Travel Tip Tuesday: Go Go Gadgets!

I recently wrote about what to pack on your journey.  If you are a flashpacker like me, you will be bringing some gadgets with you as you travel. Here I will elaborate on the e-toys and gear that accompanied me on my trip.

For me this meant:

Dell Latitude D420 Notebook Computer

I edit my photos and write this blog on this tiny 3-pound laptop. At barely an inch thick, it is slimmer than most of the reading books I brought and slips easily into my daypack.  This little device kept me in touch with the world. I read news, emailed friends, wrote my articles, and even talked on the phone thanks to Skype.

**Tip: I try not to flash my gadgets around. If a hostel has lockers, I always keep my backpack containing my cameras and laptop locked up. If I am staying in a hotel and leaving the room, I will make sure my laptop (and cords) are away in my pack which I also lock shut. It could, of course, be cut open with a knife, but at least it is out of sight. Don’t get lazy or complacent. I know fellow travelers who were very careful/responsible/aware and yet they turned there back for a second at the beach and had their camera stolen.

Canon Digital Rebel SLR Camera

This Digital 8-Megapixel camera is lightweight with a great compact body ensuring the perfect shot every time.   I took about  100 photos a day, but once I did my ‘weeding and editing’, I averaged about 200 photos per city.

**Tip: Instead of lugging an extra camera bag, I keep my SLR in a neoprene ‘Zing‘ case that just slips easily into my backpack. It stays cushioned and safe, but takes up less space.

Sony Cybershot PSC-100 Camera

This is my smaller point-and-shoot camera for the days I don’t want to lug the bigger one. It’s perfect for going out in the evening as I can just slip it into a tiny purse.

**Tip:  If on a long term trip (or even just going to a different time zone), remember to change your camera’s time anytime you cross time zones. This makes it much easier when you go to sort your photos during or after your trip. Believe me, after 3 years, 30-some-odd countries, and thousands of photos, it helps being organized and chronological.

iPod:

I love Apple and it’s nice to have my music on long plane, train, and bus rides or when I go for a run or lay at the beach.  Sometimes, if ear plugs aren’t keeping out the noise of nearby snorers or people on the other side of paper-thin walls, an iPod can do the trick.

**Tip: If you are already bringing a laptop, no need for the iPod wall charger, just bring the USB cord to attach and charge off your laptop. Takes up less space.

Electronic Peripherals:

Don’t forget extra camera batteries, extra camera memory cards, camera & computer cords/chargers, international plug adapter set, laptop surge protector cord, flash drives.  I also had a headphone splitter, for sharing my music with friends along the way.

i love laptop

With my keen 20/20 hindsight, I can see that I couldn’t have done my trip without my laptop.  Four years ago, I considered not bringing one and just using internet cafes.  I imagine, I could have gotten by like that and would not have known the difference. But, now that I have traveled with a laptop, I would never do it differently.

Some say, it’s not ‘pure’ traveling and perhaps they are right. But I don’t care about labels and such and it made my trip amazing and easier for me for so many reasons. With the aid of a laptop and internet connection  you can:

• Book planes, trains, and automobiles
• Book hotels, hostels, and couches
• Check bank and credit card accounts, pay bills online
• Meet locals via websites such as Couchsurfing.com, Expat sites, and Meetup.com
• Keep in touch with friends & family back home and new ones abroad
• Set up meetings with friends and other travelers before  arrival
• Research destinations, tours, activities, restaurants, cafes, just about anything…
• Download your photos and back them up on DVDs and also on an internet photo site like Flickr
• Write a blog like THIS one and keep your readers in touch and inspired!