Kirk's & Maren's Dairy

March 01

(Germany, Czech Rep, Hungary, Greece)

April 01

(Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel)

May 01

(Jordan Egypt)

June 01

(Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda)

July 01

(Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia)

August 01

(Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, India)

September 01

(India, Nepal)

October 01

(Nepal, Tibet, China)

November 01

(China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand)

December 01

(Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali Indonesia, Australia)

January 02

(Australia)

February 02

(Australia, New Zealand)

March 02

(New Zealand, Hawaii USA, Vancouver Canada, USA)

April 02

(USA, Mexico, Belize)

May 2002

(Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama )

June 2002

July 2002

August 2002

So what are we doing to prepare for our tour?   At the moment I am trying to sell my house or rent it.  I will take which ever comes first.  I would  rather sell the thing which would  enable me to keep my head clear and free of  worries during our trip.  We have also concentrated on getting our paperwork organized.  I went and got an International drivers license (45 DM or around $23) and went to the American Consulate  in Düsseldorf for 2 new passports.  The first one is just a normal passport that I will need, which is good for 10 years.  The second passport is only good for 2 years.  I  got the second passport just in case I loose the first. It might also come in handy for some countries that do not welcome you when you have a immigration stamp from another country.   Maren will wait until the last moment to get her second passport,  because a second German passport is only good for one year.   The American Passport cost 80 DM ($40)  each.   The German Passport costs 45 DM.    

We have also be making sure we have all the right vaccinations.   Look at our Health & Security page for more information.  Health Insurance has been a pleasant surprise for us.  We were astounded that it will cost Maren 42 DM ($22) and 31 DM ($16) per month for myself the first year. 

We have also bought 3 Lonely Planet books:  Eastern Europe,  Middle East,  and East Africa.  They are helping us plan our trip and are giving us some great ideas on where to go.  The only problem is,  the more one reads, the more one wants to see.  In planning our route we are realizing one year will not be enough time to be able to see and do all the things we want to do.   Our planned itinerary will probably continually change throughout the trip.