What is necessary to travel from place to place for several months? Shoes (maybe just flip flops), a pair of pants, a t-shirt. Passport. And cash. I think that's all you really need. A towel and a toothbrush, if you want to get fancy.
In a world full of personal possessions ("stuff" as George Carlin would say), narrowing my life down to a bag full of necessities is absolutely freeing. Last trip I over-packed, and for a short time I believe my neck vertebrae separated due to the weight of my shell (seems fine now). I have since learned that bootleg Lonely Planet guides can be bought in Cambodia for a dollar
, creative t-shirts only cost a few bucks(depending on your bartering skills), and flip flops will be lost-found-lost and finally repurchased (cheaply). A pair of pants can stay pretty clean for a lot longer than a pair of underwear; so, I'm doubling up on the amount of boxers to save on laundry -- I'd say that's the most valuable lesson I learned.
, creative t-shirts only cost a few bucks(depending on your bartering skills), and flip flops will be lost-found-lost and finally repurchased (cheaply). A pair of pants can stay pretty clean for a lot longer than a pair of underwear; so, I'm doubling up on the amount of boxers to save on laundry -- I'd say that's the most valuable lesson I learned.
Most clothing bought abroad won't hold up, that's mostly to be expected. The disappointing part is that paying top dollar for good shoes and clothes in the States, doesn't guarantee shit anymore. I'm not tough on my gear -- I swear, but I do walk. The pricey Vasque trail running shoes
I purchased for Asia wore out as the soles lost their support, the cheap (breathable) mesh became worn, the rubber padding wrinkled from compression, and the stitching became frayed. Similar to a good quality Columbia rain coat that I rarely wore, which is no longer waterproof on the outside and is flaking on the inside. I suspect REI is going to ban me from their store if I make any more returns. They might guarantee my purchases, but how long is a shoe currently expected to last nowadays, before it never biodegrades? (This time around I'm giving Teva a try). A a two year old $300 waterproof Canon camera is now unpredictable (often turning off for two weeks)and is no longer under warranty. I've been going mad trying to find durable clothes and a decent camera. Most online reviews are written well before a product wears out. And a pair of shoes bought online might cost less, but might not fit at all; and any physical stores are likely to have a poor selection. With cameras it seems like photo quality has taking second place to features, and there's hundreds of cameras with the same features, coming out quicker than reviews. Its frustrating. I just want the limited amount of things I own to last me -- but no one else does.
I purchased for Asia wore out as the soles lost their support, the cheap (breathable) mesh became worn, the rubber padding wrinkled from compression, and the stitching became frayed. Similar to a good quality Columbia rain coat that I rarely wore, which is no longer waterproof on the outside and is flaking on the inside. I suspect REI is going to ban me from their store if I make any more returns. They might guarantee my purchases, but how long is a shoe currently expected to last nowadays, before it never biodegrades? (This time around I'm giving Teva a try). A a two year old $300 waterproof Canon camera is now unpredictable (often turning off for two weeks)and is no longer under warranty. I've been going mad trying to find durable clothes and a decent camera. Most online reviews are written well before a product wears out. And a pair of shoes bought online might cost less, but might not fit at all; and any physical stores are likely to have a poor selection. With cameras it seems like photo quality has taking second place to features, and there's hundreds of cameras with the same features, coming out quicker than reviews. Its frustrating. I just want the limited amount of things I own to last me -- but no one else does.
I've made my purchases: Camera. Footwear. Underwear. Socks. And a tiny (necessary) iPod speaker. This time around I don't have a job to quit, apartment to sublet, or a car to sell. It's an easy get away. I just have to pack my bag. Buy a month Greyhound bus pass. Give some hugs. And let
May be another t-shirt won’t be that much.. I mean, when one is drying during the day, you can put the other one.. You would just give towards locals another chance to say that Americans are filthy héhé ;)
ReplyDelete