Counting Down The Days up until Departure!

We have only a few weeks left right here in China! I don’t understand exactly how this is even possible. It feels like we just celebrated Christmas. In 26 days (but who’s counting?!) we will be hoisting our backpacks over our backs as well as heading back out where we belong: on the road.

We have absolutely liked our experience right here in China. It has been extremely fulfilling, enlightening and enjoyable. However, it’s time to relocation on. These goats requirement to be on the road!

Nick choosing up his new backpack in Shanghai…we requirement to be on the road!
This next trip will be taking us with Mongolia, Russia, central Asia as well as Iran. There aren’t numerous off-the-beaten-path locations left on our earth however thankfully this region still retains its culture as well as charm. It won’t be long before the western influence makes its method to this part of the world.

We’ve slowly however certainly been inspecting things off of our To-Do List. The most significant hassle about travelling to destinations not frequented by numerous tourists is the bureaucracy. In numerous parts of Asia, Africa, Europe as well as the middle East, we just showed up at the border as well as acquired our visas on arrival. Either that, or we just used for it quickly in the country we were currently in.

We’re utilized to just showing up at the border as well as getting our visa on arrival…not for this trip!
That’s certainly not the situation with these countries. Last month we went to Shanghai to apply for our Mongolian visa. that was relatively simple however we had to travel to one more city to apply. It was a success as well as we have our Mongolia visa stuck in our passport!

We just went to Shanghai once again this weekend to apply for our Russian visa as well as it was a success! (More about applying for a Russian Visa to follow.) We were likewise in Shanghai to pick up Nick’s new backpack (an Osprey Farpoint 55) as well as to have one last hurrah with some excellent good friends we made in Yangzhou, Jen & Steve.

Nick waiting in line at the Russian embassy in Shanghai

We are heading to Shanghai once again this weekend to pick up our passports with our Russian visa as well as decrease our passports off at the Kazakhstan embassy…fingers crossed!

On top of getting our visas, we’ve been planning as well as purchasing tons of stuff for this journey. We’re continuously buying on the internet (there aren’t any type of outside shops right here in Yangzhou) as well as emailing with different companies about sorting out our Letters Of Invitation as well as transportation.

Thank God for Standy! He’s been calling embassies in Shanghai for us – we don’t speak Russian, however they speak Chinese so he’s been sorting out what we requirement to bring
Needless to say, we’ve been busy!

We likewise requirement to believe about moving out of our apartment. We are slowly packing up our stuff as well as sending it house in boxes. We’re downsizing an purging much more things as well as only sending house what we believe we can’t part with.

Our house contract is up on July 2nd, however we work right here in Yangzhou up until July 12th. because we didn’t plan in advance, we will be homeless! Thankfully, our generous friend, Jhonny has provided to let us stay with him as well as his sweetheart in their house up until we leave. Where would we be without excellent friends?

Colleen, Nick, Rosemary, Jhonny as well as Simon…where would we be without excellent friends?
Everything seems extremely surreal best now as well as we are trying to take in Yangzhou as much as we can. Whenever we’re walking down a specific street, going to a market or eating at a restaurant, we always state “take everything in, this may be the last time we do this”. We’re going to miss our excellent friends, both expat as well as local, this fantastic city as well as mentor English to our lovable students.

However, that’s the life of a backpacker! We’re always on the relocation as well as are always prepared for new experiences as well as challenges. stay tuned for much more updates on our pre-travel planning!

Which country are you the most thinking about hearing about? would you travel to this part of the world? Leave a comment below!

planning OUR trip IN MONGOLIA

pressures OF THE planning PROCESS

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