TRAVEL PREPARATION

From plane tickets to passports to vaccination shots.  This section will give information about the steps I have taken to prepare to travel to a foreign country.  It will include downloadable forms, useful links, and personal experiences.

Plane Tickets and excellent service provided by:

Pacific Travel & Tours ~ A Full Service Travel Agency

Contact: Tony Tran, Owner/Operator

6840 65th Street, Ste. 135

Sacramento, California 95828

Phone : 916-393-2356

Fax: 916-393-2695

www.MNUI.com -Travel Insurance

www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/ -VISA - when initially researching visas, everything I read or was told, said that I would only be able to apply for a 1 to 3 month visa.  I called the SF consulate and they confirmed that 3 months would be the longest that I could apply for a visa.  I then called the VN Embassy in Washington, DC.  For $200 US, they were willing to give me a visa for 6 months.  Perfect! The Idea of walking on the border just to renew my visa every month didn't sound like much freedom to me.

Find out about current conditions around the world here:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Ummm... what time is it again in Vietnam? or any where else in the world for that matter.

World Travel Guide (WTG) - World Clock

Frick... I can't figure this out... what's the damn exchange rate for dong?

FXConverter - 164 Currency Converter

Latest Videos

Video Visits - Vietnam, Land of the ascending dragon

Video Visits - Thailand, The Golden Kingdom

Pilot Productions - North Thailand and Laos w/ Ian Wright - www.pilot.co.uk

Lonely Planet - The Vietnam Experience

The above listed were rented from Halloway Travel Outfitters.  Holloway Travel Outfitters

Cost: $25  for one week, pretty pricey for outdated material.  There was some historical value.  The videos offered tiny snippets of what life must be like in Southeast Asia.  But again, I think it is safe to say they were way outdated.  Only one video stood out as far as getting it's viewer pumped up for a visit and that was Pilot Productions - North Thailand and Laos w/ Ian Wright.  Ian Wright does a fantastic job in reeling in this traveler.  The dude is funny, knowledgeable, excited to be there.  He transitions nicely to cover topics of a more serious nature, like the bombing of Laos and problems that are still occurring on a daily basis with the un-detonated leftovers.

Physical Training

Although I have been faithful to the gym for many years, my workouts had become quite routine.  Routine begets routine.  My goal before leaving on this trip is to be in the best shape possible...  no injuries.  My concentration will be focused on flexibility, strength, and cardio.

I have worked with trainers in the past to get in shape for my Euro excursions.  My reasons for choosing a trainer in the past were quite different from this time around.  In the past, my focus was to drop body fat so that I could eat like a porker when I got to the EU.  This time I had program designed that would focus on absolute physical conditioning.  To date I have dropped 6 lbs. of body fat and gained 5 lbs. of muscle.  I am very please with the results I am getting in regards to overall flexibility and my cardio performance.  I will list my physical regimen and diet when I get more time.

Kaiser Travel Injection Center

Kaiser does a great job at getting the Traveler ready. I found the Injections nurses to be knowledgeable and very friendly.

(Sandra, RN)

My series of shots have begun (ouch).  I will be listing all of the necessary shots while in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, & Laos.  Stay Tuned...

9/28/04 Rabies and Typhoid

10/6/04 Final Jevax injection

10/06 2nd round of Hep A, Flu Shot, Typhoid renewal