Packing list

We can't have a blog about the trip without a packing list, so here it is:

Bags
Rucksacks x2
Day pack
Rucksack covers x2
Mini keyring bags
Dry bags x2
Drawstring bin liners
Sleeping
Sleeping bags x2
Mummy bags x2
Mosquito net
Pillowcases x2
Travel blankets
Travel pillows x2
Double sheet
Footwear
Trainers x2
Sandals x2
Trail running shoes x2
Anna's clothes
Poncho
Jacket
Hats
Sarongs
Skirts x2
Bikinis x2
Trousers x1
Shorts
Knickers x4
Bras x4
Socks x4
T-shirts x4
Hoodie
Jamie's clothes
Poncho
Waterproof jacket
Hat
Sarong
Trousers x2
Socks x 4
Boxers x 4
Rash shirt
T-shirts x4
Bermuda shorts
Shorts
Hoodie
Tools & toys
Frisbee
Washing line
Torch
Head torch
Sink plug adapter
Leatherman
Eye shades
Cutlery (sporks x2)
Mugs
Money belts/pockets
Snorkelling gear
Jamie sunglasses
Anna sunglasses
Padlocks
Bike chain
Sewing kit
Kettle element
Binoculars
Backgammon
Playing cards
Compass/thermometer
Jesus (gaffa) tape
Lighter/matches
Pens
Hooks
Ear plugs
Safety pins
Cable ties
Straps
Spanish guitar
Guitar soft case
Mini guitar tuner
Plectra
Guitar string sets x 2
Media
Copies of documents x2
Scans of documents on USB
Photo selection from home
DVDs (entourage)
CDs (music for US car trip)
CD case
Passport holders
Passports
Waterproof document pouches
Moleskin notebooks x2
LP CA
LP SA
LP LA
LP California
RG Mexico
Finnish Spanish phrase book
English Spanish phrase book
Electronics
N95
N95 headphones
N95 cable
N95 sd cards x3
SD card reader
USB sticks x2
N5100
Phone charger
Phone chager Nseries adapter
Ipod mini in plastic shell
Itrip
Ipod charger
Ipod headphones
Ipod double headphone adapter
Cybershot camera
Camera USB cable
Camera charger
Camera memory cards x3
Universal socket adapter
Clock radio
Toiletries & medical
First aid kit
Sterile kit
Travel towels
Wash bags x2
Nail kit
Wash kit
Water purificication pump
Collapsing water bottle
Water purification tabs
Baby wipes
Disinfectant
Malaria pills (Malarone & Doxy)
Off (and other sprays)
Antibiotics
Contraceptive pills
Prophylactics
Burana/aspirin
Milk pills
Multivitamins
Iron tabs
Sun cream
After sun (cocoa butter)
Foot tape
Yeast cream
Diarrhea tabs
Antihystimines
Hair wax
Hair spray
Toothbrushes x2
Deodorant x2
Contact lens solution
Contact lenses x12 pairs
Moisturiser x2
Make up stuff
Shampoo & conditioner
Snowboard gear
Snowboard bag
Boards & bindings x2
Boots x2
Jackets x2
Trousers x2
Straps x2
Pippos x2
Gloves x2
Goggles x2
Lock
Long johns/tightsx2 each
Thermal vestsx3 each
Socksx2 each
Long sleeved topsx1 each
Helmets x2
Screwdriver
Jeans x2
Casual top x2

The piccy just shows the tools, toys, leccy gear and sleeping stuff. Luckily all our snowboard stuff just fits in my big snowboard bag but let's see how our backpacks turn out. I am praying for 15 kilos but expecting 18-20. We are still debating ponchos Vs jackets, if we want eyeshades and earplugs, and if we can leave out trainers - handy for footy games with the local youth!

Of course we don't have to carry all this. The snowboard gear and the US guidebooks will be jettisoned before Mexico. There are a few things we might leave out but things like the drugs are worth getting now and are based on our experiences in India. Of course we would be happy if we never have to open the first aid kit or use any antibiotics...

We still have to sort out the document copies, get the iPod and phone loaded, get Anna a helmet, get a bike chain (found two but no spare keys - doh), and find some decent bin liners, as well as a few little things we can find in the states (like the trail runners) but we are in good shape.

Three songs about packing:
#3 Would I Lie To You, Eurythmics
#2 Ready 2 Ryde, Snoop Dogg
#1 A Bird That Whistles, Joni Mitchell

The long goodbye

We have been busy saying goodbye. Miss Deli has been to France to say goodbye to her dad and his family and I have been to England to say goodbye to my mum, step-mum and some of my English friends. I also got some great tips and picked up a few essential items, as well as raiding my mum's travel gear from when she was in Nepal. And I found my old mosquito net that we used in 2001 and the re-treatment kit I bought back then.

Then at the weekend we had a party at Loop and Lostari. It was quite a low turnout (you know who you are!) but it was nice that it was relaxing for us. And we got some more great gifts (head torch, moleskins and 'kossu' long johns - all stuff on the list:)) as well as Jonhy Wee. It has been a bit of a strange week as we have both been ill - I am convinced it is pre-travel nerves - though we got the great news on Friday that the flat is rented for the whole year! So now we can really relax. In fact we have reached that point that, even with all the planning, as long as we leave the house on Sunday with our tickets and passports, everything else is a bonus.

This week there is Ernie's birthday on Thursday and the magnificent Beats & Styles at On The Rocks on Friday. And we will spending the rest of the week eating our favourite Finnish food while we still can - Oltermanni, Iguana pizza, Lio's fish, rye bread - we're gonna miss it.

Three songs about goodbyes
#3 Goodbye, Shady ("To everything I know, everything I need to let go" - I will post this here soon)
#2 Last Goodbye, Jeff Buckley ("Did you say 'no, this cant happen to me'")
#1 Singing My Song, Christina Aguilera ("Take the time to look at what is mine")

By popular demand

Some bright spark asked for some music so, courtesy of My Flash Fetish, their funky music players and a little bit of html editing jiggery pokeri, you could and maybe should be listening to it now.

On the jukebox

-John Clay, Always On The Outside - my dad from about 1971 in his Donovan phase. Never one to miss the proverbial hop, skip and jump onto the latest bandwagon*, this is one of a collection of lovely understated tunes that spawned his debut single release, As She Flies Away. Key lyric; "I didn't know where to begin. Always on the outside looking in." Is it about fear of living; or the paradox of being the centre of attention while being onstage and yet still being detached and observing; or is it about the loneliness of travel? No idea. *The record books will show that the 'bandwagon' was actually only a 'wagon' until my father jumped on the punk wagon one weekend in '77 and created the band, Joe Cool and the Killers, in his image. It has been known as the 'bandwagon' ever since; so it says here.

-Chungking, The Count - It could be because it was at this time (was it 2000?) that it became clear that Sean and Jessica (and big Jamesy) had something pretty special going on. Maybe it is also because coincidentally we once tried to play a version of this in old jam band. It is mostly because I found this infectious, I got to play it live, and this reminds me about the best of Brighton. This is unreleased by the way so it is a bit naughty to have it here. Key lyric; "I need more satis-fraction" or maybe "I am odd and you are prime". That really is genius. They didn't have that class in the Sesame Street version.

-Beats & Styles, Everything is Everything - the encore number from the gigs I played this winter. Timeless power chords, hammering production, vital chat from Jus Red (coincidentally from Brighton), and a total joy to jump around to. Key lyrics; "In general shit will hit the fan" and "listen to the chorus and comprehend". This tune really grew on me in particular because, lurking behind the faux pop of the chorus, there is an articulate and enduring message. I haven't watched a Beats & Styles gig since maybe 2005 so I hope to catch them in On The Rocks on March 21st just before we leave.

Top 3 songwriting moments from people I know:
#3 Beginning, Ian (I like this so much I will put it on the jukebox)
#2 Mother's Day, Robin/Tony/Dre (I've got a very cheap video we made somewhere)
#1 Two faced, two timing tart, Barry (Laughing Gas) (sentimental reasons as it was the first song at the first gig in the first band, you get the idea, with Jamie and Dylan; charming lyrics too - a definite message!)

The missing list

There are some things that are making us sad because we are going to miss them while we are away, in no particular order...

-Vibu & Kibu's wedding
-Hermanni & Helmi getting a year older
-Maija & Veeti speaking English better than Jamie's Finnish
-Iris getting a year older
-Beats & Styles gigs all over the place
-Arabia in summer and running out of our flat to play tennis
-Pallo's 10th football season (guess which one of us?)
-Hand bags (guess again?)
-Simon & Roz's new arrival
-Oma sauna
-Hietsu beach
-Clothes
-Frank & Ernie in the studio
-Tahko in February
-The Handan (digibox and hard drive - wow)
-Fantasy football
-Bodypump with Hanna
-Guitar toys
-Tiistaitreffit (ladies' night)
-Friends
-Family

Top 4 songs about not having regrets
#4 Eurythmics, Regrets
#3 Robbie Williams, No regrets
#2 T Pau, Bridge of spies
#1 Artful Dodger, Please don't turn me on

The Amazing Race

It is less than three weeks until the start of a race around the world. Have you ever seen the Amazing Race TV show? I don’t like the action so much as the credit sequence and the captions for the contestants. The “dating models” pose with their backpacks and the “married seniors” open a pair of those ten thousand dollar dental jobs that are as American as they are frightening – I expect them to drip with blood as they devour the “sky diving sisters”.

In our dreams we are the “friendly couple” or “dating lottery winners” and, of course, we are hoping to replace some people we have met before on holiday as the “never ending holiday couple”.

Our nightmare is probably being the “annoying crying couple” (always a classic when we get emotional in the back of the bus!) or the “ex-round the world travellers”. Also it would be very uncool if were cast as the “recent exes” or “penniless wanderers”.

Understanding the Amazing Race
-Road Block – A road block is a task only one of the competing pair can complete, such as; eating meat or map reading. A road block is also where my cousin Ben (who is still at uni at the age of 30-something) gets very drunk and, late at night, takes items from roadworks and places them to block the middle of the road to confuse drunken motorists.
-Detour – This is what happens when you fall asleep on the bus or miss the turning to Yosemite.
-Fast Forward – This is what I will be doing when Bad Religion, Oasis or James Blunt come on our iPod. Or what Miss Deli will be doing when Christina Aguilera comes on.
Yield – This describes our decision making process whereby I acquiesce to Miss Deli’s superior intellect, will, insight and charm, and convince myself days later that it was my idea.

3 songs about races
-#3 Queen, Bicycle Race
-#2 Yello, The Race
-#1 Bad Religion, The Gray Race

Shopping

One thing we know how to do is spend. So we've been going through the list. This week we have bought;

50 litre backpack for Miss Deli to carry all that beach wear; two good value down sleeping bags that are left & right zippers so we can zip them together and have a double (to give me maximum leg room); ruck sack bags (cheap bags so we can check our sacks in with normal baggage and hopefully help protect them during all those air miles); some secret pockets (I could tell you but I'd have to kill you); plastic sporks (it would be a bit daft to carry cutlery all the way); a tiny compass; Rough Guide Mexico & LP California (...here we come...); LP's Latin American Spanish phrasebook...

And we took back Thomas Cooks Driving in California book because, frankly, it was terrible. My abiding memory was in the San Francisco section where the book listed a whopping three different accommodation options all in the €€€ bracket - yeah, thanks. Oh and there was the classic lines "if you are not driving then SF is great" and "don't try to park in downtown SF" - I mean WTF - the book is called DRIVING in Cali - and, FFS, for 38€ the book should maybe suggest where to park anywhere in SF, probably the prime destination for anyone on a driving tour of California. Suffice to say I won't be buying a Thomas Cook publication again. I found it particularly annoying that they even tried to make the graphic design and cover artwork look like the LP series. Don't be fooled!

Oh, and the other teeny tiny thing we bought this week. 34 flights. Wow. I have 2 bulging flight ticket wallets filled with 17 flights each. And our collective wallet is over six thousand euros lighter. What a feeling! Of extreme wallet pain! We took the plunge and booked all our North American flight dates and Easter Island and Auckland. Our Santiago-Auckland flight is on 4th November. This was when we wanted, which was lucky, because 2nd and 3rd Nov were already booked!

You 'ave a ruhm?

After many days of searching online and scouring Craigslist and all kinds of hotel and hostel sites, we were thinking that budget accommodation in Whistler was gonna be impossible to find. The hostels are either unclean or uncheap or badly located. But after emailing all the best deals we found the Clock Tower - time share condo complex in the centre of Whistler village right next to the lifts; self catering studio units for 60 USD per night. And it's paid for. With all this planning that's the first thing we've actually shelled out for (apart for some jabs). We are really doing this!

Route tweaking

We have two weeks left before we need to take the plunge and book the flight tickets. The first leg from Helsinki via London to Vancouver for 23.3 is already reserved. We have been looking carefully at the route. Tokyo at the end seems like a great idea but it will be winter and, unless we win the pools, we won't have the money to go skiing for a good amount of time and get out to the bigger ski resorts.

Also we have looked again at Easter Island - it is taking us two flights but we realise it is a great chance, surely the only time we will ever go, and because of the Oneworld flights it is possible so we have to do it. The Galapagos Islands off Ecuador would be great but we just don't have the money for the 2-3000 euro each that it costs - let's see how we do - if we are ahead of budget maybe we can think about it and head north from Lima to Ecuador and check it out. Anyway, Easter Island is in and we are really happy with the rest of the plan. We looked at ways to use the extra flight to get in more Caribbean or Pacific islands. With the Caribbean we would have to go through Miami or back to Puerto Rico - so to get in Barbados for example we would need two extra stops. We could easily add in just Miami but it doesn't excite us that much (it would if we had the funds to make extra side trips to the Bahamas!).

So we looked at the Pacific. We worked out that, by sacrificing Ayer's Rock we could fit in NZ south island by plane rather than have to get the boat there. And we can sacrifice Ayer's Rock and Melbourne and include New Caledonia. This option is a bit of a holy grail for me. We might never go to the Pacific again and I really want a Polynesian-type island on the itinerary. Especially as we probably won't be able to afford a side trip there - and also because going overland from Sydney to Melbourne is a nice way to explore that part of Oz - like Santiago it does mean a backtrack flight and a bit of backtrack overland but I think that is worth it for New Caledonia (and Easter Island).

The 1st Pallo Racketlon

On Sat 16th Feb we had the first Pallo Racketlon at Finland Tennis at Itakeskus, a tournament where 8 of us competed in matches containing table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis. We had Teemu, Antti, Atte, Perttu and me from Pallo and guests, Kille, Niclas and Pete. Pete had an atrocious hang over and didn't do his skills justice early on. Antti was the dark horse and missed out on a finals appearance thanks to the drawing of lots when he, Teemu and our special guest, Niclas, finished level in the group stage. After drawing our match in the group, Kille beat me in the final. 

The day went really well for the most part, except for some confusion when the group stages were tied. It was also a bit odd that we didn't always stick to the table tennis... tennis order and that quite a few games finished early. But it was great that nearly everyone came away smiling and wanting to do it again. We were all pretty well matched too so next time maybe a league with 6 players would be a good format.

Thanks especially to our guests Kille, Pete and Niclas who had great spirit all day. Nice one guys. At the sauna Teemu got to collect the long overdue Pallo MVP trophy for 2007, which he shared with Antti, Ville and myself. Antti would rather cut of his hands than have to take it home and try to convince Virpi to put it on the mantlepiece.

Last week in Kotka

Beats and Styles rolled into the Sokos Hotel in Kotka and delivered the usual all action party for the 70 or so very drunk guests. Control was at his outrageous best and was either towering over the audience up on the crowd barriers or writhing on the floor. I had a bit of backing tape confusion and got to enjoy using the famous orange B&S strat thing for most of the set, after unusually breaking a string - the key third string - very important for that Invitation to the Dancefloor funky disco chord riff. There was good action in the solo spots - of course Charles brought the house down with Crazy as ever. 

Unfortunately it ended on a bit of a low note. There are so many gigs coming up in the next few months and there is a big new shiny set to learn and rehearse - because I am going away the new guitarist needs to learn the stuff. So, it was my last gig. Of course I am gutted but also it was expected. I am just so grateful to Jaakko for bringing me in and giving such an amazing experience. I cannot speak highly enough of him. As a performer, writer and producer his work speaks for itself. But it is his energy, enthusiasm , drive and humour that make him so special and such a great guy to be around. Thanks also to Ernie for making it happen for me. I really have been blessed to get to work with more talented people. Man that Charles can sing...

Last week in Tahko

There were lots of smiles last week. There were a couple of bangs on the slopes - thank heaven for helmets - and we enjoyed disco bowling and the spa. The biggest hit was probably the ABC at Pirkkola, which is like an oasis in the desert after a few hours with Ryanair. Matty bossed the slopes and my mum and Allan got some practice in before taking in some big slopes in Norway. For me it was an incredible experience to be on such a great family holiday. I am so happy everyone enjoyed themselves and I can't wait to do it again.

More next week...

To protect myself from the invading Saxon hoardes I have procured some suitable headwear; my first snowboarding helmet; only 19EUR; in preparation for the big mountain.

On Weds 13th Beats and Styles play Kotka wth MC Delicatessen on guitar.

And on Sat 16th it is the first Pallo Racketlon; any excuse for lots of silly games and sauna.

Next week...

The next week is going to be full of action. First up we have seven of my English family coming to Tahko for a long weekend. Two weeks ago Miss Deli and friends had a great time and there was loads of snow.

Should be a baptism of fire for my uncle who will be driving in Finland for the first time, in the middle of the night, for about five hours. 

We're not ready yet

With just over six weeks to go the nervous excitement is starting to build and many loose ends are starting to be tied up, even if some are in need of double knots.

Here is a status check and look into the hollow mind of an Internet-addicted RTW planner...

Flights - are looking good. The biggest expense, one of the biggest decisions, all questions have been answered, just waiting to see if our favourite airline, Finnair, answers the same in both our languages. The Oneworld site has been very useful but all the difficult questions have been answered on the Lonely Planet forum by seasoned RTW flight experts.

Countries and climate - Miss Deli and I have a fairly good idea of what we are getting into. We are kinda following the Spring out the US, which leads to the start of the afternoon rains in Central America, mild weather in South America and the start of the ski season by the time we get to the high Andes. We also have spring in NZ and Oz and perfect time for Indochina.

Finance - not the best news to find out that my bank, Lloyds, is the worst to travel with in the UK. Which cards, which bank, what belts and what other security measures we will take during overland travel are currently hot topics.

Gear - my research has me thinking that we should be packing extremely light; I mean very, very light. This means that we are going to have to spend on new sleeping bags and some other specialist gear. I have been eyeing up trail shoes, retractable ski poles (for those flat bits when we are snowboarding big mountain), sleeping bag mummy liners, waterproof bags and rain ponchos. We will send our snowboard stuff home from LA (shame we won't have it in Chile) so deciding if we should take warm stuff through Central America is a dilemma. We plan to save money by buying most new gear in the US.

What else - well, I have the aching arms from a jab session with doctor Arnie, who needled me all over; there is a new lock on the closet door for our valuable when we are away but we are still waiting to hear about the flat rental; unfortunately Spanish is a language neither of us have practiced but hopefully we should get by in CA with tourist Spanish though I am on the look out for a good phrase book; I have a new passport - let's hope it doesn't run out of pages if those Latin border guards get carried away; and I have a lot of lists... a lot of lists... and I have nearly finished the FunkiDeli website, thanks to Niclas' help.

MC Delicatessen

Intro to the DEliTOUR

Like all the best plans it is likely to change.

After nearly six weeks of planning it looks quite like this. The itinerary has some pretty fuzzy logic behind it. It has been sculpted by taking into account place we want to go, things we want to do, rough timing and weather, things we can and can't afford, and travel options, including flight packages. 

Helsinki via London to Vancouver and Whistler for some snowboarding. Via Dallas to LA for a drive around the West Coast for a weeks, probably checking out SF, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Lake Tahoe (maybe for more snowboarding). 

Then ditching the car and going overland to Baja, the rest of Mexico, and on through Central America; Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 

From San Jose in Costa Rica we fly to Puerto Rico first, and then on to Venezuela, where can check out some Trinidad by boat. From Caracas we fly to Lima in Peru, which sets us up for the big overland leg (a big 'U') via Bolivia, Chile and Argentina to end in Rio. 

We have flights out of South America from Rio via Santiago and taking in Easter Island before heading on to Auckland in New Zealand. We have the opportunity to explore both NZ islands before hitting Melbourne, Ayers Rock and Perth (we have been to the East Coast of Australia before so we want to see some more of it).

After that we fly to Singapore before overlanding in Malaysia, Thailand and perhaps elsewhere in Indochina before flying from Bangkok to Tokyo and then back to Helsinki.

The near-East, mainland Asia and Africa have to wait for another day. And the keen-eyed will have noticed some omissions such as, the Galapagos Islands (due to cost), French Polynesia (cost and connections), Cuba (flight package restrictions) and other Caribbean islands (cost and connections). Though with all these we can see how we are doing with the budget and time. With the flight package we have we have complete freedom with the dates and can even change the route (though that incurs a charge). We have the freedom, resources allowing, to take extra flights, trips or sleigh rides, as we so desire.

MC Delicatessen

 

Welcome to the FunkiDeli blog

Like all the best plans, we changed it.

The start of 2008 was going to herald the launch of Delicatessen Music & Marketing; a vehicle to better enable me to balance my daily working life and my knowledge, experience and interests. For the time being though music management, consultancy and licensing, and marketing planning will have to wait.

It is with great thanks to our sponsor that we can announce that, from the end of March 2008, Miss Deli and I will be undertaking the DEliTOUR; a round the world journey, taking in thirty countries, the best part of a year and, of course, the world’s greatest delicatessens... probably.

It is sad for us to be leaving behind friends and family. And also heart rending for Miss Deli to be leaving such a great place to work. I am abandoning the best live band I have ever had the opportunity to play with, and one of the most exciting musical opportunities I have been given.

That said, our sadness will be probably be tempered by some of the distractions of travelling. And, course, this may be one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that people often refer to.

Hopefully this blog can help us stay in touch, help our friends come and find us, give you a chance to berate us, and generally give us another record of our journey.

MC Delicatessen