| Monday morning always starts with ALL the things that need to get done swimming on top of my head while I drive to work. Today's drive was especially long 1.5hrs, because I did not listen to Mia when she offered me an alternate route. Lesson learnt, trust Mia. :--P
So I have about 6 weeks to go for my sabbatical. Main challenge with the sabbatical is that it is three trips combined into one. I am jotting it down here. I hope I dont jinx the trip. So many things have to line up correctly. One slip and my plan will come crashing down. Pray for me the few readers of the blog!
1) All of us have different itenaries. K and I travel on different dates too, none of the segments will match. The only things we have done so far is book flights. Actually I am yet to book one segment. Darn!
2) Lot of planning needs to be done for the trekking trip. I dont know if I am fit enough to undertake it.
3) Need to train which means every weekend from now until sabbatical is booked for long hikes.
4) Europe is in plan. Visa has to be gotten. Ugh. What a pain. Atleast for this, cannot wait to get US citizenship. Free travel to most countries. What if visa gets rejected? The paranoid me has to think about it.
5) Travel insurance needs to be obtained. Shopping for it is a pain. Schengen Visa needs coverage to repatriate your remains it seems (if you happen to die on the trip, thank you for reminding me that!). My insurance covers emergency and urgent needs but not just that. I got the insurance, paid for it, to realize ONE minute later the dates on the policy are not correct. :--( Called to modify. Now I will have to move out my visa appointment, which in turn, adds to my anxiety. Good thing I have travel insurance hehe.
6) Doctor appointments - for BSK, for her 4 year check up. K and my doctor check ups, to make sure we are ok before leaving.
7) K and my eye check ups. I am in the last pair of lenses. Already eyes are hurting because they are old. I am scared because I have a feeling my Keratoconus has worsened. I called today to get an appointment and the lady couldnt find my insurance information. Extra calls to insurance. Ugh.
8) Shopping and researching on items to buy for the trek. I am sort of leaving it to K so I can focus on my Europe leg. But still I cannot trust him fully.
9) Europe, what can I say, I research and I find more places I want to visit. I need to book stay. Airbnb, or couch surfers, or just hotels? I need to do this before my visa appointment. How much can I travel? I have a tendency to overcommit. Nope cannot sit and relax in a place. I want to keep running, see as much as possible. With BSK, I dont know how much of it I can do. She is a big girl right? 4 when we travel.
10) I am not there yet, will be in 3 weeks or so. Need to travel light. I have to pack for three different types of trips. Trekking needs special gear, india needs salwars, and Europe needs fashion? How the hell will I pack in 2 suitcases? Needs to be figured out.
11) Last but not the least. :--P Work. I need to find someone to cover for me. I need to come up with a transition plan. The thing is if I dont take the initiative people will just not bother. I guess I have to be responsible.
12) K will be living alone for sometime. I hope he can manage. Doing it after a long time.
13) I will be travelling alone with BSK for the first time. Will she be okay? She is usually okay when she is around with one parent.
14) BSK will be away from K and I for a few days. How will she take it? Will she be okay with her grand parents and cousins? So far the few times we have left her alone for a few hours we have come back to "I am not ready to go home yet!" So I am hoping she will be okay. But still need to spend sometime to make sure she is comfortable.
15) Bills etc needs to be taken care of. Have more time I guess.
16) My time in India is not fully planned but I think it should be okay. Visiting relatives and generally lazing around.
17) Somewhere during my sabbatical BSK turns 4! Now how to plan her party? That is also my concern. Party in India with family, without K? Party in Europe just me and BSK? Do I HAVE to plan a party when we are back in US?
18) Should I squeeze in Dubai? Oh darn visa issues, else I would.
So there. I feel better now. I am sure I have forgotten some things that will crop up. Like currency, and trains, and stroller and tickets to attractions. Have some time to worry about those.
With my big deliverable done at work and new things just picking up, I am slowly checking out of work ;--P Love this period as much as it is nerve wrecking. Planning is always more exciting than the real thing!
Have lots more to write. Later!
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For europe visa, if you google you will be able to get hotel bookings( just for visa.. ). Also Paris visa takes only about a week - a friend got it a month ago.
Dubai - i think has etf for visa.