My Current To-Do List

Time is flying - and before long, so will I!

This post is mainly one for myself, however I think many of you might also enjoy a snippet into the crazied, multi-tabbed browser of my mind. This is a generalized, yet significant, to-do list for my upcoming Trans-Mongolasia Trek. (New term, just came to me while typing this!)

Itinerary Specific:
- book transport to New York (either overnight MegaBus or train)
- finalize Russian itinerary (needed for visa application)
- book accommodations in Russia
- book trains for within Russia (don't go on sale until 45 days before departure...)
- book international train from Ulan Ude, Russia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- book basic accommodations in China (possibly needed for visa application)
- apply for Russian and Chinese visa (currently gathering paperwork to get in the mail)
- continue finalizing details regarding my volunteering position in Mongolia
- look into highlights and attraction costs in cities
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Moving Home/Personal:
- rent U-Haul truck to move large items home (already booked and planned for this Sat!)
- actually move and return living at home!
- sort through my trailer and decide which items I want/must keep
- pack up the items that my family wishes to keep (most preparing for Steph to move back out)
- sell the items we don't want to keep
- donate/throw out the rest
- open bank account with Charles Schwabb (refunds ATM fees each month and reported great bank for international travel!)
- advise current bank of my upcoming travel itinerary
- create a living will and authorize
- establish needed paperwork for my father to handle my affairs in lieu of my absence and authorize
- determine which sibling will "manage/drive/pay" for my car during my leave


General Travel:
- research and buy a new travel backpack (my current trekking one is way too big)
- buy SSD external hard drive
- possibly buy an internal SSD hard drive (still checking into whether my Mac's drive will be OK in Tibet)
- buy a couple additional memory cards
- buy a solar-powered charger (need for Mongolia due to no power in ger camp or out on treks)
- buy a second power bank, possibly laptop battery backup
- confirm and obtain the needed vaccinations
- buy travel insurance for this trip
- decide what clothing/items I will be packing
- pack my backpack


Things to do while on the road:
- book/update accommodations if needed
- buy international train from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Beijing, China
- confirm/rebook accommodations in China
- confim/pay for Tibet trek
- pay for train ticket into Lhasa
- buy plane ticket from Lhasa to Chengdu
- finalize details for Giant Panda volunteering
- plan and finalize post-Tibetan leg from Chengdu
- decide from which East coast Chinese city I will fly home from
- book ticket home (using frequent flyer miles!)


I'm sure I'm still missing items from my list, but wowzers! And remember, I leave June 6. T minus