Traveling with Cla, Khursten, and Muji

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When I made up my mind to start traveling in 2006, I knew I’d be going solo. As much as I would have loved to travel with my friends, I knew that it would not be possible: they have different priorities, and their money will definitely not be going to a travel fund.

With Khursten and Cla on the flight to Bangkok
With Khursten and Cla on the flight to Bangkok

In the same year that I started traveling, I also got into doll collecting. That’s how we met – Khursten was a fellow Pinky Street collector, and Cla was a Pullip collector. We would have dolly meets and conversations would center around our hobbies. As time passed, we started getting to know each other, and found out we have more in common beyond our dolls.

We all love to travel. Though I started traveling with Cla in 2009, it was only in 2013 that we were able to travel with Khursten. Funny story about how that trip came about: we were hanging out one evening, when the talk turned to how much Cla and I miss eating Bangkok street food. Khursten commented that her experience with Thai food in Bangkok was less than stellar. Right then and there, we decided to go to Bangkok just so we can prove to Khursten just how awesome Thai food is.

With Cla at Balos Beach
With Cla at Balos beach in Crete

It was mid-December then, and we chanced upon some pretty good airfare deals right around Christmas. We quickly booked our tickets, reserved our hostel. Roughly four months after that, we were Bangkok bound.

That weekend was exactly how we planned it to be – sampling the best street food Bangkok has to offer (there was a nightly food market near our favorite hostel), hunting for bargains in Chinatown, exploring the huge Chatuchak weekend market, and trying out even more food.

That’s pretty much how we end up taking trips together. In January 2013, Cla asked me out of the blue if I wanted to go to Greece. Without batting an eyelash, I hastily said yes. It was the same when she asked me if I wanted to go to Morocco. Khursten moved to Sydney mid 2013, and since I happened to be in Australia, I made sure to visit her (and give her a bottle of Vegemite). As we were catching up, she mentioned that she’ll be going to Japan to research, and eager for any reason to go to Japan, I said I’ll join her for a portion of the trip.

With Khursten at Uradome Coast
With Khursten at the Uradome Coast in Iwami

I love traveling with them because they’re very easy and fun to travel with. Both of them have also traveled a lot, so I never feel that I have to babysit them when we’re overseas. We all appreciate good food, and we’re not fussy when it comes to trying out something new. Best of all, if you ask them something, they’d give a definite answer, not “kahit ano,” which can get really infuriating.

I have to say I got really lucky meeting them, and having them as my travel companions. Though I’ve made other friends who are also avid travelers, I love that they can get as impulsive as I do when it comes to making travel plans, and how they’re game for the places I want to visit or the things I want to do.

My steady companion on all my travels though, are my favorite Muji products: the soft neck cushion, the hanging bath case, and the flip top tubes. I’ve had the neck cushion since 2011, and it remain as my favorite travel gear.

What about you, who’s your favorite travel companion?

Japanese lifestyle brand Muji launches Muji to Go, a campaign that puts the spotlight on Muji’s unique, functional items that are specially designed for any form of travel. Muji ensures providing the right mix of comfort through these portable and compact items. They are even great for creating and storing unforgettable travel memories with the best travel companions.


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9 responses to “Traveling with Cla, Khursten, and Muji”

  1. dementedchris Avatar

    Loved this post! My favorite travel companion is my friend Liv. We’ve been travelling together since 2007 🙂 I also get those small Muji bottles to keep my liquids in, like shampoo and body wash 🙂

    1. Nina Avatar

      Liv is awesome, and so are you! I can see how you two are well suited as travel buddies!

  2. Badet Avatar

    Love this post because of the photos Nina! It’s so personal :). I think the Muji item in my travel bag are their pens.

    1. Nina Avatar

      Hahaha, madalang ba masyado ang personal posts dito? I love checking out Muji to Go stores at airports where they have them, and I’m so regretting that I wasn’t able to catch the one in Changi airport before they closed!

  3. Sigurdur Bjorgvinsson @redheadexplorer Avatar

    Great Post, It is really important to find the right person to travel with (if you are travelling with someone). Being with the wrong person can destroy a trip. It seems like you found the perfect ravel companion.

    I do no like to travel travel with other people, they just have interests then I do. I enjoy my travels best when I am alone or when I meet people on the road.

    1. Nina Avatar

      I love traveling alone, but some trips are really best experienced with friends! I’m rather antisocial, and have a hard time getting comfortable with strangers, so making friends along the way is a huge challenge for me. But yeah, traveling with the wrong people can definitely wreck a trip!

  4. bertN Avatar

    My favorite travel companion is myself. We have been traveling for as long as I can remember and I still have to hear a complain from either one of us.

    1. Nina Avatar

      Good for you! I would feel the same, if I weren’t too whiny and bratty 😉

  5. Uptourist Avatar

    Looked like you guys had a great time. Nothing beats traveling with friends.

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