18th post - the pre-departure matters

VACCINATIONS. aw. aw. aw. aw. aw. cuz there are 5 injections i took at a go.

• influenza
• meningitis
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• thyphoid

just walk in to Travellers Clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital @ Level 1. these cost SG$190/- altogether. i was prior advised by my own GP to take rabbies vaccination as well. this is for protection against infections caused by animal bites etc. however upon consultation at the clinic i was told for rabbies vaccinations, it needs to be taken in a series of 3 injections within a whole month period of time. urm, im leaving in 3 days inshaAllah so i'll pass this particular one and go ahead with the recommended 5 i mentioned above. its OK... the doctor assured me its fine. rabbies vaccination is just protective measures.

for other medications im visiting my GP later today to stock up on my asthma inhalers and other medicine stash i.e. panadols, flu tabs etc. that she'll deem would good for me to bring along. and yes she has to write a doctor's note so my meds can pass through immigration of course.

PACKING. i have yet to. heh. i spoke to AnaBibi yesterday, intrigued by just that 1 (yes just 1 tiny one) little taped and sewn-to-perfection cabin luggage she brought for her study stint to Syria. no check-in needed. her answer, "i travel light.." mashaAllah. she further adviced, "bring 3 of each then.. sunnah.." that made me smile in agreement.

yesterday too when i met with my dear Ustadha Maimunah Al-Habshi she gave a simple notion, "what i pack for a 2 week trip is the same for what i'll pack for a 2 year trip.." make sense. well, to me it does. for one, you hand wash your own clothes there so most probably you'll not wait a whole week to do laundry thus you'll be inclined to wear those convenient clean ones in a cycle. there's not much space allocated to you either so smaller luggage means you cause less hindrance to your room mates and of course you'll be at ease knowing your stuff are with you throughout the journey... remember transits and the mighty 3 flights in a row to take.

on the subject of packing, remember the liquid/aerosols/gels less than 100ml per bottle/tube rule that you are allowed to carry. why? cuz thats the immigration/airpost safety ruling that's why. basically gotta repack or buy in travel size and get used to Yemeni brands once there.

SEEK ADVICE FROM ELDERS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS. i remember making du'a for Allah to guide me as to whom this heart should turn to either to visit or to just drop a word that i'll be pursuing my studies in Tarim. not exactly physical what-to-do or what-to-bring advice but earnest soul-food advice.

i asked from my good teachers for advice on my days henceforth... and mashaAllah... its like they knew exactly what to say. the visits to elders in my family.. the same.. they just knew what to say to ease this heart... subhanAllah.. may Allah be pleased with them. amin Ya Rabb.

bottomline as my good teacher now in Tarim adviced, "ADAB, ADAB, ADAB." Yes, Ustadh Ismaeil Al-Khatib repeated the word ETIQUETTE thrice. check your heart and intentions always. show good manners when executing your speech and actions.

listen and receive rather than be distraught with questions peppered in panic and worry. etiquette in Islam bodes well for character. it iS character in itself. it exudes the confidence that you are grateful and trust Allah's management of our lives. trust NOT just the believe to trust.. geddit geddit? oh.. much to learn dear dora... so much this body and soul needs to work on. may Allah guide me. amin.

updated as at 7 July 2012 (day before departure) : urm.. i don't travel light. period. i have a 25kg to check-in (max is 22kg but apparently its ok; excess not chargeable. Alhamdulillah).. another 10kg to hand carry (7kg actually is max) oh, SO much more to learn... learn to live with less.