While this isn’t a sponsored or paid post, this post does have affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy a product using those links.
Over the years, my traveling style has changed. I’m no longer jetting off for the weekend, but traveling for longer — both in duration and in actual travel time.
These days I am found mostly in Bulusan, Sorsogon, where I run Just Wandering Tours, where I take guests around to discover and explore Bulusan and the towns of Sorsogon. Most of my travels now involved a 12-hour bus ride, and in my most recent trip out of the country involved an 8-hour long haul flight. Long journeys are hardly ever fun, especially if you’re in economy seats, so I’ve created a personal comfort kit to help make the ride comfortable.
Since provincial buses in the Philippines can get really cold, I’ve taken to bringing these big scarves that can double as a solo blanket. These are the same scarves I use when I travel to colder climes, so they are great in keeping me warm and cozy. I also make sure to pack my Uniqlo reversible parka, which is not only very light, but is packable and is water resistant. It’s a very versatile jacket to have, and it has pockets and a hood.
I also make sure to bring my own water bottle. I have two kinds of water bottles, a regular one, while another is a thermos that can keep hot or cold beverages. For long bus rides, I usually fill this up with hot water before I leave the house, but for flights, since you’re not allowed to bring in liquids past the final security check (for certain flights), I make sure to pack it empty, and have them fill it up with hot or warm water on the plane.
Speaking of water, plane rides can be very dehydrating, and drinking lots of water during a 12-hour ride in a bus that keeps arctic temperatures can be really inconvenient, so I make sure to bring electrolyte tablets or powder. This is basically the powder form of drinks like Pocari Sweat, so you can stay hydrated without having to pee too often. I got these from Aldi in Australia, but you can get Pocari Sweat powders from Manila Seikyo in Little Tokyo or look for it in the international aisle in your favorite supermarket.
As mentioned, cold air and airplanes can be drying, so aside from hydrating on the inside, I also make sure to have some hand cream or lotion to keep my skin hydrated. If you’re traveling to somewhere cold, you can’t go wrong with that Nivea cream. It’s very thick, almost too thick for use in hot and humid Philippines, so that small tin can go a long way.
I have problems sleeping while traveling, so I do what I can to ensure a good night’s rest. Not pictured is my favorite travel pillow, which I love because I can snap it to hook on my bags, and I can lay it out flat as a pillow if the pillow wherever I may be staying isn’t a good fit. My original pillow is from Muji, but you can get almost the same thing from Miniso at a fraction of the price. To aid with the sleeping, I also picked up a sleep balm from BeautyMNL.
Still on the subject of sleeping, I’ve recently taken to using eye masks, which I foolishly ignored before. Pictured here are the two masks I bring with me in all my recent travels (and sometimes use at home too). The blackout mask from Wanderskye (a gift from them, thank you) is a revelation. I never used eye masks before, and I was surprised how it made such a difference in my 12-hour bus ride. I used to never get comfortable while in transit, and this helped me greatly in getting more than 1 hour of sleep while on the bus. The shape of the eye mask is perfect in really blocking out the light, though you might need a more prominent nasal bridge to really block out all the light.
The other is a steam eye mask, which I usually hoard when I shop at Don Quijote in Japan. Basically, these are warming eye masks that activate as soon as you take it out of the packet, and remains warm for about 20 minutes. This is perfect for those cold bus rides, or if you have a terrible headache or eye strain.
I’m not a big fan of noise cancelling headphones or earphones, because I prefer to at least be alert to what is happening around me (not really conducive to sleeping). I do like having music in my ear when I’m traveling, so I always make sure to have my earphones with me. If you’re consuming media on your phone or tablet, check if you can download music, podcasts, or videos on your streaming app. This is possible on Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix, which can help you greatly in saving data usage, and comes in really handy if you’re in a place (or passing by a place) that has no mobile data or wifi.
I’m one of those people who just cannot equalize. You know when you have that pressure in your ear during take off and landing, and people tell you to pinch your nose and blow out a breath to get rid of it? No matter how much I do it, my ears just won’t clear. I’ve tried all the recommended techniques, I’ve used decongestants and nasal sprays, but nothing worked as well as Earplanes. They’re basically silicon earplugs with a hollow middle. I don’t quite know how they work, but they worked wonders for me. I’m not sure where you can buy this brand in Manila (I bought a 5-pack from Amazon), but I did see something similar in Japan Home (not Daiso), but in orange, and it’s slightly bigger. I haven’t tried that one, because I have a small ear lobe, so the Earplanes are the perfect fit for me.
The box says this is only for single use, but I’ve extended the life of my Earplanes by making sure to clean my ears before flying, cleaning them with water and soaking them in alcohol in their container.
I keep the smaller items in my handbag, while the bulkier items go into my foldable ecobag, which I can keep with me near my seat so I can easily reach them while we’re traveling.
Living in Bulusan and touring guests around means that I am constantly near some form of water. This is my new and updated beach kit.
When I was younger, I would revel in getting a tan because that means that I am traveling — if I get too pale, it means I’m just stuck at home. These days, however, I go out of the house more often, and I am starting to appreciate the value of rashguards. I like how it protects my skin without having to worry about reapplying sunscreen every so often, and it does ensure that no sunscreen residue goes into the water and contaminates corals or fishies. I’ve also taken to wearing hats and caps when walking around in the sunshine because it’s really just getting too hot in the tropics.
Another item I’m a convert of our aqua socks or shoes. I used to just use my hiking sandals, but these are a lot more comfortable, and I don’t have to worry too much about getting yanked off my feet when I’m having a soak in the river.
Speaking of soaking, I make sure that I always have waterproof bags and cases to keep my things and devices dry.
My latest addition to my travel kit is the Lagu beach blanket, which ensures that when you leave the beach, the sand stays at the beach, and not in your blanket. I’ve long been a sceptic, but was a convert when I saw clean the blanket after a quick shake to get rid of the sand. They had a buy 1 take 1 promo last August, and I made sure to grab a couple.
Keeping yourself entertained while traveling is very easy with today’s modern gadgets and mobile internet, but at the beach, where the sun is bearing down on you, there’s no better way than to revert back to books. Pictured here is My Fate According to the Butterfly, my friend Gail‘s debut novel for middle-grade children. It’s a fun read, and a good way to introduce your kids to the quirks and culture of Manila (if they didn’t grow up in the Philippines).
Lastly, playing a game is always a good ice breaker if you are meeting new friends while traveling. On previous trips, I’ve taken Cards Against Humanity and Exploding Kittens with me, and it’s a great way to have fun, bond, and get to know each other. My addition is a deck of Tara Baraha. While it’s a regular deck of cards, each one is different, and tells of different aspects of the Philippines! It’s beautifully and thoughtfully made, and I can’t wait to show it off to my guests!
Leave a Reply