So Hiroshi and I are re-thinking the departure date of the RTW plan. Originally we had thought June 2005 because that is when our lease renews and we have to fork over a couple thousand dollars in fees to renew it. But that presents a couple problems - the first being we'll hit India in the height of summer and 45C heat and the second being how to get to Costa Rica in November to meet up with Jen and Mike for their wedding festivities.

So after much thinking and waffling, we are on to departure plan B. We'll renew our lease (or move into a weekly rental). Then we'll be able to save a bit more, thus lenghtening our trip. We'll start our RTW in Costa Rica (might hit Las Vegas first to get married by Elvis though). Then we'll work our way thru South America from mid-November to mid-January. We'll catch a flight to South Africa from Rio and then up to Tanzania in February to see the birth of the wildebeasts (which is amazing appartently, and low season too!). From there, possibly we'll hit Egypt, otherwise we'll go directly to Tunisia and then on to Morocco from which we'll cross over to Spain by ferry. That means we'll hit Europe in early spring. How perfect is that?

Then we'll hang out in Europe for several months. Two months in Spain - we might go back for the Running of the Bulls in July. We'll also spend a month in Italy and Greece and hit a few other places - thinking about Czeck, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany right now. From here we can either cross into Central Asia and on into India or we can take the trans-Siberian Express across Russia, thru Mongolia and on into China. The reason for doing it this way is it is easier to cross the Himalayas coming from China (China is reluctant to issue visas if you say you are going to Tibet which is your entry point from Nepal). And we'd get to take the Trans-Siberian :) Then we'd hit Central Asia from India, cross back into Europe and fly on to Canada in time for Christmas 2006.

So the trip is looking like it will be a 12 month thing. Those few extra months will let us save a bit more so we're not scrimping and having to cut things short. So now our route is a bit circular but we'll go with the weather pretty much... oh a whole year without winter. How great is that??!!