happy diwali!

we just got back from the diwali mela at sandown park raceway. it's been going for five years, and for five years i've been meaning to go - but glad we made it there this year. sampled some lovely vegetarian fare and gorged on sweets, witnessed some excellent performances - the best by far from jhanak dance company. they really blew the crowd away, and the punjabi boys were loving it, jumping and shouting and whistling the snoozing babies back to attention. i brought back a little pack of sweets for mum and dad, and a beautiful murti for myself - a three-in-one handpainted set of lakshmi, ganesh and saraswati. when we get back and settle down again, it will sit on my study desk next to my other idols - natraj, buddha & wonder woman.
we leave for our three-month around the world trip next tuesday, and i still don't think it's sunk in totally. the idea of packign is stressing me out - it took me so long to get it together for just a week away in ubud - how am i ever going to work out what to pack for three months away?? everyone's been telling me, 'think layers'. sounds good, but what about shoes? and how many pairs of underwear should i pack (as many as the undies section in my bag can take, i would imagine). i must take something sparkly to wear in vegas (i'll turn 33 there), and maybe some heels (i bought a pair of apple-green wedges the other day - and i don't have any apple-green in my wardrobe). i'm a little nervous, and i can't wait. we will be posting updates here, so stay tuned.