THE RELATIVE THEORY OF ESSENTIAL PACKING

SHE SAYS

 

Traveling for almost three years has its growing pains. And one of the most painful things I had to endure is packing.

As a girl, I did not have any filtering system when it comes to essentials. I needed my clothes-for-every-imaginable-occasion, plus matching footwear. Something that will fit, and I do not exaggerate, every  occasion, like when Ron and I went to Cambodia and visited the Ankor Wat. I had to have those brown shorts and white polo shirt. Not exactly what Angelina Jolie wore when she trotted the ancient ruins, but more of an archeologist costume minus the hard hat and pointy daggers.

 Over the years, I have come to know the wisdom that is packing light. Yes, I still have them clothes and footwear. I still use my 15-kilos allowable check-in limit. I still carry my 40-liter backpack and an additional day-pack. And my filtering system has never been more personalized and simplified. 

See, typical indispensible contents of the backpack and most travelers would tell you to never forget your clothes (duh?!), comfortable shoes, toiletries (more duh?!), meds, travel and back-up documents, blah blah blah. But those things shouldn’t be forgotten anyways. One must be a complete dolt to miss out bringing their prescription meds when they go on a long trip. Besides, those things can be bought anywhere when traveling.

I may not be the typical girl traveler, but what I’m after is the have-or-die list. My personal list, that is. And I’m sure to find someone who shares the same list as I do. Minors: cover your eyes… I may sound like a paid advertisement.

 1. I drink a lot. It was never a thing I hid from the readers but I do drink like a horse, and my god, I do love a good beer! Did I mention I love to sample local beers in every country I visit? So, waking up the next day with a pounding hang-over is one of the most gruesome things I have to endure when Ron and I have to follow an itinerary. My travel essential number one: Hangover Sweets, a blend of blackberry, raspberry, and ginseng extracts. It’s all the medicine I need when I travel.

2. I know I said that bringing toiletries is most common than the presence of common sense. My preference though is the Lush line. Never have I had to endure carrying a lot and being stopped at the scanning counters for bringing bottles of liquids as I bring soap shampoo and cosmetics. What I love about Lush is that all their products use natural and organic ingredients that are super safe and environment friendly. Where in the world can you find a moisturizer that’s “ethical?” That’s because all Lush ingredients and products are never tested on animals and do not include harmful preservatives.

 3.Third on my list are citronella fragrance waxes. Another thing travelers endure is getting queasy when going to the toilet, especially if you are staying in a dormitory hostel and have to share the loo with twenty other people you don’t know. This is something I picked up from Ron. So before I poison my blood by holding “it” in, I get a little aroma therapy session while being “engaged.” Trust me; the citrus scent can save lives.

4. It is no secret that one has to pack light clothes when traveling. And so most of the things I wear are light weight and non-restrictive. And what’s more non restrictive for girls than to not wear a bra. Fear not, I am no exhibitionist. But I do travel with silicon nipple tapes. They’re safe, comfortable, and work like magic on your natural curves.

5. And like most normal people, I do hate lag times. My bore busters are my iPod, complete with my kick-ass travel playlist, and my choice of book. Care for a Kerouac?

 

HE SAYS

 

On the other end of the continuum, as a guy I also have my must-haves when hitting the road. But I am not the hard core McGyver kind of traveler who can pull out a whole carpentry tool box out of his a**. In fact, Monette almost killed me several times for not bringing a pen and notebook in some of our trips, the very basic of travel essentials. We climbed the highest peak of Southeast Asia last year. And while the rest of the climbers came in fully equipped with walking sticks, dry-fit warmers and head lamps, me on the other hand, lit up the pitch black terrain using the faint light emitted by my cellular phone, shameful. Camera, check! Credit card, check! Travel insurance, check! Man-up kit and Evian facial spray, errr! These are all dead "Clay Aiken is gay" giveaway in terms of travel essentials. But there are things that I always dunk-in first in my backpack when doing a last minute packing. Survival and fire starting kit is the direction I'm not heading to.

1. A scarf, buff or a multi-functional headwear. After religiously watching the reality show Survivor for more than a decade, it was embedded in my subconscious mind that survival (of any form) isn't complete without wearing this ultimate functional head wear. Use it as headband, bandana, bonnet, beanie, neck warmer, wrist band, tube top, you can be a pirate, a ninja, a hippie, or simply be a happy camper and use it to stuff the nostrils of your snoring dorm mate.

 2. I also bring a bigger version of the previous item. A light weight sarong can be used as a sun shade, beach mat, towel, sack and even a cozy blanket during a long layover in transit.

3. Some places don't have the luxury of having running water and paper towels, so a pack or two of wet wipes can really save a vacation. I always put them in the side pockets of my bag for an easy draw in cases of emergency call of nature. My choice of weapon is the unscented baby wipes. One pull of a ply, clean and fresh trip, guaranteed!

4. I always have a small bag in my backpack where I put all the electronic accessories and chargers for my phone and camera. But a lot of travelers overlook one item, a universal plug adapter. Some hotels may be stupid enough not to have one (yes, we stayed in some) So make sure all your electronics are hooked to power access all throughout the trip if you want to bring home some pictures and stay connected to the world.

5. Long bus rides, no access to an ATM and money changer, the only food on sight looks like it was cooked with salmonella and you are too sissy to do a fear factor challenge? This is where a pack of Energy bars comes in handy. They are lightweight, compact, substantial and enough to fill your growling tummy until the next trusted stopover.

So, how about you? What are your top five picks?

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