Whether going away for a week or traveling the world for a few years, it saves precious packing space.

The Tech 2 in 1′s

The Amazon Kindle is by far both Justin and my favorite 2 in 1 item.  The Kindle offers a traveler up to 1,500 books on one easy to use electronic device.  The only negative is that the Kindle must be charged, although it has a great battery life even on a 14 hour flight.  Oh, and in our case, the problem we experience is that their are 2 of us and we own one Kindle.

The universal adaptor is great for a backpacker planning travel to multiple countries.  Different regions of the world have different electric outlets.  Why bring more than one adaptor when you can have them all in one?  It’s really that simple.  Every country in the world is represented by the Universal Adaptor.

The Sporty 2 in 1′s

Pack an Ultimate Frisbee Disc and a dinner plate all in one.  No joke!  We love to play ultimate, and toss around the frisbee whenever we get the chance.  I had no idea we could create so many quick picnic meals through our ultimate frisbee doubling as a plate.  I love the versatility our disc gives us while traveling.

Be logical while packing.

We wanted Insect Repellent for our outdoor adventures.  We also like to have duct tape, just in case.  Instead of bringing a bulky, heavy roll of duct tape, we took about 5 feet of tape and wrapped it around the insect repellant bottle.  Only one customs officer (out of dozens of airport security) along our journeys has second guessed our insect repellant and did a sniff check.  Be creative, their are countless ways to reduce the bulk of what you pack.

The Fashion 2 in 1′s

A new travel craze is the Zip-off Pants.  Why pack both pants and shorts?  Have both at the same time!  Initially, I was against the zip-off pants because the original versions would zip-off at my knee, leaving me with long, impractical shorts.  It wasn’t until I tried on a more recent edition of the zip-off pants by The North Face that I fell in love.  My pants are durable, with great pockets, even one my passport fits securely into.  When I zip off the bottoms, I am left with cute shorts that allow refreshing sunshine kiss my legs.

Who doesn’t love the Classic Bandana?  The bandana is your friend especially when it comes to travel.  It can be anything; your hat, a first aid sling, a dish rag, a flag, the possibilities are endless.  The bandana is a ‘must-pack’ travel item.

Notice my zip-off pants and bandana on St. Patrick’s Day in Sydney.

The Bathroom 2 in 1′s

Speaking of bandana, I have actually used a bandana as a shower towel.  When I first read about doing this it sounded absurd.  I tried it out and realized it works if you are willing to wring out the bandana multiple times while drying off.  Departing from a location in the morning after showering?  Instead of a wet towel, the bandana I dried off with is still wet.  I just tie the bandana to the outside of my backpack and it dries within 15 minutes to an hour depending upon the humidity level.  Once it’s dry, I zip it in my backpack!

Did you know that shampoo makes great laundry soap?  Oh, it’s true.  When washing clothing in the sink, don’t bring extra detergent.  Shampoo is a natural, gentle way to hand wash laundry items before hanging them to dry.  My favorite was a lavender rosemary shampoo that I found in New Zealand.  My clothing had a beautiful fresh scent.

I found this rainbow of clothing hanging in Riomaggiore, Italy.

Washing laundry and hanging it to dry feels natural after a few months.  The simple ways of life on the road are refreshing.  This always surprises me.

Two in one items are a wonderful packing secret, but the best packing advice will always be, don’t bring it.  Go without it and pack less.  Be a much happier traveler with a lighter load.

Problematically, what the budget travel experts failed to mention is that there is a downside to many synthetic materials (read: polypropylene and polyester). Rather soon after use, they begin to smell. Really Really Bad. (As a disclaimer, I have an excellent grasp of personal hygiene and do not have a tradition of being a smelly person. Except when I am playing soccer.)

The Socks

I have two pairs of polypropylene socks which have kept my feet really warm in cold places (think cold, windy, rainy Irish days.) What I like about my polypropylene socks is that my feet stay dry, even when they start to sweet. What really sucks is that after wearing my shoes and socks for an hour, my feet start to smell like the inside of a high school football team’s locker room. During August Two A Day conditioning. Even on cold days this is an inevitable reality. So my feet smell, my socks smell, and my shoes smell. None of this is a good thing when taking a long haul flight from London to New Zealand. Thinking that I was the problem, I tried the following remedies. All of them were ineffective.

1. Wash socks every night.
2. Soak socks every night before washing.
3. Scrub socks every night both before and after soaking
4. Apply natural deodorizer (read: rose petals) to shoes (this got my shoes smelling much better, but as soon as I put my socks back into the shoes, all progress was quickly reversed.

Solution: I am going to throw away my socks. I believe that the synthetic material moves the sweat away from the skin and, in doing so, absorbs all of the odor kept in the sweat. There is no hope for these socks. I am going to try Merino wool socks which claim to naturally stay dry while not absorbing odor.

The Shirt

I also purchased a polyester shirt from North Face that is designed with a “Vapor Wick” system. This is a fancy way of saying it stays dry while you sweat. I have found this claim to be true and I enjoy hiking in this shirt on hot days. It is relatively breathable and it keeps me dry even when the rest of me is covered with sweat. Problematically, after washing this shirt in a sink for a month, the material started to become extremely “pilly”. At this point, the shirt looks like I have been wearing it for the better part of a year instead of 4 months. To add insult to injury, no matter how much deodorant I apply, this shirt starts to smell about half way through the day. I am not talking about a little smell either. If I put my arms above my head, this smell will jump up and attack you. You may wake up several hours latter in a dumpster without your wallet. I mean, this smell is vicious. Needless to say, a smelly shirt on the trail is not really a problem, but it can be awkward in the local coffee shop. On the up side, my North Face shirt will dry in about 1.5 hours if I put it in the sun after washing.

Almost as an after thought, I also brought with me a cheap $10 black t-shirt from H&M. This 100% cotton shirt dries quickly (overnight or 2-2.5 hours in the sun), is not pilly, and I can wear it around town for 2 days before washing it. Even then, the shirt smells better than my high tech synthetic North Face Shirt.

Solution: Forget about the synthetic fiber, quick dry, vapor wick shirts, and buy light weight cotton shirts instead. They are cheaper, hold up better, and your seat mate on your next long haul flight will stop giving you strange looks.

The Verdict

I am not totally against synthetic materials. My two pairs of North face nylon travel pants dry quickly, breath well, and do not smell. Removing stains is easy and they are comfortable. My Marmot polyester thermal shell is also a winner. It keeps me warm and dries quickly. Also, it takes a much longer time to become smelly. I tend to wear an additional shirt underneath my Marmot top and I believe the thermal fabric not being right against my skin is a large part of the avoid the stench-factor.

Nomadic Buying Advise: If the clothing item will be right next to your skin, find a natural alternative to synthetic materials. They may take a bit more time to dry, but they are more effective over the long haul.

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Upon checking my email, I was surprised to see a response from Columbia in less than 24 hours.  Especially with our large time zone difference (as I am 16 hours ahead).

But more than the timeliness of the response, I was extremely impressed by the proposed solution to my problem.  Cathy from Columbia’s Consumer Service Team sent me an email that demonstrates impeccable Customer Service, that all companies should strive for.  I am sure that you will agree:

“Hi Natalie -
Thanks for contacting us and offering us the opportunity to make your trek comfortable again. You’re on an incredible journey!! I’m really disappointed to hear that the second pair of pants you purchased is not laundering as well as your first pair; I’ll send our design team the link to your blog so that they can use the feedback in improving product quality. You may be right about the elastane causing the problem!
Ordinarily, we would suggest returning the defective pants to the retailer for an exchange. Since that’s clearly not possible in your case, we would like to send you a replacement pair of pants so you can continue on your trek without further delay. I did consult with a member of my team who is an expert in global long-distance outdoor activities, including a vast array of climates and adventures. I wanted to be sure we made the best recommendation for you based on your needs.
We’d like to suggest two choices for the replacement pair, with details and link to the product detail pages below:
The Globetrekker II Stretch Pant TL8297:
http://www.columbia.com/product.aspx?p=8657&cat=2&top=2
Although these are only shown in the lighter Fossil color, they are available in Black, Cinder (maroon), and Bark (dark brown). You indicated you would need a size 8. Could you let us know the length you would require as well? They are offered in 30”, 32”, and 34” lengths.
The Explorer Pant TL8296:
http://www.columbia.com/product.aspx?p=9010&cat=2&top=2
It looks like the Bark (dark brown) color would be the best choice for you in this pant.
Please let us know which pant you would prefer after taking a look at them on our website. We will send you a pair to arrive before you leave on the 27th.
Thanks again for contacting us, and we’ll look forward to hearing back from you!
All the best -
Cathy
Columbia Sportswear Company
Consumer Services”

The email clearly demonstrates a simple resolution to my problem.  I have decided to go with black Explorer Pant, as these seem to offer a great flexibility to enable ease of motion.  Which is important as Justin and I do extensive walking and other strenuous physical activities (the type with pants on).

A notable element of Cathy’s response is that the design team will be able to read about my specific experience in order to properly diagnose the issue (possibly with elastane) in attempts to design higher quality products in the future.  This makes me even more enthusiastic to purchase and recommend Columbia products.  I know that the Columbia team is carefully considering individual problems that arise on a case by case basis.   In turn, this reflects Columbia’s initiative towards innovation and furthering the level of quality as they create new products.

Whether you are a backpacker or pursue other forms of outdoor adventure, know that you can place 100% trust in Columbia products and their commitment to you, the one who wears the pants in the relationship.

During our time in New Zealand, both due to the cooler temperatures and because of the rain, Justin and I each bought an additional pair of pants.  It has been great to have a second option, and a dry pair of pants after a rainy hike.

Because I had such a good experience with my brown pants, I ended up purchasing a black pair of TITANIUM women’s pants by Columbia.  They were amazing!  Everything I expected out of Columbia, and during the first few days of wearing them I decided I liked them more than my brown pants!

Sadly, after not only a week of wearing my brand new pants I began to notice the material was not doing well.  The fabric was beginning to look “pilly” and have small pieces of lint clustered up and down the legs, especially around my hips.  Returning the pants was not an option, as they were now considered in “un-wearable” condition.  But I had not done anything abrasive to them.  And hadn’t taken part in any aggressive or strenuous activities that would cause such damage.  I was simply wearing my pants while walking and doing everyday household tasks (ie. the dishes, taking the trash out, etc).  Why have my pants become destroyed?  The fabric that makes up the body of the pants is 94% nylon and 6% elastane.  I am unfamiliar with elastane, but perhaps this has led to my problems?  I read the care tag carefully, and I have done nothing that would inflict damage to the material.  Maybe the rainy Fiordland weather is to blame.  It’s truly a mystery.

In addition, I think I found the black pants I own on the Columbia website. The only difference is the elastane percentage is listed as 7% in the product description online, while my tag reads 6% elastane.  Despite this minor difference I still think they are the same pants.

At this point, I still have a high respect and value for Columbia as a company and brand.  Heck!  Justin and I have been wearing Columbia jackets for years.  Since we were young children trying to stay warm on the playground, on a snowy Michigan day.  Columbia is a trusted brand, and I am not going to let one pair of pants ruin my experience and confidence with their products.  Instead I am going to send an email explaining my situation.  And hopefully, I will get a new pair of Columbia pants that are just as durable as the brown pair I have.  I would like to have a pair of pants that can continue on the journey around the world with us.  A pair of pants that might last a year or two as we backpack to various countries in a variety of weather conditions.

In the mean time, I will keep you posted on Columbia’s response.  But I have no doubt that Columbia values their customer (the product user) more than any other aspect.  Continue to trust that you can purchase quality Columbia products and know you are their number one priority.

Watch the following video to understand the basic premise behind Apple Superiority

With just over two weeks to go before leaving my precious 12 inch powerbook to go explore the world, I was beginning to have second thoughts about life unplugged. I did not want to log anything like the 60 hours a week I spend in front of a computer at present, but I was wistfully thinking that it would be nice to not need to brave an internet cafe every time I wanted/needed to use a computer. Then I discovered that, while I was planning a trip around the world, the netbook revolution had casually occurred. A netbook (no that is not a typo) is basically a small (10 inch screen or less) laptop that is used mostly for Internet applications. However, with the advent of Intel’s Atom processor, these mini computers can run for 5-8 hours on one charge while delivering enough power to satisfy everyone but the power users.

Although excited,  several hours of research left me feeling a bit queasy. Apple does not make a netbook. This represented an inherent clash of values. Apple makes computers that function well and generally do what the user asks with a minimum about of fuss. PC’s (the dark side) require a great deal more maintenance to achieve half the usability. In the end, with much wringing of my hands and talking to myself, I decided that it was better to experience the power of the dark side (a price tag of $483 certainly did not hurt) than to live disconnected. I know. I sold out.

Want a detailed review about the netbook I chose for Natalie and I? Keep reading. If you would rather get Amazon’s thoughts on the 901, I won’t be offended.

Eee PC 901 Review

Specifications

- 8.9″ display
- Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz
- 1 GB DDR2 RAM
- 12 GB SSD (solid state hard drive)
- SDHC card reader
- 1.3 megapixel integrated web camera
- Dolby Sound Room Certified speaker
- Array Microphone
- 6 cell battery
- Blue Tooth Module
- 2.4 lbs or 1.1 kg

Outside of the impressive hardware bundled into a tiny little package, Natalie and I purchased this netbook for 3 reasons.

• - Size
• - Durability
• - Battery Life

Size
The 901 has the look and feel of a professional notebook that was accidentally shrank in some type of freak accident. When I first saw the size of the 901 it was hard to not think of the little toy computers that I see kids playing with at the play areas in the mall.  I mean, this computer is small. The size of the 901 is part of its appeal (I need something small that will not take up much room in my pack) and also part of its curse. I have written this entire article on the 901 and I feel like I am learning how to type all over again. Although typing is possible, I have big hands and frequent stretching has become a part of my typing routine.With measurements of 8.9″ x 6.9″ x 1.3″ (L x W x H) and a weight of 2.4 lbs, this little computer will fit easily into either my day pack or backpack as desired.

Durability
Consisting of plastic and metal, the 901 feels solid in my hands. This netbook presents a streamlined appearance with all ports flush to the sides of the computer. Most importantly, the screen is firmly anchored with two large metal hinges that create enough tension to both hold the screen in position and snap the screen closed when required. Overall, the 901 feels like it can take a few bumps without affecting either its appearance or its functionality. To help with this protection, the 901 comes with a nifty neoprene sleeve that will add additional protection and peace of mind.

The 901 also has a Solid State hard drive. A solid state drive is made of of flash memory (4 GB fast flash and 8 GB a bit slower) which means that the hard drive, unlike a traditional drive, has no movable part. This means, no head crashes and no data loss. Evey notebook I have ever owned (including my Apple powerbook) eventually experienced a hard drive crash. Traditional hard drive architecture is not designed for to be moved around and jostled. Thus, a large selling point of the 901 is the data stability offered by a solid state drive.

Battery Life
Thanks to Intel’s Atom processor, the 901 is capable of running from 5-7 hours on one charge. The Atom processor is designed to only run (read: consume energy) when it is performing a specific task. When it is not working, the processor goes to sleep (read: stops using energy) in order to conserve battery usage. With living out of a backpack a computer that can go further on one charge is very important. Obviously, the more processor intensive tasks that are performed, the more quickly the battery will be depleted. This cannot be helped; however, the 901 does allow a user to turn up or turn down the processor speeds to provide at least the allusion of control over power usage. I am not sure how effective this manual tweaking of the processor will be in terms of extending battery life.

Conclusion

For power users or people who are going to spend all day typing, this not the computer for you. Find yourself a 12 or 13 inch laptop and put up with the extra size and weight. For casual users who are willing to sacrifice screen realestate and keyboard size in order to connect as needed to the outside world, this is a great computer for the money ($482 at amazon).

Are you currently traveling with a computer? What have you found to be the major pros and cons both of traveling with a computer and with the type of computer you chose?

Can you comment on which backpacks you each have (size, make, model etc) and why you chose them?

As I like questions (hint: ask more questions), and this is a hotly debated topic, I thought this to be an appropriate time to discuss my backpack selection process.

First off, every backpacker and long term budget traveler possess a strong opinion regarding backpack selection. This really should not be surprising as many of these individuals spend more time carrying their packs then a prospective mother spends with her child during the gestation period. Passionate people have opinions based on their own experiences and priorities.

I think the first step to buying a backpack is to take a realistic look at the type of travel you will use it for.

• - Will you be spending the majority of your time in the back country, away from urban areas? If so, will the climate most closely resemble Siberia or Panama?
• - Are you planning on moving from place to place every few days or will you be staying in one location for a month and making day trips to the surrounding areas?
• - Do you want to do a great deal of trekking across rugged terrain, or will you mostly be walking from the train station to the nearest hostel?

Next, it is necessary to have an honest conversation (internal or external is up to you) regarding your level of annoyance. Figure out what annoys you, what your annoyance threshold is and factor this into the pack you choose.

• - Do you view physical discomfort as a fitness challenge or do you hate muscle soreness to the point where you are willing to club baby seals to death in order to make it stop?
• - Is a sweaty back an excellent opportunity to take a cold shower and wash your clothes, or does your back instantly break out into a bacne farm which will cause you to hop the next flight back home?
• - Do you find it relaxing to meticulously unpack your bag to get that pesky rain jacket stored at the very bottom, or do you see yourself losing your grip on sanity: dancing in a wild circle on the side of some dusty road with your bag upended, shaking the thing for all you are worth.

After psychoanalyzing all of your needs, wants, and desires, get online and start reading reviews. When you find a backpack that you like, see if www.backpackgeartest.org has reviewed it. Their reviews go on for pages and usually contain multiple entries that span a year or more of use by the reviewer. This is as close as you can get to talking to someone who has thoroughly test driven a backpack.

After doing all of this, here are the backpacks we chose and why.

Justin

I purchased the Osprey Kestrel 48 liter top loading pack. I went to REI and had one of their backpacking experts take my measurements. He recommend that, when purchasing a bag, I should opt for a large frame. I prudently followed his advise.  I originally purchased the Osprey Kestrel 38 but, due to Natalie’s back issues it became clear during conditioning that she needed to carry less weight. Therefore I upgraded to the 48 liter in order to carry more and to have the flexibility to add food and other essentials to our traveling menagerie.

The following factors played a large role in why I chose the Osprey Kestrel 48:

• - Osprey is a major player in the backpacking world with a dedicated following. They have a reputation for producing high quality bags and each bag comes with a life time warranty. Many companies advertise their “warranties” but, like an insurance company, when something goes wrong these “warranties” rarely turn into practical assistance (read: money). I read many reviews by Osprey enthusiast who were sent new buckles or had straps replaced with a minimum amount of hassle
• - I wanted a small bag. This is a larger bag than I originally planned on using but a travel buddy who is in constant pain is a big zero in the fun department. When that person is your wife, you get a bigger pack.
• - I hate unpacking a top loading bag to get to something on the very bottom. The Kestrel 48 liter conveniently provides access to the bottom of the pack through a large bottom opening.
• - The Kestrel is a compression pack that has numerous straps whose sole purpose is to compress the bag and hold it solidly on my back. I do not want to feel as if the bag is pulling me in one direction or another.
• - The Kestrel 48 liter comes with a rain guard. I will use this to wrap my bag in on the rare times that I need to check it at the airport. I like this because now I do not need to spend the $30 on a bag for my bag.
• - I originally wanted the Osprey Talon 44 but the Kestrel series is made out of a more durable fabric and I liked the way the side pockets slant so that I can put a water bottle into the pockets when the bag is on my back. The Talon does not offer this convenience as its pockets lack the angle that makes this maneuver possible.

Natalie

Natalie will be carrying the Osprey Talon 33 liter pack. After going through the same REI measuring dance the backpacking guru indicated that she would need a bag with a small frame. We followed his advise this time around as well. In selecting a bag for Natalie, her back issues were a large consideration. Natalie’s L4 disk (see diagram) is current being squished by her L5 and L6 disks. This causes the cartilage in her L4 disk to be squeeze out like a jelly donut. The escaping cartilage puts pressure on a series of nerves that run towards her right hip and down the right leg. In other words, Natalie does not have the extremely painful back issues experienced by most retired football players, but the pain can be debilitating if not managed correctly.

• - We like Osprey Packs (see above)
• - The Talon series is highly adjustable and made out of light weight material.
• - A 33 liter pack will allow Natalie to carry more weight than desired, but, instead of carrying extra pounds, it also provides room for lite items that take up extra space (read: daily wear contacts)
• The Talon is easy to adjust and does not have a lot of extra straps that other bags in the same class.
• The front of the Talon has a very stretchy pocket capable of fitting a standard Ultimate Frisbee Disk. Natalie is a big frisbee fan and this is the perfect place for our disk.

The Unofficial Nomad Backpackers Backpack buying list of things to consider

1. Keep it small:
   Buying a small bag (between 35 and 45 liters) will keep you from carrying more weight than you really want. Backpacking websites (this one now included) discuss at length how all first time backpackers pack to much stuff. The smaller your bag, the less you will be tempted to bring stuff you don’t need.
2. Wheels are the devil:
   Many of the “travel packs” I looked at had wheels, like the guy in the photo was going to spend the majority of his time moving from the taxi to the airport. Wheeling a bag down the street is like wearing a sign that says “hey, can you please steal my stuff I am not from around here”. True, wearing a large backpack certainly indicates a certain foreignness but I think it also demonstrates a flexibility of movement not offered by their wheelbound counterparts.
3. Comfort is everything:
   If you are going on a long term budget travel adventure, you will become very intimate with your backpack. Try out your backpack before you buy it. Remember, all backpacks feel great when they are empty. Make sure you put 10-15 pounds of weight into your prospective pack before making a commitment. If you are a first time backpacker, buy your pack at a store where someone knows more about backpacking than you. Most packs have a large number of straps that can be configured in about 1,000 different ways. You really want to talk to someone who knows the purpose of all those crazy straps.
4. Avoid the All in One Backpack with Attached Daypack:
   First off, these are usually 60 L or more in size. Second, a backpack is not a secure way to carry anything in a crowd. If you want a day pack, get a shoulder bag that you can keep your eyes on instead of placing a tempting morsel on your back and daring some enterprising thief to give it a try

UPDATE:

The Backpack that Natalie used during over 6 months of backpacking. No back problems and her backpack is still in perfect condition!!!

Of course, how to make those calls is a bit daunting. Thus I did a bit of research and found the 4 best ways to make phone calls while traveling abroad.

Skype

Skype is a VOIP (Voice Over IP) service that allows users to make free audio calls from one Skype internet account to another. For a whopping $2.95 a month, a user can get unlimited calls to landlines and cell phones in the United States and Canada. Included n the $2.95 a month, is a voice mail box.

The Verdict: I am a big fan of Skype and I think this is the best deal for the money. With the exponentially increasing prevalence of internet cafes, this appears to be a very cost effective option. This will be our main mode of audio communication.

The easiest way to use Skype, particularly in a crowed internet cafe, is to use a Skype Headset. We opted for the Plantronics Audio 625 headset because it will allow us to use either audio line in ports (read: mic and speaker ports)  or a USB port depending on the available technology.

International Phone Cards

I believe that the creation and distribution of international phone cards requires a doctorate degree in some obscure branch of an unknown science. In looking for international phone cards, I can find no consistent pattern to the cost of calling from one country to another. The thing that I really like about international phone cards is that they can be bought anywhere and used in most places. Thus, if we find ourselves in a location without a decent internet cafe, I am sure that we can find a phone card. With any luck, about the time this trip is over I will have mastered this obscure science and can explain it to all of our curious readers (all 5 of you that is )

International Cell Phones

International cell phones are all the rage right now. Apparently some travelers choose to rent a phone when they travel abroad. If I was only going to travel for 2 weeks, I imagine that this may be cost effective. That being said, extended travel and phone rentals appear to be mutually exclusive.  I was able to find an international phone vendor that is selling phones for between $49 and $179. At first, I was thinking that this might be ideal. I mean, what is the point of finding an internet cafe when I could pull a cell phone out of my backpack and make whatever calls were necessary? Then I started looking at the rates. This is the deal breaker. Even from tech savy Western European countries, calls to the United States will cost $1.25 a minute. Ouch! That means (not counting the cost of the phone) that a 3 minute call from Europe to say “Merry Christmas” to my mom (1.25 * 3 = 3.75) would cost more than the monthly Skype plan.  After doing some serious meditating on the astronomical cost of actually using an international cell phone, I came to the conclusion that International cell phones are a lot like short term health insurance. The cost is justified by the assurance that if something horrible happens (read: I break my leg when I inadvertently step into a Michigan pot hole) I will have the necessary tools to successfully navigate the situation. If something truly bad happens (read: natural disaster, civil war, rare disease epidemic, no coffee for 2 days straight) we have travel/health insurance (www.worldnomads.com) that will help us weather the storm.

Satellite Phones

Satellite Phones of course are, at least in theory, a very cool idea. Just the technology alone makes my giggle like a Catholic school girl. The real downer is that a cheap satellite phone will set us back about $1,000. None of the satellite phone companies are forthcoming about how much it actually cost to use their services. This makes me nervous and a little bit irritated. When I am trying to buy a service, I do not want to contact someone to find out how much it costs. They created the website. Is it really that difficult to post prices? Anyway, this is way out of our budget and seems impracticable because I cannot see me wanting to make phone calls from the middle of desert anyway.

I like shoes. I think different shoes, especially brightly colored ones, offer a unique form of expression. The thing is, I have a deep rooted, almost uncontrollable hatred for uncomfortable shoes. So, when Natalie and I got married (27-May-2006), we decided to skip the standard Tuxedo shoes in favor of something a bit more comfortable. The groomsmen and I sported these shoes at both the ceremony and reception and the bridesmaids got in on the action at the reception.

Why is this important you ask? Because I drink from the Keg of Glory.

When Natalie and I were ordering 10 pairs of shoes from Zappos.com for our wedding, Natalie sent them an email congratulating the company for their excellent shoe selection, low prices, and extraordinary customer service. Zappos.com was so enthralled with Natalie that they gave her account free overnight shipping. For life.

Two nights ago, around 8:00 pm, I ordered the pair of shoes I will be using as we travel the world. By 3:00 pm the next day, I was signing that crazy gizmo that the UPS guys keep in a belt holster. How sweet is that?

I drink from the Keg of Glory! Ah ha.

Suffice it to say, I am excited about my new Merrells, and I am going to start breaking them in soon.

These items tend to fit into 4 categories:

Things that: – we already use

- may not be available in another country

- are great to “MacGyver” our way out of a tight spot

- we have never heard of before but other backpackers have recommended it

So, here we are buying items, some of these we have never purchased or used before. However, if it was a lifesaver for a certain backpacker, who says it was the best thing they brought, what do we have to lose? If we discover we don’t need something, and we don’t feel like carrying it anymore, we can always throw it out or give it away to someone we meet. Who knows what people we may meet? They might really need some duct tape.

This is a picture of some of these items, but not all of the things that will be in our backpacks.

What do you think? Is their any items in the picture above that you would leave behind? Why? What is something, you think we should remember to bring, that is not on our packing list?

Let us know what you think. With a lack of experience in the laxative department, perhaps we purchased the wrong brand. Maybe you have advice for us?

Or perhaps you are an athlete, and you know a product that works better than Bengay? Has anyone ever used something called Tiger Balm…we have heard about this…

Over the next few months until we leave, I would like to focus on: W.W.Y.B.

What Would You Bring?

After we learned about the garage sale (it was on Saturday starting at 9:00 am), Natalie and I figured it was time to become co-op members. Apparently this event is a rather big deal because the store manager told us that people start lining up around the time the store closes. That is, the night before. At 9:00 p.m. Now I like saving money as much as the next guy, but I have never been the type who wakes up the day after Thanksgiving at 4:00 a.m. so I can stand in line, with other members of this odd sub-culture in front of Best Buy so I can get a ginormous t.v. for $2. If you are this type of person, well….your time is your business. No hard feelings from the nomad corner, okay? Deal. Right, so there was no way I was going to spend Friday night camped out in front of REI. Seriously. Natalie and I arrived around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and promptly joined the quickly growing queue of people waiting to get in the door. As we walked to the line, I was carrying our shopping list and my backpack (if the waiting got out of control, I wanted my laptop within easy reach) Natalie was carrying two coffee mugs and our French Press. (If you like coffee and are unfamiliar with the French Press style coffee you really have not lived. Check it out.) I probably do not need to mention that we got a few looks. The coffee was good and the people waiting in line were very nice and rather friendly.  We spent most of our 30 minute wait talking to a couple from Windsor, Canada and a lady from Kalamazoo. (The lady from Kalamazoo is an advisor where Natalie and I went to school-WMU. How sweet is that?)

Honestly, the garage sale was a little bit disappointing. We were not able to find backpacks or shoes but we were able to find a pair of travel pants for me as well as a cheap pair of flip flops. We were also able to find Natalie a long sleeve travel shirt. Overall, it was a good experience and we were able to get fitted for backpacks (Natalie needs a backpack fitted for a small torso and I need one fitted for a large torso.)

We were also able to learn about REI’s sweet online purchase policy. Get this, if we buy it online, we can have it sent to the store without paying for shipping (the closes REI is about 3 miles from where we currently live). Also, if we do not like the item or items we purchased online, we can return it at the store. I am really excited about this because it means we can try out the backpacks we want without needing to worry about shipping them back to where they were originally purchased. Excellent!

Garage Sailing