I've got FRIENDS in different area codes...

Hey friends! Many of you have mentioned contacts you have in the different countries I'll be visiting. Given that I'm traveling alone I'd love to take you up on your offers to connect me to them - either to meet up with them for a cup of coffee or for them to host me for a night or two during my travels.

If you haven't already, please shoot me an email at talla.rittenhouse@gmail.com with your contacts. Please include the name of the country in the subject line and any notes about how you know them/how to contact them in the body (e.g. should you e-introduce us first, can I just go ahead and reach out?). Also include any details about where in the country they live.

Here is a loose itinerary of where I'll be after I depart Rarotonga, Cook Islands tonight:

• New Zealand: February 8 - March 3
• Australia: March 4 - March 28
• Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand (still figuring this itinerary out): March 29 - April 11
• India: April 12 - May 5
• Turkey: May 6 - May 25

Also let me know if you'd like to join me anywhere - I'd love to have a companion or two for part of the journey.

PS - I've got lots of posts in draft mode on my iphone - just waiting to get it connected to wifi. Internet is not as abundant in the Cook Islands as it is in the States!