Pre-Trip Fort Collins

Lots and lots and lots of these...
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Applying for Visas -

This process can be really easy or rather hard.  It kind of depends on which country you're traveling to.

So we tried some new underwear at first.

We started with all good intention to acquire our visas early, in September for a late November trip.  We went to the City Clerk's office and dutifully got our passport/visa photos taken.  We even had extras taken, "just in case".  It's a pretty good place to "get 'er done, but, of course, don't expect too much travel info there - "We just do photos".

Luckily for us, Thailand doesn't require a visa.  I suppose it's one of those political things.  Cambodia offers an online visa application process which proved to be really easy.  Online applications and online payments for the visa fees.  We had our visas in fifteen minutes.  Vietnam has been another thing altogether.

For a Vietnamese visa, you'll have to package up your passport with an application, passport photos, a pre-paid return envelope, and an international money order.  And some trust too, I suppose...  We're waiting now as our passports travel alone, all by themselves, completely out of our control.  Here's hoping this part goes well.

Clothing -

Clothing has been a challenge as well.  We decided early on that we would take about three days worth of clothing and wash periodically as needed.  The primary reason for that approach was to be sure we wouldn't have to check baggage and to be sure we could actually carry it around on our backs.  Tougher as you get older...

So then there's the hot and humid vs. cold and wet. How do you get that sink-wash stuff to dry in a hot and humid climate.  Well,  they make stuff that does just that.  Only problem is that not much of that stuff was in our dresser.  Nylon this and polyester that.  Didn't sound much like it be something you'd really want to wear.

So we tried some new underwear at first.  Not too bad.  Might even be able to think it's comfortable - after awhile...   One thing led to another and now we're about ready to travel - at least with clothing that will be somewhat functional in several climatic challenges.

Money -

One aspect of the travel thinking has been to figure out the money thing.  Most people you talk to say take US dollars to Cambodia and Vietnam.  The exchange rates could certainly make for an interesting situation.

One person told a story about a Canadian couple who exchanged $100 USD for some Cambodian Riel.  Only problem was that after the exchange, they had a stack of paper money 18 inches high.  How do you carry that around?  The exchange rates are 1 USD:4,076 Cambodian Riel and 1USD:16,327 Vietnamese Dong.  Can't imagine the cart the Canadians would have had to rent to carry the money around in Vietnam.

Well, we'll see how that goes too.  Guess a dollar will go a long ways.  At least, here's hoping it does...