Friends and ex flatmates - aurevoir!

I don't want tears guys! Compose yourselves! - sorry Dave B you were too late to get in to the photos - put one of yourself in!

Farewell the Fam!

My lovely family - fare ye well x

Fund Raiser and Farewell to me!

Thanks to everyone who came to the GESH on the 17th August for my 'party' night! Special thanks to everyone at GESH for providing the venue, the food and a whole load of love! Thanks to my work team - soon to be ex team in Youth Services Area 6 for organising the evening for me - Claire, Sarah, Eileen, Avril, Ann, Rose, Margaret and Simon - I will miss you guys, and of course you youth workers who came along! Thank you to all my friends and family for attending the evening, that meant most to me - just to see you there! Especially the surprise of seeing my little niece - Callie and my wee Sis Fee. I am also so appreciative of the donations for the raffle - there was so many of them. And of the 'band' who came along and played for nothing for us - big shout out to 'Bogs Brae' - and thanks to Margaret and Gerry for organising that for me. Thanks to Mary for buying some books to donate to the children I will work with. And can't forget to thank - Rangers FC for providing our no. 1 prize of a tour around Ibrox for 4, it seems Celtic couldn't offer us anything - must been too much of a financial burden! Oh and I must also comment that the 'Big W' was a waste of space as they wouldn't even give us a discount on a cuddly toy - not even a £1! Wasters. On a more positive note - thanks to Nad in Greenfield as his shop provided a box of chocolates for the raffle! I suppose what I am trying to say is...THANKS!

Itinerary - if yer interested!

So here is what I will be doing...

India
7 September fly to Mumbai
12 September start placement in Kerala
Welcome to God's Own Country. Kerala is a tourist destination which has everything-from beaches, hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, backwaters, rich culture, heritage, and many things what a traveler wants to see and experience, it has something for everyone. This particular work camp will focus on the ancient Indian Medicine Ayurveda and Yoga. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine for curing healing methods tried, tested and perfected over the centuries, consists of the five basic elements namely earth, fire, water, air and space). Ayurveda uses medicines extracted from parts of plants, herbs, bark, roots, leaves, fruits, seeds etc. Nearly 70% of all modern medicines are derived from plant extracts. Participants will learn the techniques and the roots of this healing method. Participants will also actively take part in various Yoga lessons taught by Yoga Masters and will actively conduct a work camp focused on these issues. Location: State of Kerala, South India. Accommodation: in a guesthouse.
10 September 05 - 30 September 05
Bangalore, India's Garden City is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. The hosts will be organizing the "India Youth Festival" in co-operation with the Tourism Department of India and various colleges of Bangalore. It will be a unique festival of young people from all over the world and India who come together for the objective of creating a better world peacefully. The Festival will have many social forums/ discussions/ work shops/ seminars about the social/economic/political realities of the world. It is a chance for young people to discuss and voice their opinion about several issues that concern the world. The Festival will also have various Cultural Presentations from different parts of the world and from different regions of India. There will also be Concerts performed by many local college groups. The Festival will also be a Fund Raiser for many social projects working with street children. The Festival will be a forum where young people will have a chance to get to meet people from all over India and all over the world. Volunteers will be helping the organizing committee for the first week and Festival will start on the 2nd week and will go on for 2 weeks. Work will include organizing events, supervision at various seminars, creating awareness, actively taking part in all the events. Location: Bangalore, South India. Accommodation: At the FSL Homebase in shared rooms.
14 Nov 05 - 10 Dec 05
Four week placement teaching English and helping care for children in special school for Myanmar Children in Mae Sot just inside Thailand on the Myanmar/Thai border. Live-in at the school. Accommodation and food provided.
9 Jan 06 - 4 Feb 06
Four weeks placement at an historic settlement. Great opportunity to learn about Australian history - both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Wide range of tasks available, ie: general maintenance, street theatre, education centre, shop keeping, carpentry, etc. Live with other volunteers in "school camp" type accommodation. Lunch provided Monday to Friday, you will have to purchase all other meals.
13 Feb 06 - 25 Feb 06
Four week placement in Monkey Mia, approximately1050km north of Perth. The type of work may include: site maintenance (sweeping floors, beach rubbish removal etc), walk track maintenance, visitor surveys, assisting to present interpretive activities, preparation of fish for dolphin feeds, some assistance with dolphin feeds (it must be stressed that this will be only a small part of your volunteer experience). Generally you will work 5 days a week (usually including a weekend day) from 0730hrs to 1630hrs. Volunteers must pay for their own food, accommodation and transport to the sight everyday. Placement to be arranged by our IVWA associate.
27 March - 21 April 06
Four week social service placement (usually assisting at a residency/farm for disabled adults) to be arranged by our associate. (I have asked to work with young people at camp for this period - but I am open to pretty much anything!)
7 May 06 - 31 May 06
Mercy Mission Delivery Safari – 25 days. Leaves from Phalaborwa on the first Sunday of every month. and takes you through parts of four different countries, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and finally to Zambia to deliver packages to a remote HIV/AIDS Hospital and two Refugee Camps for Angolan refugees. Here the volunteer activity will be to distribute much needed supplies

Then for a bit of sightseeing around S.Africa before heading home around mid to end June. x

Prepararation!

Ok, so a lot of people want to know how I went about organising this trip and where I got my info and tips from.

Lets start from the beginning...I have wanted to do this for a long long long time! And so I have been researching web sites on voluntary organisations all over the world. There are loads of them and I would suggest you look in to things before you go with an organisation or agency as I have heard some nightmare stories about placements with some orgs.

I chose IVI Volunteering Australia. The web site is www.volunteering.org.au - they have loads of different placements and are pretty inexpensive. Some places like 'cross cultural solutions' sound good and include activities in the placement but cost loads. I also thought about ivs - http://www.ivs-gb.org.uk as they are also inexpensive and all about the placement. The reason I did not go with them was mainly to do with the fact they did not have as wide a choice of placements as IVI. I was also in to 'drive india' which looked like a fab programme but then I thought I would just pay my registration and placement fees with IVI and choose all my placements with them instead of paying this with different organisations every time. Got to keep costs down! Plus the fact, IVI will make up an itinerary for you and will keep an eye on where you are throughout your travels - thanks Sonia! Also, two of the placements IVI gave me came through their partner organisation - www.fslindia.org.

With regards to buying my flights - you got to get an 'around the world' ticket, there are loads of different kinds and can cost as little as £860. I got one that would let me go half way round the world then come back the way I came as I wanted to do India and then come back and do Africa. I found the staff at Trailfinders pretty helpful, some seemed to know the score more than others.

visas - they tell you to go through this site or that site and someone or other will help you get a visa - forget it! The best thing to do is to get it yourself - cut out the middle man! For example, trailfinders offer this service at £20 a time per visa plus the cost of the visa, all you need to do is send them the application form, passport, your photos and the cost by postal order. HOWEVER, you would do exactly the same if you went straight to the consulate and save the unnecessary £20. I would advise you send your documents by 'registered delivery' and put in a prepaid 'registered delivery' envelope with your documents - makes the whole process go a lot smoother unless you are going to the consulate yourself. Note for those going to Australia - you can get a tourist visa on the internet - ETA for about £15 - it has a shelf life of a year and when you are in Australia you get 3 months in the country. New Zealand is a bit more hospitable to us brits and let us in the country (tourists) for up to 6 months (I think its 6 months anyway!) gratis.

Insurance
I got my insurance with ACE Backpacker Travel insurance, it was pretty cheap for the under 35's! I was so happy when I found this, when your hitting 32 it seems you are too old for some of the stuff considered for the 'young'!

General
I found www.hostelworld.com pretty good for finding cheap accomodation in asia.

For info about health and getting yourself ready -
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo - this is a great site

immunisations
Go see your doctor and discuss what you need. It can get a bit pricey for immunisations, but they are so worth it and so be prepared and try to save a bit extra to cover this cost! I mainly got my vaccs from my doc and from Brownlee travel clinic at Gartnaval hospital off grt Western road.

Books
Don't leave home without your rough guide or your Lonely Planet. I found the 'Gap year' and the 'First Time around the world' guides pretty helpful.

Bits n bobs
I have bought loads of stuff for going away including -
Deet 55 - mosquito repellant (best stuff)
Avons Skin so soft - they say its good as an insect repellant (not sure if thats only for the midgies in Scotland!)
Mosquito net
Sleeping bag (that goes pretty small - got to save space!)
paracetamol, immodium, etc, etc!
Water purifier
trekking shoes
trekking/waterproof sandals
a few clothes - mainly those that take the sweat away from your body!
Some books and gifts for the kids I will work with.
A decent ruck sack.
Photocopy of all my paperwork & passport(also leaving a copy with my family)
And of course a Scotland rugby Shirt - got to fly the flag!

White Water Rafting

Pictures of the white water rafting group.
This is a pic of the group who attended my birthday celebrations by going white water rafting with me - it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the banter was pretty good!

Thanks to those who were there for the day = Big Bro Rich, Wee Sis Zoe, Big Bro Friend John, Flat mate Lainey, ex flat mate Kathleen and friend Dave B, work friends Sarah, Eileen, Dave S and his flat mate Craig and not forgetting Diane.

Pic of me and my littlest sis

Just thought I would put a pic of me and my sis in here! This was at my white water rafting birthday day out. Note to my other sis - I will put you on here as well now no jealousy!
x