Got my First Aid Kit from Deuter a few days ago. Its really handy and packed with great stuff and fits into the backpack perfectly. It is completed by some medicine like Malaria prophylaxis and the usual drugs for standard medical condition. You shouldn´t get to crazy about health issues (especially if you are running around as a chemical package like me with all those vaccinations!), but I like being prepared and therefore talked everything through with a doc.The greatest step forward is my new Nokia mobile phone. After recognizing that a lot of communication and planning is done by phone (see my prior post) I had to change my mind not taking a phone on the trip. Usually I´m pretty amused by people still using those old phones like my parents (sorry Mom and Dad!). But for sure I´m not taking my Iphone to Asia. So my parents gave me their old phone. I will get a Thai phone card at Bangkok airport and then start the fun being part of the Thai phone community. A first impression of the "land of smile" and communicating with those very friendly people I received when I called the Thai embassy to ask for a visa these days. Germans can stay in the country with a visa on arrival for 30 days. Because I´m not sure when I will depart for Malaysia I want to get a formal visa from the embassy to stay longer. So I called the hotline and a very nice Thai lady told me that it is no problem at all, if I see the embassy during my week in Berlin mid of July on a Monday morning and get my passport back Friday morning. Officially it takes about 7 days. That´s how I like it!
