Canadian Bacon

So, does anyone else have a ritual thing they do before embarking on another journey?

For me I shave my head before I go on a trip... I don't know why, it's probably because for the time being, I want to leave my old self at home.

... and also because it saves having to cut your hair on the road... and by the time I get back its all grown back!

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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

joe7f

Two days before I lay everything out. I pack the day before. I keep my passport in a pouch secured to the backpack. I usually wake up extra early to make sure I make it to the airport on time. A little paranoid? Maybe...

Now of course, my prebacking ritual will conclude with a departure notice on Tpunk!

--Joey

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Countries visited: USA, Netherlands, Norway, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain (and Gibraltar), Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, UK, Japan, Canada , Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Andorra, Croatia, Montenegro

Next up: Mongolia, China

"I sought trains; I found passengers" - Paul Theroux

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bellelass

I kind of go off food for a few days, and drink litre after litre of water. I'll bake something nice and wrap it up to eat on the way, and get my hands on some good trail mix and some Luna bars. Generally start changing up my sleeping patterns too, and keep track of the local weather/news if I can get it. I go to the bookstore and allow myself two magazines and a book of choice.
I usually buy several gluesticks and a new leather bound journal too, they fill up quickly when Im traveling since I paste receipts, tickets, random pieces of things and even food wrappers in along with a running rambling commentary. They make a good reference later... I make sure I have addresses for postcards (everyone everyone expects them now, so thats one of the things I always do...) and try to add a few new people's addresses.
Then about an hour before I should leave I find a bag and stuff whatever seems useful to me in it. Some clothes, a toothbrush if I can find it, whatever. I used to try to pack ahead of time, but it would just stress me out and I would obsess, so last minute it is.
I also make copies of my flight itineraries and general plan of action and my passport and insurance and leave it with at least three people, and my parents. A bit excessive, but it has been necessary in the past. Nothing wrong with a safety net.
And when Im waiting for the plane, I make myself sit quietly for a little while and think about what I want to learn/find/discover while Im out and write it down.

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"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."
-T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom

omisan

Check weather reports, print up all my travel documents and bookings, photocopy my passport and credit cards, then start psyching myself up by watching movies related to wherever I'm traveling.

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¿Donde esta Omid? Omi-san wa doko desuka? Ou est Omid? Wo ist Omid?

Find out @ http://omidabroad.blogspot.com

DC_Jessica

At hour 24, I usually forgive myself for all of the stuff that I have known about for months and months but hadn't really gotten around to doing. Then I usually do last minute nonsense, throw a get together for movies and comfort foods with my buddies, then stay up ALL NIGHT packing and making sure that if the worst does occur, the first thought my parents have when they see my room is, "Jesus, all that money on vacations and Jessica lived like an animal!!"

Oh, and last time I dumped my boyfriend pretty much immediately before I left. I guess it's kind of like shaving your head...

Maineartist

I do yoga or work out, have a haircut, and work on art.
I am mellow the week before.

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"To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world."
~Freya Stark