The landscape is blanket white. Some pertruding rocks suggest the boundary of a car park. ‘This’ll do’. I pull up in Baby Blue’ (my light blue Toyota Corolla), parking on a gentle slope. ‘Enough time’ I tell myself.

Baby blue is already lightly powdered in white. I grab my gear and head for the main doors of the Auckland International Airport terminal. Mt Ruapheu is not the best place for an airport. Im not the only one out here, Meg and Jack White are running up and down the slopes screaming like kids, some other punks are hanging round the cars with their frosted mohawks. Im a bit worried about leaving Baby Blue in the carpark for a year..

The sliding doors of the terminal open and the warm glow of the lights welcome me inside. (I think I checked out Artport, my old work) But reasonably briskly I move through customs to airside. No problems, Im not a terrorist.

The plane to Amsterdam is boarding shortly… A little bit apprehensive I check myself for the umteenth time. Got everything? this-check that-check…
(more…)

testing 1,2… (taps screen) testing 3, 4 (clears throat). Ahhem.

Hi there, this is my first blog entry at the untitled-project. A lot of you who are reading this will know me personally. Ive set this blog up so I can speak to you all at once about.. well whatever I choose! Over the next 6 months Ill mainly be blogging my travel tales through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Nepal, letting you know how Im faring in this big wide world. And letting mum know Im ok.

Current Status:

• Tickets - bought
• Insurance - Purchased
• Pack - er stolen
• Itinerary - uncertain
• Visas - mental note, must get visa’s
• Travel Buddy - na

Yep Ive got a few ends to tie up still but Im in loose control of everything. Further status reports to follow.