My big South American adventure begins with me taking off from London Heathrow, bound for Rio on the 3rd May.

I've already bought the travel guides, worked out a good idea of places I want to see, but wow, there is so much that needs to be done before I go! Things like finding a good deal on a backpack (and also deciding what size backpack is ideal), replacing my broken digital camera, buying travel insurance, figuring out where to leave all my stuff while I am away, the list goes on! Also Brazil particularly is such a MASSIVE country and I'm trying to work out how to fit in all I want to see there plus take in Argentina and possibly Uruguay (still undecided on the latter two).

Also, it doesn't help that I am temping for a charity here in London five (sometimes six) days a week, which only gives me about five Sundays to sort all of this out!

Some people said to me that I'll probably spend the first week of my trip lying on a beach somewhere exhausted, and trying to recoup my energy for the rest of the holiday....I can see that happening!