SITTING AT HOME ONE DAY: The trip

The Itinerary

OK.

So I've been asked where I'm going, and quite frankly I lack the finesse to maintain conversational interest for the course of three continents.

So here it is.

July 11th (the only fixed date on the trip...) I fly from London to Quito, in Ecuador, via Miami. The force of gravity will pull me down through Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

I'll be in South America for about five months. There's so much to do - trek mountains and volcanoes, swim and raft down rivers, camp on plains made entirely of salt, ride on the top of trains, learn Spanish, watch some Argentinian football, go and visit Palace fans that I know are out there...so many cities and villages...so much time!

In Chile, I'll lighten my load and float up to Santiago, from where I fly to Auckland, New Zealand. I fly out of Christchurch, so hope to see loads of the South Island, as well as Dave, Jo and Lily, who will have moved to Levin by then. They fly out on the 25th of July.

From New Zealand I fly to Australia - into Sydney and out of Perth. How long I'll stay I don't know. I've heard Oz being described as 'Essex but with more sunshine'.

Anyway. Things are obviously going to be more expensive in Oz and New Zealand (although I doubt anywhere's going to be as pricey as bar in the Holmesdale). So my money's going to go further in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

And then I might nip back to London for the cricket season. Hope it´s sunny.