What Should I Pack?

Because of the nature of my trip, I did my best to make a somewhat set itinerary of things I must do while I'm in the Philippines, but kept the majority of my time open for variation. That also influenced the majority of the decisions I had to make when packing for this trip. Here are some of the questions I asked myself before going on this trip, and they're the same questions I ask myself on any of my travels--whether at home or abroad.

Nota Bene

I tried an experiment this time around, using a bunch of philosophies I've compiled while looking at minimalist living and ultra-light backpacking. If you're interested in looking at minimalist thought, or ultra-light backpacking techniques, I recommend Leo Babauta's excellent ZenHabits, a read through Wikipedia's ultra-light backpacking article, and a browse through Steve Gillman's The Ultra-light Backpacking Site.

How am I holding my things?

One of the big threes when backpacking is the actual pack itself, the vessel in which all your stuff goes. Consider what kind of bag, or bags, you want to bring with you; it will help put light in all the stuff you can bring.

What do I need to bring?

I can't stress the word need enough, here! People who are regular travelers have noticed the gigantic swarm of people in security, or through airport restricted areas, carrying oodles of rolling carry-on bags, purses, laptop bags, sleeves, and many other items. In my opinion, the majority of people who travel tend to bring too much stuff with them, instead of too little. Not only is it a hassle before a departure, but it's even more of a hassle during travel and after travel.

Packing tons of things, especially for us Western-minded folks, is a normal thought, but I've found that the phenomenon is based more on a fear of potentially living without it, or a fear of not finding it, while on a trip. Furthermore, if there's any attachment at all to anything brought, the constant anxiety will remain in a person's head. All in all, it just clutters up what could be a wonderful adventure, and potentially separates you from the present moment, no matter where you are.

On that note, I suggest starting with the things you truly need in order to function or survive. Do you take medication? Make sure to bring it with you. Do you wear glasses or contacts? Bring both, and consider either bringing cleaning solution with you or buying some at your destination. Are you going to backpack, or are your pursuits more urbane? Consider what you truly need to fulfill having your Big Three during your travels: shelter, sleeping system, and the actual pack.

Start your packing list with needs in mind, and look at each item while asking yourself, honestly, Do I need this to function? If your answer isn't a whole-hearted yes, you probably don't need to bring it.

What do I need to bring to do the things I want to do?

The Well-Travelled Guru, whenever traveling, goes diving and participates in other watersports, so whenever she goes on an International adventure that involves play in the water--whether ocean, sea, lake, or puddle--makes sure to bring what she needs with her that she can't get, or can't get easily, while abroad. After you've compiled a list of things that you truly need to survive, look at your desired itinerary and figure out what you need to bring, if anything, for the attractions or events in which you participate.

I'm a bit of an urban adventurer, or a natural walking/hiking/sightseeing kind of guy, so thankfully the most specialized thing I really need on my trip is just a good pair of comfortable shoes.

How much of my needed items do I need to bring with me?

Really consider this question based on your true needs and your ability to scavenge for what you need in case you need more of it. Many times travelers have a tendency to pack more than needed, even if, in their minds, they feel they need all those items.

What do I want to bring?

After securing all the stuff I need, I consider the things that I want to bring: books, video games, perfumes and colognes, extra clothing, tobacco, snacks, and other little sundries or knick-knacks. Add those items to your list of things, then, just like with the needs, ask yourself honestly if you really need to bring those things with you. The Way to Love by Anthony DeMello is always in my travel pack in some form, and is a heart-felt yes whenever I travel. Those three other books I wanted to bring, however, usually stay home when I actually think about how much reading time I'll have.

Do I really need everything on the list?

By now you should have a list of items that you need and want. Look over each item once more and ask yourself if you really need to bring it with you, and why? At second glance, you might realize you don't need all those books, or shoes, or clothes; or you may just consider grabbing some non-essential toiletries when you get to your destination.

Can I fit it all in my pack?

Start to pack for your trip after you made the list, just to see if it will all comfortably fit, and to see if it's well weighted. If it's too heavy for you while traveling around, you probably need a better pack, or you have too much stuff. If you can't fit it all in your pack, again, you probably need a better pack, or you have too much stuff. Unless you have a lot of specialized kit to bring, the reason is almost always too much stuff.

What I brought to the Philippines

My Packs (1 Laptop Messenger Bag, 1 Small Hand Bag, 1 Backpack, 1 Duffel Bag)

It sounds like a lot of bags, but the handbag and the duffel bag can be compressed enough to fit in the backpack with the stuff I wasn't bringing with my carry-on. I ended up using the small hand bag the majority of the time, but I brought a backpack along to hold things in case I'm in situations where I need to carry and use both hands (like riding a Jeepney's overflow seating--that is, clinging to the edge of the jeep and praying to the heavens that your driver is careful). In addition, I need room for souvenirs that I'll, no doubt, be bringing back.

Clothes (2 Boxers, 2 Under-Shirts, 2 Socks, 2 Pants, 1 Short-Sleeve Button-Up Shirt, 1 Long-Sleeve Button-Up Shirt, 1 Rain Jacket, 1 Sweater, 1 Hat, 1 Pair of Shoes)

ExOfficio, owned by Marmot, is famous for its line of Give-n-Go Underwear. It's antibacterial, quick drying, and very easy to wash in a sink. However, they sell more than just underwear, and their entire line of clothing is durable and easy-maintenance enough to suffer through my kind of wear and tear, and look presentable enough to wear at any occasion, though their styles don't go anything above what would be considered business casual.

I brought along two pieces each of ExOfficio's Give-n-Go line of undergarments: crew-neck undershirt and boxers. The socks I brought are 100% nylon, making them equally durable and easy to maintain and wash while I travel. I also brought ExOfficio's Nomad Pants, one khaki, one slate; and two of their GeoTrek'r line of button-up shirts, short-sleeved ensign, and long-sleeved white. The hat, given to me by a dear friend, simply helps with sun blocking, the sweater was for airplane travel and colder days (hah, hah, hah; I haven't touched it at any time during my stay in the Philippines), the rain jacket is just for rainy days, and the shoes are a durable leather and slip-resistant affair.

Notice I only brought two outfits with me. I've been washing the underwear in the sink every night after use because they're quick drying, and the clothing itself I only wash if need-be. It takes me 10 minutes to wash and rinse them out with soap, and they hang in the bathroom overnight to dry while I sleep.

Toiletries (6oz Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Soap, Aveda Chakra No. 7 Body Mist, Toothbrush, Washcloth, Towel)

Dr. Bronner's soaps are advertised having 18 uses, and I can vouch for all of them. It's a perfect soap for travel because of it's versatility (you can even brush your teeth with it, though the experience is, well, interesting), and a TSA-approved bottle of it can go a long way. I've been using it here as a body wash, shampoo, toothpaste (when I run out, that is), and for washing my clothes. Tea Tree oil has a pleasant scent and is a natural anti-bacterial as well, so I bring a bottle around just to wash my hands, too.

Chakra No. 7 is there to provide some scent, and is an item purely on my want-to-bring list. It smells nice used as a unisex eau de cologne, and can freshen up a room.

The washcloth and towel are for times when I end up needing or wanting to bathe in places where I might not be provided such items. The towel is made out of quick-drying and water absorbing microfiber , while the washcloth is a waffle-weaved quick-drying nylon.

Eye Wear and Care (Two Pairs of Contact Lenses, Re-Wetting Drops, 4-in-1 Contact Solution, Carrying Case, Prescription Glasses, Sunglasses)

The Philippines is a very hot climate, and I pre-emptively planned for drier eyes, not to mention losing my contacts while going on adventures. I brought everything I need in order to maintain my eyes and my contacts; brought some glasses for days I don't want to wear them, or if I lose them; and brought some sunglasses to keep the sun at bay.

Communications (Nokia E7-00, Microsoft Surface Pro)

This particular Sherpa's been nicknamed TOTS by a dear friend, which stands for Turn-Off-Technology. I got the nickname because it never fails that I have a gadget that can be helpful at any time in any situation. Bringing electronics is a tricky situation, because when you go on a trip there's always a risk of losing it, despite your care. However, I wanted a way to make contact easily overseas, and the two devices I have help accomplish that, and provide other benefits.

For travelers going overseas that want a reliable communication device, I absolutely recommend one of Nokia's Symbian smartphones: the E7-00, designed with business communications in mind; the N8, a good all-rounder phone; or the 808 PureView, packed with a 41 MP camera that's still considered top of its class. The hardware and the software is obviously aged, especially for folks spoiled by the likes of Apple, Windows Phone, or Android. However, the major social network accoutrements (that is, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn), Skype calling and instant messaging, e-mail and PIM functionality, and camera/video functions are all there and ready to use. These phones are considered world phones, meaning they have quad-band GSM, making them capable for use by pretty much any GSM cellular network for calls and SMS. However, they're one of the few phones capable of Penta-Band 3G, making them capable of also using 3G data networks practically everywhere. Find them on eBay or at other places, because Nokia doesn't make those models anymore.

I brought a Microsoft Surface Pro with me so I can write about my travels. The form factor of the Surface line of products doesn't work for everyone, but its hybrid combination of laptop and tablet works extremely well for my purposes. Plus, it's extremely lightweight for the functions I get out of it. Not only can I get work done, but I have something to occupy myself on the plane--not to mention that all my e-books are on it, ready to be read whenever I want.

Entertainment (Nintendo 3DS XL, Headphones)

I bring around a Nintendo 3DS XL everywhere with me, but that doesn't mean I play on it constantly. However, it is there whenever I want to take 3D pictures. Plus, if there are any other 3DS owners while I travel, I can connect with them just by passing by, and can know where they are from if they listed it on their 3DS. It's interesting to see who else is here and where they're from if they traveled abroad.

Conclusion

I've only been gone a week from home, but I've never felt a need of anything else while I've been here. There's very little stress and worry about my stuff's safety, and that comfort has freed me to enjoy my trip in however which way it presents itself. Plus, with my check-in bag only weighing 10 pounds, and my carry-on around 6 pounds, traveling with bags was a breeze through security, jets, and taxis. I certainly suggest trying to pack light next time around when you travel. As always the Sherpa and the Guru are here to help with any questions you may have!

Welcome From The Philippines

Mabuhay! This is the statement used in the Philippines in the same way us in the United States would use Cheers!, or Long Live [Insert Something Here]!, or as a welcome in the local Filipino hospitality industry.

Long story short of it, I've been in the Philippines since 22:00 Central Time, February 4, 2014, taking care of a long list of business and a few pleasurable bucket list items. The catch is the Sherpa's traveling alone! It's only been a week since I've been gone, and though I've marked out a lot of the things that I've wanted to do in the Metro Manila area, there's still a lot more to see, a lot more to do, and a lot more pet pigs to hold.

I've truly enjoyed my visit so far, especially reconnecting with a lot of family and old friends, and there's so much to see and do--if you're not afraid to look around and ask the locals (it tends to be that the locals know a lot more about what's fun to see than you can find in any book). I'm very sure, after my visit, that I'd be able to help find accommodations and lists of things to do, or people to ask, for anyone who wants to visit this country, especially the Pearl of the Orient, Metro Manila.

tips to avoid common travel scams...

Travel season is heating up along with the weather, which means scammers are bringing their A-game in hopes of separating you from your money. Whether you’re taking the kids to Disneyland, spending a romantic week in Aruba, or heading to Duluth for your cousin’s wedding, you need to know what to look for to protect yourself.

The fact is, travel scams vary widely, from pickpockets to legal resort charges—don’t assume that legitimate businesses can’t legally scam you, because many can and will. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that Americans are tricked out of $10 billion per year in travel-related scams. From shady cabbies to too-good-to-be-true vacation packages, here’s what to be aware of:

Time Share Scams:

If you live in the U.S. you’ve probably gotten calls for a free or incredibly cheap vacation to Mexico or some similar warm destination with the caveat that you sit through a time-share presentation. Seems reasonable, and who wouldn’t want a vacation home for which they don’t have to pay full price or maintain? The problem arises when you succumb to the hard sell, and then are never able to actually use the timeshare because it’s oversold. Many of the timeshare condos are illegal, or nearly so, and you could lose tens of thousands of dollars with no recourse but to complain to the BBB. If you are interested in a timeshare, do your research and go through a reputable company with good customer reviews.

Surprise Fees:

Surprise fees and charges are a problem in all corners of the travel industry, from hotels and resorts to airline tickets. Travel companies are legally allowed to quote ridiculously low prices and then tack on fees for things you expected to be included, such as use of the gym or pool, or the ability to check your bags. Even if you don’t use the gym or pool, resorts can require all guests to pay their “resort fee,” which can make your vacation a lot more expensive than you expected. Experts recommend using a travel agency that will give you an “all in” quote so you know exactly how much you’ll be paying before you go.

Rental Car Scams:

When you rent a car, you are given the opportunity to look for and report damage before you drive it off the lot so that you aren’t charged for damage you didn’t cause. However, some shady companies count on your either not doing the inspection, or not noticing hidden damage such as under the car so that they can charge you for it later. Customers can also be charged a “loss of use” fee and most will suck it up and pay, but then the car—damage and all—is returned to the fleet to gouge the next person who comes along.

Cabbies:

Cabbies, especially in foreign countries, are notorious for overcharging. They can do this by setting the meter for the night/weekend rate during a weekday, quoting an unreasonable price, or “dropping” your large bill, then switching it for a hidden, smaller one and accusing you of underpaying. You can protect yourself by calling a reputable cab company from your restaurant or hotel instead of hailing one on the street, and by knowing the going rate in advance.

In Las Vegas, a common taxi scam is for the driver to unload your bags in a hurry and then drive off without you realizing that one of them is still in the trunk. It pays to always be alert and on your toes when traveling, especially in Vegas.

Imposters:

A typical way travelers get scammed is by people pretending to be someone they’re not. For example, it’s becoming increasingly common for scammers to call hotel guests in the middle of the night claiming to be the front desk. They say there was a problem with your credit card and need the number again, counting on the fact that you’re too sleepy to be suspicious.

In other countries, scammers will pose as “tourist police,” and demand to check your wallet for counterfeit money. They’ll look official and may even flash a badge, but after they disappear you’ll realize your cash went with them. “Hotel inspectors” in Europe may ask to check your room—one distracts you while the other helps himself to valuables left on the dresser or desk. Don’t let them in, even if they look official.

Summer Vacation Shysters:

Summer is a busy time for scammers and con artists, and they work in a couple of different ways. Fake travel companies will advertise too-good-to-be-true package deals to college students who want to go somewhere awesome for their summer break and don’t have the patience or experience to do their research. The students will buy the cheapest deal, and then the company will disappear—with their money.

Another common ploy is for scammers to check Facebook or other social media for young people who post about their vacations. They can get a remarkable amount of information about people that way, and then they will contact the grandparents by email, claiming to be the traveling grandchild in need of wired money. If you ever get a message from a loved one who is traveling and needs money, always call and speak to them directly before sending it.

AWARENESS brings contentment, so follow these tips for a happier vacation. :-)

thank you DivineCaroline for this useful information.

52 Hertz: The Loneliest Whale in the World

By: Animal Planet For decades now, scientists at the NOAA have been tracking a mysterious whale song that sounds like the ghostly howls of a drowned tuba player. The sounds have been identified as belonging to a single whale, who sings at a frequency unlike any other whale in the world. Dubbed “52 Hertz” after the frequency range in which he typically sings, the animal has been called the loneliest whale in the world, since his love songs seem destined to go unanswered. Most other species of baleen whale, such as blue whales and humpbacks, sing at frequencies much higher, between the 15-25 Hertz range. Not only does 52 Hertz sing at a much lower frequency, but his calls are also shorter and more frequent than those of other whales. It’s as if he speaks his own language– a language of one. Even stranger, 52 Hertz does not follow the known migration route of any extant baleen whale species. He sings alone and travels alone. Could this individual be the last of a previously unknown species of baleen whale? That’s one possibility. Whale biologists have also proposed that he could be malformed, or maybe a rare hybrid– perhaps a blue whale and fin whale cross. Whatever the explanation, 52 Hertz is one of a kind. There’s also some evidence that he is maturing, since his voice has deepened slightly since the Navy first identified him in 1992, according to a 2004 article at the New York Times. Although 52 Hertz’s exact age is unknown, he continues to survive 20 years after his initial discovery. He was last recorded not far off the Aleutians and Kodiak Island, according to Alaska Dispatch– which is also the closest he has come to land since first being tracked. You can view a zigzagging map of his migration routes between 1992 and 2004 on the NOAA website. You can also hear recordings of 52 Hertz’s calls at the NOAA here, http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/acoustics/whales/sounds/whalewav/ak52_10x.wav and you can even compare how he sounds to other baleen whales. While whale lovers may lament the mournful tale of the loneliest whale in the world, there is some reason for hope, too. 52 Hertz seems to be healthy, in spite of his loneliness. “The fact that this individual has been capable of existing in that harsh environment [for so many years] indicates there is nothing wrong with it,” said Dr. Kate Stafford, a researcher at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, to the New York Times. The whale’s resilience could also be viewed as inspiration to anyone with a lonely heart. Despite 20 years of bellowing unanswered hymns into the cold echoes of the North Pacific, he sings on. A famous Zen koan asks: What is the sound of one hand clapping? Perhaps it resonates in 52 Hertz.

are we inherently good or bad?

When the Good Do Bad By DAVID BROOKS, OP-ED COLUMNIST for the New York Times Published: March 19, 2012 It’s always interesting to read the quotations of people who knew a mass murderer before he killed. They usually express complete bafflement that a person who seemed so kind and normal could do something so horrific. Friends of Robert Bales, who is accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, have expressed similar thoughts. Friends and teachers describe him as caring, gregarious and self-confident before he — in the vague metaphor of common usage — apparently “snapped.” As one childhood friend told The Times: “That’s not our Bobby. Something horrible, horrible had to happen to him.” Any of us would be shocked if someone we knew and admired killed children. But these days it’s especially hard to think through these situations because of the worldview that prevails in our culture. According to this view, most people are naturally good, because nature is good. The monstrosities of the world are caused by the few people (like Hitler or Idi Amin) who are fundamentally warped and evil. This worldview gives us an easy conscience, because we don’t have to contemplate the evil in ourselves. But when somebody who seems mostly good does something completely awful, we’re rendered mute or confused. But of course it happens all the time. That’s because even people who contain reservoirs of compassion and neighborliness also possess a latent potential to commit murder. David Buss of the University of Texas asked his students if they had ever thought seriously about killing someone, and if so, to write out their homicidal fantasies in an essay. He was astonished to find that 91 percent of the men and 84 percent of the women had detailed, vivid homicidal fantasies. He was even more astonished to learn how many steps some of his students had taken toward carrying them out. One woman invited an abusive ex-boyfriend to dinner with thoughts of stabbing him in the chest. A young man in a fit of road rage pulled a baseball bat out of his trunk and would have pummeled his opponent if he hadn’t run away. Another young man planned the progression of his murder — crushing a former friend’s fingers, puncturing his lungs, then killing him. These thoughts do not arise from playing violent video games, Buss argues. They occur because we are descended from creatures who killed to thrive and survive. We’re natural-born killers and the real question is not what makes people kill but what prevents them from doing so. People who murder often live in situations that weaken sympathy and restraint. People who commit massacres, for example, often live with what the researchers call “forward panic.” After having endured a long period of fear, they find their enemies in a moment of vulnerability. Their fear turns to rage, and, as Steven Pinker writes in “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” they “explode in a savage frenzy.” Serial killers are often charming, but have a high opinion of themselves that is not shared by the wider world. They are often extremely conscious of class and status and they develop venomous feelings toward people who do not pay them sufficient respect. In centuries past most people would have been less shocked by the homicidal eruptions of formerly good men. That’s because people in those centuries grew up with a worldview that put sinfulness at the center of the human personality. John Calvin believed that babies come out depraved (he was sort of right; the most violent stage of life is age 2). G. K. Chesterton wrote that the doctrine of original sin is the only part of Christian theology that can be proved. This worldview held that people are a problem to themselves. The inner world is a battlefield between light and dark, and life is a struggle against the destructive forces inside. The worst thing you can do is, in a fit of pride, to imagine your insecurity comes from outside and to try to resolve it yourself. If you try to “fix” the other people who you think are responsible for your inner turmoil, you’ll end up trying to kill them, or maybe whole races of them. This earlier worldview was both darker and brighter than the one prevailing today. It held, as C. S. Lewis put it, that there is no such thing as an ordinary person. Each person you sit next to on the bus is capable of extraordinary horrors and extraordinary heroism. According to this older worldview, Robert Bales, like all of us, is a mixture of virtue and depravity. His job is to struggle daily to strengthen the good and resist the evil, policing small transgressions to prevent larger ones. If he didn’t do that, and if he was swept up in a whirlwind, then even a formerly good man is capable of monstrous acts that shock the soul and sear the brain.

abolish the dealth penalty now...

(contribution by Judy Molland)

October 10 was World Day Against The Death Penalty.

Or we could re-name it, “Two-Thirds Of The World Is Against The Death Penalty Day.” (But not the United States, along with such great company as China, Iran, North Korea and Yemen.)

More Than Two-Thirds Of Countries Have Abolished The Death Penalty.

From The Economist:

More than two-thirds of countries have done away with it either in law or in practice. The latest is Benin. In August the west African country committed itself to abolishing capital punishment permanently. The number of countries that carry out judicial killings fell from 41 in 1995 to 23 in 2010, according to Amnesty International, a pressure group. China(chiefly), Iran, North Korea, and Yemen accounted for most of the executions. Votes against the death penalty at the UN General Assembly have passed with big and growing majorities since 2007. Capital punishment has virtually gone in Europe (only Belarus still uses it, most recently in July). This year China whittled down its list of crimes punishable by death.

But Two-Thirds Of The States In The U.S. Still Have The Death Penalty.

And then there’s the United States, where two-thirds of the states still have the death penalty.

Reasons To End The Death Penalty summarized:

* Capital punishment is more costly than life without parole

* Life without parole is just as effective as capital punishment in preventing recidivism

* Capital punishment does not deter others from committing crimes

* Capital punishment runs counter to a “culture of life”

When all other justifications are debunked, the only one left is vengeance.
In the end, we waste money and promote killing just to make us feel good about exacting some revenge.

Let’s look at the most recent, shameful example:

Troy Davis was sent to his death 2 months ago despite a mass of evidence that left his 1991 conviction in doubt, including recantations from seven of the nine key witnesses at his trial for the murder of a police officer.

Is The Troy Davis Case A Wake-Up Call To U.S. Politicians?

The only positive to emerge from the execution of Mr. Davis is the enormous outpouring of protests in Georgia, at the Supreme Court, in cities throughout the United States and indeed around the world.

From The Guardian:

Brian Evans of Amnesty, which led the campaign to spare Davis’ life, said that there was a groundswell in America of people “who are tired of a justice system that is inhumane and inflexible and allows executions where there is clear doubt about guilt.” He predicted the debate would now be conducted with renewed energy.

Let’s hope that Mr. Evans is right. The United States stands virtually alone in the western world in continuing to uphold this cruel punishment.

It is high time that the United States left the company of China, Iran, North Korea and Yemen and decided to abolish capital punishment forever.

heads up!

guru on the move...

heading to the big apple to OWS with sign in tow. ;-)

stay tuned!