We've read the posts where travelers write about the practical items that they take with them travelling...what about the eccentric, idiosyncratic, unusual, or just plain weird, things that you bring when you travel? <BR> <BR>Here are two of mine. One is a portable smoke detector for my kids' hotel room. This is really not so weird, except that on certain trips, it has spontaneously gone off because of cigarette smoke, for instance at a shopping mall in Istanbul, and in the Zurich airport, of all places. If you take one, make sure you wrap clothes around it! <BR> <BR>My other eccentric item is a gold coin, like a one ounce American Eagle. Years ago, I sewed one into my jacket lining, thinking that if I ever got into trouble, that gold coin was going to save my butt. I don't know what kind of trouble I was expecting (Jail? Kidnapping? Theft of all my money? A need bribe government officials?!?) Anyway, I still do this, and I won't leave home without it!

<BR>When I'm backpacking in Europe on a budget, I always take a jar of peanut butter. That way I can always buy some bread and will never be hungry! Finding peanut butter over there is not easy. <BR> <BR>

I usually bring along a jar of vegemite, as it's the only thing I can bear on toast first thing in the morning.

A friend of mine always travels with her own bed pillow. No matter how long the trip or how much luggage, that pillow always travels crammed in her carry on tote bag. <BR>

A friend of mine always travels with her own bed pillow. No matter how long the trip or how much luggage, that pillow always travels crammed in her carry-on tote bag. <BR>

Not particularly strange, but very practical, we carry a night light. Plugs into the razor outlet in the baths of all hotels, it'll guide you in even if there are blackout curtains or metal shutters on the windows. Carry your own bedpillow? My wife would rather die than leave hers at home!