Travel things

[karohemd]

- Yay! No more size restrictions for hand luggage, I can take my camera/laptop bag!
- Have thought about what to take in hand luggage: D80, new 18-50mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, 2x teleconverter (I'm likely to take either panorama shots or close-ups so won't need the missing 20mm and the Sigma wide-angle zoom is faster than the kit lens), laptop to keep weight down. Anything else can go into checked luggage. Will probably not take the backup body but rely on the Fuji should the worst happen.

- Has anyone had any bad experiences with London City Airport?
None of the acceptable airlines in Standsted go to Frankfurt's main airport and I rather spend some time getting there and BA are usually nice. Good thing the flight leaves Frankfurt in the evening (6:30) so I can get to London just after rush hour.

- Mustn't forget chargers and plugs, blank DVDs for backups
- Need to do some outdoor shopping. Need some more microfibre underwear, a rainproof hat, a fleece, new gloves etc. Good thing it's Antarctic summer and we won't go much further South than the polar circle so I won't need any harsh winter stuff I'd never be able to use again. RAin/waterproof is much more important and I can borrow my dad's Goretex trousers.
- Will probably have to test-pack suitcase a few times.
- With the long flights and waiting times, I'll finally be able to get through my reading backlog. While on the ship, I'll probably either be gazing at the sea, processing photos or listen to a scientific talk or info show.
- Want to read up on Santiago and Buenos Aires for things to do and see (we have a few hours each to explore) and obviously Antarctica, too. We'll get swamped with info, talks and things on the ship but some more prior knowledge than what I have would be good.
- Hopefully the onboard net cafe won't be too expensive and allow me to upload photos to flickr via USB key.

Only a bit over two months to go!!! :o)

Comments

[rirekon.livejournal.com]

No restrictions? Last I heard it was:
"ONE item only of cabin baggage is permitted through the airport security search point, the dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.). Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened."

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I said "no more size restrictions", i.e. the same size as before, with which my bag complies.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

London City's OK but for actually getting to/from it -- we flew into there last year sometime. The public transport stuff may have improved in the meantime...

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

The direct DLR connection is now open so for me it's train to King's Cross, tube to Bank, DLR to City Airport. Not too bad.

[queenortart.livejournal.com]

I really like London City. Maximum entry to plane time (if you were to walk straight through and not be made to wait) perhaps 10 minutes. That's entrance door of the airport all the way through the hall and security and the slog to the gate and then across the tarmac. It's quicker than going between security and the gate at Heathrow most of the time. It took us a good 15 minutes to get from the plane to customs at Heathrow the other day.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thanks.
You don't have to be there ridiculously early, either.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Just HOW MUCH of an adventure is this going to be? :D:D:D

I have slept in a room across the river from London City Airport, it was really annoying. Possibly not helpful.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It's pretty thoroughly organised so not much of an adventure but exciting it will be nonetheless. Vulcanoes! Seals! Penguins! Cape Horn! The Drake Passage (the stormiest bit of of sea on Earth)! etc.

I just hope that the weather is decent so none of the excursions will be cancelled.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Oooh? You say you're off to Antartica? Who's that with? And I'll be very interested in your report on that.
:-)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It's booked through a German operator who take care of flights and transfers but the actual cruise is run by a Norwegian company.
It's this cruise (http://www.cruisenorway.com/antarctica2.html).

No worries, there will be a full report afterwards and if the net connection on board isn't too expensive, an LJ post per day and hopefully fresh photos on flickr, too (if they'll let me upload them).

The ship has several webcams which I'll post links to closer to the time so you can always see where I am. ;o)

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

The link is duely bookmarked for future reference! I would love to go myself one day, though I'm frightened of being holed up on a ship in stormy waters. Not that I've ever actually been sea-sick... just had the odd queasy moment. It looks like a big ship though, and I'll be following your progress with gteat interest.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

My parents did the trip (the other way around, Buenos Aires-Santiago) last year and they were so amazed by it that they said I should have been there, too, so they gave it to me as a present (covering Christmas and birthday for the next few years).
It is a big ship, quite comfortable and well suited for the high seas. I also don't have major problems with seasickness so it should be rather pleasant.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

I've emailed the cruise bods for details on it, as potentially summat for me to save up for for next year (2007-2008). Imaginative Traveler (the company I generally use for trips,) do a trip to Antarctica, but the price is quite chokeworthy! (And the boat is too small and terrifying.)
This too may be a gasp too far, but I'm intrigued enough to ask, just in case.
I'm off myself in 2 months and a bit, touring Laos and Cambodia, (and a blink of Thailand,) so I'll have to read up on your adventures after I return... I'm hoping to not touch a computer for 25 days straight!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are proper Antarctic expeditions on more primitive ships, too and they cost a lot more (this one is expensive enough).

I'd love to visit places like that but my inability to cope with the climate (humid heat) makes it impossible.

[neilh.livejournal.com]

It took me ages to figure get through their metal detector hoop, but apart from that I don't remember much about it.