18 days to go YIPEE

Well we are well in truly down to the last few days and I just need to get 3/4 pants and the medical letter to travel with.

Although there has been a few more earthquakes and little Tsunamis it is WAY WAY WAY up North far away from where they are headin.........

The original price per trip was around $$5437 now WITH all the incidentals and add ons and little things you dont think of ACTUAL COST of trip $5982!!!!!!

Samuels pack was paid for by my employers, he received $450 in donations from Whanau (extended family) ($200,$100,$150) we have had BBQ's every month for the last 10 months we have bought on special where we could, and the jandals and scuffs were half price the pack was 70% off the NORMAL retail shoes 20% off power adaptor money belt locks 60% off I got $490 NZD in yen was $30,000, 2 weeks later $490 NZD in yen now $33,000, we might get another $170 worth of yen to cover the first 2 days rail travel as they have moved there 9 day pass to encompass their huge rail trip down to hiroshima and the Shinto shrine ISLAND stay overnight with an old school japanese shinto festival, with only boys going the teacher is taking them to the Movie place where the REAL McCoy kung fu, karate and samurai movies are made (I have probably already said that), Samuel is beyond excited he has worked so damned hard for this trip and I KNOW he willl absolutely love it Tokyo has 68 MILLION people with 9 cities within TOKYO each city housing around 7.5 MILION 2 of the shopping centres have between 180,000 and 220,000 people EVERY DAY!!!!!

The breakdown is as follows
Trip acc/flight only $4013
Yen $980 NZD
Pack day pack cover $248 NZD
Travel uniform $115 NZD
Shoes $127 NZD
Power adaptor money belt pack locks $47 NZD
Presents host family $70 NZD (one gift per person thats how they do it!)
Robe and boxers $20 NZD
Acc AKLD prior to flying out $90 NZD
Dinner AKLD $70 NZD
Breakfast $20 NZD
Diesel travelling up $15 NZD per person
Medication Inhalers steroids and letter $40 NZD
Toiletries $18 NZD
3/4 pants $40 NZD
Socks $20 NZD
Jandals/scuffs $15
Folding umbrella $15 NZD

With the small amount of yen to pay for $170 TRIP now stands at $6152 NZD the tutor has said the MORE you buy here in NZ the better if you have to buy everyday things over in TOKYO it is hugely expensive!! Who is she kidding IT IS EXPENSIVE fullstop.

I do hope they thoroughly enjoy themselves and have a ball, what an experience eh!!

All I can say I am so glad BBQ's are over for this trip.

Ciao Blondie