vagranting

Please excuse any oddities that might occur around our pages at the moment. I’m currently playing around with the theme — it’s not quite there yet, but it’s better than leaving it with the default settings. I expect some quirky behaviour, particularly if you are using IE (get a real browser). By getting this up I hope it will motivate me to fix it properly sooner rather than later.

Oh, and expect some new actual content again soon.

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Travel has forced me to totally invert my outlook on clothing purchases. Whereas I’ve had to abstain from many a funky t-shirt or accessory purchase, only today I spent almost $100 on socks and underpants.

Firstly, no, I haven’t developed a fetish. Secondly, I hadn’t fully realised the awkwardness of this shopping for underwear until now. If ever there was an article of clothing would require a good fit, this would be it. However, try before buy is out of the question. But then, so is 3 months travel in uncomfortable jocks. So this time I’ve invested. Well fitting, lycra blended trunks, I am told, will serve me well for both cool and warm climates.

Also, travel socks. It was nice to see Holeproof Explorers on special, so I grabbed 3 pairs. By combining these with a different pair of ankle socks underneath each day, I hope to get 2–3 days of continuous use before washing the explorers.

Of course, I have made a few other clothing purchases for the trip. Thermal underwear (top and bottom) and winter jacket for the U.S. and zip-off, quick dry travel pants were also purchased. Also, some cheap prescription sunglasses (making the most of that health insurer).

However, I’ve mostly been off-loading clothing. I’ve scoped out what I think I can bring, and essentially if it’s not on this packing list, it will need to find a new home (either with a friend, on eBay or in a LifeLine bin).

• 3 pairs of trousers (jeans, black slacks, khaki zip-offs)
• 3 t-shirts & 1 long sleeve buttoned shirt
• thermals, jocks & socks
• a hat
• a thin jumper
• a pair of thongs & a pair of walking shoes

If I have room I’ll bring a dress jacket and shoes, but doubt I’ll end up doing so. My progress towards this goal has been steady thus far. I’ve tossed almost all my shoes, I’m selling my novelty hats and I’ve halved the number of clothes I currently own.

Picking the t-shirts will no doubt be the hardest. People who’ve met me will know that I’m a big fan of oddball t-shirts. I’ve purchased at least 15 t-shirts online over the last 18 months. Whichever ones I decide that I can’t keep I’ll try to eBay in sets. Alas, “Feelings are boring” tee, I hardly got to know you.

Any (bare) essentials I’ve forgotten? Please share your experiences.

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For the longest time, I thought I had a fear of needles. Like many people I have deeply seated childhood memories of tearful injections, yet — when it came to show time — my trypanophobia failed to manifest at all.

The experience was certainly less harrowing than I expected. My dad has a nasty, 4-pointed scar in his arm from his Tetanus shot, but the experience I had with my injections was hardly worse than a hard pinch. Actually it caused less discomfort than donating blood.

I went to a specialised clinic in Brisbane: Deb Mills’ “the Travel Doctor“. The staff were pleasant and they have everything on hand (unlikely to be the case going through your GP). I had inoculations for: Hepatitis A, Yellow fever, Tetanus, Diphtheria / Whooping cough / Polio (Boostrix) and Meningococcal. I took the oral medication for Typhoid, although after the relative ease of all the other needles, I will opt for injection next time.

The Travel Doctor is part of a national network of specialist clinics and I also received a copy of Doctor Mills’ book Travelling Well, which is quite in depth about travel-specific health concerns but I think I might just take a section or two with me, as I’ll be trying to travelling light.

The cost

Inoculation was something I had not budgeted for (like most things). So I was glad to find that my health insurer covers the cost of vaccinations over $30.60. So, after Medicare and private health refunds it only cost $30.60 per vaccine. Enough to put a dent in the budget, but not break it completely. Also I had meningococcal free of charge through a government initiative. As far as freebies go, not the most pleasant, but certainly useful.

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Part #1 of an ongoing diatribe on travel philosophies.

Tourist is an ugly word… not by definition (in the strict sense), one who travels for pleasure, but there’s something on a subconscious level that just doesn’t gel with me.

Perhaps, it’s been my experience — first hand, and through pop culture — of observing tourists. I think one of the main things is the way they dress. Long socks and sandals, cargo shorts, loud shirts, the hats — sorry — I just threw up a bit in my own mouth.

Ok, so perhaps in reality it isn’t that bad — but come on, spot-the-tourist isn’t exactly a Kasparov level game. Looking different, talking loudly in a foreign tongue and naively breaking social taboos will help you get noticed too — by pickpockets.

Also, the majority of tourists make such an insincere effort to appreciate the unique culture and people of the places they visit…

For example: I don’t know Paris. I’ve been to the Eiffel Tower, the Arch de Triomphe, the Lourve, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, but I don’t know Paris. This is a story for another day, however, the point is it takes time and effort to even begin to understand a culture that’s not your own.

For me, the point of travelling is to have a genuine experience of a world you don’t yet know. I want my experience mirror the locals’ experience as closely as it can. Otherwise, what’s the point? That’s why I don’t want to be another bloody tourist. Yet to be honest, it’s something I doubt can ever be made completely avoidable.

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