Australia

With only two full days to go before I fly out to LA to start my México trip I have just discovered the greatest online travel gear retailer on the planet. Even better is they are located in my home state of Victoria in Kilcunda!

Tim & Janine run a tight ship at Travelgear.com.au and have been super helpful beyond all my expectations of customer service!

I have been attempting (unsuccessfully) to find a 50w step up transformer and adaptor for use in México. The transformer has been near on impossible to find and although I have found adaptors for use in México, they only accommodate 2 pronged Australian electrical appliances, not three pronged.

Anyhow, having found Travelgear.com.au by Googling, I contacted them and spoke with Janine & Tim. Tim advised me that he can supply me with the required multi-use adaptor (for use with 3 pronged Australian electrical appliances), but has no transformers left in stock. However, he gave me the contact details of his transformer supplier who is located in Beaconsfield - I promptly called him and will pop over to see him on Monday to pick up my long sought after 50w step up transformer! Coincidentally enough, Janine at Travelgear.com.au will be in Frankston (my home town) on Monday and so will deliver my multi-use adaptor in person!

So, if you are on the hunt for some obscure travel equipment, I highly recommend Travelgear.com.au.

I am currently in the process of planning my next trip.

Where will I go, when and how?

This is a really difficult question. Initially I had simply planned to go to México in December and take the Southern Migration trip with the Green Tortoise mob. But then I started thinking that if I were in the area why not go back to the north-east of Brazil (I was there in November last year)... and why not just overland it through Central America to Colombia, Venezuela...

And so my plans started to snowball.

Then, when I mentioned my desire to travel again to my Ecuadorian friend, Alejandro, who is currently living in Spain he suggested I visit him on the Costa Brava.

So at this point the current idea is to head off to the Costa Brava and catch up with Alejandro and then cycle along El Camino de Santiago, head down to Lisbon and fly out to Salvador de Bahia in north-east Brazil... make my way through the north of South America...

Well - the logistics are giving me a head ache. However, I have set myself a departure date of 1 September so have plenty of time to work out the final travel plan (which we all know constantly changes!).

Right now I'm just doing a lot of research and seeking advice from as many travel resources as I can find.