O'Hare Airport, Chicago
"The journey not the arrival matters." - T.S. Elliot
Now that you've got the perfect carry-on, what should you put in it? Luxury and comfort are the operative words! Let's start with the basics: music, reading & writing
iPod Classic - it holds up to 40,000 songs.
Need I say more?
Sony PRS-950 ($350, Amazon.com)
Okay, I know this is a BIG splurge. But for voracious reading travelers, an ebook reader is a must. I've talked about the trials and tribulations of being a voracious reading traveler (see my posts Galignani and The Adventures of Tintin). Well, I solved my problem forever when, in 2006, I purchased the first ebook reader available in the U.S. - the Sony PRS-500. PRS stands for personal reading system. I love, love, love my ebook reader. I've stored up to 200 ebooks at a time on my reader. It's small, thin, and very light - though I've got to admit that I still bring a few paperbacks along with me - yeah, I'm an addict and have no control over my addiction. Still I never leave home or travel without it.
Yes there are other, less expensive, ebook readers on the market - the best selling being Amazon's Kindle. Did you know that you can only upload books that you've purchased from Amazon? And did you know that you don't actually own the books you buy for your Kindle? (read this very interesting New York Times article). I don't know about you, but it freaks me out knowing that a) someone is monitoring what I'm reading and b) they have the power to delete whatever books I own that they don't like - sheesh! With my Sony PRS I can and do buy all of my books directly from the authors or the publishing house and store them on a designated flashdrive - totally under my control and for my eyes only.
Okay, back to this post's topic...
Along with all the tech-stuff, an old fashioned journal is absolutely a traveler essential.
Journaling in Scottsdale, Az
When my mom first took me overseas, soon after the plane took off, she gave me a small journal and told me to write in it everything that I saw, everything I did, and what I thought and felt about it. I was barely 13 years old. I still have a travel journal. Of course I keep a daily journal, but I keep a special one that's only for travel. And though I travel a lot (at least 4 times a year) and write a lot, I'm still not a 3rd way through my latest travel journal. A travel journal is a great thing to have because it's a chronicle of all your travel in one place. Also, since they last for such a long time, you can splurge a little and get something totally diva-lishious! And there are so many styles, sizes, and materials.
Paperthinks Recycled Leather Notebooks
Large (5x6.75) $17 - Kate's Paperie
My favorite journal 'store' is Kate's Paperie. She carries all sorts of journals and notebooks but I'm really liking her latest addition: Paperthinks. They're made of 100% recycled leather, 50% recycled paper pages, and come in 24 different colors. The Paperthinks Series comes in 3 sizes/styles: Large lined or blank (see above), Small blank (4x5, $14), and Slim lined (4x5, $14 - she's having a special: 3 Slims for $15).
Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen
$2 ea/$20 for 1 dozen - Amazon.com
There's something very Old World about journaling with a fountain pen. Varsity offers a fountain pen for the 21st century: the Pilot Varisty Disposable Fountain Pen. They're very light but write and 'feel' like an old fashioned fountain pen (with a metal nib and everything). They last for a very long time and don't bleed or leak - love these!
Thus, between your iPod, Ebook reader, and journal, you'll have plenty to keep yourself occupied however long your flight is - we don't need no stinking in flight movie!
Now that you've got all that you need to keep yourself entertained, there are a few essential travel items that will keep your body luxuriously comfortable as well. But that's for the next post...
Explore! Dream! Discover!
Temple
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