Things to forget (not)

I really should have kept a more comprehensive list of the 'essentials' I needed last year and so this time I'm going to add an extended list to the blog. It'll be a useful reminder when I'm there of all the things I've forgotten to pack.

So, what every traveller to Kuala Lumpur and Ningbo needs (other than a larger luggage allowance):

• Passport with at least 6 months left before it expires
• Visa (China only - allow plenty of time to send the application off with passport)
• Check vaccinations (Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio and Hepatitis A/Typhoid)
• Currency (Malaysian Ringgits and Chinese Yuan - I've ordered £100 of each, which should arrive tomorrow)
• Flights and transfers (book via Amex and not Concur!)
• Hotel accommodation (booked via each campus)
• Travel insurance (provided by the university - print document)
• Travel guide books (so I know how much I'll be missing whilst working)
• In-flight entertainment (it's a long way)
• Notify banks re debit and credit cards
• Tropical insect repellent (with DEET)
• Medicines (many and varied!)
• First aid kit (optional!)
• Toiletries
• Tea bags
• Chargers (how many?)
• Socket adapters ('intercontinental' or 'trans-world')
• Sunglasses
• Camera and accessories (including yet another charger)
• Climate appropriate clothing (i.e. light)
• Swimming gear (the KL hotel has a pool)
• Footwear (with ventilation)
• Hat (maybe but then, maybe not)
• Reading specs plus spare pair
• Gifts for both campuses

Here we go again

It's almost a year since I first headed East (with Chris Nottage) to introduce colleagues located at the university's Malaysia and China campuses to the joys of the UK instance of Supportworks. Well, it's time to complete the job and this time next week I'll be in Malaysia.

The Malaysia visit is shorter on this occasion because we successfully migrated the team from an older and local installation of Supportworks to the UK-based instance on 6th May, and the visit will check on progress and address any teething issues.

Chris and I will be flying out from Birmingham 'International' (apparently it's no ordinary airport) to Kuala Lumpur via Dubai on Monday 1st June and will be on-site in Seminyeh between Wednesday 3rd and Friday 5th. On Saturday 6th we head off to Shanghai for a week long visit to Ningbo before I return to Birmingham on Saturday 13th June (Chris will be staying for a further two weeks). It does mean that I won't lose three weekends this time and will also avoid Heathrow, which is a bonus.

It's a case of deja vu to a certain extent (we'll be staying in the same hotels as last year for instance) although I'm sure there will be new experiences (e.g. including travelling via Dubai). You'll be pleased to read I'm sure if you endured the original blog (http://supportworksontour.blogspot.com) that I don't expect this blog to be as verbose or as long as the first one!

I had a day's leave today and took the opportunity to address some of the things I hadn't done already, such as buy a few extra clothes, top up my medicines and insect repellent, book my rail ticket and visit French Living for lunch (an important pre-requisite).

Unlike last time, I was able to apply for my China visa in plenty of time and I've received an email that my passport is waiting for me at KMC (i.e. work). I do need to purchase some currency though and notify the banks that I'll be testing my credit limits beyond the Victoria Centre and amazon.co.uk.

So, until next time.