you places.  Whether it’s through a smell or sound, they lift you up and carry you away to places you’ve been, places you hope to go, or places you can only dream of knowing someday.  

Critics sometimes label those with the constant urge to travel as those in search of an escape. This person cannot appreciate the beauty of the life they lead or the place they’re from and constantly need to escape to far and distant places.  I’ve encountered these types of folks in my twenty-six years, and to them I have always offered up a rebuttal.  A traveler appreciates the beauty of the life they lead on a heightened level.  We know that the soul of a place is held by a building’s edifice, a beloved dish, or even it’s cab drivers.  It’s in the market that brings together every color and class, all in search of that perfect summer ripened tomato.  Through it’s absence, a traveler has learned how to appreciate home in a way that many others cannot.  They have come to love the easy familiarity of the place they’re from, but have acquired the need to explore and become lost in the chaos and confusion of wandering.  Eventually, familiar is the strangeness of a taste you cannot identify, a face you do not recognize, and a feeling of anonymity that breathes new life into possibilities you had previously cast aside.  This feeling is the elixir to the 8-5, the consumerism, the can not, and it is a drug for those who choose to uncover it.  

I love to travel, to wander, to gallivant. This blog will be about the places, people, food, animals, and experiences I come across in my travels…places I hope you can experience with me.  Thank you for reading, and I hope you love Gallivantology!