I will admit, I have been guilty of some of the most serious of travel faux paus over the years and numerous journeys and am proud to say I do actually LEARN from most of my mistakes. Each successive journey becomes the true test of my previous lessons learned. I hope this trip will prove I have graduated to a new plateau of packing light and enjoying being on the move even more!
I will NEVER forget our trip to Japan with my daughter Liz and standing in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station which is one of the busiest subways in the world…during rush hour. We had just arrived by train in the heart of Tokyo from the Narita airport in the early evening and hit with culture shock and chaos from the minute we stepped off the train
This video I found on YouTube shows just how crazy it is. Liz and I stood there waiting for Steve to get information with our HUGE suitcases….crowds rushing around us like we were rocks in a river. OMG I never felt so out of my element and wishing I had only packed a backpack as I did that particular moment.
So needless to say, this experience was the first of MANY which launched a succession of suitcase purchases over the years….each bag becoming smaller and more compact, resulting in fewer clothes to wear and more of them morphing to black and brown!!
Another defining moment in my lesson plan for travel luggage came on a recent trip to Paris. In the effort to save money on a long taxi ride from the airport AND looking for adventure, we did the Paris subway with our (my) semi large suitcases. OMG all those steps!!!! It was one set of steps after another , all the while being rushed.
Poor Steve would first do the flight of 30 steps with his suitcase, I would go stand with his stuff while he got mine as we crossed paths on the staircases so as not to leave anything unattended too long. Because of my vision issues it was just not possible to carry that much bulk, use my cane and still see the steps. After 8 or nine of those staircases in a row, I vowed to downsize once more!!
I could go on and on, but you get the picture!! So this trip it’s all carry on luggage as you saw in my previous posts
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BY RICK STEVE ON PACKING LIGHT…IT REALLY HELPS GET A REALITY CHECK
SO TO CONCLUDE WITH A FEW BITS OF ADVICE I’VE GOTTEN OR LEARNED ALONG THE TRAVEL TRAIL
If you were not invited by the queen to a formal ball before you left home, chances are you will not be invited once you get to your destination and will NOT need the tiara and ball gown…that advice came from a dear chowist friend Marlene Shryock
- Will I wear it more than twice? If the answer is NO…then it stays behind
- Can I wash it and does it dry overnight? If the answer is NO…that stays behind too
- Can it be dressed up or down…If I can use colorful scarves or belts to extend my wardrobe choices then it can stay in my suitcase. Scarves are fun to purchase on the trip too!!
- Can I purchase this item at my destination? If YES…leave that item home
- Do I like to shop in other countries for the local clothing and styles? If YES, leave all but 3 outfits home and shop till you drop and immerse yourself in the cultural difference while doing so
AND ONE MORE TIME..I HOPE YOU ARE NOT GETTING SICK OF MATT.. BUT I ADORE THIS GUY
Hes a huge inspiration to me and I hope I can see even a small portion of the places he has while I’m still blessed to have the use of my eyesight and my camera!!!!
