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| derrick241 |
 Apr 14 2011, 01:19 PM
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Well, may as well start with the same lines as everyone else in here
I'm new to the website, never been on anything like a trek, I just got dropped off by heli or plane and got on with a 'job' never really had much time for sightseeing
I have now retired and finished working and thought it was time to see the world and actually meet people in different countries without killing them
My first trip I have signed up to is UKtoOz, a 28 week trip
I'd like to get something else under my belt before I set out on this one (kinda fancy a couple of weeks, maybe a month doing Africa, safari parks, stuff like that) any recommendations ?
I'll be doing it on me own the missus has a few years to go, before she is slung out and I cant be bothered to wait for her to retire, she would do these trips anyway, she likes comfy beds and toilets that work
Well, if anyone wants to reply, I'm here
I hope this website is going to be a lot friendlier than other websites I am on and get a few replies
I'm doing a trip next year, trying to get some information about it, who has been on it, who have used the people who are doing it (http://uktooz.com/index.asp)
I have asked on lots of other websites, never got a reply from anyone there
I maybe wrong but it seems that posters on ANY of these trekking forums are VERY reluctant to communicate with othersd, is this website the same ?
Post what you like
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| greekcypriot |
 Apr 15 2011, 09:35 AM
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Rolling Stone
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Hi and welcome to TravelPod  I just had a look on your blog but it is nothing in there as yet since you are new of course. I believe the first thing you should do is to start writing about your trips, post photos, but if you really want to make yourself known to other members you have to contribute on the forums. Friendships start from the forums, and there are many interesting topics where you can contribute. The more you contribute the fastest other people will get to know you. Go to the Topics, and find whatever suits you. Once again welcome, and look forward to seeing you in the forums!  Popi
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| derrick241 |
Apr 15 2011, 09:39 AM
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QUOTE(greekcypriot @ Apr 15 2011, 09:35 AM)  Hi and welcome to TravelPod I just had a look on your blog but it is nothing in there as yet since you are new of course. I believe the first thing you should do is to start writing about your trips, post photos, but if you really want to make yourself known to other members you have to contribute on the forums. Friendships start from the forums, and there are many interesting topics where you can contribute. The more you contribute the fastest other people will get to know you. Go to the Topics, and find whatever suits you. Once again welcome, and look forward to seeing you in the forums! Popi Thanks for the welcome, as soon as I do the trip, I will post all the photos and all the trips expeirience Just like to know if anyone has used the company I'm going with Only thing I have done while working was holidays, not trekking |
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| rossport |
Apr 15 2011, 03:39 PM
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Pathfinder
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G,day Derek Welcome to the Blog mate and i hope you have a really good time as Popi said if u have any questions then ask and if we can help we will. The beauty of this site is it allows you too upload any photo video with ease as long as u have a internet connection you will have no problems, The up loader for photos has two sections one is the basic one which allows for a max of 5 photos at a time to be up loaded or if u click the advanced one it will allow you unlimited photo's and videos to be posted very quickly my last entry i uploaded over 100 photos in about 5 minutes as opposed to 5 minutes for the slower 5 only one so use that when using uncertain internet in the countries with slow internet. Now I have some good news for you you jogged my memory about a similar trip so did some digging in here and found this blog dated back in 20007 the vehicle looks the same and the itinerary as well, so click the link and contact the people concerned and ask them questions about the trip and have first hand knowledge of a trekking company i looked on their web site and from what i saw they seem to be very organised and prepared the only thing i would suggest that here in oz your pound does not buy you as much as it used too so allow for a slightly higher cost in things especially when traveling in the outback as the cost to transport food and fuel is costly hence the price is reflected in the cost. apart from that welcome to one of the best forum on the planet read the forums for ideas and post the blog so we can follow you on your journey and if you like you can put me down in your address book as a follower and i will get any post that you put in the blog. My partner is like yours she only believes in flushing loo's and inner spring mattresses. Cheers and have a bloody good time and enjoy the experience Stewart Here is the link http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/jo_an...to_oz/tpod.html |
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| derrick241 |
Apr 17 2011, 04:26 AM
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QUOTE(travelmonster @ Apr 17 2011, 03:46 AM) Hi Derrick Welcome to the forums! Sounds like a great trip you have coming up. As far as safaris in Africa, I've been to Kenya and Tanzania and I'd recommend the Serengeti in Tanzania out of those two. It'd be awesome to go to the Okavango Delta in Botswana to see wildlife, maybe you could try that. It's brilliant that you're doing the 28 week trip - really hope you have a great time  Thanks very much for the reply Did you 'go it alone' or travel with a company ? I'd really like to get a Safari under my belt bfore I do this 28 week trip |
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| derrick241 |
Apr 17 2011, 04:17 PM
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QUOTE(travelmonster @ Apr 17 2011, 03:18 PM)
It was organised for me as a birthday present and a tour company was used. When we went on the trip our safari guide told us he did camping safaris independently, which would have been awesome - I don't have access to his information at the moment though as I'm travelling at the mo - and currently writing this from the back of a campervan in New Zealand!!
Safari is absolutely amazing - I thoroughly recommend it!!
WOW, but surely the scenery must be better than answering me (flattering though that is) If you get to a camp area, at some point, any info you can rake up would really be appreciated (just as a favour, keep me upto date with what you have done, seen, the people you are travelling with, it sounds really good) |
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| derrick241 |
Apr 18 2011, 02:50 AM
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QUOTE(travelmonster @ Apr 18 2011, 02:32 AM) The scenery is breath taking - truly beautiful! We're a friendly bunch on here  - if you pm me your email address I can send you my updates. All the info on the safari we used is back at home in England - I'm not back home till mid June!! The blogs on here are really useful for getting ideas and info on where you might like to go as well. Look forward to reading about your trip  Tis done, I'll send you a PM, you should have it now |
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| nifadventures |
Nov 9 2011, 06:06 PM
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Hey Derrick,
My understanding is that you are doing the 28 week tour with uktooz next year and you were after people who had been on this trip? (sorry for the late post - I don't come on the site too often)
I actually did the 28 week trip starting in August last year with uktooz and I had a brilliant time. There are also quite a few blogs on here of uktoozers (mine only got half finished I'm afraid) which you can look at.
But I can safely say that I had never travelled before and had never put up a tent either and I survived so am sure you will!
It was an amazing experience and if you want to know anything specific, please do give me a shout.
Jen
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| derrick241 |
Nov 9 2011, 07:03 PM
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QUOTE(nifadventures @ Nov 9 2011, 06:06 PM)
Hey Derrick,
My understanding is that you are doing the 28 week tour with uktooz next year and you were after people who had been on this trip? (sorry for the late post - I don't come on the site too often)
I actually did the 28 week trip starting in August last year with uktooz and I had a brilliant time. There are also quite a few blogs on here of uktoozers (mine only got half finished I'm afraid) which you can look at.
But I can safely say that I had never travelled before and had never put up a tent either and I survived so am sure you will!
It was an amazing experience and if you want to know anything specific, please do give me a shout.
Jen
Hi Jen I'm actually doing the Odyessy trip, I'm looking forward to it, I'm following a blog at the moment, it has to be the best and most comprehensive blog I hacve ever read, it has covered not just their travels, but visas, what to take, money, even mentions about other people on the truck, the guide, they have posted so many pictures, they have been having a good time if the blog is anything to go by, they even started the blog for a few days before they started and it has been updated as much as internet connections have allowed I have travelled, but I never had to worry about transport, money, visas, food (okay, maybe food) inoculations, it was all coutesy of HM Government, the Army, now I have all the worries that normal travellers have When I do start, I'll be posting my blog here, I dont know how many people will follow it, I dont expect any ex work mates, but I will send a link to all in my address book (and I guess some in here may follow it) But trying to find a blog that anyone wrote on a trip like this has been really hard, so few people do it, those that have done it, have said it made them have itchy feet and they have problems settling when they get home and they have to re evaluate their friends, as they just dont connect as they did BEFORE their trip I wonder hopw things will go between me and my wife, she isnt travelling on this trip (she likes her 4* & 5* hotels and resorts) Thanks for your posting |
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| derrick241 |
Nov 10 2011, 08:14 AM
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Voyager
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QUOTE(greekcypriot @ Nov 10 2011, 07:55 AM)
I am sure everything will be just fine.
You have also enough time to change your wife's mind and come along.
I wish I had such chance.....I would not say no!
I want so much to have that trip I cancelled last March for India to be honest, but I don't know if I will have it afterall.
However it will be very difficult for me to be on my own so I have to find one or two persons who can come along. I want to travel around the country a lot, and I have some pals through the net here and there.
Have you ever considered having such a trip to India?
Ho Popi She is working, next year will be a big thing where she works, they have all agreed to work, no holidays, no sickness, Its the Olympics, and she works at LHR, she has lots of people to train and bring up to standard (at both LHR and for the Olympic village) Sleeping in a tent and roughing it isnt her idea of a holiday, anyway Yes India is part of the trip, along with shed loads of 'Stans' I been getting bits and peices for this trip, slinging stuff out, adding stuff, I have been getting a lot of help from a blog I have been following (not here though, Word press) Its more of a case of knowing , how much to take, how little to take, how much cash, how much on a card (I dont want to be buyng stuff I have at home along the way) All has to be considered, because at some point I'm going to be carrying it at some point, It wont always be in the truck One of the worries is the tent, I bought the best I can afford, BUT is it going to be good and sturdy enough to last the trip (7 months, or 28 weeks + is a long time) |
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| nifadventures |
Nov 10 2011, 08:48 AM
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Derrick,
As someone who has done the 28 week trip - my honest advice is - you can pick up stuff along the way (and this is coming from a girl). From clothing to toiletries to drugs it is available in most countries.
I chucked so much stuff away about 3 weeks in!
In terms of tent: free standing is a must - there are times when you are camping in petrol stations/on concrete/the ground is just too hard.
A good thermarest is also a good idea - you have to sleep on it for a fair amount of time! A good liner and sleeping bag will also help the comfort factor.
I had a vango and every vango tent on the trip had at least one pole snap (mine included). Most successful and popular tent on the trip was the MSR freestanding.
If you take pegs - take good ones - often the ones that come with the tents bend or snap.
Hope this helps.
Jen
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| derrick241 |
Nov 10 2011, 10:26 AM
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Voyager
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I have a karrimor tent, an inflatable mattress (it was comfy in Africa, my old Army sleeping bag (that has done me in most parts of the world (Norway, Scotland, Germany, Belize, Oman, Africa and a few trips round the UK)
The tent, sleeping bag, anmd mattress make up the bulk of my kit, the rest is clothing, wash/shave kit, I am taking a few bandages, and a few pills and stuff (I prefer tyo know where these are made)
I'm taking my own coffee, I find they always have cheap foul stuf on any truck, a few ration packs (for emergency, some of the 'cooks' couldnt boil water, let alone cook a meal, I wish I had had them in Africa, a couple of times I went hungry)
A notebook laptop, and ipods, external hard drives, and flash drives, cameras, and memory cards
I dont think the amount of clothing will be much different from Africa, maybe an extra sweat shirt and a couple of LS tee shirts, but I have a weight limit that I'll be sticking to 22 Kg
(quite a bit lighter than I used to carry in the Army, 60-70Kg, but a lot of that was ammunition and stuff to cause mayhem, used to have belt kit <escape kit, food, water, magazines, even more ammunition> as well and carry a weapon on top of that, we earned the nick name of 'donkey soldiers' we carried more than the donkeys)
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| rossport |
Nov 12 2011, 02:29 AM
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Pathfinder
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Joined: 23-June 08
Member No.: 202074
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G'day Derreck,
I noticed you are thinking of taking "A notebook laptop, and ipods, external hard drives, and flash drives, cameras, and memory cards" along on the trip may i suggest if you can afford it and have not bought all this stuff the net book is more ideal than a note book it is only 10inches and ,light as a feather. Plus what i used for my around the world trip was a Epson P2000, the new model is a Epson P8000 with a 80gig hard drive it can play movie's store all your photos all in one place and is light and easy to use no computer needed just slip the memory card into the reader and then upload it to the device and when needed on the net book just hook up the usb connection and you can upload any pics you want from it. on my holiday between myself and my wife we used up 25gig of the 30 gig hard drive space and has a big 5inch screen check it out on the Epson web site and look for portable devices, The other thing pity the weight as the Aussies have a what is called a swag all rolled into one tent come sleeping bag and is water proof and winter proof as well a having a fly screen on it. hope you have a fantastic trip i have read a couple of blogs on this trip and each persons trip was entirely different to each other, I know you have travelled before but here is a tip if you have not already done it as well photo copy all your cards passports and visa's and keep a copy with you and have a copy with your wife in case you need to get replacements the copies will ensure a faster turn around.
Cheers mate looking forward to following your journey
Stewart
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