Top Ten Things I Bought For The Trip

1. Solar Charger for my iPod or any USB-charging device (walmart $30). For the record, best buy employees have never heard of such a device.

2. Wikitravel offline app. Amazing info on anywhere in the world. Won't be needing Guide books.

3. Ultra violet pen for water purification. It was doctor recommended because it's supposedly the only thing that kills everything in water. The light messes with the DNA of the bad things in water so that they can no longer reproduce once inside you, thus making ingestion safe. Plus it came with a free pre filter in case the idea of parasitic mud water grosses you out.

4. Travel watercolor set by Windsor & Newton. I've already used this 5 times in two days.

5. Fabric from Britex to make amazing versatile travel clothes. (more to come on this in a future post)

6. Foldable 20liter bucket and small foldable mug (fits into an inch thick cd sized bag). Making laundry and sanitary teeth brushing so easy.

7. Lunapads! Sorry boys, but this is the coolest solution for traveling women! www.lunapads.com

8. Ultra compact bedding. Air mattress that folds as small as a nalgene and a silk travelers blanket/warm weather sleeping pad, that folds as small as a large change purse.

9. PacSafe stuff. Jessie bought a big slash proof netting to fit and lock our bags in and a lockable slash proof shoulder bag. We are at least going to make our thieves work for our stuff, we don't want to give free hand outs.

10. Self protection items: pepper spray and weapon pen. Yes I did say weapon pen. A gift to Jessie from her cousins. It's very heavy and hard for hitting and has grooves which scratch any surface it comes in hard contact with. Plus it can be carried on any airplane.