Orangutangents

What's in your Manbag?

One of my esteemed (and wonderful) colleagues - Ashleigh - popped up a great little post recently on what she carried in her handbag (here - if you're interested), and as I'm not one to let a great idea go unplagiarised, I thought I'd do the same in my own way.

Now, I suspect a few of you have already done the Beavis and Butthead snigger at the word "manbag" (come on folks, let's get our brains away from nether regions here, we're not talking about george and the twins areas), but it's a term my ever sarcastic family aimed at me when I started carrying a satchel type thing for all the electronic gadgetry I seem to travel with these days.

I love travelling, but I do like to travel properly equipped. So, when I'm wandering around airports or bus stations with the aforementioned manbag, the contents are as follows : 

Phone

A phone these days isn't just for making calls as we all know, and although mine's not the top of the range (it's a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini for the geeks amongst you), it does come with unlimited data on it, so I can use it as a wifi hotspot, camera, phone etc to my hearts content. As long as it has charge of course. It also has a cover that looks like an old music cassette (showing my age, and my kids had a few minutes on Google to work out what it was).

Hat

A bald man never travels without a hat.

Travel Docs

Although you can have 'em on your phone, a paper copy is always good, and in an emergency can be used as loo paper. Make sure you print your e-ticket on soft paper. 

Charger and Mobile Charger

As well as the bog standard charger, I also carry a mobile charger and I have to say that it's one of the best gadgets I own. It can change a phone or tablet up to four times before it dies, and even has a wee flashlight on it. This thing is brilliant for travel as you're not tied to a powerpoint if you need to charge up, although it does look a little odd if you carry it in an inside pocket as it looks like you're plugged into your armpit. 

Clothes

I always carry a spare set of undergarments if I travel. This is following my first trip to Canada where the airline kindly lost my luggage for several days. I'm damned if I'm ironing underpants again in an attempt to get them dry. 

MP3 player

I carry an old 2GB MP3 player with me just in case everything else dies (it's about the same size as my thumb). It's happened before, and if I have music, then I can happily sit and watch the world go by. Even at an airport. 

Travel Pillow

You ever tried sleeping on a bus without one? Nasty. Neck crickingly painful.

Chewing Gum

Even if you don't chew it yourself, you can still offer it to the halitosis ridden creature sitting next to you.

Tablet

Essential for keeping the kids quiet, but can also be used to Wattpad on at a larger scale than your phone, and I've even been known to write on it occasionally.

Kindle

Back up for when all other devices have died, and lighter and smaller than a paperback. Mine's stocked with at least 50 books I've not read yet, and it's as old as the hills. But it's still a great bit of kit, and means that I always have something cool to read. This is particularly useful if you're sat in a cafe on a rainy day.

Pen

Always useful to fill in all the forms they make you sign entering a country. Or to stab the guy who's sitting next to you in the eye if he starts snoring. 

Mini-toiletries

Again, useful if they lose your baggage. Sometimes a shower in a can, a quick tooth bruth and a splash of water is all you've got time for, or all you have available. Worth having with you. 

Glasses Cleaning Cloths

LIDL in the UK do disposable ones that do a great job of keeping your lenses clean. They can also be used as a mini-blanket for your bald head if it's getting baked by the sun.

Or for quick application of chloroform if the guy on the plane next to you is still snoring and it's probably best not to stab him in the eye with your pen 'cos people are looking. 

Laptop

My hand luggage is gadget-tastic, but I refuse to trust my laptop to my simian brothers who inhabit the luggage loading bays under the airport. 

Headphones

I used to carry the big over ear ones, but they're bulky and they won't let you wear them until you're about half an hour into your flight. So, I have a really good pair of noise cancelling ones with memory foam ear pieces. You can wear these as soon as you sit down and have chloroformed your fellow travellers. That means you get an extra half and hour's film time. 

Wrist Donut

No, I'm not going Homer on you here. I picked up a clever little gadget a while ago which negates the need for a wrist rest. My wrists are a little delicate after years of martial arts and typing, so a wrist rest that you can wear as a fat padded bangle is actually kinda useful. Not good as a pillow though. 

Business Cards

Self explanatory really.

Mouse

Although not necessary, the satchel does have a convenient side pocket which fits my wireless mouse perfectly. He's called Bob, and is quite well travelled.