Preparation

Today, we started packing..I hate packing, probably cause I always pack for two...John and I! He is pretty good but he does need supervision as we have gone on trips where beleive it or not, he forgot his shaving stuff. It's interesting how (when you have the time and inclination) that you can pack for 4 weeks taking less than we do when we go for two weeks in Mexico. I think the reasoning is that you absolutely know that you will have to wash clothes in 4 weeks but when you go for two weeks, you hope to not wash clothes. Besides we will be on the go and the less luggage the better.

Just a couple days and we will be in Samoa for a 3 day adventure sleeping in a fale but hey can't be any different than a cabin without walls, can it?

Tickets are booked. Accomodations for Samoa have been booked via internet. We are staying for 3 nights at Virgin Cove Resort on the way down under. I have also booked Heilala Holiday Lodge in Tonga for 3 nights for the way back up. We leave on March 3 and will return on March 31, 2009.

Excitement is mounting and I research and check out all the places we need to see and all the stuff we need to do. After all, you can't go that far and not do all you can do!

The biggest joy, however, will be to meet up with Dean who will be in Australia as of Jan 7, 2009. We have tenatively made hook up plans for Sydney.

Well, final plans are nearly set. Flights are reserved and unlimited train passes within Australia are bought. Have contacted Samoa and Tonga resorts to book accommodation for stopovers on way down and way back.