Hectic few weeks. Had been thinking few years of doing this trip, eventually walked into a travel agents (one of the main ones) and had a chat. The agent was knowledgeable and had lived in some of the places I want to visit.

Something has changed, I really feel I am now ready to actually do this instead of dreaming and talking about it.

Lots of vaccinations and couple of visas to get. wont be able to finish the Rabies and Japanese Enc course in the UK, will have to complete in Japan or China.

Three trips into London, dropping off and collecting visas. Very efficient Chinese Embassy, five minutes to walk in and hand in the Passport, collected 5 days later, just as efficient. Amazing compared to some Embassies that shall remain nameless.

My Nairobi Safari was canceled yesterday, apparently I was the only one booked on it!, thanks a bunch. The travel agent has been amazingly polite and helpful on the phone throughout, very good manners. Found them on the Net, some of the reviews of their parent company wasn't good but I have no complaints so far. But I haven't left UK yet.

We are organising a Uganda Gorilla safari instead, longer, slightly more expensive. My Japan flight may have to be delayed for a couple of days as I may be back in Nairobi too late to catch the flight.