24 hours to go. I will be boarding the Air Asia aircraft with my best friend and LP, Bubba. Destination: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. This is the first time I will ever travel abroad with a significant other. The reality of it hasn’t sunk in yet (which has been the case for the other blessings that have come my way recently, only because my mind is often occupied by work) but I am totally thrilled. The idea of the trip came to me two months ago. Through lengthy research and planning, I have set the trip. My plan was not to tell Bubba that it was out-of-the-country. I asked him casually about the validity of his passport and his availability for a whole weekend, specifically on the 8th of June. I was getting stressed because this is the first time I’m planning a trip of this magnitude. I usually take the easy way out and just have a travel agency book the flights and itinerary. (Kudos to Pebbles for helping me book the flight! Mmwah!) I have kept mum about it this whole time until 2 weeks ago. My mom told me 2 weekends ago that we were going to Hong Kong for a family trip. Guess what the date was… June 9-11! Ugh. I was really crestfallen when she told me the dates. I’ve been to Disneyland in Tokyo but I badly wanted to go to Disneyland with Joyce. I can only imagine her face lit up with anticipation by the entrance of the amusement park –not to mention, maybe a shopping spree courtesy of my mom. I guess, not all opportunities come easy. When you are faced with a crossroad, you have to make a choice. Difficult as it was, I have made mine. I’ve been to Hong Kong with my family. I’ve been to the “better” Disneyland. I’ve curbed my shopping desires. I have planned this trip before my mom told me about HK. My heart decided on a trip to Sabah with my sweetheart. That’s why in less than 24 hours we’ll be experiencing our first flight together and I am starting to get extremely excited as I write this. Since work has been demanding, I was not able to prepare for the trip way in advance. I don’t have a wardrobe list, but I was able to cram the rest of the things to do in the last three days. Checklist: 1. E-Ticket/Confirmation Receipt 2. Passports (2) 3. Itinerary 4. Air Asia Baggage Rules and Flight Policy 5. Foreign Exchange Conversion Table (Malaysia Ringgit to USD to PHP) 6. Malay Simple Phrases and English Translation 7. Ground Shuttle Service Schedule 8. Kota Kinabalu Places of Interest Info Sheet 9. KK City Map 10. Bags (2) – I have learned how to travel light! Only one bag for me J 11. Pocket honey 12. Toiletries – Muy Importante! Face sun block stick, sun block lotion, insect repellant, etc. 13. Rosary 14. Digicam, N95 (love this phone!), iPod, P910i 15. Caps, shades, slippers. Am I forgetting anything? Can’t believe I only made a checklist now… I might be forgetting something important! I’m going to see a different culture again and I am absolutely eager to experience with Bubba their nightlife, transportation, food, beach, glass bottom boat trip and parasailing!!! Oh wow… the excitement is building up. 23 hours to go…