Shopping and Packing

 August 31. 

(I spent three paragraphs complaining about my new travel computer.  I deleted it all.  You're welcome!)

Shopping list: Keyboard for my tablet is number one.  It hasn't arrived yet.  New book called Sovietistan: A Journey through Turkmenistan, etc.  I found out about this book in an article my friend Greg sent me.  This article is about Turkmenistan opening up to tourists.  Which makes me even happier to be going when I am.  Book has arrived yesterday but I haven't started yet. 

(I have to complain a little bit, I am going through update #4 on my computer)

Back to shopping.  I bought a couple of merino wool t-shirts from Icebreaker.  I managed to hit the end of season sale which saved a bit. 

I think this is a good time to head to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions so I have enough for the trip.  

I'm back.  I wore my new (to me) Oboz hiking shoes.  I got them at Value Village super cheap ($6!!) because they are for 'kids' (they are also Women's size 6, $209 at full price!).  I'm not sure if they are going to make the cut though.  It's going to be the Oboz or my Hokas.

Packing.  I seem to be creating a travel wardrobe of blues and greens with some neutrals.  Different that my usual blue, green, red, purple, yellow and maybe orange with nary a neutral to be found wardrobe.   

September 1. 

I pre-packed over the weekend.  My bag is too full and too heavy and doesn't included everything yet.  Some un-packing to follow.

September 2. 

I like to buy one 'luxury item' for each trip that I know I will use for all future trips. I don't think I mentioned that I finally broke down and bought some walking poles at the Robinson's anniversary sale. 

I realized I really need them on that huge hike in Madagascar.  The downhill was brutal. 

They were expensive compared to other brands but cheap compared to a broken ankle in rural Turkmenistan.  I bought top of the line for two reasons.  1.  I need short poles and the cheaper brands don't usually come in 'wee'.  2. I need them to be lightweight and break down as small as possible.  The Black Diamond poles I got weigh nothing and collapse into four pieces so they will fit into my day pack for day hikes.  I know I won't take them if they aren't easy to carry. 

Tonight my friend Judy and I went to a travel presentation at Robinson's (always fun, you should sign up for their alerts) and had a quick chat with Erin the owner about the poles.  She recommend some inexpensive rubber tips and gave me a user-pro-tip to lengthen the poles on downhills. 

I have never used poles before.  I will report back. 

And bonus, on my Antarctic cruise, along with our 'free parkas' we also got 'free water bottles'.  That free water bottle came in a little cloth bag.  Which I came upon in my travel tote while I was packing this weekend.  The poles fit perfectly!!  

Wine bottle for scale, and maybe a sip

Collapsible!

full length (if one wants to call my length 'full' - 110 cm).

I started the Sovietistan book.  Much more entertaining that the History of Central Asia.

September 5.  

Busy, busy with Fall term start up.  I just realized that I have way over-scheduled my time in Istanbul.  When am I going to buy too much at the Grand Bazaar?  When am I going to eat too much in Taksim?  When am I going to drink too much coffee in the Beyoğlu district?

So I cancelled the two more interesting walking tours. 😞 The one about Spirituality and the one about Art.  Boo!  I may rebook when I get there and see the lay of the land. 

September 8. 

My family was staying with me on the weekend so I did not get my packing/unpacking done.  

I watched a couple of videos on how to use walking poles.  I am meeting my friend Carolyn tonight for a lesson.  It doesn't look like it should be complicated but everyone says it is harder than seems.  

I had a keyboard situation with my new travel computer.  I had bought one online.  It turns out there is a very big difference between the S10+ computer and the S10, which is the one I have.  So, I went to Best Buy to bestbuy the right size.  They don't have one in stock.  It is too late to order one.  Langford also does not have one.  Cowichan store has three.  Okey Dokey, road trip!  

I dropped my brother off at the airport and headed to Duncan.  I get to the store and the greeter tells me there online order system is down and I won't be able to pick up my item.  So, I picked up the greeter and shook him until a keyboard fell out.  No, I did not do that.   I said I will ask at the pick up counter. The poor manager who was barely 21, but still two years older than the rest of the staff, was very nice.  I told him my tale of woe about driving up island and going on vacation.  So, he found my item and handed it to me and made me promise not to cancel my order before they could process it.  I promised and came home.  

So, keyboard situation solved.  Remember all of the updating I didn't tell you about at the top.  Now I can't remember my password.  I'll figure it out.  

September 9.

I had a lovely walk up Anderson Hill with Carolyn last night.  The poles are not hard.  Perhaps I am a pole savant?  What other types of poles should I employ?  Perhaps I'll try barbering?  Less core strength required than the other pole work I can think of. 

Anderson hill, just another reminder why I like to come home after traveling

I got my 'this is your last email' from G Adventures reminding me that I have a trip coming up.  In case I forgot, I guess. 

And that this is my last chance to book an airport transfer.  They are very polite about it but also a bit fear-inducing

What to do when you arrive

Arriving at an airport in a new country can be a frantic and daunting experience.

You still have an opportunity to request a G Adventures arrival transfer to make your arrival stress free. If you are committed to getting there on your own (way to embrace adventure!), please review the Joining Instructions in your trip details for information about about public transportation, taxi's or "other" modes of transportation to get to your start hotel.

I am not up for frantic or daunting at the moment so I took a minute at work to get them to book that transfer. I'm sure once my brain is less frazzled with work and trip planning, when I am standing in the Bishkek airport, I will think, I should have just done it myself.  But today, still full brain frazzle.  And I need one tiny 'unknown' moved to the 'known' column. Gives more space to the 'unknown' of how I am going to reduce my carrying load.  

I still can't decide which shoes to take.  

Later that same day...

Remember when I couldn't remember my password for my new travel computer and I said i would deal with it later.  Well, I sort of remembered my password so I tried it. Nope.  variation of it.  Nope.  Variation, other variation, etc. etc.  Nope, other nope, etc., nope nope nope.  Every time I tried a new password it would make me wait longer and longer to try again.  30 seconds to retry, 60 seconds to retry, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 10, 30, 60 until last night I was up to 2 hours of solitary confinement.  I went so far as to 'chat' with Samsung.  The nice not-bot told me I was basically screwed.  I could go back to a previous password.  I don't have a previous password.  In the end, when I asked her if I should just throw it in the garbage, she did finally tell me that I can hard reset it.  Excellent, great, how do I do that.  I wait for it to get to 0 power and then do some steps.  But I had just charged it. And it is good on energy saving.  It is now 24 hours later and it it still at 70%.  It was not going to die before I had to leave.

So, I gave it one more kick at the can tonight and hallelujah!!  I managed to drag my password out of whatever mental dungeon it was in.  So, I am currently writing this on my new travel computer.  

I am still not packed.  

September 10. 

Ok, one day to go.  Time to actually pack!  I am working from home and doing quick runs into the packing area between meetings/emails.  I don't know how this is happening but I have only ADDED things to the pile.  Wrong direction.  I am going to have to concentrate and not half-ass it like I am currently doing.  It's almost time for lunch.  That will give me a slightly longer block of time.  

Post-Lunch

Well, the best laid plans etc. etc.  I am also trying to organize a couple of projects to be done while I'm away so dealing with trades people (although I am loathe to call Chuck a trades person, more like a god-send) and the house sitter.  I spent lunch showing the garden guy what I want done.  Now I'm eating at my desk.  Not packing.  

Couple of hours later.  

I took a 15 minute break to be ruthless with my packing.  Out went the skirt, the cardigan, the capri pants, one pair of undies, one pair of socks and my sandals.  I replaced the sandals with a second pair of shoes.  I couldn't decide between walking shoes appropriate for city strolls or for country hiking.  Answer:  Both.  

I switched to my smaller backpack and now I have room left over.  Is my bigger backpack a lie?  I like the smaller one anyway so I'm going to take it.  The test of this whole pack situation is getting from home to the ferry to the skytrain to the airport. 

While I was throwing things onto the floor, my lovely friend Judy called to say goodbye.  I convinced her that she wants to drive me to the ferry tomorrow.  So, one leg of that 'test' taken care of.  

Look, a total corner worth of empty space!  

I'm going to post this now.  See you all from Istanbul!  

Keeping on keeping on...

July 22.  

I looked at my Visa bill and managed to not have a heart attack but it was close.  I have now paid for my trip!  No going back now. Not that I was planning to cancel but now it's real.  

I have no idea when/where I'm going to pack.  My spare room is booked right up until a couple of days before I leave.  As followers of my trips, you all know I use my spare bed to throw things I might need and leave them there until it is time to shove everything into a bag.  No throwing, no shoving until Sept 9!  

I am almost done my History of Central Asia book.  I had some time to kill in/on an airport/flight so I caught up.  I am almost to the Russian era.  

I covered 1200 years of history, on a round trip Victoria and Edmonton

July 28. 

Today I had my travel clinic appointment.  I am generally good to go but my typhoid vaccine is due.  So, that plus my favourite, Dukoral.  I thought I might get a measles update but apparently I am so old, I am for sure immune.  I do remember getting it when I was little.  It's the reason I never learned to ski.  My parents were newly split and my dad was going to take us kids to Mt Washington while my mom went on a road trip.  I woke up the next morning covered in red spots.  My dad said to my mom, something like 'too bad about your trip' and then she left, probably laughing all of the way back down island.  

July 31.

My brain is starting to remind me that I need reminders.  

Things to do that I might forget: 

• get a hair cut (booked)
• get the car serviced (not because this is a pre-travel thing, my oil change light is lit) (Booked)
• get money.  But first figure out how much money?? 
• top up the lottery account so I might still win big while I'm away (and so my co-workers don't kill me if we miss a jackpot)
• set up payments for bills.  
• figure out when I have five days in a row at home to take my typhoid pills
• contact the second cat sitters for the hand off of my borrowed cat. 

I also created this so I can sort of keep track. 

August 11 (one month to go!!)

I got an email this weekend that my flights from Istanbul to Bishtek had changed.  I looked, same day, same time.  Confused face emoji!  Then I noticed that the airport code has been updated.  Whew.  I did not want to lose any time in the Istanbul business class lounge!!  Or my trip I guess...  

BSZ

Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has officially changed its IATA code from FRU to BSZ, effective 9 August 2025. The change, implemented under IATA Resolution 763, was first announced on 9 May 2025. The previous code, FRU, dated back to the Soviet era when Bishkek was known as Frunze.

I start my typhoid vaccine (four doses) tonight.  If I remember?  I already forgot this morning so it isn't starting off well.  

August 18.  

Dammit!  I forgot to take my fourth Typhoid pill last night!!  

Later that day.  Time to go home and take my typhoid pill but instead I am searching Guru Walks for 'free' walking tours in Istanbul.  I am going to die for sure.  I booked four!!  

• Istanbul Old City Tour; Byzantine and Ottoman Tales (Sept 13 @ 10 am)
• Istanbul Spiritual (Sept 13 @ 1:45 pm)
• 2 Continents 1 City: From Europe to Asia (Sept 14 @ 10:30 am)
• Fener-Balat Walking Tour by Art Historian (Sept 15 @ 10 am) 

GuruWalks is everywhere! 

August 19.  

I remembered my typhoid when I got home.  

August 25.

Getting close now.  17 days according to my Trip Countdown app. 

I picked up my Euros and Turkish Lira.  My friend Rob helped me download a e-sim for Turkey.  I can decide on the other countries as I go. 

Money, money, money, must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money, always sunny,
In the rich man's world
Ahaaaaaa

But I digress... (again). 

I don't think I mentioned that my friend Rob is going to be in Istanbul at the same time as me for one evening!  And, saint that he is, he is going to meet me at the airport and get me into town.  He is also on the 'free hotel' plan.  In fact, it was him that told me about it (it was he...? whatever that sounds dumb, correct but wrong - am I digressing again, so soon!?).  

Rob's free hotel is very near mine so he will get me to the neighbourhood and we can have dinner and a bit of an orientation walk-about.  He is heading out the next morning so I will have to make my own way after that but the 'how to take the metro with metro pass already in hand' is going to be a life saver after a million hour flight. 

I have been reminding myself how to play backgammon online just in case the opportunity arises.  Apparently, this is something people do in the part in Turkey.  I'm sure, should I get the chance to play, I will be beaten mercilessly but I might remember when to put my little disks to start.  

 

Good old CBC Kids Games (no spam or ads!)

I finished my Central Asia History book.  It was a slog, let me tell you.  All I remember is Alexander the Great. 

August 26. 

I think I am going to take the city bus to the ferry for the noon sailing.  Then take the Vancouver transit to the airport. That should get me there in time to check in around four hours early and have time to enjoy the Maple Leaf lounge (Gate D52 if you are wondering) for a couple of hours of free lunch and kooshy chairs.   

August 27.  

Today I got my cortisol shot in my knee.  My knee has not been acting up lately but I don't want to risk it.  In fact it has been so good, I am only 90% (80%?) sure that I got him to do the correct knee.  I'll let you know if I got it wrong!  I'll take my stash of Tylenol, just in case. 

I also organized the borrowed-cat hand-off to her next foster people.  I will miss the little bugger, 4 am yelling and work-from-home lizard killing and all.  The once weekly snuggle is worth it.  

It's time to end the pre-packing planning post and move onto the peri-packing planning post.  

Two weeks to go people!  

Travel Advisories.

I had to fill out a letter of invitation for G Adventures so that I can enter Turkmenistan.  You will, of course, remember this from my post in November, so so long ago.  

I had to send in a scan of my passport, in colour, and a passport-like photo.  I made my friend Robynne take the photo.  She sucks because I do not look like the 32 year old that I think I look like.  But I will forgive her, despite her making me look like middle aged.  

The passport scan had to have the name page and opposite page and all corners showing.  I scanned, cropped, straightened and sent it in.  Rejected.  They did not reject the photo of old me.  So, despite my Luddite tendencies, I figured out how to increase the resolution on my scan.  I have resent it but have not heard back.  

In the meantime, I also have to click a little button that says 'I have verified with a consulate that I do not require a Letter of Invitation to apply for my visa / I do not require a visa for this destination so I figured I should actually check with Canada (gov.ca travel) that I actually don't need a visa for the other four countries.  

Hey, I just checked G and they took my LOP!  I'm "Good to Go!"

Anyway, when I went to Canada.gov Travel, I had to scroll by the travel advisors to get to Visa info. 

Don't start with Tajikistan!  

...

Several days later, picking up where I left off and then some. 

I have heard that Turkmenistan has restrictions on medications. I don't have anything out of the ordinary by any means, but who knows about stuff in one's first aid kit?  Imodium? anti-nausea?  I figured I should check.  

If you're interested if you can bring your
left handed steering car... 

I haven't got to the medicine list but there are some easy to avoid things so far: 

• armaments, ammunition, military equipment and specifically designed parts and components
• explosives
• nuclear materials, including fuel assembly
• ionizing radiation sources
• technology and special equipment which might be used to manufacture weapons and military equipment

 Or annoying but avoidable (I do like to buy a painting or two while traveling)

• Works of art (pictorial graphics, painting)

Why? (but fine). 

• liquorice

Things I'm allowed to export without a permit

• Macaroni products (thank goodness!)
• Animal intestines (less thanks)
• Glue for tiles (? is this necessary to list?)

There's a couple of things on there that I might actually export so no permit is good. 

• Bee honey
• Confectionery
• Packed therapeutic muds and sea salt

Bloody hell, I read that entire website and they didn't include a list of medication.  Turkmenistan is at the end of the tour so if I lose anything, it will be fine.  At least my macaroni products are safe.  

Back to my travel advisories.  

Kazakhstan is all green!  Normal Safety precautions.  

Kyrgyzstan is fighting with his brothers.  

Tajikistan has some infrastructure issues.  Remember to keep cash and water on hand. 

Back to Turkmenistan. 

Drinking, ok!

Alcohol-related incidents, including bar fights and drunk driving, are common.

Slagging Turkmenistan publicly, not ok (Turkmenistan officials, I am just pointing out what you said, please don't take it as criticism...)

Hotel rooms, telephones, e-mail and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Some foreigners have been detained. 

Looks like I will be out of contact while I'm here

Uzbekistan, another well behaved sibling. Nothing weird or interesting to report.  

You can tell by this and my previous post that I am at the travel planning stage where there isn't much to do but ruminate.  

I'll crawl back inside my own head and let you go about your day.  

The etymology of names

I was hanging out on a boat this Canada Day weekend (as one does on the coast) when someone asked me about my upcoming trip (as people do when they are around me) and I said I am going to the five 'stans and Istanbul.  And she said, iSTANbul is a sixth 'stan.  And I thought, how did I not think of that!!  

And then, of course, you say Istanbul to anyone and they start singing Istanbul (not Constantinople).  Which makes me think of my History of Central Asia book and the fact that the city was called Byzantium before it was Constantinople.  Which both also have a stan in them, sort of, 'stan' and 'zan'.  

So, I thought, I think the suffix 'stan' means country but I decided to look it up. 

The -stan suffix, and also sta and -istan, occur in various languages as markers of place. In Persian and Urdu, -stan means “where one stands” or “place of.” The Indo-European root word sta is used to signify “stands” and “settlement,” and this root still appears in Russian. The construction -istan appears in Persian and means “land.” So, the word Tajikistan means essentially “land of the Tajiks.”

The history of the names of Istanbul is a walk through the history of the city.  

Who doesn't love a history lesson!! 

Byzantium is Roman.  Named for King Byzas who settled there is 7th century BCE.  That is a mind boggling long time ago!!  Then it went through some unmemorable names related to its relationship to Rome (Secondu Roma, Nova Roma etc).  Until Roman Emperor Constantine the Great wandered by and renamed the city after himself, Constantinople, as one does when one sacks a city and takes over its people.  

Constantinople was a catchy name so it stuck around even after the Romans left and the Ottomans ruled the world (at least this part of it).  But then the Republic of Turkey was founded and the Post Office (?) officially changed the name of the city to Istanbul.  Although, this is very important, the name Constantinople was still used in Millenary circles.  That couldn't mean what I thought it meant, but yes, it does.  Hat making circles.  It was 1930.  Hats were culture.  So def worth mentioning. 

oh, this is a rabbit hole if ever a rabbit hole existed!!  

In 1930, the city formerly known as Constantinople was officially renamed Istanbul. While the fez was a traditional hat of the Ottoman Empire and Turkish people, it had been outlawed in Turkey in 1925 as part of a modernization effort to replace traditional headgear with Western-style hats. Therefore, while the fez was historically associated with Istanbul, it would not have been commonly worn there in 1930 due to the hat law. 

Must find more info!!!  Don't break the hat law or risk EXECTUTION!!  

Historical Context:

• The fez was a traditional Ottoman hat, but in 1925, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk implemented a law that required the replacement of traditional headgear with Western-style hats. 
• Hat Law:

  This law was a key part of Atatürk's modernization efforts and aimed to promote a more Westernized appearance for Turkish society. 
• Consequences of Violating the Law:

  Individuals who violated the hat law faced arrest and, in some cases, even execution. 
• Istanbul in 1930:

  By 1930, the city, previously known as Constantinople, had been officially renamed Istanbul, and the hat law was in effect, making the fez a less common sight. 

Amazingly, I seem to have lost the plot of this post.  What were we talking about? 

[Update, so it has been pointed out to me that I looked up the wrong word.  Millenary (1000 years) is not Millinery (hat making). But I did a lot of hat research, at least 90 seconds worth, so my post stays as it is. ]

Oh, ya, etymology.  Well after the hat execution info, that's kind of boring.  

• 

  Off with his Fez!! 

  
  And then I remembered the immortal words of Jimmy Kennedy from 1953 and realized, it's nobody's business but the Turks!
• Istanbul was Constantinople

  Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

  Been a long time gone, Constantinople

  Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

  
  

  So take me back to Constantinople

  No, you can't go back to Constantinople

  Been a long time gone, Constantinople

  Why did Constantinople get the works?

  That's nobody's business but the Turks'

And that ends this vital trip-planning blog update.  

if you want even more of an ear worm

Wait, I remember the plot - Istanbul. Roughly, Stan means place, Pol means city in Greek (as in metropolis).  

It simply means I Sten Pol meaning within the city, probably meaning within the old city walls.” Locals in Constantinople referred to the city as I Sten Pol (within the city) from the 10th century, as evidenced in Armenian and Arabic sources (without the initial I-) and Ottoman sources, too. The “I Sten Pol” eventually morphed into one word

Next post we'll talk about algebra (just kidding).

details

May 27.  I just filled out my Turkmenistan Letter of Invitation form.  I had to get a colour copy of my passport and I needed a passport-esque colour photo of me taken within the last 14 days. I made Robynne take it.  I won't share, if you want to see my wrinkles and grey hair, you will have to come see me in person!  

May 30.  Manifesting on NYT mini crossword!  

June 12

Buying a few books.  I have been reading the History of Central Asia. I got up to Alexander the Great plus a few less interesting kings that followed.  Now I am taking a break.  But I'll get through it (it's a bit homework-y though)

The birds of Central Asia are not that spectacular but I have to have a bird book.  Plus, I got a new phone with a 100x zoom on the camera!!  Not great photos for sharing, but great photos for bird IDing! 

June 27. 

My backpacks finally arrived. 

Pigeon is gone. I am cat-sitting Shiloh until I leave. 

A poem:  

A cat is going to cat, 

   not matter the cat. 

There was a bag out,

   so there she sat.  

Update on my Letter of Invitation to Turkmenistan.  They don't like my passport photocopy.  So I had to learn how to use the scanner at work with a bit more techno-fluency.  High resolution scan!  I need to resend with the new, sharper image. I'll do that now, while I'm thinking about it.  ...  Ok, that's done.  

I think this is enough.  There probably won't be much more until it is time to pack, panic.  

Istanbul...

I am starting to think about this trip now.  Borneo was excellent but that is done.  Time to think about the next one!  Istanbul and the Five Stans. 

I haven't done much around the Stans.  I did meet with a very nice woman named Leslie who is a friend of a friend.  She did four of the five stans, on her own!  She is retirement poster woman.  She travels on her own for half of the year.  And she seems to have been everywhere.  I will make her my friend even if she doesn't want it!  Anyway, we had a nice coffee and a bit of a chat about the Stans.  Weather, hilliness, packing considerations.  Hopefully I can meet up with her again when she is back in town in the summer.

I actually have to do some planning for Istanbul since G Adventures is not involved in this part of my trip. I bought a 10 year old Rick Steves book.  and I sprung for a new (full price!!) top 10 book of Istanbul.  I haven't cracked either one yet.  But I am regretting that now. I need to know about the city because it is time to book my free hotel room!!  

You all remember the most exciting news ever!  When one books a Turkish Air flight and schedules a free layover in Istanbul, Turkish Air provides a FREE HOTEL ROOM!!!  

So, I had a minute today and I thought I would check and see if it is still too early to book the hotel.  It is not.  But they gave me a list of hotel options.  A big list and they are all over the city. Not knowing anything about anything, I have no idea which one to choose.  

Sofitel Istanbul Taksim

Mövenpick Hotel İstanbul Bosphorus

Radisson Blu Hotel, İstanbul Pera

Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel

Sheraton Istanbul Levent Hotel

Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus

Radisson Blu Hotel İstanbul Şişli

Istanbul Marriott Hotel Sisli

Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler 

Lokalist, Istanbul, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center

I tried to map the hotels out on Google maps but there is too much info on there to try to make sense of.  I will check my paper map when I get home and see what is where in relation to things I want to see. 

...So, I started this post on April 10.  It is now April 22.  

I looked at the locations of those hotels.  My friend Rob who was the one who told me about this magical scam stayed at one and said it was a good location.  I had a look and saw that Sofitel was very close and $100 more a night! So, money = value/luxury (not but let's go with it) so I am booked for three nights at Sofitel Istanbul Taksim

Now I am occasionally looking at my 10 year old Rick Steve's Istanbul book that I bought for a dollar.  And today I had a quick scan of 'free walking tours' to see what I might want to do.  It is way too early to book anything.  I am just window shopping for now. 

Oh ya!  I almost forgot.  I bought a Cotapaxi backpack when I was planning to go to Colombia.  I bought a 35 litre bag becuase I needed one that would fit on the regional airline routes (with no checked bags).  I love the backpack!  But when I used it for Borneo and had to cram in a winter coat (for Seoul), it was just a wee bit too small.  So, I have been getting my friend Val who hangs out on FB marketplace, to keep an eye out for me.   She found one but it was 'sold' in minutes. 

I guess I said the word Cotapaxi near my phone often enough that it started to give me ads.  Anyway, long story short (hahahaha, never true), I lucked into an 8 hour 80% off sale!  I got my 42 litre backpack for $44 and the day pack for $23.  Or someone has stolen my credit card details which is equally likely.  

Free shipping because I spent so much!!  😁

Ok, that's it for now.  

Flights

I said I was going to ignore this blog until after Borneo but I bought my flights and as always, I made it as complicated as possible.  I will forget the details by February.  I can hear you all in back, so yes, there is no such thing as too much detail, since you are asking!  

Plus, I am still at work at 6:15 pm  BC Hydro is having a peak savers event between 4-7.  I had a meeting until 6.  If I don't go home and turn on lights etc. before 7, I will save $3 on my next month's bill!  

Here are the things I was trying to juggle with this flight.  When I first looked for my dates, it was simple enough.  I wanted to use up my Air Canada 'wallet' with the money from my cancelled Europe flights.  And I saw that a good chunk of the flights were with Turkish Air.  I had learned from my friend Rob's crazy around-the-world trip, that if you book with Turkish Air, you can do a free layover in Istanbul.  And as you will all remember from post #1, I am starting my Stan tour a few days later than I had anticipated.  So, why not use those days to eat Turkish food and see Turkish sites.  No reason at all is why not.  

Ya, I'm going here!  

So, dates, cost, use up air Canada money, lay over in Istanbul.  Plus, I saw that business class is pretty cheap!  So, toss that in too.  And, I have $2000 worth of travel money with my credit card for a flight to Asia.  That's a lot of balls to juggle.  

If I want to use my credit card money, I have to book with the Royal Bank travel agency.  I called them.  The only way to book it myself is if they can't find my path in their system.  Shockingly, they could not.   Still trying to use up that AC Wallet money, I said I would book it through Air Canada.  

I called Air Canada.  They could find my crazy plan but it was way more expensive to book it with them. Any 'wallet' money I could use up would be lost on the higher price, and then some. 

 I had been on the phone and various websites for hours by this point, so I took a break for a couple of days.  I had an appointment cancellation right before lunch so that gave me some extra time to wait around on hold today.  So, I found the flight with Turkish Airlines, figured out dates, moved it forward a bit (Sept 11) added in a three day lay over in Istanbul.  Called Royal Bank back and updated the booking airline (from AC to TK) and the dates.  All good.  

Then I booked my flights.  Noticing that business class, once I used my free credit card money, would only be a little more than an extra $1000, I went all in and booked Business Class!!!  I know, I know, I am currently not turning on lights to save $3 but I am tossing around $1200 on a comfy seat.  But it is a 12 hour flight!  And, god bless her, Chris left me a bit of money when she died so that I could afford to travel.  I assume she meant travel in comfort.  She used to love to hear about my trip planning and my international adventures so I like to think she would enjoy stories from Business Class.  

I am already regretting that I am going here on my way
to the 'Stans. I am going to have to use all of my 
Val voice 'don't buy that, you'll have to carry it' mental resources! 

Also, I can't verify this yet, but Rob tells me that Turkish Air provides free hotel for Istanbul layovers for Business class passengers.  So far, evidence seems to indicate this is true?  I think it is too early to actually book a hotel.  My lunch break was limited so I haven't checked with them yet.  

To do:   Get Royal Bank to give me some sweet free travel money.  Talk to Turkish Air about some sweet free accommodations!   Figure out how to use up that Air Canada wallet (not as sweet but I'm not going to kick it out of bed for eating crackers) before Aug 2025.  

By the way, Joe is not coming to any of the 'Stans with me.  He had decided to come with me to Borneo.  I better find a picture to break up this giant block of text.  It's almost 6:45 so time to go home and turn on some lights! 

Oh, while looking for online photos,  I found this review of Turkish Air business class:  

What We Love

• The inflight food and beverage presentation with the highest quality ingredients and chef-driven touches thanks to a partnership with Do & Co catering
• An unbelievable lounge experience in Istanbul that is regularly lauded as the best Business Class lounge in the world
• A route network that spans the globe and takes you to many destinations that no other airline can

This picture cannot be accurate!  

Seriously!  

Oh, I am just setting myself up for disappointment. It can't be as good as they say...