Mexico

I visited Dr John Scally again today who jabbed me for typhoid and my second rabies shot. We also discussed the best drug for malaria prevention and settled on Chloroquin. However, he pointed out that if I end up in Colombia and Ecuador I should get hold of Malarone as the Chloroquin won't be of any use if I visit malaria areas in those countries.

I have to go back to Dr Scally again on 2 September for the final rabies and Hep A/Hep B shots.

Today's expenses were $42.00 for the typhoid shot, another $95.00 for the second rabies shot and $15.00 for 100 Choroquin tablets. And $81.70 for the consultation fee. Medicare will reimburse me about $50-$60 for this.

Stage One vaccinations commenced on Saturday. I thought it was going to be a fifteen minute job, but Dr John Scally (also a well seasoned traveller) takes his WHO job very seriously.

I had a one hour consultation with him during which time he took out his fine toothed comb and researched every Spanish-speaking American country I may possibly visit. To be honest, I thought I'd just walk in and get a jab for yellow fever and then walk out again. But it wasn't so simple.

Dr Scally gave me detailed information about how, where and from what I could contract a nasty series of diseases like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B (both scary), yellow fever (pretty scary), and rabies (very, very scary). He also talked about dengue fever and typhoid... but his description of rabies has so overshadowed everything else that I can't remember anything else he said!

So one hour later I walked out of his surgery having received vaccinations for Hep A and B, yellow fever and rabies. But it doesn't stop there. This coming Saturday I need to return to his clinic to receive the second shot for Hep A and B, the second (of three) shots for rabies, and one for typhoid. During this upcoming session he will also discuss malaria prophylactics and whether or not I should take preventive measures against dengue fever. Oh, and then three weeks later I need to return again for the final rabies shot.

I must admit that a few years ago I developed a slight fear of needles as a result of passing out on the red carpet (literally) at Melbourne Town Hall after being innoculated for MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). So I was feeling a little nervous as Dr Scally waved his needles around. To combat the feeling of faintness I focussed my eyes on his framed Camino de Santiago memorabilia, a few Hail Mary's and called upon Mary McKillop to prevent me from passing out. Dr Scally has a pretty gentle touch so I didn't really feel anything at all... until a few days later when I felt that my arms had gone through a few rounds with Kostya Tszyu.

So far, this exercise in innoculation has set me back AU$310.90: $111.90 for the hour long consultation, $95 for the first rabies shot, $45 for yellow fever and $59 for the combined Hep A and Hep B shot. Of all these vaccinations, the only one that is absolutely compulsory (if travelling to Colombia and Ecuador) is yellow fever. Australia is home to the same mosquito that carries the yellow fever virus, hence Australian Quarantine's severe warnings about ensuring all travellers to yellow fever areas are duly vaccinated and obtain a "yellow fever" card (which, also happens to be yellow).

Health Checks

Vaccinations
Medical check up
Prescription medicine
Dental check up

The Travel Clinic Australia is an excellent resource for all matters pertaining to one's health overseas!

I'm off to see Dr John Scally's Travel Clinic at 278 Buckley St, Essendon on Saturday morning to get the various vaccinations that are recommended for travel to México. Last year I went to Brazil and didn't get a yellow fever vaccination. This wasn't so much of a drama in Brazil, but upon re-entering Australia, the alarm bells were signalled when Quarantine officials in Customs discovered I didn't hold the compulsory paperwork that would indicate I had been vaccinated against yellow fever! I was detained for some time as the geographically-challenged Quarantine officials sternly asked me to point out exactly where in Brazil I visited... as they spread out a map of Colombia in front of me! To cut a long story short, they let me go but gave me strict instructions to watch out for the symptoms of late onset yellow fever!

As I am only (officially) travelling to México, there are no shots that are compulsory, but I will vaccinate myself against yellow fever as I may get an opportunity to go to Colombia and Australian Quarantine require all Australians travelling to Colombia to be innoculated against this disease.

Travel Clinic Australia has an excellent page here which provides a list of vaccines required per country.

I've also booked in to see my dentist tomorrow - however, I fear that a little bit of work may be required. But better to have it attended to here in Australia than being overseas with a toothache.

Monday I have my full medical check up and will take the opportunity to refill my prescription drugs for asthma: ventolin and seretide. Perhaps too I might ask for some prescriptions for general antibiotics to take away with me - just in case I get hit with another chest infection (three this year already!).

Visa checks

Visa Link is an excellent source of information on visa requirements. Their website states that no visa is required for Australian passport holders travelling to México for less than 90 days - although a "tourist card" must be obtained, and stamped, upon entering the country. Failure to do so will cause problems down the track.

Central American countries and Colombia also do not require Australian passport holders to have a visa. Generally the length of the visa will be determined at the point of entry to the relevant country.

Ecuador also does not require Australian passport holders to obtain a visa prior to entering the country, although tourist visits are restricted to 90 days only.

The advice given by the One Bag website states that "there are two kinds of luggage: carry on and lost."

As much as I would love to adhere to this advice, with the new changes to the airline carry on baggage allowances, it is going to be impossible for me to pack everything I need into a tiny cabin bag.

Luggage

After much research on luggage I decided on the Osprey Meridian 28 (75L, including zip-off day pack) - a travel pack with sturdy wheels. I purchased it for AU$399.00 from Paddy Pallin in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.

It's a fairly compact pack, sits very comfortably on my back (I have a slight "sway back" and other packs tended to cause me some discomfort) and the wheels are an added bonus. It sits firmly on my hips so that I am not carrying the weight of the pack on my shoulders.

It's designed for simple backpacker travel, i.e. just to get you from the bus stop/airport to the hostel/hotel. It's definitely not designed for hiking.

I am planning on filling it to a maximum of 10kg

What to pack?

One Bag have a great list of "what to pack on a trip of any length". However, I'm not going to take everything they suggest. My list is as follows:

1 jacket (wind/rain proof Feathertop $70 - on sale)
1 jumper/pull over
3 pants (zip-off to convert to shorts)
4 tee-shirts
1 long sleeved tee-shirt
1 swimsuit
4 pairs of socks
4 pairs of underwear
walking shoes (Merrell Pulse and/or Merrell Nerve)
havaianas

cutlery (including sharp knife)
plate
cup
small water bottle
travel pillow
sleeping bag
cotton sleeping sheet (for use inside sleeping bag)

toothbrush, paste & floss
deodorant
shampoo & conditioner*
liquid soap*
face wash*
face moisturiser*
body moisturiser
*all transferred into small bottles
small towel
facecloth
comb
hairbrush

small flashlight (Maglite)
1 power cord adaptor and powerboard
digital camera with wide angle & telephoto lenses
iPod & Sennheiser noise-cancelling headphones (can't fly without them!)
medication: antibiotics, malaria tablets (Chloroquin), Seretide & Ventolin (for my asthma), immodium (for the inevitable bout of diarrhoea), paracetamol, water purifying tablets

toilet paper & antibacterial wipes
insect repellant (gotta go for Aerogard tropical!)
sunscreen (30+SPF)
lip balm (Carmex - there is none better!)
eye mask & ear plugs

I finally made up my mind where to go on my next trip: México.

I booked my ticket today and I depart Melbourne on 12 September, arriving in Ciudad de México on the same day a little before midnight.

I've spent the past two months researching itineraries, equipment and budgetary requirements etc. All to no avail. No one can tell you what to do, where/when to go, and what to take. And no one has the definitive answer to that oft repeated question "how much money do I need?" You have to work it all out for yourself. And this, I believe, is the most exciting aspect of pre-travel preparation.

Although I have six weeks before I depart, I've decided that I will start to keep a record here of my pre-travel preparation regime. In the absence of a definitive guide on what to take, where to go etc., potential travellers may find useful some of the information contained in subsequent posts.