Initial tentative itinerary.

Melbourne, Aust.
Brisbane, Aust. 17th April 2011
Singapore, Sing. 1st May
Johor, Malaysia. 3rd May
KL, Malaysia.
Bangkok, Thailand. 5th May
Laos.
Vietnam.
Xian, China. 7th May
Urumqi, China. 10th May
Kashgar, China. 13th May (which is, yes, a Friday). Stay for the Sunday market.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 17th May
Samarkand, Uzbekistan. 20th May
Mary, Turkmenistan. 24rd May
Tehran, Iran. 26th May
Shiraz, Iran. 29th May
Takht-e-Jamshid (Persepolis), Iran. 31st May
Tabriz, Iran. 2nd June
Istanbul, Turkey. 6th June
Efes, Turkey. 9th June
Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Naples
Pompeii
Ostia Antica
Rome
Florence
Venice
Paris
London
Sheffield
Inverness
Orkney
Shetland

Okay, so it starts turning into a wish list at the end there.

The MSC Palermo

Today I booked my spot on a container ship heading for Singapore.

 













She is the MSC Palermo. I am terrified.

Yesterday, the year 10s said goodbye to me and the other Latin teacher leaving at the end of the year. They made a card and gave me a bunch of yellow roses and Justin made a speech. I am so sad to be leaving those guys, and my year 9s. Plus, last week the school offered me what was pretty much my ideal teaching job, if only I would put off my leave for a year. I am horribly conflicted.

But it is too late now.

It seems like the accommodation will be quite comfortable. Not living in a container for 13 days, as more than one student suggested.

I booked through Freighter Cruises. The woman I spoke to, Julie, was very helpful and let me know important information like: If I don't have a ticket out of Singapore on me immigration won't let me get off the boat there.