jess- what trace said about amsterdam is what i meant...

mel- that's exciting! your bday will be a blast!

mel & haze- u guys on facebook?

i feel like there are a million things to do before the trip! maybe if i start packing now i'll be ready come end of october!

guys don't forget to tell your banks that you'll be traveling. i've heard of people's funds being frozen b/c of suspicious foreign charges. last thing we'd want is to not have access to money!

another thing i wanted to ask all of you...

anyone bringing a DSLR camera? i am, and also a point & shoot for going out at night and stuff. on top of figuring out how i'm gonna pack my clothes, now i'm also trying to figure out what to use for a day bag! i need something that will protect my nice camera/lens/etc. and give me easy access to them but also have room for all the other stuff i'll need throughout the day.

i'm thinking something like a messenger bag slung over my shoulder instead of a backpack b/c i hear there's an insane amount of pickpockets and i don't want to give them easy access.

thoughts anyone??

Oh my gosh Mel, that's so exciting, bday in amsterdam!!!! We will make it huge! can celebrate by going to sex shows, clubbing and the special cake shops ahahaha.

Yeah Dani, I've been told that too, def will be doing that a week or two before I go! I also gotta tell the bank with all the money that im withdrawing to put onto a travelex card.

Hahaha I have no idea what dslr camera is, but i'm taking aaa camera. Marin knows more about it, I dont use cameras, only the one on my phone. I just learnt the other day about how you put the memory card in!!!!

Marin has got her bag it's an over the shoulder bag, from a bag shop here, the leather kinda material prob about an a4 sheet of paper haha, i duno and i'm yet to find one.

Went to try last thur night and ended up buying a stewie griffin t-shirt that I'm taking overseas hahahah.

Hi everyone!! My name's Jen from Nova Scotia Canada and I just booked this trip a couple days ago and am so excited!! Talk about cold, we are pretty used to it up here!! I'm 33 so by the sounds of it the oldest so far but I'm young at heart ) Can't wait to meet all of you.

Hey Dani we are taking our dslr camera, we have an over the shoulder type bag that proctects the camera and lenses, defintely carry on luggage, going to take some amazing photos with it i hope we have only had it a month so still not really sure how to use it :-)
thanks heaps for the tips Haze, defintely looking forward to checking out singapore.
Haha trace sex show for my birthday i was thinking about that the other day, but its one of those things you have to do, maybe i better eat a few cakes first :-)

Sorry meant to say yep i am on facebook, look up Melanie Brooks - my photo is both me and Jas kinda looks like we are from the 1950's (fancy dress party :-) )

Hey Jen, argh we are all so excited! 8 weeks away!!!! Meh age wont matter, as long as we all have a good time..and that you arent over 35 :P

Yeah we'll definitely space cake it up, one of the boys who went there had to go up on the stage and eat a banana sticking out of a ladies hm hmm. Dont want to see that!

Awwww, thanks Trace
What is everyone taking for a pack....a backpack, or a regular suitcase?? Like you guys said, I have no idea how to fit all this stuff into 20kgs!! Especially since the temps. are gonna vary...I was looking at the avg temp. in Rome that time of year and it was like 17-20 degrees but Germany was 2-7 degrees! Yikes!
And what are you guys using for currency, credit card or local currency at each place, and are you getting local currency ahead of time or when we get there??
Ohhhh...I can't wait )

I haven't got mine yet, but a found a realllly good one today that I may get, need opinions from my sisters. But im definitely getting an over-the-shoulder one cos I dont want to be pick-pocketed from a backback or something. We are getting a travelex card one for pounds and one for euro, not sure of cash/using the card, older sister knows what we are doing, but I'll be taking bits of cash, incase at markets and that they only take it and there's something I really want oh yes and getting pounds in aust before we go.

hi jen!!! so glad to see other people joining us on this forum! can't wait to meet you as well
for luggage i think i'm just bringing a suitcase and an over the shoulder daypack/carry on for my camera and stuff. i will have credit and debit cards with me and plan on getting local currency when we arrive. i'm told the local banks offer the best exchange rates.

mel- i'm also just starting out with my dslr. i'm only taking it with me on the trip if i feel like i'm up to speed and using it to its full capabilities. otherwise i feel like it's not worth the risk to take it. so i'm trying to learn as much as i can in the next month!

trace- are you sure you don't wanna see that? lol that's what the trip is for...to do and see things you would NEVER otherwise!

i am so excited but am dreading next week cause i have to tell my boss i'm quitting! not just to go on this trip, long story. once i get that part over with i can REALLY be excited! wish me luck

hey every1 im Sean cant wait till this tour kicks off. im a 21yr aussie Im in France working atm its my first time out of aus.

Oh wow its the first boy on the forum... about time! I thought it was guna be a girls tour only! haha
Hi Sean, what are u doing for work in France? How long have u been over there for? My sis & I are staying in London after the contiki & working probably in a pub or retail or something.
Welcome to Jen from canada aswell.. glad to see people from different countries!
I told my work i quit last nite so thats all over with, dani - hope it goes well for u.

Im working in a winery as a cellarhand. Iv been over here for 5 weeks. London would be a great place to live. Im on facebook if u wana hav a look at some of my pics. Just look up Sean Morgan im wearing a green polo and hav 2 a person either side of me.

hahaha, yes dani I don't want to see it! but if we are out of our minds maybe it could be..no, no, no way. hahaha yes sean love having all the chicks although someone has a partner they are bringing! ohh I hope your quittage went ok/good jess, and goodluck dani, let us know how it goes hahaha.

hi sean, welcome!! lol jess, i was also wondering where the guys were. i just tried adding you on facebook, not sure if i got the right one though, there are so many sean morgan's on facebook!

thanks jess and trace, i told my boss i'm leaving last friday. it went as well as it could have i guess. i'm just glad it's done.

6 1/2 weeks to go!