Meet Bocce!

Now that we're just barely a week away from departure day, we should introduce you to someone you will be seeing a lot of during our trip - Bocce!

While we were planning our trip, we wanted to find a little mascot to travel around with us, and one day a few weeks ago a coworker of Ken's introduced us to Bocce. Her 4 year old daughter was excited to hear of all the amazing places we're planning to visit, and we thought it would be fun to take pictures of something she would recognize everywhere we go. And then came Bocce! He's cute, compact, and last I heard he was ready for a visit home to see his tiger peeps in India. So he will go everywhere we do and you'll probably see a lot of him in the next 6 months!

Our packing list is almost completely crossed off, and Bocce is getting excited as the pile grows!

He's been doing a lot of reading from our guidebook stash too.

So the last of the 'to do' list is being tackled over the next few days, getting ready for departure day NEXT WEEK! Woooo hooooooooo!!!

What do you pack for a trip around the world?

We've had a packing list underway for a while now, but I'm still baffled at the thought of trying to fit all this stuff in a backpack without it bulging at the seams. Granted, most of the things on the list are quite small and light, but it does look like a huge list! A number of things will likely inevitably be cut when it comes down to crunch time the night before we leave... but this is the list we have at this point. Do you think we forgot anything? (Maybe just the kitchen sink!)

CLOTHES:

• swimsuits
• shorts
• tank tops
• long pants
• long sleeved wicking shirt
• pj's
• undies
• socks
• warmish shirt
• shoes
• flip-flops
• rain jacket
• fleece jacket
• sarong (might not bring but just buy later)
• t-shirts
• light button-up shirt
• skirt
• ball cap
• sun hat
• touque
• gloves

OTHER STUFF:

• camera + lenses
• video camera + cords + tapes
• sunglasses
• guidebooks/photocopies
• itinerary
• cash & cards
• copies of tickets
• passport + copies
• PADI + DAN cards
• insurance info
• photobank
• sleep sheet
• pillow case
• daypack
• notebook + pens + sharpie
• ziploc + garbage bags
• laundry bag?
• sewing kit
• mosquito net
• USB drive
• watch
• money belt
• blank cd's
• addresses & calendar written into notebook
• bandana
• towel
• waist pack
• vaccination paperwork
• camera batteries + cords + charger
• tripod
• zap straps + elastics + safety pins etc.
• ear plugs
• sink plug + clothes line
• knife + fork + spoon
• dive computer + batteries
• mask + snorkel
• little dive light + batteries (will double as flashlight)
• headlamp + batteries
• empty water bottle
• vitamins
• calling card
• laundry soap
• little calculator
• pack cable locks
• camera housing
• silicon grease for housing
• door wedge
• photos from home
• stickers for little kids we meet along the way!

TOILETRIES:

• shampoo + conditioner
• body wash + small pouf
• sunscreen
• face wash + lotion
• deoderant
• razor + blades + shaving cream
• bug dope
• toothbrush + tooth paste
• dental floss
• hand lotion
• tp
• aloe gel
• lip balm
• hair elastics + clips
• comb
• eye drops
• mirror
• kleenex
• vaseline + tiger balm
• nail clippers
• hand sanitizer + wipes

FIRST AID KIT:

• Cipro + Gravol + immodium + T3's + pepto
• bandaids + misc. bandages + gauze
• malaria medication
• tweezers + scissors + knife

Whew! That's a lot of stuff.

Well we are approaching the one month countdown mark, and the reality of actually leaving on our trip is starting to sink in! But we're almost ready to go, so it's all good! Normally at this time of the year, I'm a bit sad that summer is over and winter is looming, but this year it has been exciting to see the leaves change and the temperature drop because it means that departure day is coming. Our passports are making their way to Ottawa to get outfitted with Kenyan visas, and then we're pretty much ready to go! BRING IT ON!!!