Thailand

Trip Duration: January 1, (then to Cambodia for a few days) back in Thailand January 3-January 14
   
Packing:
   65 L Gregory Hiking Backpack
   Small duffel bag
Vaccinations and Medications:
   Hepatitis A vaccine
   Ibuprofen
   Dramamine
   Ciprofloxin was purchased to treat travelers diarrhea
   Anti-itch cream
Clothing:
   Couple pair of mid-length shorts
   One pair long hiking pants
   Strapped walking sandals
   Sneakers
   Flip-flops (for showers)
   One hooded sweatshirt
   T-shirts
Extras:
   Digital camera
   Books
   Lonely Planet: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring

It all began December 31, 2010 as my dad dropped my friends, Lisa and Adam, and me off at JFK airport at the Air China Terminal to check in for out flight to Bangkok, Thailand.  This trip would include visiting various parts of both Thailand and Cambodia. We should've known what we were getting ourselves into once the stewardess checking us in said we would not be sitting next to each other for our first 13 hour flight.  While boarding the plane I realized that my ticket was the only one of the three of us that was in the third seating section, completely separated from the others by the bathrooms and flight attendant seating. A fun fact for you, the section I ended up in consisted entirely of Chinese travelers that spoke very little English while Lisa and Adam were in the second section with what looked like mostly European and American travelers. As disappointed as I was to be sitting alone with strangers for 13 hours, I popped some motion sickness medicine and hoped to pass out quickly and sleep most of the way. Of course that did not work out as there was a toddler in the four seat row I was in, and he decided he loved me and wanted to pester me the whole way. Eventually his toothless grandmother finally lulled him to sleep and I finally got to sleep as well.
Thirteen hours later, we landed in Beijing, China to catch our connecting flight, late. About half of the plane's passengers were also late for connecting flights and it was very late at night there, so everyone was cranky and running as fast as they could to get to their next plane. After literally sprinting through the huge airport we finally made it to the gate and begged the woman to let us on, which she did much to our relief.
Some 7 or 8 hours later we landed in Bangkok, Thailand close to midnight on New Years, so we celebrated by getting our tourist visas and discovering our luggage had not made the connecting flight. Happy New Year! Thankfully we had packed enough for two days in our carry-on luggage.