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General Travel Tips and Advice Have you traveled before?- Please share your tips and advice with fellow Tpunks!

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Old 11-22-2003, 06:23 PM   #1
iamlindoro
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Well, I just got an early Christmas present from my parents, the Columbia Sportswear Europacker. Anyone have any experience with this one? It looks great, and seems damn sturdy, but I also frankly wouldn't know one pack from the next, and I'm excited by the littlest thing about my trip. It seems roomy enough (my one "splurge" item on my trip is my laptop-- want to update my blog and e-mail home every few days) and about right for a guy my size.

I have looked at the packing lists here, and can mostly abide by them (although I will need SOME jeans, I'm just too comfortable in them)-- I wonder how much of the time backpackers end up STINKING. I like a good shower every day, and to have clean clothes, and recognize that I may go a day or two without a shower in some cases. Any little tricks to stay pretty clean? Come on, don't be shy, tell me about that time you covered your body in deodorant and went to dinner after three days of sleeping in Bolivian Guano fields.
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Old 11-22-2003, 08:27 PM   #2
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I can't go a day without washing...

When camping, I'll wash in the nearest lake/river with my camping soap, even if the water is freezing. If it's impossible, I'll wash with a sponge...

I even washed my hair in a lavatory at Athens airport (women coming in the washroom would just smile at me, my head full of shampoo) and in a restaurant once. I always carry a small bottle of shampoo and soap that don't need to be rinsed...It doesn't feel as good as a shower, but at least you don't stink! Hahaha! I aslo carry wet wipes that smell good, when it's very hot I just use them on my face, neck, arms and legs to feel refreshed! Hahahah!

So you can basically wash anywhere, anytime...You just need to be creative.
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Old 11-23-2003, 12:16 AM   #3
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All I can say, is they have sooooo much crap out now, I swear the shower is gonna be outdated soon. It used to be a wash cloth rinsed in water gave you the fresh feeling, now they have everything.

Antibacterial wipes
freshen up wipes
bathing wipes
deoderant wipes.

I swear ever week I see a new product that comes out to help you freshen up or clean up away from home, etc. Being that I work in retail I get to read "Chain Drug Review" which goes over all sorts of new products in development and stuff that new to market. Personal Hygeine products, especially products that can be used on the spot without water are just growing like mad. I know you don't want to pack a ton of this crap, but your local drug store or supermarket should have a wide variety of such items that you can at least find a couple things that in the event you happen to be stuck in the middle of war torn iraq, and the closest clean water source is in another country, and what you called home last night was a crater left from the last bombing raid last week, you can still wipe up and smell all nice and fresh.

Ok, enough of my retail rant.
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Old 11-23-2003, 09:47 AM   #4
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You should be able to go 2 days without a shower depnding on the out side temp and how much you have sweated, 2 days without changing your shirt ( with a good deoderent) and jeans and cargos should be good for 3 -4 days before needing to change.

If you're staying in hostels you there should be no reason you should have to go more than a day with out a shower. The only reason I can think of is if the shower facilities are very unhygenic.

Sijuki has the right idea, if you bring some antibacterial cream with you that will keep you hands clean even without soap, and another good thing is baby wipes for you face and a quick body wipe down.

You will surprised like Moc said how much you clean yourself with just a sink and some soap.
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Old 11-24-2003, 05:59 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mocassin@Nov 23 2003, 04:27 AM
I can't go a day without washing...
When I'm out hiking/walking around all day, I have to agree with this. Plus, it's also very relaxing at the end of a long day (unless they outta hot water ). But, I've never had problems with showers not being available at my hostel...uh, at least yet?
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