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Post by htmb on Oct 6, 2012 16:23:42 GMT
I decided that was a good idea for home, too. I have a power strip plugged into a wall socket in my bedroom and use it to charge my cell, iPad, and kindle. That way I don't need to keep unplugging/plugging in multiple power adapters from the wall to keep from using unnecessary electricity. My strip has a power button I just switch on and off. I also unplug items from the strip if they don't need to be charged, when others do.
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Post by bjd on Oct 7, 2012 6:58:59 GMT
I just reread this thread, just as amazed at the US princess's list for a semester in Paris. I wonder how she managed, or whether she collapsed under the load of stuff at the airport and never made it abroad. Speaking of packing, I just spent 5 days in Budapest with a small backpack. Unfortunately, we totally forgot about the packing of gels, etc so we had toiletries in a little plastic bag to show at security but our 500ml tubes of paprika sauce were confiscated at Budapest airport.
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Post by htmb on Oct 8, 2012 4:22:48 GMT
I had not seen this thread before this weekend, but just read it all the way through. For those of you wondering about a Scottie Vest, here's a link. It's a multi-pocket security vest that will even hold an iPad in the back. There are special pockets for cash, ipod, passport, etc on the inside, though I can't imagine how bulky someone would look if they filled up all the pockets. www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Travel_Vest_Women.shtml
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Post by woody77 on May 6, 2013 18:29:02 GMT
This was an amusing read. Because we just moved to Paris for a year
2 adults and 1 toddler, and we checked just under 200lbs of luggage. And had another 60-70 shipped.
And that doesn't count the winter-weight clothes boxed in storage, waiting for one of my return trips to visit the home office.
::sigh::
it was a crazy amount, but honestly most of it we needed, or the cost of shipping was far less than the replacement cost once here. Like our high-end kitchen knives, my wife's shoes (I brought only 2 pair), etc.
But now we're buying toys for the toddler, and I'm hunting for a rain coat. But at least this is Paris, so everything is available (more or less).
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2013 18:35:48 GMT
The EU has obviously been criticised for all sorts of things, but one thing that it has been working on for years is to oblige mobile phone manufacturers to all use the same charger. Naturally, there is huge resistance from the manufacturers. I assume that since this project began, it has been extended to cameras, tablets, readers and all of the other new things. So it is a huge task to accomplish some day, but I really hope that they succeed. I am so sick of putting about four different sets of cords and chargers in my luggage whenever I take a trip.
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Post by bjd on May 7, 2013 8:38:58 GMT
The only thing I have to charge is my camera battery. No iPad, Kindle, netbook, nada.
I just re-read this whole thread too.
Woody-- I'm sure there are things you have brought that you will never use. You should make a list. And it's cheating to use things just because you have them, not because you need them.
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Post by lugg on May 7, 2013 21:06:39 GMT
I cannot believe that nobody else mentioned what for me are essential items ...Travel kettle and T bags, various types from PG to my favourite liquorice and mint ( poss some long life milk depending on destination ) I kid you not . ;D On a trip abroad recently I was sat an adjacent table to an English man at breakfast . As he walked over I noticed a bulge in his short pockets , he sat down and removed the bulge and placed it on the table; a bottle of HP sauce. Amazed as I was, I was even more astounded at the steady stream of visitors to his table who exchanged a few short words of greeting and then held out their plates for a dollop of sauce. Even more astounded to realise that the recipients were not all English
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2015 5:54:20 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Jun 28, 2015 17:06:58 GMT
It was fun re-reading the ridiculous huge packing list. I'm sure that she wore the same few outfits over and over.
No, I won't wear paper underpants. For women, bras are much more of a packing challenge than panties, and I doubt paper bras could even function. There is decent travel underwear now (quick-drying) but just things like underpants, camisoles, undershirts...
Towel: travel towels (wicking quick drying) are very light and non-bulky. I use such a towel to dry my hair before as using a hair dryer turns my curly hair into a ball of frizz. Many destinations have a towel, though. I've bought cheap ones at public markets for a couple of €.
Travelling in northernish Europe in the winter, I definitely need a coat or jacket! Not my heaviest coat for the worst of the Montréal winter, but my lighter short coat. I can take the métro to the airport bus, so even if it is really cold here, I just put up with it for a couple of minutes. In the summer, I take a light jeans jacket, simply because I like it, and jackets don't have to be washed as much as jeans or other trousers do. Often women's clothes don't have enough pockets, which this garment does. Even in Italy, it can get quite chilly at night or in the hills.
I guess they are backpackers. I need shoes, and a pair of ankle boots in the winter. And yes, you can pick up canvas shoes in markets; some are cute and comfy. Some brands of "comfort" sandals such as Mephisto or the German brands are cheaper in Europe than in Canada, at least. Taking too many shoes is a common error, unless you have two very different activities, such as working at a conference, and hill climbing.
In countries I'm familiar with, I buy toiletries there. I'm only leery of finding only highly-perfumed stuff, which makes me rather ill. HEMA has very good, inexpensive toiletries. There are HEMAs in France, Belgium and Germany as well as the Netherlands.
I take a small MacBook laptop if I need it for work.
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Post by onlyMark on Jun 28, 2015 19:06:13 GMT
For women, bras are much more of a packing challenge than panties, and I doubt paper bras could even function. Wear one and take one with socks or underwear balled up in the cups. I never have a problem with them.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2015 20:42:36 GMT
The more I travel, the less I take with me. I do sometimes take a little jewelry, but it's basically all cheap, except for the little ring my children gave me. If I were backpacking, I certainly wouldn't take more than a pair of little earrings and maybe my watch. It cost 12 USD. It works.
I almost always wear little silver earrings and occasionally pick up a pair while traveling. So far, I've struck out on this trip, but it's fun looking.
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 0:49:32 GMT
In my checked wheelie bag are minimal clothes, large travel towel, camera gear for both cameras, first aid and medical kit. Small bag with Swiss army knife and multi-tool, small screwdriver set, string, duct tape and sewing kit. Kitchen kit has mug. spoon, fork and knife, can opener and immersion heater depending on trip, all wrapped in a T-towel. Sounds a lot but takes little space. It usually weighs in at 12 kgs.
My daypack has a special zippered 'pod' I made which buttons inside the main section but can be got at easily or removed to put in a safe. This carries documents and passport etc. There are other pockets for water, fan and umbrella, keys, notebook, pen and calculator. The main body of the bag has cameras and knitting. There is a hood over all with snacks etc zipped in. This pack usually weighs about 4kg.
The places I go need a fair bit of survival gear rather than dressing up.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 29, 2015 1:01:03 GMT
Yes, of course it depends on how and where you travel. I don't need fancy dressing-up clothing, but I do need some vaguely professional attire (I'm talking conference facilitation, not banking. I can look boho, but not torn jeans or sweatpants). I do travel with practical stuff though. I do have a tiny sewing kit, tweezers (not just for stray hairs!) sharp knife, scissors and corkscrew. I suppose if you are in Southeast Asia, you prefer an umbrella to a rain poncho. The latter is handy in the Netherlands where it gets a bit cool when it rains, even in summertime.
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 3:03:42 GMT
I forgot poncho in the end pocket of check in, beside towel. I wear very fine loose polyester pants with deep pockets that I make to my own fitting...dry in 20 minutes. darkish colours with busy pattern...don't show marks. Use soft T-shirts that don't crease either. Warm down jacket stuffs into other end pocket of check-in bag like a sleeping bag. sneakers, trek sandals. Always carry a long batik sarung and long skirt of crinkly Indian material. Also a krama...checked scarf of very fine weave that can be a head covering or scarf...when dampened and worn around the neck it is very cooling. Sunscreen, insect repellent and a few toiletries including a nailbrush to scrub dirty feet, and a few plastic bags. Small freezer bags make perfect fit plugs for wash basins...just fill with water and sit in the hole and the water in the bag stops the basin water draining away. After use rub the bag dry and it travels to the next stop with you.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2015 3:54:36 GMT
I am so pleased to see this thread again, as I'm going to be packing for a trip of almost six weeks. On my recent return from visiting my mother, I practiced the roll method of packing & was impressed by the results. I went with the usual stuff I need for a 10 day trip, but bought stuff while I was there, so there was enough stuff for a useful practice-packing on the way home.
Most of my things will go in the 22" wheelie, which will be carry-on on most airlines this trip. I also acquired a great purse the other day which opens to a nice tote size. It's vital for all the stuff that needs to stay with me. That of course includes electronics & their appurtenances, which now easily take up as much space as those blockbuster novels we wisely ditched for traveling.
Except for an extra credit card, I don't see too much point in carrying emergency gear. I figure I can get my toilet paper wrapped gashed limb to a pharmacy or emergency room and would pay any amount of money to get someone to do sewing for me rather than do it myself. Unless you need some special prescription stuff, shampoo is a waste of space. Most hotels provide it, and it's cheap enough to buy & leave behind. Leaving it out leaves space for necessary stuff like contact lens solution or, for the frizzy-headed, ones preferred hair goop. I do like Questa's idea of including a stiff brush for the sandal-clad feeties. I haven't owned an umbrella in something like 40 years, since it was obvious to me that I always lost them. They're a pain in the neck & getting wet is not the end of the world.
Like Htmb, I have travel earrings, since they make me feel "finished". A watch is of course necessary for traveling.
The one item I'm hoping to fit into the suitcase is a housecoat, just because I like to pull one as soon as I get up. I use a lightweight cotton caftan-y kind, but we all know how quickly luggage fills up with "the essentials" and the pain of having to leave something behind.
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Post by onlyMark on Jun 29, 2015 6:25:47 GMT
"Large travel towel, camera gear for both cameras, first aid and medical kit. Small bag with Swiss army knife and multi-tool, small screwdriver set, string, duct tape and sewing kit. Kitchen kit has mug. spoon, fork and knife, can opener and immersion heater depending on trip, all wrapped in a T-towel.....fan and umbrella, keys, notebook, pen and calculator.....knitting.......poncho.....long batik sarung and long skirt of crinkly Indian material. Also a krama...checked scarf of very fine weave that can be a head covering or scarf. Sunscreen, insect repellent and a few toiletries including a nailbrush to scrub dirty feet, and a few plastic bags."
Nope, none of that. I'm sure we must be going to different places.
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 6:42:02 GMT
I also "carry for kids" if I go to Bali. Give a few weeks notice to people I know with kids and usually manage to get a layer of clothes to take to Bali. There are hotels through out the island in the program and when phoned will send someone to collect the clothes for poor families. With thousands of Ozzies going there each year, this has caught on widely. It has made a big difference to the families.
PS, Bixa, I'm a "roller" too. I was shown the trick of laying all the shirts on top of each other on the bed, then rolling them together, then all the pants etc. Works well for me.
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Post by madhatter on Jun 29, 2015 6:43:29 GMT
Shirts shorts jandles hat sunnies togs towel toiletries first aid techno toys and assorted cables string tape scissors nail clippers wallet passport
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 6:59:55 GMT
Mark, we probably are...Silk Road from Kazakhstan, Xingjian, Kirghizstan, Uzbekhistan to Turkey, or Karakhoram Highway -India to Pakistan, Peshawar, Swat Valley, over the high mountains to Kashgar, in China, then solo to Urumqi, train to Shanghai then to Borneo. My 'survival kit' gets a good work out on these sort of trips, rarely have I come home with something not used.
you do some adventure travel...what do you take?
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 29, 2015 9:27:41 GMT
Travel kettle (for tea). That's a must-have. Socket adapter (actually I've now got four, bearing in mind all the things that need batteries charging, but we'll pretend I make do with one) Charger (I believe there may be a universal charger that could take all my devices off one power point, so we'll assume that's just one thing) Just about anything else I <i>could</i> get locally if I had to, but we'll assume one change of clothes minimum. And my rainproof jacket (well, I am British). My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by madhatter on Jun 29, 2015 11:10:11 GMT
Mark, we probably are...Silk Road from Kazakhstan, Xingjian, Kirghizstan, Uzbekhistan to Turkey, or Karakhoram Highway -India to Pakistan, Peshawar, Swat Valley, over the high mountains to Kashgar, in China, then solo to Urumqi, train to Shanghai then to Borneo. My 'survival kit' gets a good work out on these sort of trips, rarely have I come home with something not used. you do some adventure travel...what do you take? Nice itinerary. Have done the Chinese and Malaysian legs.
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 14:00:58 GMT
Many times solo to Malaysia and stayed in several towns there (Inadvertently stayed in a brothel in Penang) 4 times to China, once to Tibet. Chuck in the St Petersburg to Siberia express, Mongolian train to Beijing, to Xi'an and down the coast to HK.
Where did you go in China?
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Post by madhatter on Jun 29, 2015 17:13:20 GMT
I've been Guangzhou through to hk. And also Beijing. Xian. Lanzhou. Xiahe. Dunhuang Turpan. Urumqi kashgar
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Post by onlyMark on Jun 29, 2015 19:24:51 GMT
questa, as I come from a vehicle based adventure travel I was/am able to take a lot more with me than is necessary. But I don't and never did. Following is a link to a web page with my packing list, a web site I rattled together many years ago soon after finishing doing it professionally (not web site design I hasten to add). I am in shadow on the right. I presume your travel is with public transport, Very rarely did I use anything, even now, that I didn't drive myself. overlanding101.weebly.com/packing-list.htmlThe only thing I now add to it is a netbook and a basic mobile phone.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2015 21:49:13 GMT
Questa & MadHatter, that's some traveling you've done! Lucky you had your jandles and sunnies with you, MadH. (jandles?? sunnies?! <-- translation required )
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2015 21:51:30 GMT
This is wretched excess ~ LINK
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Post by questa on Jun 29, 2015 23:39:24 GMT
OMG ! think of all the extra weight in the construction...
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Post by questa on Jun 30, 2015 0:50:40 GMT
Just read the whole of overlanding 101, Mark. Hilarious and guaranteed to weed out the more nervous travellers. My experiences have been similar at times but these were not the norm.
I have a NZ friend I met on the Karakhoram trip who drove overland bus/trucks London to Melbourne for Sundowners back in the 60's when young people were doing the "Kuta-Kathmandu-Kabul" hippie trail. He also came on the Morocco trip with me and I visited him this year in NZ. His name is Frank South...heard of him?
Your suggestion to shave your head for easy maintenance...When travelling I have a #2 buzz cut which apart from easy management acts as a deterrent to being hassled by men. They don't know if I am police, army or a Buddhist nun or even 'one of them' so tend to leave me alone.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 30, 2015 1:59:01 GMT
The excess harkens back to that young student who was taking so many silly things. In Amsterdam, I can and do buy a cheap umbrella for 2€ around the corner from where I stay. But no, I can't usually use hotel shampoo, as I simply couldn't comb my somewhat kinky hair. Once again, I can find what I need at HEMA: the shampoo is actually called "for uncontrollable hair". I wouldn't travel anywhere if I had to have a buzzcut. That would mean either prison or surgery. I look like shit with a shaven head. And my hair is mostly silver, which should deter a lot of creeps. I have very nice plastic brushes for surgical prep,from Lee Valley (casimira will know) that are great for cleaning hands, feet or any other offending body part. I was gardening this week, and they were very useful. They are gentle enough to use on my cat. www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=2,42551&p=10259 These are gentle enough to use removing nasty oil stains from clothing with dish soap and brushing. They would also make nice gifts; they have a lot of uses and are light and easy to carry.
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Post by madhatter on Jun 30, 2015 8:32:52 GMT
Questa & MadHatter, that's some traveling you've done! Lucky you had your jandles and sunnies with you, MadH. (jandles?? sunnies?! <-- translation required ) Flip-flops and sunglasses. Essential travelling safety equipment ☺
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