quote:

Originally posted by PhilGill:
Plan A is now in turmoil I am afraid.
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I can be totally selfish in the planning and pick places where I want to go myself. But the massive negative is that I won't get to share the trip with my mate.
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Hmmmm, dang - wish it was tomorrow

So, as Zopa might say, fok Plan A. The only negative I can see is for your mate, who now doesn't get to go. You have already identified the massive bonus of all this in your previous sentence, and thus your trip is now +1 better. From what I've read on these boards, this happens a fair bit when planning with others. Now you're in control of your own destiny, for which I say Yay and Woo.

Wish it was tomorrow? It will be, soon enough. Don't wish away those 286 days - you'll never live them again.

Good luck, and more power to your elbow. Or eyeballs

Glad to hear someone else is thinking about Laser eye surgery before their trip. I was beginning to think I was crazy for going through the expense before I leave, but I keep telling myself it will save me a lot of headaches - and I know about them. A companion on my last trip accidently threw out my contacts one day. Eek!

As far as your mate, I think the bonus is flexibility and total control over what you do. And hey, what about him meeting you somewhere along the way? Is that an option for him? I've got about 3-4 friends/family meeting me at various parts of my trip, so I get to travel solo for the most part, but at times share the adventures with others.

sorry cannot help counting the days - 258 days now

I keep thinking of ways to extend my trip. With my mate pulling out (he's after buying a beamer instead!!!) Working in australia is a very real prospect now, reckon 6 months should be long enough to see what it is like. I believe the job market over there is quite strong at the moment so hopefully that will hold until this time next year

So 258 days not to wish away - My football team are shaping up well this year so that should shorten the year considerably. I am hoping to take a week in Croatia and a week in Barcelona before I head off. So not so much wishing it away, would be nice if I didn't have to work between now and then though

Hi,
If you plan on visiting thailand,why don't you get the laser surgery done there...Medical tourism is booming in asia and cost quite a lot less than in western countries.
I'm from India and I always schedule my major dental work during my time off in India. Got bridge work done for 200 US $ which would normally cost several thousand $$$ here in America.

Thanks for the suggestion - just had a look at the prices there in some clinics in thailand and the price is only a couple of hundred euros cheaper. As there is a risk that the surgery might not be successful I would rather get it done at home that somewhere I'm not familiar with.

Right so, I went to the laser surgery clinic yesterday, what a shower of scam artists.

They advertise 750 euro an eye - but when I got in there they do their little tests to see if was are suitable all the time saying that on average 3 out of 10 people are not suitable(though they said it like 6 out of 20) - proper scare mongering. Then they start telling you about how crap the package that got you in the door is and that you would be much less likely to meet a james bond villans demise if you went for the optional extras, wavefront, precision laser guns instead of mechanical methods... add on the top of that they have a chart of escalating prices for people with worse eyesight, they must have counted the amount of doors I walked into in the last week. Final quote 4500 euro - hits me right where it hurts the travel fund.

So my magic figure of 17000 is now down to 12500 in one fail swoop. South America is in danger big time!!

Just thought I would share my woe with the board - need some encouragement you guys - hit me!!

Screw getting Lasik! I was thinking about getting it done before I leave this May. I found a place that quoted 3000 USD, but I asked myself - is it more important for me to afford my Mt Kili trek/safari while in Tanzania or not deal with contacts/glasses on my trip? Many people travel with the inconvenience of corrective lenses my friend. Keep S. America on your list and forget Laser surgery.