The evolution of my holiday could be a study onto its own. I started with the idea to visit my sister and her husband in the States for a few months in 2000. Then my brother in law invited us all for his birthday, taking us to Hawaii in June 2001. I decided to postpone my 2000 plans....

Talking to him and my sister in December, a new thought entered my head. Starting the noise. 'So, if I came in March, I could still ski?'

Thus started the core of my plan. I would have a mega holiday. March: Ski with Rouviere and Ben at Lake Tahoe, stay with them in San Jose. Then: travel the width of the continental US, to New York, to visit Andre, a good friend of mine living there, that I wanted to visit since he lived in Paris. After this, travel around with Christiaan, another good friend of mine. June, off to Hawaii, courtesy Ben. The good thing about everybody leaving SA is that you can travel everywhere, abusing the kindness of friends and family the world over.

But, I was still in the good old RS of A. Christmas the family spend at the Natal South Coast. When everybody went back, I decided to head on down to the Cape. Sort of a holiday to get me into the spirit of things to come.

But, I do not want digress into another tour. Even if it was great in its own right. Cape Town. Pringle Bay. Franschoek and the wine farms, friends and family all over. The point is: here a crucial second idea entered my head. One that actually was there before. But then only to say: 'Look, I am not quite insane, since I am not doing THIS...'

Tessa told me about it. A round-the-world plane ticket. For much less than I imagined. Actually, quite affordable.

Once I got back from the Cape, there was very little time left to plan. The round-the-world thing started from a nifty way to include visiting friends and family in New Zealand, land in Australia to say I've been there, on to Kuala Lumpur for the same reason and back to South Africa and changed into one huge holiday. For I then realized I will be not only in Hawaii, but at the Great Barrier Reef as well. Another life-long-dream re-entered my head. Scuba diving.

So, I had about a month and a half to complete a consulting job I was busy with, have the oral exam for my masters, and a scuba course. And plan a six-month round-the-world holiday, with 12 flights, first time skiing, one trip across the continental US, and one train ride across most of Australia. I could sleep on the plane. Detail planning later. Thankfully Jenny did the flight reservations, for this needed a travel agent that knows her stuff.

The really weird time that followed is too much of a blur to recall. I did not leave on the 1st of March as planned, but the 8th. I planned for and expected difficulties with the work. I was unpleasantly surprised. The weekend I did my open water dives I got in bed 3:30AM the Friday, got up at 6:30AM, drove an hour to Bass lake, did three dives, got back at 6PM, went to work... hell, I'm boring myself here. You get the idea. My grand plan for a big party the weekend before I leave had to go. Thankfully, the Tuesday before I left I could take a night off, and had dinner with Marici and Daniel, who I will be visiting in New Zealand. Wednesday I had my party, where everybody cursed me goodbye.