Thursday, November 6, 2008

What To Carry

It is understood that you won't forget your passport, your visa, and your identity card. But before leaving, be make sure that they are in your safe custody. It is essential that you avoid keeping your documents along with your money, cash and other valuables. You understand that you will be required to regularly prove your identities during security checks, so you wouldn't like the onlookers to get attentive towards your cash, while you take out your passport/visa or identity cards.

First Aid Kit
While traveling, do not forget to keep tablets of aspirin, paracetamol, and vitamins like the B-Complex. Do keep a pain-relieving balm or spray along in your first-aid kit. A good medicine for abdominal problems is the cheap and easily available Isabgol. It is a tasteless dry seed that can be taken with water or milk.

News Papers
Invariably useful for a wide range of purposes is an old newspaper. You can open it under your sleeping bag on a cold pier waiting for the boat, or spread it on top of your sleeping bag as an extra blanket. Newspapers are ideal to hide behind when you don't want to talk.

Torch
A small torch is an essential equipment. Lights can go off at any time in India, especially in the summer months with the load on the power grid.

Moisturized Tissues
Luxurious it may sound, but for answering the call of nature in wildness areas, nothing can beat a can of moisturized scented tissues. These are available at chemists in the bigger towns. Being moist they serve better than toilet paper in extreme situations, such as Ladakh or Jaisalmer. To be able to choose your own fragrance in unfavorable circumstance is another.

Umbrella
One of the most valuable pieces of trekking equipment is an umbrella. It acts as a walking stick, can scare off dogs and can also do services as a tent support. It also preserves you from the rain if it occurs.

Lock
It always pays to carry a medium sized lock. This should be used to double-lock the door of your tourist bungalow or budget hotel. If it opens by a number combination you must remember to carry a torch when you return at night.