So this is it. After years of planning, scrimping-and-saving, the prostitution of our nice little flat, the abandonment of our jobs (well, one of our jobs at least) , profligate leaving celebrations and tying up of various loose ends; the time has finally come for us to embark on this 6-month expedition.

Our planned itinerary is as follows:

1) 4th Feb – Fly to Hong Kong

2) 8th Feb – Fly to Bangkok – From here we will make our way to Northern Thailand, then into Laos where we will work our way down to South Vietnam via Cambodia. Next we’ll head North, eventually to Hanoi, from where we’ll fly back to Bangkok. Then down to the Thai Islands before continuing South, through Malaysia, to Singapore.

3) 8th April – Fly from Singapore to Bali.

4) 15th April – Fly from Bali to Melbourne (Via Singapore).

5) 18th April- Get a train from Melbourne to Adelaide to see and stay with our ex-pat friends Phil & Jo.

6) 24th April – Fly from Adelaide to Cairnes (Via Brisbane)

7) We’ll then make our way down the East Coast of Australia, eventually to Sydney. Currently planning to do the bulk of this journey in a ‘Wicked Campervan’.

8) 27th May – Fly from Sydney to Santiago, Chile.

9) 3rd June – Fly from Santiago to Lima, Peru.

10) 24th June – Fly from Lima to LA, via Miami.

11) From LA we will find our way to The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite Park and San Francisco. We will then probably get on a train to New York, trying to fit Chicago and Niagara Falls in en route.

12) 22nd July – Fly home from JFK airport, New York. Arrive at Heathrow, London at 07.15 23rd July.

Of course, these plans could change apropos of financial straits, advice from fellow travellers, emotional attachments, or any other unforeseen circumstances.