5 Hours…

I should be in bed, I know… but in 5 hours I’ll be boarding the first plane of a journey that includes 4 planes and over 40 hours of flight plus layover time. Oh my.

Anywho, Steven took me out for late dinner to Carrabba’s, one of our favorite restaurants. The reasoning? That might be the last decent Italian meal I’ll have in the next three months! Ha! And it was kind of our own Valentine’s dinner too, which was very sweet. We talked for a bit afterwards and he fell asleep like a rock. I on the other hand, usually are unable to sleep before a flight. So I’ve been checking to make sure the flight coming from San Fran arrived on time (so mine will leave on time), re-verifying that all my snacks are packed, and so on… basically things that are important but not terribly so. But alas, my eyelids are starting to get heavy…

Now to catch a few winks before the hour drive to the airport. Good night.

The countdown continues, with a few sighs…

Is it possible to feel homesick before you’ve left home? If it is, I’m feeling that way, at least a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I am stoked about this trip, but still, I really wish that my beloved could go with me too. Sadly, he can’t, but it’s OK, I know we’ll get the chance to travel together soon. In the meantime, I’ll share lots of photos and communicate every other day or so… maybe technology can really help bypass some of the geographical distance.

In my experience, leaving is harder when you’re in a relationship and one of you is staying behind. But hey, that also means there’s someone who wants to shower you with hugs and kisses when you return.

So I guess this glass is two thirds full.

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” – Mark Jenkins

Long Haul Flights

According to Wikipedia: Long-haul flights are journeys typically made by wide-body aircraft, such as Boeing 767, Airbus A340, or Boeing 747. They involve long distances, typically beyond six and a half hours in length, and often are non-stop flights.

A mad stomach growls demanding an unhealthy snack. The plane carries over a hundred souls and there’s not one attendant in sight. My phone reveals we’ve been in the air 8 hours and have 6 more to go. I could kill for some M&M’s right now, even if they charge me $10 for it!

In the end, I didn’t find the chocolates, but my first solo long haul flight was quite the experience. For the most part I was well prepared, but there’s a few things I’ll make sure to do/pack going forward:

1. Sleep the night before! – Sounds obvious, no? Well, I had the bright idea to skip sleep thinking that would force my body to rest during the flight. Wrong! Turns out my excitement to visit Japan for the first time was stronger than my ability to sleep on command. Although I did catch a wink or two in the air, I arrived very tired.
2. Pack almost everything at least 2 days in advance – What I usually do is have two checklists, one for things that can be packed anytime (clothes, flashlight, etc) and another with the “last minute” packing items. The latter is usually composed of IDs, cellphone, tablet, chargers, etc.
3. Sandwiches anyone? – I keep mine simple, wheat bread, ham, and cheese, nothing more. I’ll have one as a meal prior to departure and pack one in a ziploc to go in my daypack. I usually eat the second sandwich during the first layover.
4. Ah, pills – I generally do not like pills, at all. But prior to departure I’ll take one of each: potassium gluconate, helps avoid leg cramps and a timed-release B12 vitamin to stay energized. I might add a chewable vitamin C too for the immune system.
5. Neck pillow – A necessary evil! Last year I traveled with an ultra-comfortable beaded fill version and used it not only on the plane but at some of my lodgings. However, when in transit, I kept wishing it didn’t take up so much space. On this upcoming trip I’ll take an inflatable version and hope for the best!
6. Snacks please! – Salty, sweet, and chocolate. Some trail mixes combine all three categories or one can have each thing separately. Cliff bars, Luna bars, peanut M&M’s, mini marshmallows, there’s so many options from healthy to shameful!
7. Journal and pen – In this digital age? Why yes! From random thoughts to actual ideas to sketching silly little things to handing it over to a stranger and they write suggestions on where to travel. It’s priceless. Plus you need the pen to write on the customs form anyways.
8. Reading material – I’m taking a travel guide that covers all the countries I’m visiting and doesn’t take up too much space. Then on my tablet I’m taking a few eBooks too.
9. Entertainment –  A lot of the newer planes have fancy entertainment systems, but sometimes the content is limited or requires hefty payment. Or worse, there isn’t anything other than a few large screens playing something uninteresting. Besides book, my tablet also has movies, and lots of music to keep me entertained for hours.
10. Moist wipes – I like the alcohol-free versions, like Travelon’s Gentle Cleansing Wipes. They’re antibacterial, and a good size too. I wipe my neck and arms with them and feel refreshed.

For shorter domestic trips, I’ll leave some things at home, like the neck pillow. Have you ever been on a long haul trip? If so, what did you do or pack to make it easier for you?

Tech Hierarchy

Whether at a racetrack in Virginia, a mountain in Japan, or a beach in Puerto Rico, there is a security blanket I must have: technology. That does not mean I shun other humans in favor of electronics, but I do like to have my gadgets. When going out, my electronics stay in my purse as I find it very rude to deny undivided attention to the people you’re socializing with. The other night my boyfriend and I went to dinner and sat near a family of four where each person was typing/reading on their phone, except the smaller kid who had headphones connected to a music device. They were not talking to each other… at all. That scene appalled me, but anyways, back to the topic.

When traveling, I might pack devices from each of the following categories:

1. Smartphone – Although I own an LG Thrill 3D phone and an Apple iPhone 4, the latter is my favorite by far. No matter what corner of the world I’m in, the iPhone is with me. The LG only comes on international trips since it’s unlocked and can accept foreign SIM cards.
2. Larger computing device – At first a laptop, then a netbook, they were later replaced by an iPad2 and a Nook Color. Two tablets? Yes. Both tablets have games, movies, music and can connect to the internet. However, the iPad2 cost seven times as much as the Nook ($700 vs $99), has greater processing power, GPS, two cameras, is easier to type in, can connect to cellular networks and boasts a smooth user interface. Do I pack both? Heck no. The Nook Color is for longer trips where there is a greater chance it will get lost or stolen, and I have limited luggage space. The iPad2 is with me on all other trips.
3. Backup power source – The destination, and its distance from civilization, dictates what I’m taking for backup. If there’s camping involved, I take my GoalZero Nomad 7 solar panel. If there’s the possibility of accessing a power outlet at least once a day, then I take two Duracell Rechargeable USB chargers which hold 1800 mAh each, enough to fully charge most of my devices. And sometimes I’ll take one of each backup, connecting the USB battery to the solar panel.
4. Camera – I unnoficially collect them, and have one of each category: Point and Shoot, Travel Zoom, Waterproof Sports camera, Super Zoom, Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens camera and DSLR. My favorite camera, a Nikon D3100, is in the DSLR category and travels with me mostly on domestic or short international trips (like 2 weeks in Japan). The others are packed according to the destination. The point and shoot, an inexpensive and older Samsung L200, is the most likely to go to destinations where pickpockets are a problem. So on and so forth.
5. Adapter or Converter – Depending on the country and the amount of gadgets I’m taking, there’s a few options here. Luckily, I have not had to purchase a converter yet since most of my AC chargers are already dual voltage. Plug adapters on the other hand, are a necessary evil. For the upcoming trip, I’m taking one that turns one plug into two sockets.
6. Multi-device chargers – One word: indispensable. I have an AC charger made by iLuv that has 3 USB outlets, one of them powerful enough to charge a tablet and the other two outlets are perfect for the phones, the USB batteries, and the cameras. The only drawback is that it isn’t as powerful as the standalone chargers, but it does save me from carrying 5 or 6 device-specific chargers.

For my trip to SouthEast Asia, I’m considering the following:

• LG Thrill 3D – unlocked, will be using local SIM cards in countries where I’m staying over 3 weeks (Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam). Main phone for calling and texting.
• Apple iPhone 4 – Will keep this one deep in the backpack, as a backup in case the LG is misplaced or stolen. International roaming is possible with AT&T and will use it if it’s an emergency.
• Nook Color – running Android 4.0, small, good battery life, main source of entertainment while in transit.
• 2 Duracell Rechargeable USB Chargers – small and these have built-in charge level indicators
• Samsung WB150f – Travel Zoom – compact, 18x zoom, wi-fi sharing, low-key
• Samsung L200 – Point and Shoot – small, cheap, same battery as other camera
• Samsonite Dual Socket Travel Adapter Kit – 4 plugs, two sockets, travel pouch
• iLuv Triple USB AC Adapter – charges 3 USB devices at once

Quick Edit: I got a Powerocks Stone USB charger that holds 2600mAh and it will replace one of my Duracell chargers on this trip

On  shorter trips, I take just the iPhone, one Duracell USB charger, one camera, the triple USB charger and one tablet. What gadgets do you usually travel with?