Kristina

Therese-
I just had this vision of you in your scottvest with the pillow compressed in a zip lock in the back. Then suddenly, the bag fails, the pillow puffs up, and you look like the hunchback of Notre Dame and are unable to lean back in your seat on the plane.
I say this with absolutely no malice, but I am chuckling like a crazy woman here at my computer.

Therese

"Hump? What hump?"

(for the youngsters out there, this is a reference from the movie "Young Frankenstein&quot

It's actually the non-seated version of this scenario that cracks me up, as the pillow is so compressible that I wouldn't have much trouble squishing it flat by sitting back on it.

It's the possible deployment while standing at check-in that strikes me as funny.

irishface

Wonder if deployment would cause a noise likethose which should not be done in public. Worse than a hump!

Therese

The noise would be one of air be gently sucked in, not rapidly expelled, so I think I'd be spared at least that indignity.

hetismij

I pack efficiently, but check the bag. There is no way I could do carry on only. I am not prepared to risk my camera bag being too big/heavy and having to check it.
Depending on where I am going I usually have a rucksack that meets most carry-on standards (I always check before travelling) and carry one DSLR body and at least three lenses, plus a flash. It works out at about 10-12 kg, depending on the lenses, normally. I am considering giving up on quality in favour of practicality and buying an 18-250 lens for holidays, which will reduce the load considerably.
Another reason for checking a bag is to take my tripod - they are not allowed as carry on.
Your Scottevest looks great! I always have visions of those awful beige saggy vests with pockets everywhere, that men of a certain age seem to mysteriously grow, when I think of a travel vest. I could be converted to the Scottevest though. If only it would take a DSLR and a couple of lenses

I try and do any transfers within Europe if possible, allowing plenty of connection time which makes life easier on arrival, certainly when flying to the US.

Therese

Wow, 10-12 kg of equipment. You are a dedicated photographer, hetismij, but then many photographers seem to be. I'm just too lazy to deal with that much stuff, at least on holiday, but then you do end up with really great pictures. My 15-year-old daughter's recently been bitten by the bug (unfortunately for my pocketbook).

If you were to drop down to just one lens you could certainly manage. The back compartment of the scottevest is actually pretty large, and would accomodate (temporarily) some pretty bulky sorts of things. You'd want to wear something sort of flow-y over it (hmm, one of my large paisley scarves would come in very handy here) to make the, um, hump less obvious, and of course be careful not to sit back on it.

I could actually manage with the vest alone for a couple of days, packing a couple pairs of underwear, socks, and shirts in a compression bag and sliding it into that back compartment.

Therese

A bit upthread I mused a bit on the possibility of using skype (or something similar) while traveling to avoid roaming charges for phone calls. I've done some outside scouting on that question, and will be posting (I hope) some more once I get some answers.

In the interim I'll mention that I've apparently got really good shopping karma at the moment, as I've come across another brand of boots that I really like, ara. Here's the web site for the company:

http://www.ara-shoes.de/en/main.html

They actually make more models than are featured on the site. They specialize in waterproof boots made with Goretex. I have just purchased three (oh dear, I'm going to burn in hell, aren't I?) pairs: short brown ones with a pointy toe, short black ones with a slightly squared toe, and tall black ones with a pointy toe. Nice and warm, and a nice sturdy, not-too-high heel for walking. My orthotics fit nicely into them.

Now all I have to do is figure out which ones I'm going to take with me...

Guenmai

I did my first, solo, 3-week trip throughout S.E. Asia back in Dec 1998/Jan 1999 and did it with one carry-on suitcas, a purse, and a small bookbag. I didn't check anything in which was great. BUT, that was before all of the "liquid" and "other" restrictions.

I always travel with my liquid, Planet laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, peanut butter, and Swiss Army knife which I use a lot. I have had my peanut butter taken away from me at LAX by TSA. However, I have found a way around that one now. So, with the restrictions, it makes not checking baggage more difficult. Happy Travels!

Therese

I haven't found that the liquids volume restrictions have made any significant difference in the way I pack. If you were traveling light before they went into effect you were already meeting most of the criteria, and probably just had to re-work things a bit.

You mention both shampo and conditioners, Guenmai, and although I'd mostly given up using liquid shampoo when I travel, I was still using liquid conditioner on occasion. Those days are now, I believe, behind me, as I've found a product called hypbrid solid shampoo from Lush that meets all my needs, as follows:

1. It does not reek to high heaven. It's described as lemon and fennel, and when wet does smell slightly (and pleasantly) of both, but does not otherwise smell and does not leave any noticeable scent in my hair.

2. It shampoos and conditions, and unlike most liquid versions of hybrid products does not leave my hair limp and greasy, but bouncy and shiny.

3. Like other Lush shampoos, it lasts a long time and packs just like a bar of soap. Be sure to let it airdry (or help it along with your hair dryer) as soon as you're finished using it---if you let it sit in water it will get soft. If asked about it at security I'd call it soap---if you call it shampoo somebody might get confused.

http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products...hampoos/hybrid

rogeruktm

I use what ever is in the shower. Works for me

Therese

Go ahead, rogeruktm, gloat away. And be happy that the thought of plunking down $200+ on having your hair done simply never, ever crosses your mind.

You don't even bother to use a hair dryer, do you? My husband certainly doesn't, and I resent him for it just a teeny tiny bit every morning. I think I'd feel less strongly about it if he weren't the one who prefers my hair on the long-ish side.

scotlib

You liked the Lush shampoo, Therese? I tried one last year and even though I have short hair, it did not please me at all.

Maybe I will give it one more try, and pick what you have. I don't remember the name of the one I chose, just that it was green, lol.

I had hair down to the middle of my back in high school. Started trimming it more every year after graduation. Now it varies I go in some walk-in place, ask for it "short" and then go for another cut 2-4 months later, all depends on how "short" the "short" turned out

I really go nuts if it gets down by my shoulders .. just too heavy. Never realized the weight when it was long, but I cannot stand it anymore.

Looking forward to more planning. Cheers.

rogeruktm

Therese, guess you didn't read my trip report...in any event I was in Bridlington last winter and stopped at a barber shop. Turns out I was in a Polish area and he charged me the senior rate of 2 1/2 pounds. Good haircut. Would you like directions?

Therese

I'm guessing your haircut didn't involve two hours worth of sitting around with chemicals and pieces of aluminum foil stuck to your head, did it, rogeruktm?

The hybrid shampoo/conditioner Lush product that I'm using right now is gray, scotlib. I also like the white one called Shine, but didn't like the orange/yellow one called Godiva, largely because the smell was too strong.

There are two green versions, neither of which I've tried. In any case shampoo preferences are so individual that there really is no way to predict what will please. Short hair is particularly great for travel, and I've had my hair very, very short in the past, but my husband really dislikes it.

Therese

Back to tech issues for a while.

No laptop, in case you're joining this thread late, but I will have my iPhone with me. While traveling in the U.S. I've found my iPhone to be extremely helpful in the following ways:

1. Phone calls, obviously

2. Weather forecasts: the iPhone comes with a nice little application that updates every time you open it, showing the present conditions as well as a six day forecast. It is, as I type this, 51F and partly cloudy in Tokyo (at night) and 68F and partly cloudy (daytime) in Mexico City.

3. Clock: nice alarm clock feature, and you can also call up the times for locations around the world and look at them simultaneously. So no waking up my family when I think I'm six hours behind them and I'm really six hours in front of them.

4. Google maps and navigational system: I used my iPhone as a navigational system on a recent trip to Texas. Much better than my car's navi, actually, as the map's more detailed and it doesn't lock up while the car's in motion (don't worry, my husband was doing the driving).

5. Internet: Not only was I able to check my email and look up addresses and phone numbers and opening times and so forth, but I actually did things like check flight status and book a room via Priceline. Yep, an actual Priceline bid when the hotel we'd booked turned out to not quite what I'd hoped---I got two rooms in a 4 star for the remainder of our stay, and then went down and checked out of the first hotel.

All of these functions were carried out via AT&T's 3G network, but of course I won't be using that internationally, as data roaming is expensive, and even phone calls are expensive (and only slightly less so if you activate international roaming, for a price of course).

The answer is wifi, and here's my plan:

1. Use TruPhone (voip, like skype) via wifi instead of conventional phone service via 3G.

2. Convert ethernet signal in the apartment in Tokyo to wifi with an AirPort Express for access there.

3. Subscribe to Boingo Mobile for worldwide hotspot access. First month is free, $7.95 per month thereafter.

We'll see how it goes.

I'm also planning on viewing movies (downloaded from iTunes) on the transpacific journey, and have downloaded a couple of Japanese language applications:

1. a very simple Cool Gorilla English to Japanese dictionary that includes correct pronunciation (via the speaker)

2. a very elaborate tool called Kobota! that's got some very cool search functions

Neither of these apps requires internet access to work, so that's nice. Hmm, wonder how much space they take up on my hard drive.

SUMMAGOLD

hi Therese, from your other posts, i noticed you wear knee high boots on the plane. I was thinking of doing the same so that i can save room and weight in my luggage, but im a bit wary because i tend to get bloated after a long overseas flight. im afraid i wont be able to put my boots on! i got my boots from florence; they are sort of a modern twist to cowboy boots and so they dont have zippers. and sometimes my feet (the left one more specifically) dont slip right in. hmmmmmm.....

Therese

I agree, SUMMAGOLD, those boots sound like they might be a problem on a long flight. Most of my tall boots have zippers, as my calves are on the chubby side and many pull-on styles don't work for me.

You can, of course, keep your boots on during the flight---you're feet can't swell beyond their confines. But I like to get comfy and take mine off, and you probably do as well.

Therese

Oooh, that reminds me: two pairs of ara boots from Zappos will be waiting for me when I get home!

Pvoyageuse

"Oooh, that reminds me: two pairs of ara boots from Zappos will be waiting for me when I get home!"


Therese, you should consider opening a new thread : "how to save room in my bedroom closet"

My tip : I use alum stone, an excellent and natural deodorant and an astringent. A 1" dice goes a long way and fits into a pocket or a handbag.

Therese

Alum stone instead of conventional deodorant/antiperspirant, pvoyageuse? In the south we say that women don't perspire, they glow, and I really glow quite a bit.

As for my bedroom closet, it's large. Plus I've got a teenage daughter who does a pretty good job of keeping it cleaned out for me. I'm constantly trying to figure out where such and such item has disappeared to, and finally check her closet and, voila, there it is.