Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A thought on sleeping bags...

Except for those going to icy places, camping or who have a lovely landy in which they are going to be travelling, few have place for a sleeping bag in their bags. I realised this when I went on my meditation retreat... takes up the whole bottom portion of my backpack. Into this space I could instead pack : 1 x pair of hiking boots; all my socks and underware; 2 x shors AND 2 x skirt; an assortment of toiletries and other odds and ends... there may have also been food in their.

So final decisions... I shall not insert sleeping bag into said backpack for said walkabout. Apparently what I need it a travel sheet. Now I want to know, wont a normal double bed sheet do??

Packing List :: One Bag

Packing List - Wardrobe :: One Bag

http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-repairs.html

http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-health.html

http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-paperwork.html

...the bellow extract from http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-documents.html

Thoughts on Wallets: overstuffed wallet Once you've safely stashed your passport, visas, driver's license, vaccination certificates, health insurance info, travel tickets, charge/ATM cards, cash, and cheques in your security pouch, do you still need a wallet? It's really up to you. Whether or not to use a wallet is a personal decision in any case; many people choose never to carry them. A modest amount of cash — no more than you can afford to lose — for the day's casual purchases scarcely needs a customized receptacle (especially one that is a prime target for theft).
In my experience, most people who do carry wallets cram them with far too much stuff ... items that they really don't need to be carrying around in their pockets every single place they go. It's not unlike overpacking suitcases, although the motivations may not be identical. But even "at home", carrying too many official documents is a very unwise idea: in these days of rampant identity theft, losing a wallet can be a seriously life-changing event (and not one that you will remember fondly). In any event, never carry anything that includes any sort of national identifier (such as a U.S. Social Security number) in a wallet.

the following ectract from... http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-specialty.html

Cameras as "Visual Notebooks": Don't overlook the fact that modern digital cameras can also function as a quick and convenient means of recording things that you might find helpful. As most cameras allow you to zoom in on images to read the details, even fairly complex documents can be usefully preserved. Possibilities include:
  • the location of your parked car
  • your hotel room number
  • the sign on that interesting tourist attraction you visited
  • information about places you'd like to visit (or otherwise recall), from brochures, signage, and even the yellow pages
  • recipes and interesting restaurant menus
  • the contents of your luggage, for insurance and other identification purposes should it be lost or stolen
  • "before" and "after" views of rental vehicles, to prove that they were already damaged, or that you returned them intact
  • the details of any accident you're involved in, to expedite insurance claims
  • maps and other directions (when using a computer lacking a printer, simply take a photo of the screen)
  • when exploring areas where directions can be confusing (central New Delhi, say), photos of intersections where you change direction can help you find your way home (and are much more reliable than dropping bread crumbs)
  • a photo of your own smiling face, to check for spinach bits (or how you look in that new hat) when you don't have a mirror handy
But perhaps the single most useful item you can record in your camera's memory is a "This camera belongs to ..." sign — handwritten or computer-printed — listing your name, contact information, and perhaps the promise of a reward, to improve the chances that a wayward camera might eventually find its way home to you. Lock this photo (i.e., make it read-only, which is possible with most cameras) to make it permanent, and place a copy at the beginning of each memory card.

SOME NOTES ON EXERCISING... http://www.onebag.com/packing-list-specialty.html

jump rope


If you eat healthily, travel frequently (instead of being perennially parked in front of a TV), favour stairs over elevators, use public transportation, and walk (without trailering your belongings), you are already well ahead of most when it comes to personal fitness. But you also need cardiovascular activity, and this can appear challenging to travellers who don't frequent high-end hotels with elaborate exercise facilities.
Everlast Deluxe Speed Jump RopeFortunately, there's a simple exercise regimen that can be done almost anywhere, in any weather, indoors or out, in minimal space. There's a good reason why professional sports trainers consider rope jumping an integral part of any fitness plan, and the best way to develop overall conditioning. They have called it "the ultimate exercise" because it works the arms, legs, heart, and lungs, developing coordination, agility, and stamina. It's much easier on the joints than running, as you land on the balls of your feet, not the heels, and from a mere couple of inches of drop. Finally, unlike many exercise programs, it requires minimal investment: a compact, lightweight, high-quality leather jump rope (as pictured at left) can be had for less than $10.
Make sure your rope is the appropriate length: when you stand on its centre, the handles should reach to your armpits. You can shorten an overlong rope by tying knots near the handles, or by cutting (don't be in a hurry to cut, though: as your skills improve, you may want to lengthen the rope a bit to enable more varied skipping styles).
The necessary skill is easily within the reach of most, but it will take some practice before you develop the proper technique, and achieve maximum benefit, especially if you haven't tried it since kindergarten. So don't let yourself get discouraged in the early stages. The trick is to skip from foot to foot (not jump up and land on both feet at the same time), remaining as close to the ground as possible; eventually you'll develop the necessary side-to-side rhythm to do it properly. Remember that rope exercise is about timing, not high jumping. Good technique means that: your shoulders are down and relaxed; you are turning the rope with your wrists, not your arms; your wrists are slightly below your elbows when you jump; you are jumping only once per rope revolution; and you are landing softly (visualize a glass floor). Once you're accomplished, you can vary the motions to avoid boredom: you'll find considerable depth to the sport should you become sufficiently interested.
rope jumpersA good workout (and a lot harder than it sounds) is:
  • 90-second warm-up
  • 2-minute rest
  • 3 minutes jumping rope
  • 2-minute rest
  • 3 minutes jumping rope
  • 2-minute rest
  • 3 minutes jumping rope
It's not a bad idea to occasionally check your continuous jumping limit: if you can manage six minutes non-stop — approximately the equivalent of a one-mile run  — you are doing very well (professional athletes can go 24 minutes straight without missing a beat). Add in some push-ups and sit-ups and you'll be one of the fittest travellers on the road, with almost no impact on your ability to travel lightly.


In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry