The First Ticket!

Yesterday we booked my first ticket! It's official. I'll be leaving Texas on the 27th of August and arriving in Kenya on the 31st. Within itself this ticket is a big deal. But not only is it taking me to Kenya, but my father and I are going to have a two night layover in Istanbul, Turkey! Which means we are going to get to stay in the city of Haghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

I spent most of the day today just researching flights and comparing airfare. All of this goes into my budget and so finding the perfect deal is very important. This ticket is my gateway. The journey starts here.   

Where in the world?

Every time I tell people that I am taking a year off to go travel the first question I get, besides "oh my...aren't you scared?" is "where are you going?". At first, I had no clue. I just knew that I was going to Africa. Where in Africa? - I'm not entirely sure. But after a long discussion with my father, I can now say where in the world I am going.
The first three months of my trip will be spent in Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and hopefully Egypt. From there I will be going to India. I plan on visiting the Taj Mahal, going to the Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra regions. And finally, I'll be heading off to Europe with my base in Germany. I'll be traveling through out the EU and making side trips to England and Ireland.
My trip isn't really set in stone and I'd like to keep it that way. I want to travel in a way that if an opportunity arises, I have the freedom and flexibility to take advantage and veer off the path. Having everything planned and set not only restricts me but keeps me from truly exploring the world. It's the same reason why I don't want to be considered a tourist where ever I go. Yes, I'll be new to the city or country and yes, I probably won't speak the language. But the trip isn't about going to sites and taking a quick photo just to say that I've been there. It's about learning and becoming more aware of the world around me. Truly taking in all that the world has to offer and maybe learning about myself in the process.

The Planning Begins...Er, Continues...

So this past Monday I went to the Travel Clinic. And learned just how dangerous and life threatening traveling can be. The lady at the clinic, who was very nice, told me just about every way I could get a disease and die. I also recieved a stack of papers on all the vaccinations I will be getting (five to be exact) and a packet that gives an overlook on every country I plan to visit.
If there is anything I learned from these packets, it's that misquitoes are evil. Almost every disease or virus that is mentioned in the packets are connected to misquitoes. And I learned there are different types of misquitoes! Some only bite at night, some are only in certain areas of the world, and some are immune to the bug spray I was recommended.
I think my biggest challenge this year is going to be those freaking misquitoes...

Why?

I suppose you're wondering why I'm doing a blog. Before I answer "why" I am going to start off by explaining what exactly I am doing. 

This past May I graduated from high school and this past March I was accepted to the University of Denver. Last year, my parents approached me with an offer. Get accepted to university and you can take a year off to travel. With a budget (of course). And, like any reasonable person would do, I gladly accepted. 

Since then, I have been planning and prepping for my departure. Which is why I decided to start a blog. This blog will not only document every where I go but also show the planning and prepping I have done with my parents. It will also be a way for everyone back home to stay in touch and see what I'm doing.