Travel Essentials Travel Tech & Cameras

“Nowadays the first thing people ask when. entering the hotel - is what’s the WiFi code and the duty manager gives out the little slip of paper with the secret password - Majestic Hotel 1234”

Quote Source - The Traveller

Travel Tech & Cameras

Everyone loves a good travel photo, but remember to look up from the camera now and again. Not everyone wants a camera shoved in their face, and big telephoto lenses can be intimidating. Some cultures believe that photos and cameras steel the soul, be respectful. Some places it is not appropriate to take photos, if you are not sure ask your host, but some are obvious and anything military (unless it is a museum) is a no no, as are border crossings, security.

All tech dates and useually quiet quickly - but we remember travelling the globe before it became so dominante in our lives and to some extent we miss that world - a world without a constant barrage of communication, selfie sticks (we would ban these nasty little items - only kidding, each to thier own, but they can be a bloody nucience in the wrong hands.

We will be expanding this section later.

On Pen-Y-Fan on one blustery day my favourite hat blew off and so I chased it - almost off the edge of the mountain. It was raining and wet, I nearly didn't stop - and I thought how stupid it would be to die for a hat. In short if it is precious to you - leave it at home. Don’t take anything you can’t afford to lose. We could fill a book of precious necklaces ripped off by scooter gangs etc. Leave it at home.

Some Don’ts

Some Do’s

Yes it’s late - you’re tired and they are being totally unreasonable. But keep your sense of humour - in few moments they will be gone and so will you - is it really worth a dust up? Sometimes walking away and coming back will make a difference, or they may have been replaced! It might be you have been dumped by the airline and everything has not gone to plan. So what - smile and wave. It will all sort itself out in the end.

What we use

We prefer hard cases, they are easier to pack, and you can wheel them along. They also keep you stuff dry when it pours with rain and they are on top on the bus. I’ve got a trendy soft bag = I’ve got soaking wet clothes! Soft bags have their uses and we use them when they are needed, sailing, expeditions, rail journeys - basically anywhere there is water (Northface and Orlieb backs are waterproof) or anywhere space is at a premium - a yacht or underseat of a sleeper train for example. You can also squidge them into place. We have many different bags depending on the need. Try to avoid overly flashy ones that say come and rob me - aluminium for example (they are also very heavy). You may need a posh bag for that 4 or 5 star hotel (be aware that many places abroad 4 star is really 3 star). We use good quality bags, and have only ever found two (so far) indestructible bag. The rest regardless of how much you pay all get smashed by the airlines eventually. Here’s what we currently use.
Zero Haliburton - zip case - medium 70 plus countries and territories and battered but never broken. Takes everything you need for several weeks. organise with packing cubes takes 2 large folders and 6 cubes - plus boots and junk. Our go to bag. You can also sit on it whilst you are waiting! It was recommended to us by an airlines bag repair centre after Emirates had smashed our Remova case in. It was a good recommendation - we have never looked back.
Remova - cabin bag - zip hard case, polycarbonate - redicuously expensive - it is value for money. 50 plus countries and territories it is fine and still looks good, unlike the larger versions which are all broken. We had a set of 3 - the two large ones have spilts - welded - but not nice.
Man Bag - Samsonite small shoulder bag - on 2nd one after 1st gave up the ghost (zip went) after 100 countries and territories.
Osprey 35 litre back pack - usually instead of Remova cabin bag. 2nd Osprey bag, first one still works, just didn’t look nice, slightly smaller at 30 litres.
Kipling duffel type - soft pull along - with hard bottom compartment. will fit on Trans Siberian Express under seat if you don’t over stuff it. Packing cubes are an essential with this bag. Also you will need 2 TSA locks. It won’t stand upright which is a pain, so you have to lean it against the wall the wrong way around. Other than that great bag.
We also have for expeditions large North Face duffels, (3 off various sizes) and a Mountain hardware ultra lightweight expedition duffel which we used at the North Pole. Not robust but lightweight means you can take more stuff! We also have Musto soft bags for sailing and various specialist scuba bags, which have large plastic zips etc as metal ones corrode with the salt.

Cannon EOS 500 - one of the last 35mm Film Cameras - kits had become popular. c 2003

Selction of camera bodies and Len's from Cannon, Sony, Pentax and Nikon

Travel Tech getting smaller left to right Garmin Satellite global communication device and tracker - with track back. Exposure Diablo torch Petzel Heads Torch

Zeiss 10 x 25 most used because they are small and we carry them with us.

Selection of binoculars left to right Zeiss 10 x 25 Swarovski 10 x 50 Zeiss 10 x 42

Sony - compact camera - 30 x optical zoom, panoramic, range finder - k