Each time I travel to Bali I prepare myself a travel diary, a little different than most. It is more focussed on what I have spent and how much I have paid for items, how much money I have exchanged and at what rate, how much money I still have on a day to day basis,my visa card spending, my hotel bill, a list of the DVD's I already have (husbands known for picking the same ones each visit)and of course pages of tips and must do's collected from the forum over the months and information from previous trips. I find this invaluable when I am in Bali. Quiet often when I am back home I go through my old Travel Dairy's and reminise.
Originally I use to use a lined book (purchased) and hand write everything in it. Time stacking I know but I really got a buzz out of doing it. The last few years I have tailor make my pages on the computer, improving upon them as each year passes. Painstakingly I print the pages off feeding pages in to get the back to front look as like a book.
Once again I did this about two months ago in preparation of our forthcoming trip but did'nt quiet finish it off.
Tonight I had great satisfaction in making my cover, cutting all the pages to size and preparing to staple the pages in place so the travel diary can fit snugly into my travel wallet. This is just what I needed to remind me why I love Bali so much. After all the discussion on whether to go/or not to go and with the vocal comments by some members I was thinking such a simple thing would bring me so much pleasure. After what happened on Saturday I have been feeling a little depressed and like all have had to give thought to our upcoming trip to Bali later in the year. For me, we are still planning on going in late Decemnber.
Do any other people have a ritual they do in preparation? Love to hear.