Travel Packing (3/5): Electronics

February 1, 2010 at 8:32 pm · Filed under Travel Tips

This is the third in a series about travel packing. In this post, I cover electronic stuff I took with me, and what might be helpful to take with you.

Laptop
HP Mini (really a netbook). Weighs about two pounds. Provided me with hours of entertainment, the ability to keep in touch, manage my affairs and keep writing while on the road. Most netbooks run for between $300 and $400, and depending on the kind of traveler you are, can be a worthwhile thing to have. A lot of places now have free or cheap wifi, where you might have to pay to use a computer. So it saves you money, over time. Plus you don’t have to worry about viruses.
My laptop had a slot in which SD memory cards could go, so it was easier to copy over pictures from my camera. No extra cables or convertors were necessary.

USB Memory stick
I bought a cheap 16gb one. Was good. Useful for backing up photos. And for swapping music and movies with other travelers.

Camera
Almost any decent point-and-shoot will do for me. In my opinion most people don’t use the features on their advanced, expensive cameras anyway. The criteria I had when looking for a camera were:
- Under $100
- Uses SD Cards
- Uses AA batteries, as opposed to a proprietary battery, so I don’t have to worry about recharging it, carrying a charger etc.
- Has decent reviews (preferably more than a four star rating on Amazon)
- Has Image Stabilization. I don’t like to carry tripods, and I often take pictures while walking or from buses. This feature saves me the bother of blurry pictures.

I ended up buying the Canon Powershot 1000IS. I’ve been happy with it. I didn’t have too much time to shop around, my other camera broke the day before I was leaving. I bought this on the way to the airport. I ran into the shop, picked up the only camera they had that fit my criteria, paid, and ran out. I’ve been very happy with it, even though I paid about $140 for it, a little more than I would’ve liked to.

Lithium-ion AA batteries
These last for at least three weeks of daily use in most new cameras. They cost more than regular alkaline batteries, but you have to use fewer of them. I went an entire three weeks in New Zealand without having to change them out. When I was in southeast Asia, I found myself having to change out regular Alkaline batteries almost every other day, when I used them. These paid for themselves many times over, and were one of the smartest purchases I made. Take a bunch of them. I used them in my flashlight, hair trimmer and other stuff too.

Ipod + charger

Portable ipod charger
Runs off a couple of AA batteries, is good for long bus rides or places without electricity.

Mobile Phone
I got myself a basic, unlocked GSM phone. Depending on how long I was in a country, I would get myself a cheap, pre-paid SIM card for a few dollars. It can be a useful thing to have, you can call ahead to hostels to see if they have a bed, make bus reservations sometimes, and coordinate meetups in other cities with other travelers you may have run into along the way.
To be sure your phone will work with most GSM networks, you want at least a GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 network compatible phone.

Torch / Flashlight
I like the Maglite Mini LED. Its a really good torch, the LED bulb is at the perfect level of brightness, and batteries in it last a really long time. Its also simple to use. I had to change the batteries on this thing with one hand, in the dark, in the rain once, and it worked out well.

All-in-one Travel Plug
Can plug almost anything into almost anything. Won’t convert voltages, but everything I carried had that ability anyway (laptop, iPod etc)

Audio splitter
I didn’t take one of these, I didn’t need one. But if you’re traveling as a couple it can be useful, I saw a lot of couples using this. You can watch movies together, share music etc.

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Also in this series:
Travel Packing 1/5: Backpacks
Travel Packing 2/5: Medical Kit
Travel Packing 3/5: Electronics
Travel Packing 4/5:
Travel Packing 5/5:

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Do you have suggestions? Advice? What would you take with you on a trip? Leave a comment!

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Travel Packing (2/5): Medical Kit

February 1, 2010 at 2:20 pm · Filed under Travel Tips

This is the second in a series about travel packing. In this post, I cover medicine and hygiene kits, and what might be helpful to take with you.

Imodium.
Will be your friend on long bus journeys.

Traveler’s Diahrrea medication.
Read about traveler’s diahrrea here. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler’s_diarrhea )
I took Levaquin (Levofloxacin) with me, but fortunately never had to use it.
It has other uses too. If bitten by an animal, the same pills will usually help prevent the spread of rabies from the wound, until you can get to a hospital or place to get vaccinated.

Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
Cure-all. Fevers, aches etc.

Malaria prophylaxis medication. I started out carrying this with me, pills I had to take four times a week. However, the side effects were too much for me, and I stopped taking them and focused on not being bitten by mosquitos. The side effects can sometimes be dangerous. In my case I suffered from sun sensitivity, which resulted in dehydration.

Hydration salts. Mixed with water, these hydrate you well. Started carrying these after my run-in with dehydration. They’re good for long hikes, days spent in the sun, walking around etc.

Band-aids

Lip balm / Chapstick

Moleskin (to prevent blisters)

Lozenges

Sun block

Insect repellent (with at least 30% DEET)
Try and take water-based repellent. Alcohol based repellent is more flammable, and is prohibited on flights.

After-bite bite reliever. This helped occasionally. It helped relieve the pain from a scorpion sting as well.

I took a few Vitamin C tablets with me, and would stock up as necessary. Vitamin C has a reputation for being useful for fighting off colds and things. It isn’t so. Most of the benefits are from the placebo effect. Vitamin C is only useful if you have a diagnosed vitamin deficiency, which most people eating a balanced meals don’t have to worry about, they get everything they need. I didn’t always have a chance to eat balanced meals, so took vitamins, sometimes. In retrospect, a multi-vitamin would have worked better. Most people that take vitamin supplements are overdosing, and this isn’t good for them. For a good explanation of the science behind this, please read this.

Duct tape. Just a few feet, not the entire roll. I made my own small roll of duct tape with a stubby pencil and a few feet from a bigger roll. This is useful for many things, like putting on blisters, rips in clothing and tents, etc.

Toothpaste

Toothbrush + toothbrush case

Roll-on deodorant

Bar of soap (can use for washing myself as well as clothes)
I would buy cheap (and really good) bars of Dettol brand soap as I went along. (Irish Spring works as well.) They’re available everywhere, don’t flake easily, as the ‘fancier’ soaps tend to do (important when washing clothes, otherwise you end up brushing soap flakes from your clothes for the rest of your trip)

Box for soap
I like the ones without holes in them to drain out water. Those are messy. I like to zip-loc my soap box as well.

Nail clippers

Tiny pair of blunt ended scissors, useful for trimming nose hair, nails, and a variety of other uses.

I started out with a disposable razor, but threw it away. I went eight months without shaving. I did get myself a cheap ($8) and light battery powered hair trimmer, for my face, underarms and other areas. It’s a hygiene thing, it helps to keep your underarms and body hair trimmed when in warm and humid places.

I put it all in a mesh pouch, like this one.

This is a fairly comprehensive medical / hygiene kit. A few other travelers I met had similar kits, though some of them were also carrying a couple of wrapped disposable syringes and needles. In case they needed shots, and they were in a country whose health system and standards they didn’t trust. As you may be able to tell, this post doesn’t cover women’s travel medical issues; I don’t feel qualified to discuss them, but there are other resources on the internet, I’m sure.

I also made sure I was up to date on the following vaccinations:
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Tetanus / Diptheria
- MMR
- Typhoid

If you’re planning a trip, get medical advice from your doctor or a travel nurse. A random blog on the internet or anecdotes from friends can be helpful but are no substitute for advice from a professional.

Don’t stress about your medical kit too much. Remember, you won’t end up using most of it. If you need something, you can find it, or a substitute almost anywhere in the world. Keep in mind that developing countries are a good place to buy medication, it’s cheaper. Quality is not an issue usually.

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Also in this series:
Travel Packing 1/5: Backpacks
Travel Packing 2/5: Medical Kit
Travel Packing 3/5: Electronics
Travel Packing 4/5:
Travel Packing 5/5:

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Do you have suggestions? Advice? What would you take with you on a trip? Leave a comment!

Comments (3)

Travel Packing (1/5): Backpacks

February 1, 2010 at 1:12 pm · Filed under Travel Tips

or, On traveling round the world with less than ten kilos in luggage.

I did an extended trip across several climate types, and learned a lot about packing.

The guiding goal while packing was weight. I did all I could to keep the weight in my backpack down. Ultimately, excluding a couple of heavy things, such as hiking boots, which I was actually wearing a lot of the time and books (usually two, my guidebook, and a book I was reading. This weight would fluctuate, as I switched books out) my backpack weighed just about eight kilos. It was around 13 kilos with everything in it, such as books, boots etc. That may not seem like much, but I weigh about 60 kilos, so thats almost a quarter of my body weight that I have to carry around with me. It’s a lot. My goal is to eventually get it down to 10% of my body weight, though I’m not sure thats possible (unless I put on weight).

This is the first in a five part series about travel packing, and the strategy I use.

Each post in the series will explore one of these aspects of packing and traveling:
- Backpack
- Clothes
- Electronics
- Medical kit
- Miscellaneous

So, to start with:

Backpack
Obviously one of the most important things. I have the Eagle Creek Voyage. This is the most amazing backpack in the history of backpacks. It is very comfortable to carry, is exactly the right size, comes with a handy day-pack attached that you can zip off. For some reason Eagle Creek stopped making these; had I known, I would’ve bought another, for when this one wears out.

Things that were important in a backpack, for me:
- Dimensions. It was important that the backpack be carry-on compatible. I tend not to check in luggage. Currently, most airlines require carry-on bags to be within 9 x 14 x 22 inches. Also, I would have to stash my pack under or on top of a bus a lot of the time. The smaller size lets you sometimes take it with you on the bus, and have it under a seat.
- Front panel loading. Many packs tend to be top loading, which makes getting your stuff at the bottom hard. This one zips open all the way around the front, which makes getting things in and out from any part of the pack easy.
- Lockable zippers. So I can use a travel lock to lock my bag.
- Capacity. I didn’t want a pack that was too large or small. You pick backpacks based on the volume of stuff they can carry (in liters) rather than the weight they can carry. I thought 45 (backpack) + 20 (daypack) liters was the perfect size. Know that if you have a larger capacity pack, you will fill it up. And then you have to carry it around. Most people don’t use or need a lot of things they carry, so having a medium capacity pack forces you to think through your packing list, and pack smart.
This pack had a lot of cool features I haven’t seen in too many other packs, such as the ability to zipper away all the straps when you’re not carrying it on your back. This is useful for when you need to check in your bag, it turns into a compact little bundle with no straps hanging out.

Pack covers can be useful to keep your stuff dry, but in a pinch, a garbage bag will do. Don’t stress over it too much. I didn’t get a pack cover, I did use a lot of bags, sometimes over the entire pack, sometimes, just my stuff inside the pack was in bags. No significant problems, most packs are fairly water resistant anyway.

You obviously also want a pack you’re comfortable with, thats the correct size for your back (an incorrectly sized pack can cause back trouble and be uncomfortable) and that you like looking at. You’re going to own it for a while. Best way to get one is to go into your backpack emporium of choice and try some on. Have a knowledgeable person fit you for a pack. Try it with some weight in it, with the hip belt and sternum strap on. And enjoy your new traveling companion, it’s going to last you a while.

Locks
Two TSA (United States Travel Security Administration) travel compatible combination locks.
One for my main backpack, one for my daypack. The kind that airport security in the United States can open without breaking open, if they want to. It only needs to be compatible with the United States, fortunately. Other countries haven’t reached that level of paranoia yet. They’re useful when you leave your backpack in a hostel, storage, or almost anywhere. They’re flimsy, a thief can just yank them off if motivated enough. Most thieves in hostels are of the kind that just pick up stuff lying around or off the tops of backpacks. It greatly reduces the odds of being stolen from, because it increases the amount of effort a would-be thief has to take. I prefer the combination to the key kind, it saves me having to keep track of keys.
Cable Lock: Allows me to lock my backpack to my bed, a luggage rack on a train, bus etc. I don’t have to worry about my bag being picked up and run off with when I’m not in my room or if I step away to go to the bathroom.

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Also in this series:
Travel Packing 1/5: Backpacks
Travel Packing 2/5: Medical Kit
Travel Packing 3/5: Electronics
Travel Packing 4/5:
Travel Packing 5/5:

_____

Do you have suggestions? Advice? What would you take with you on a trip? Leave a comment!

Comments (2)

Practical Tips and Advice for visiting the Angkor area

May 31, 2009 at 1:02 am · Filed under Cambodia, Travel, Travel Tips

Unless you’re taking a guided tour on a tour bus, its likely you’ll be exploring Angkor from the back of a motorcycle or TukTuk (rickshaw). This is preferable because it lets you go where you want, at your own pace, without following the crowds around.

Going rates are $8-10 per day for a motorcycle with driver, and about $14 and up for a tuktuk. Tuktuks can seat up to four passengers. Mountain bike rentals are about $2 per day. The entrance to the Angkor area is about eight kilometers from Siem Reap, the closest city. Car rentals (with driver) can be had for $25 / day and up. These prices go up if you go to some of the more distant temples, about 28 kilometers from the main cluster at Angkor.

There are two circuits that take in most of the major sites at Angkor. They are called, imaginatively enough, the Small Circuit and the Big Circuit. They don’t necessarily overlap, and most people with more than a day to visit Angkor do them separately. The Big circuit takes less time to do than the small circuit.

The Lonely Planet says:

Entry tickets to the Angkor area are controlled by local hotel chain Sokha Hotels, part of a local petroleum conglomerate called Sokimex, which in return for administering the site takes 17% of the revenue. A mere 10% goes to the Apsara Authority, the body responsible for protecting and conserving the temples, and the lion’s share is returned to the black hole that is the finance ministry.

There are children outside almost every temple, selling postcards, water and trinkets. They’re little hustlers, they know a lot of tricks to get westerners to buy their stuff. I usually just ignore them, it helps that I look like the last person who will ever buy jewellery. Most of them are cute and harmless, though I have heard some horror stories.

A common tactic is to ask your name, and then chat with you for a bit before asking you if you’ll buy something when you come out. Don’t agree to this, they will remember your name and they will try and hold you to it. A guy I met told the story of how a little seven year old girl started yelling at him when he came out and called him “a fucking liar” when he refused to buy anything. Other tactics include guilt trips and tears.

The price of a large bottle of water should be about 2000 riels or 50 US cents. Negotiations open at about two dollars. It helps to have exact change. Cambodia’s primary currency is the US dollar, though you will get change in riel for amounts less than a dollar. Exchange rate is 4000 riel to the dollar.

The Angkor area is very very large, and most people do not visit the more remote temples. If you do, stick to the paths and obey the posted signs, stay within the marked areas. They haven’t cleared all the landmines from the area yet, there is a very real risk of you stepping on one if you go tramping off the path. You should be fine at the more common, centrally located temples.

Some of the temples are large sprawling complexes, multiple kilometers long. When you visit one of these, its a good idea to have your driver pick you up on the other side, i.e. if you get dropped off at the West Gate, get picked up at East Gate, so you don’t have to double back when you’re done. Your driver usually won’t suggest this so its up to you to tell him to do so. This has the added advantage of you being able to escape the sellers of stuff, in case you said you’d buy something when you came out, just to get away from them.

In case you’re exploring Angkor by bicycle or your own (rental) motorbike its usually a good idea to have one of the shopkeepers outside each temple keep an eye on it when you’re inside. Theft is common. They may expect you to buy something when you come out. It helps to have a few small denomination riel notes (500 or 1000 should be adequate) to offer them as gratuity when you get your bike back, since you can’t really buy something at every temple you go to. Most of them will watch it for free, just for a chance to give your their spiel to buy stuff.

It can get really hot really early. Hats, sunscreen and an umbrella are recommended. I like to have electrolytes around as well. Also shoes or boots instead of flipflops or sandals. Even with transport between the temples you will be doing a lot of walking and climbing. Temple steps are really shallow, in some cases just a couple of inches deep, so you might be climbing up using hands as well. You don’t have to take footwear off in the temples.

I recommend getting to the Angkor area by five in the morning and getting back to town by eleven or noon, to avoid the heat and the crowds. This way you get to see the sunrise. It is spectacular.

There are two common locations to see the sun rise. One is outside the walls of the main Angkor temple, Angkor Wat. This is where most people go and where the tour buses go. Another good place is at Sra Srang (Pool of Ablutions). It overlooks a large lake, and is very peaceful.

Sunrise at Sra Srang, Angkor

A third, not very well known place to watch the sun rise is at the temple of Bayon. This is a very popular temple, but most people aren’t aware of its sunrise potential. From a distance it looks like a pile of rubble, but once you get closer you see that the towers of the temple have faces engraved on them. The temple is designed such that as the sun rises, each of the faces is lit up and revealed, one by one. The effect is said to be amazing. I am returning to watch the sun rise here tomorrow, and will report back.

Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom

After sunrise, most tour buses go around the area in a clockwise direction. You want to go counterclockwise to avoid the crowds.

There are three types of passes available: one day, three day and one week. If you purchase your pass after 5pm, that day doesn’t count, so you can potentially go in on your first day there in the evening to watch the sunset over some of the monuments, and then return the next day to explore. Its worth it.

Try not to pronounce it Angka or Angkar. I’ve heard Australians do this, inadvertantly. Its Angkor (Ang-core). Angkar means “Organization” in Khmer and was the name of the Big Brother entity set up in the Khmer Rouge years. Everything done in those years was done in the name of Angkar. It might be a sore spot with some Cambodians.

Most of the temples used to be Hindu temples, converted to Buddhist ones later. Many temples have Buddha statues in them, with offering boxes. Some Buddha statues are interesting and old, installed centuries ago. Some are plastic and cheap, probably put in a couple of years ago. Most of the buddha statues have offering boxes, but you shouldn’t feel like you have to make an offering. In most cases the money doesn’t go towards maintaining the facilities or to a charitable cause, but towards cigarette and beer money for the security guards.

The bathrooms scattered around the Angkor area are pretty good, the ones I visited have at least one full time staff member on hand whose job it is to clean the floor and toilets several times a day, so they’re quite sanitary. There is no toilet paper. They provide buckets of water or a spray-hose. Most bathrooms are some distance from the temples, often not within walking distance.  I think this is so that the septic tanks don’t affect the integrity of the structures.

A common piece of advice is to visit Angkor Wat, the main, largest temple last, because all other temples pale in comparison to it. I preferred some of the other temples, but maybe thats just me. Its a good idea, and logistically, makes things easier if you visit it last, because of the layout of the area.

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Addendum: I did visit the Bayon temple for sunrise, however I got there too late, it was already quite light. Best would be to get there when its pitch dark. It was still nice though. I recommend Sra Srang for sunrise if you’re only there one day.

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