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Thursday, February 03, 2011

Enjoy the silence and other musings on international travel plans

There are very few moments in my life with complete silence - even now the fridge and laptop hum happily in the background. The space is devoid of the sounds of children. I know I'll miss this when I'm in Asia for 2 weeks in March but for now it's kinda nice.

Kids and husband are off to the pediatrician for Sam's 6mo appointment. I'm guessing he's reached 17lbs. This boy is huge! All from mama's milk - a personal accomplishment. However, the baby vacation is over and I need to get back on the international travel circuit.

Would you believe it's been 2 years since I was last in Asia? It's been so long that I forgot to make sure I had a special visa before booking a trip straight into Vietnam! Yes if other wiser travelor's hadn't alerted me to the fact I'd have shown up in Hong Kong without permission to enter Vietnam.

Would you believe I didn't know the commonly known fact that you are not supposed to travel with a passport that expires in less than 6 months? Yes, Ms. International traveler who's been to Asia 8 times did not know that. Thanks to the helpful folks at the passport agency I've been informed and spent a day filling out paperwork, getting updated passport photos taken and FedEx'ing the package to Miami for express service. Which means I renewed the passport, only to get it back next week and then refile for the Vietnam Visa! Wowzers (wish that was really a word, I'd make a killing on Scrabble).

8 comments:

Unpolished Parenting said...

If I ever get to go out of the country again, I'm so talking to you to make sure I've got everything in place! :)

I had never heard of that 6 month rule! Eh, mine has expired at this point any way...

Anonymous said...

We actually need to renew our helper's passport...it expires this summer. If we do any travel outside of SG, she'll need a new one starting now.

I hope on a future trip, you can convince the bosses to come do an in-person check of the plushes at Universal Studios Singapore. I don't know if it's one of yours, but E has a Gingerbread man from the Shrek store that she loves.

Miss. C said...

Congrats on the "mama's milk"! That is a big accomplishment!!

Can't wait to read more about your trip!! I have never been to Asia, my work travel usually involves the US only! I am jealous of your passport stamps!! :)

kt moxie said...

Please post some pictures! I'm jealous of your travels...

amanda said...

Please send a post card. :)

I learned about the whole 6 month thing (it's the same up here) when sitting in the passport office and a very rushed flight attendant came in realizing that she NEEDED to get her passport renewed or she would have had to take a forced vacation or only flights in Canada. Because her passport was less than 6 months from expiry she would not even have been allowed to work a flight that flew over the US.

So really your quiet day wasn't so quiet...it just didn't have much noise.

6 MONTHS ALREADY...how did that happen so fast. And how much did Sam weigh?

Suburban Turmoil said...

How exciting- I'm so envious of your Asia trips. Can't wait to read about your next one. :) I'm hoping to visit China and Japan some day and Hong Kong would be fun, too.

Grit said...

passports are a continuous problem here for dh. he has to be constantly alert to the requirements of different countries regarding visas, and it's just not possible, so don't feel too bad. it will be great to see you in hk, and i'm really looking forward to saying hello!

crazywildberry said...

Wow! Good for you! 17 pounds is quite the accomplishment! (M. was 24 pounds at 6 months. He was a tad too big. He was a good eater, I guess. All mine too.) Well, congrats! That's awesome Rachel! (So, what's the actual weight?)

I love silence. And when I am away from the kids I don't miss the noise. I love the silence some more. I miss the kids not the noise.

8 times. hmm... that's pretty cool. Safe travels to Asia... again. Can't say that I am NOT even the teeny tiniest bit jealous. :)