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| Stuff to take |
| This is so personal to each individual but here are a few things that we like. |
| Mosquito Net This we've found to be essential in the tropics. Shape and size There are lots of choices but we decided on a single point bell shaped double. You can always make a big net cover a small bed but you can't always make a small net cover a big bed. Also you get lots of net for tucking in under the matress or sleeping bag. With reference to our choice of a bell net, we've heard a great story from someone who woke up with a couple of coconut snakes happily curled up sleeping on top of their box shaped net so if you don't want to provide a snake hammock then... To poison or not to poison Some good friends of ours graciously gave us a tiny-holed moz net when we were heading off to southern China. Tiny holes meant we had no need to use permetherin and therefore didn't have to sleep in a chemical bath everynight. Unfortunately if it is hot enough for mozzies it's hot enough for condensation to build up on the inside of your net. Small holes don't let mozzies in but also tend to act like a sheet of plastic so no air gets in either. In some situations the net was great and in some it was not so great. Think about where you are going. How hot and steamy is it? Think about how scared you are of the chemicals. Think about how scared you are of Malaria. Weigh it up! One of the most thought provoking things about travelling Beach huts and tents are no problem usually but when you check in to that cheap guesthouse with prison cell like rooms (i.e. cement walls) how can you possibly hang up your moz net? At this point you stand around scratching your head for 15 minutes and then go and get a curry and a beer after which you return to your room and the little malarious gits have moved in and you still can't hang your net. We always carry a little cheaters pack that we've devised. It consists of a hook on a huge sucker, 2 or 3 different sized screw in hooks and some cord. We've never been unable to hang our net when we needed to. Believe me we've made some crazy constructions but the most useful are the screw in hooks. You'd be surprised what you can screw them into. |
| Universal sink plug The uses seem obvious but don't forget how much hand washing saves on your travel fund and this little gem ensures that you can do it anywhere. |
| Washing line Invaluable for many things that you just can't anticipate including hanging youe mozzie net (see above). You can bundle up stuff to make it smaller and you can make inpromptu shelters from sun, etc. by tying up sarongs and plastic bags. We've got one that consists of twisted bungy cord so we don't need any clothes pegs. |
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| Our moz net blowin' in the wind after being re-treated |
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| Sarongs Enough cannot be said about sarongs. You can wear them at the beach. You can wear them into the village. You can wear them when you get out of the shower or just lazing in the hammock on that idyllic island. You can also use them as a sheet or as a towel/blanket combo at the beach. You can use them to make a sunshield or for a little extra warmth on a Chinese train in the middle of the night when the guy in front of you refuses to close the window. Plus, well just plus... |