First Blog, slightly nerve-racking given I am no Dickens or Shakespeare.

Have landed in Auckland with most of my worldly possessions all stuffed into a pack. It's bloody heavy and I am all too aware that I have to lug it around for the next 5 months! So, a proper sort out of what is in it, is required. Sorting the chaff from the wheat, as it were.

Had a few issues prior to departure yesterday. I went and picked up the last of my travel documents and in passing conversation with the travel agent, realised I need a visa for Vietnam before leaving New Zealand. It would be a HUGE lie to say that I was a little put out by this. HUGE panic set in and I had to run about like a blue-arsed fly, trying to organise a last minute visa. That basically means applying for an urgent visa, which involves sending your passport off to Wellington the day before you fly to Auckland and 3 working days before you fly to Bangkok. Did I mention that the urgent visa application takes 3 working days? Oh yes, PANIC!

After a few phones calls to the "Embassy of the socialist republic of Vietnam", I managed to establish that I could fax through the details and then send the passport overnight. This would speed things up greatly. So, I obligingly completed the application, faxed it off and then sent off my passport, all the while feeling less than positive about the whole situation.

The good news is that I received a call from the embassy today, to say that my passport is ready and I have the visa. I just need to get it to Auckland before Saturday. Do-able I think.

So, first lesson learnt. Check, double check and listen to those around you, when dealing with visa applications!

The next few days in Auckland should be fairly quiet (hopefully) and then on Sunday I fly off to Bangkok. Where it all begins. Stay tuned...