The most important part of any trip’s preparation is selecting and cultivating a travel journal. Everybody knows this. Because while the rest of the crap you bring will prepare you for your touring, the journal prepares your memories. And which will last longer?? I have a couple of hat boxes full of carefully selected journals that fit the style and adventure of each place I’ve gone: blue and grey for Canada, brown and turquoise for the Bahamas, a map with a silver airplane for Germany. Anywho, I’ve been saving this journal since college for just the right adventure. And here it is. Some input from CIA World Factbook and my journal is well on its way to ROCKING. Bonus: I found my colored pencils AND did an online tutorial on how to sketch kangaroos!!