Things I Didn’t Ever Need (But Brought Anyways)

Anti-Malarials

In one of my biggest regrets, I paid over $300 to see a ‘travel medicine specialist’ before I left the States.

I got some required jabs (Hep A/B, Diphtheria, Typhoid), but I could have easily gotten these at the county health-center for less. All her years of travel expertise really bought me was a printout from the CDC and WHO on the countries I planned to visit – which I already had.

For Malaria, she wrote me out a six month supply of Doxycycline, a broad spectrum antibiotic and sunburn amplifier. I took those damned horse-pills religiously for six months, then stopped. It’s been two and a half years since the pills ran out. Three monsoon seasons in the most mosquito infested malarial swamps in the world, and I feel great.

This constant dose of antibiotics may have prevented some unknown malady, or could simply have weakened my body’s natural abilities by flooding my blood with these chemicals, making them uselss to me in the future. I’ll never know. But I’ll not take them again soon unless advised by someone in the field. Like, literally the field behind my house that’s full of mosquito’s.

Paper Maps

Ummm…where’s the dot?

I know what you’re saying, what if your little GPS gizmo fails? Where ya gonna be then, smartboy? Well, probably in exactly the same place as I would be with a paper map.

You see, a paper map is great for broad planning, (‘Let’s go this direction for a week!’) but It’s terrible for finding your actual way around.

For one, it’s not in a language you understand. Second, there are rarely any street signs, and if there are, they are more than likely to have been renamed numerous times since the map was printed. (Revolutionary countries are like that).

Nalgene Bottle

Like I thought I’d be filling up my canteen by some clear mountain stream. Haha.

Everyone here whiter than ‘eggshell’ carries with them a store bought 1.5 litre disposable bottle. Refilling is possible at most guesthouses, and the ubiquitous ring tops make them easy to clip to a carabineer.

Hand Sanitizer

When you need it you don’t have it, and when you have it, you really don’t need it.

Aside from the idea that it will lead to the eventual destruction of mankind through a slow atrophying of our natural defenses, I just don’t like like the feel of it. Too squishy.

Extra Batteries

One change for each piece of kit, and a second set if it’s an irregular battery. People on the fringes of the world exist without a consistent power grid, they are adept at getting by despite this, as such, batteries are plentiful. Save the weight.

Extra Extra Batteries

No, seriously. Go get an extra pair of those good underpants instead.

Too Many Clothes

This may seem extravagant, but you can buy new clothes. Coming out lite, going where the trip leads, and buying as you go, can often mean you are the best suited to the situation. Plus, it can be great fun to go market shopping for a Nepalese down jacket, or a new set of neon beach tank tops for the islands.