Before anyone sets off on a long trip, there are a myriad of things to organise: Health insurance, what to take, what to pack it in, contingencies for all sorts of weather, and toiletries. All the advice is to pack light, and I took that on board. So much so, that when I got the opportunity in Bali, I sent a lot of stuff home with a guy at my hotel who lived near friends in Sydney.
As far as toiletries were concerned, I took small silicon bottles of my face cream (Nivea Soft), hair conditioner, small toothpaste, a few flossing stick things and deoderant. Most hotels I have encountered in the world supply shampoo, so all I took was a half bar of shampoo for emergencies.
Even in my ‘normal’ life, I don’t use a lot of fancy stuff, no manis and pedis, get my hair cut at cheap places and rarely wear makeup.
In Bali, I needed to get my hair cut. I have baby thin wavy hair and so all it needs is a trim and layer. Well, in Bali it is hard to find someone to trim your hair. Now if you want a massage, tattoos, mani, pedi, it is easy. Haircut not so much. Ended up in a small massage place with someone who said she had only 3 months training but had been cutting hair for 25 years! I had to take the risk. It turned out ok, with instruction and asking her to keep layering more after she stopped. I think my next cut will be due in Sri Lanka, so that might be an interesting experience!
I did not know that getting Nivea Soft(for my face) in South East Asia would be so hard. They have all sorts of Nivea here, but it is all labelled brightening, or whitening or with fancy bubbles. I don’t want any of that stuff on my face! Just pure moisturiser with nothing added. Just like at home.
After traipsing into what felt like every pharmacy and department store in Bali and Thailand, I had to give up. What was my solution? Firstly I bought some baby cream which obviously has no harsh chemicals in. That was not moisturising enough. So then I bought the blue tin of the really think Nivea, far to heavy for my face, but mixed the 2 to make a semi decent moisturiser. Firstly I mixed it in my hand, then found it would emulsify better in the silicon travel bottle with lots of shaking! Problem solved!
Now onto the next problem. My heels. At home I look after my heels, regularly filing off the hard skin. Packing light, does not include heel file. I dfidn’t even thing about taking one actually. Fast forward several months and I thought I had stepped on a nail or cut my foot. But no, the hard skin that had not been taken care of had cracked. Badly. That tin of thick Nivea cream came in handy for another purpose, I put it on my foot and wore socks to bed to try and soften my heels. It worked a little, but I had to then go and find a foot file and carry it with me. Packing light and getting rid of most things doesn’t always work!
I’m going to have to replace my knickers/panties (depending on your country of origin) soon. I brought 5 pairs with me, and I wash them out most nights while in the shower, with soap or body wash. They are starting to complain and get small holes or the elastic is not so elasticy. Lucky a friend will be meeting me on a trip in May and she might be able to bring some new ones from Kmart.
Watch this space for the next issues that come up, as I am sure there will be more the longer I am away from home!
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