The Travelonians

The long 14-hour flight from Montreal to Beijing was uneventful but very long. We found the food, not to our taste but other than that, no issues. No turbulence on both flights and  I have to say that the Air China pilots landed those planes including the one Beijing to Bangkok very smoothly. We found it a little interesting that an air marshal recording lets you know that if you don’t obey the rules during the flight, you will be punished, and at the end of the flight they thanked us and bowed. Very civilized.  Our connection in Beijing was so tight that when we arrived at the gate the flight was boarding. We had about 45 minutes to deplane and get to the next gate and because we had to go through another security check, we just made it to our seats. Even though the planes were less than a hundred meters apart at the gates, the airport was an Air China hub and the ground crews had about an hour, our luggage didn’t manage to load.   So, at 3:00 am, after almost 24...

Well, everything is packed in these 2 hybrid rolling suitcase/backpacks and daypacks which we will also use as carry-ons. I feel in control and not panicked and I double checked my lists to make sure I had not forgotten anything. In a previous blog, I talked about the popular trend of using packing cubes so I did a dry run packing with, and without the cubes. Conclusion? No official endorsement by “The Packinator”. Let's leave cubism to the likes of Picasso.   It may be a little cynical to say but I think cubes are mostly an unnecessary packing aid and expense but having said that, some travellers will like the separation of clothing groups as well as perhaps a container for dirty laundry. The cubes can also be convenient if travelling with traditional backpacks which open only from the top. Otherwise, in my opinion, rolling your clothes is definitely the best way to pack.   A few more basic tips for clothes selection and packing. Make sure that your clothes matc...

What do you pack when you are leaving for 3 months and you need to carry your own bag on trains, buses, boats, along rough roads, and up the stairs at Guesthouses? Let’s start by saying that we decided that 1 weeks’ worth of clothing was what we would be carrying. Also, we need to consider weather as low as 16C in the north of Vietnam so we allowed for a wardrobe that can be managed with layers and a light jacket. I will not talk about toiletries as they are more of personal issue based on individual needs and personal preferences. However, I will mention that you might want to bring a small first aid kit, but the rest is up to you. If you are on any medication, it is a good idea to include your prescriptions in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost. We will be checking both of our bags even though mine is a carry-on and we will be packing some of our individual clothes in each other suitcases. Therefore, if one suitcase doesn’t make it, we will both have some clothe...