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Questions To Ask Yourself
Country And Climate What will the weather be like when you are traveling? Guidebooks offer season, weather, and climate information. Refer to the weather chart provided in your guidebook and plan appropriately. What Type Of Activities Will You Be Doing? Plan to spend most of your time sightseeing? Perhaps getting dressed up for the theater or dining out in a nice restaurant? Will you be trekking? Hiking? Rafting? On safari? FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHEN SELECTING YOUR TRAVEL WARDROBE Comfortable Clothes Comfortable loose-fitting clothes are best when traveling on trains, planes, and sightseeing. Layer clothing, as the weather may fluctuate between hot and cold. Wash and wear new clothes before choosing them as a part of your travel wardrobe. Clothing Made Of Natural Fibers Clothing made of natural fibers feel great and wear well. Cotton, wool, and silk not only feel terrific, they keep you feeling naturally cool or warm. Long underwear made of silk will keep you cozy in colder climates. Silk also feels great against your skin and gives you that little extra bit of warmth. Clothing Made Of Synthetic Fibers Synthetic brands, Polartec and Capilene, will provide extra warmth in a light-weight material. Polartec and Capilene come in long underwear, socks, slacks, and shirts. Check out these brands if you plan on being in colder areas or participating in sports where you need fast-drying clothing. A set of polyester/nylon long underwear is a good purchase when traveling to cooler climates. The polyester/nylon blend feels especially warm and soft against your skin hour after hour. Long underwear can also double as pajamas. Coordinate Your Travel Wardrobe Color coordinate your travel wardrobe. Choose three base colors, such as, black, white, and khaki. Add one accent color, such as, blue, green, or purple. Interchange your color-coordinated separates into several outfits. Basic colors and clothing pieces combined offer a wide variety of choices, with a limited wardrobe. Dark clothing shows less stains and spots. If you are wearing clothes several times before washing, dark clothes offer the most camouflage. Purchasing Clothes Abroad If you are traveling for an extended amount of time, your clothes may become well worn and soiled. Buying new shirts, pants, and socks is easy. A new shirt, after months of travel, will feel like a luxury. Planning to travel in Asia? Purchasing clothes in Asia is easy and inexpensive. Today most of the textile markets are located in Asia. Overruns and seconds are sold in the local markets. Great bargains are to be had in the clothing markets when shopping for new travel clothes. Clothes To Leave At Home Short shorts, skimpy halter-tops, and mid-drift shirts are better left in your closet. In many cultures, dressed women expose much less of their bodies than Western women. In Moslem countries, wear long skirts, pants, and long-sleeved shirts or sleeves that fall mid-length. Sleeveless shirts elicit long, unsolicited stares. Skirt length should be mid-calf or longer. Observe what the native women are wearing. Are they fully clothed? Shoulders covered? Take fashion clues and notice taboos from the local women. If the native women are considerably covered with clothing, then dress and wear longer pants and shirts. Don't expose cleavage or the breast area. Avoid low cut, tight-fitting shirts that expose and/or accentuate the breasts. Unknowingly, you may give off the wrong impression by wearing too little clothing. Men will sexually harass you, stare at you, or approach you simply because of the style or lack of clothing you are wearing. Men may also believe you are a prostitute. One Dressy Outfit Bring one dressy, lightweight outfit or skirt for special events. Silk outfits pack easily. Choose materials that do not need to be ironed. Purchase materials that are meant to look wrinkled when worn. A dark-colored dress or skirt would suit many occasions. No Fashion Contests Remember, there are no fashion contests or forums when you’re on the a journey. Simple and comfortable clothing will be your best bet, regardless of the latest fashion trends. Cosmetics When traveling, give yourself a break from the daily grind of applying make-up. The only cosmetics I carry when traveling are lipstick and mascara. I rarely used the mascara and often wondered why I brought it. Giving yourself permission to take a vacation from make-up is refreshing and also good for your skin. The natural look is always "hip" when traveling. The "Mega" Towel The "Mega" towel is indispensable. This towel absorbs fifteen times the amount of water a regular towel absorbs. Small, lightweight, and fast-drying make this towel travel friendly. The "Mega" towel comes in small, medium, and large. I carry one small and one large towel when traveling. It’s available in most travel and outdoor shops. PACKING FOR ADVENTURE Around The World Trip Around the world, traveling from August to February, I encountered a wide range of climates and temperatures. The snow and sub-zero temperatures of Russia, contrast with the regions in which the humidity reached one hundred and the temperature rose to triple digits. The clothing I packed proved to be flexible, comfortable, and appropriate. In colder temperatures, layering my clothing was essential, especially in Russia. There I layered and wore everything packed in my backpack. I not only wore my heavier garments but also slipped on the ones I brought for the warmer climates. Suggested Around The World Clothing List 4 - T-shirts (yellow, blue, white, and black) Clothing Items Purchased On Trip 4 - Pairs of cotton socks India Adventure As I set off for India, I packed only a few basic clothing items. Instead of buying clothes at home to take with me, I decided to buy them in India. A great percentage of cotton clothing is manufactured and sold in India at a fraction of the listed market price at home. I did pack a few of the trusted items I used on my last trip. I also packed a few items I wasn't positive I would need. I decided to pack those "maybe" items because, if I didn't end up needing them, I could simply give them away. I departed in January for Bombay and arrived home from Bangkok in April. The weather ranged from very hot and humid temperatures to cooler, more arid climates. Overall, the weather proved to be quite mild. Suggested India Adventure Clothing List 1 - Pair of lack silk lined pants Clothing Items Purchased On Trip 1 - Pair of sandals Don't Skimp On The Following Footwear And Socks Shoes or hiking boots should be comfortable, sturdy, waterproof, and durable. Spend a little extra money on your footwear; you will be happy you did. Remember, your feet are everything when walking around sightseeing and traveling. Try on several pairs of shoes and boots. Find what feels best on your feet. Remember to take into consideration the activities you plan on doing and buy appropriately. Wear and break in your new shoes or boots before you go. Avoid blisters and painful rubbing with moleskin. Moleskin, when placed on a blistered or irritated area, will cushion the rubbing and provide relief. Moleskin is sold in drug stores and recreational stores. If you plan on traveling for an extended period of time, take along sole adhesive in case you need to repair your footwear. If the sole on the shoe begins to detach, you can easily apply this incredible sticking glue and repair a separating sole. Socks cushion the impact of walking for hours around ancient cities and bustling markets. Buy high quality socks that insulate, protect, and cushion your feet. Socks made of a wool polyester blend are very comfortable. If traveling to colder climates, take socks made of wool, nylon, and polyester. When traveling to warmer climates bring thick cotton or cotton blended sock. Jacket Purchase a good, warm, lightweight, waterproof jacket when traveling to cooler climates. Several great companies produce excellent jackets for travelers. Look around, try some on, then decide which jacket will suit you and your journey best. Backpack Backpacks or rucksacks come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes. Today, backpacks are designed especially for the female body. Again, look around and try on different styles and shapes. Inspect the stitching on the pack and the zippers. The stitch should be small and tight. Zippers should run easily and be stitched securely into the backpack. Where To Shop For Travel Gear Outdoor, recreational, and sporting goods stores cover the country. Catalogs offer merchandise if you live far from the nearest recreational retailer. REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) is a fantastic company. My travel needs and questions are met and answered at REI. The REI salespeople, travelers themselves, are helpful and knowledgeable about the products they offer. REI stands behind its products. I bought a pair of hiking boots, from REI, for my journey around the world. Halfway through my trip the sole of the boot detached and could not be repaired. I took a couple of photos of my boot, wrote a letter explaining the situation to REI, and sent it off. REI promptly Federal Expressed another pair of boots which I collected in London. I sent home and returned the sole-challenged hiking boots. REI paid for all the postage and handling. Unfortunately, the sole on the second pair of boots separated again. Temporarily, I wrapped the sole with packing tape to the boot. Yes, it looked strange, but the sole didn't become completely detached. Upon my return, I went to REI and told them my boot dilemma. They gave me full credit for the second pair of damaged shoes. This particular boot had been discontinued because of the sole-detaching problem. One year later I took another boot from REI. A pair of Vasquez hiking boots. They were absolutely brilliant. I am still wearing them today and know I will take them on many more travels. REI To order a catalog call #800-426-4840 TOILETRIES Pack and carry toiletries in Ziplock freezer bags. If there are breaks or leak in your toiletries, it won't run into your clothing. You can also see through the bags to quickly locate items. Remember, most toiletries may be bought abroad, with the exception of tampons, so don't buy jumbo sizes to carry. Shampoo and conditioner
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