The Itinerary

When your itinerary is so long it makes you tired just thinking about it, you start to wonder what the actual trip is going to be like. At any rate, here's the plan, which starts on August 31, 2011. We'll be taking 27 flights, 9 or 10 boat trips, a few bus trips, tuk-tuks, rental cars, chauffered cars, at least 1 train ride...you name it. We even have a hot-air balloon ride in the mix!

To London, in transit
August 31 -- Newark to Washington, DC, to London (Continental)

On to Sicily for time in the beautiful islands
September 2 -- London to Milan to Palermo (Lufthansa)
September 3 -- Palermo to Milazzo (train)
September 3 -- Milazzo to Panarea, Aeolian Islands (hydrofoil)
September 10 -- Panarea to Lipari, Aeolian Islands (hydrofoil)
September 17 -- Lipari to Salina, Aeolian Islands (hydrofoil)
September 24 -- Salina to Milazzo to Palermo (hydrofoil, train)

Turkey is calling
September 25 -- Palermo to Milan to Istanbul (Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines)
September 29 -- Istanbul to Izmir, Turkey (Pegasus)
October 1 -- Izmir to Kas, Turkey (by car, National)
October 11 -- Kas to Urgup, Cappadocia, Turkey (by car; hot-air balloon ride)
October 14 -- Cappadocia to Kas (by car)
October 28 -- Kas to Izmir (by car)
October 30 -- Izmir to Istanbul (Pegasus)

Touring Vietnam at a fast pace
October 31 -- Istanbul to Bangkok (Turkish Airlines)
November 1 -- Bangkok to Saigon, Vietnam (Turkish Airlines)
November 2 -- Saigon to Hanoi (Vietnam Airlines)
November 4 -- Hanoi to Mai Chau, Vietnam (by car with driver)
November 5 -- Mai Chau to Son La, Vietnam (by car with driver)
November 6 -- Son La to Dien Bien Phu (by car with driver)
November 7 -- Dien Bieh Phu to Lai Chau (by car with driver)
November 8 -- Lai Chau to Sapa (by car with driver)
November 10 -- Sapa to Hanoi (by train)
November 11 -- Hanoi to Halong Bay (by car; overnight stay on boat)
November 12 -- Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hue (car, Vietnam Airlines)
November 14 -- Hue to Hoian (by car with driver)
November 16 -- Hoian to Nha Trang (Vietnam Airlines
November 18 -- Nha Trang to Dalat (by car with driver)
November 19 -- Dalat to Phan Thiet (by car with driver)
November 20 -- Phan Thiet to Saigon (by car with driver)
November 22 -- Saigon to Can Tho (boat)
November 23 -- Can Tho to Saigon (by car with driver)

Exploring Cambodia
November 24 -- Saigon to Siem Reap, Cambodia (Vietnam Airlines)
December 1 -- Siem Reap to Battambang, Cambodia (boat or bus)
December 3 -- Battambang to Phnom Penh (bus)
December 6 -- somewhere in Cambodia (bus or taxi)
December 12 -- somewhere to Saigon (bus)


The South Pacific for the holidays
December 13 -- Saigon to Singapore to Manila to Koror, Palau (Singapore Airlines, Continental)
December 19 -- Koror to Peleliu, Palau (slow boat)
December 22 -- Peleliu to Koror (slow boat)
December 23 -- Koror to Guam to Truk to Ponape, Micronesia (Continental)
Christmas in the South Pacific!

Heading toward home, with a stop in blue Hawaii
December 28 -- Ponape to Kwajalein to Majuro to Honolulu (Continental)

Checking in on San Francisco again
January 3 -- Honolulu to Phoenix to San Francisco (US Airways, United)

Finishing the loop in London
January 9 -- San Francisco to London (United)

A new year and an old familiar place
January 13 -- London to Newark to Pennington (Continental)

We'll try to blog our way around the world, posting when and where we can. Wish us luck!