LESSONS IN COMFORT AND STYLE:
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by Rita Bozi There is nothing like the satisfaction that my husband and I feel, when we find ourselves in the middle of the jungle, or on a rocky beach, or stuck on a crowded bus surrounded by cockroaches… |
…and vomiting locals and we pull some obscure object out of our backpack that makes our trip more comfortable.
We are what you’d call alternative travelers: we find ways to make our two star travel, a five star vacation. Doing so is surprisingly simple and inexpensive. Herewith are ten lightweight items that every traveler, be they alternative or conventional, should be sure to keep stowed in their knapsack or suitcase.
1) Hammock: Nothing spells relaxation quite like the gentle swing of a hammock in the cool breeze of a mango grove after a hard day's tanning. We found brightly coloured travel hammocks made from nylon/silk parachute material manufactured in Indonesia. The pack neatly folds up into a 3x4 stuff sack conveniently sewn into the side which makes for a convenient book or sunglass holder while you stare up at the clouds lazily drifting overhead. We recommend king size: big enough for two, fabulous for one. This size also makes a complete mosquito net if one needs to sleep overnight under the stars when all the budget hotels are booked. www.ticketothemoon.com,
Price: $70 US.
2) Clothesline and clothes pegs: Taking five minutes to wash out your stinky shirt at the end of each day means that you can not only travel with fewer clothes, you can avoid the local laundry service which may wash your red shirt with you white undies. But becoming a portable laundry means needing to air-dry your things before the next day's early train ride to the mountains. A sturdy clothesline and a universal sink stopper is a must.
Campers Village, Price: $ 9.98
3) Hiking Sandals: Whether you are maneuvering through the crowded alleys of Marrakech or trekking amongst the hill tribe peoples of Thailand’s Golden Triangle, an all-purpose pair of Keen Newports is all you need. The adjustable sandals have lots of room when your feet swell in the heat, and the capped rubber toe protects you from stubbing your foot on jagged rocks. One word of warning: the water-resistant lining absorbs sweat and like all such materials doesn't wash well, so those with a propensity towards stinky feet should be prepared to upgrade every few years.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Price: $95.00
4) Neck pillow: We can’t bear those interminable overseas red-eye flights without a padded sleeping mask, the ubiquitous orange earplugs and the ultimate in airline satisfaction: the neck pillow. And we don't mean the pointless blow-up variety that springs a leak somewhere over the Bering Sea moments after you've nodded off. Go for the faux-buckwheat-filled fleece-covered deluxe model from Cloudz. It doesn't pack well, so deal with it; we hauled them under our smelly armpits through four airports and five hotels. But nothing beats tossing an over-stuffed unyielding hotel pillow to the floor and curling up with your own. We have lovingly named ours “Ruby” and “Jeff”.
Kananaskis Hall at the Calgary International Airport, Price: $20.00.
5) Sarong: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy wisely told us to pack a towel for intergalactic travel, but we'll go one better and vote for a sarong. The multi-purpose fabric serves as : a great skirt, towel, beach blanket, yoga mat, clean sheet, headscarf in a dust storm, decorative accessory in a dull room, or curtains when the morning sun is beating on your hang-over. We won't recommend any one manufacturer or retailer, as they are widely available both at home an abroad.
6) Neoprene Beach Shoes: These lightweight little slippers are fantastic whether you are climbing a rocky beach, getting into a kayak, taking a boat ride, walking on hot sand from one glorious beach to another or running carelessly into the ocean.
Swimco, Price: $28.00
7) Supplementary Alternative Medicine Kit: Don’t leave home without these items, all of which are available at Community Natural Foods.
• Oil of Oregano – This immune booster is preventive medicine if you are feeling run down or jetlagged and it kicks a cold faster than Cold FX. It is known for its cough-clearing qualities, aids with mild stomach problems, digestive issues, migraine headaches, athletes foot, sore throats, breathing problems, dandruff….and exterminates fungus.
Three drops under your tongue or diluted with water, several times a day for several days in a row keeps your thymus ticking.
Price: $22.99• Rescue Remedy – Is a natural emotional stress reliever. It speeds recovery from injury, fright, illness and travel fatigue.
Price: $11.99• Organic Lavender Oil – Can’t sleep on airplanes or in foreign beds? Fear of flying? Or you dread coming back home and you just want to keep traveling? This natural remedy produces calming, soothing, and sedative effects aiding insomnia, anxiety, depression and mood disturbances.
Price: $18.99• Desert Essence Tea Tree Lip Balm – Your sun dried, wind beaten lips love this stuff anytime of the day! So will your partner. Price: $3.99
• Pure Aloe Vera Gel - Snorkeled face down for hours getting lost in the underwater beauty and now you can’t lie on your sun singed back because you feel like a boiled lobster? Aloe Vera gel soothes and cools while regenerating skin. It is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and helps heal wounds of all kinds.
Price: $5.99• Citronella – The natural, non-toxic insect repellent that smells good too.
Price: $14.99• Calamine Lotion - Forgot to put on Citronella and you’ve been eaten alive? Containing zinc oxide, calamine lotion has antiseptic properties and helps prevent infection from scratching. It has a cooling and soothing effect on the skin for that non-stop itching.
Shoppers Drug Mart, Price: $2.99
8) Rosehip Conditioner: After a long hot day riding a motorcycle over red dirt roads there is nothing more refreshing than a cold shower and the feeling of clean hair. KOSMEA Conditioner with organic rosehip oil, is the only conditioner I’ve found that comes in an easy to pack light-weight tube rather than a bottle, and lasts for little over a month. Its scent is absolutely heavenly: one small feminine comfort after you’ve been roughing it (gentlemen, do consider indulging). After the shower, throw on a little summer dress to feel sexy again.
Community Natural Foods, Price: $21.99
9) Thin Cloth Bag: This thin cloth bag serves as a shopping bag, a laundry bag and a beach bag. Be environmentally conscious even when you are traveling.
10) MEC Underwear: Basically anything from Mountain Equipment Co-op is ideally suited to traveling, but it never would have occurred to me to buy my underwear at a travel store. Light and airy for humid climates, they wash out easily in a sink and dry within an hour. For women, Rita swears by Lululemon thongs. So does Ken.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Price: $17.00