Why carry when you can wheel? That's become our informal motto as we watch people walking by with heavy loads on their backs under the noon-day sun. How uncivilized.
When we were planning our trip, my grandmother gave us two pieces of luggage as an engagement gift (Thanks Gigi). As we debated the costs and benefits of different styles of luggage, Erin laid down the law: She didn't want to travel for nine months out of a backpack. Been there, done that. No thank you.
So we bought ourselves Eagle Creek wheelie bags that can also be used as backpacks. What an inspired choice. In almost five months of travel, I have only used the backpack feature once. And even then, it wasn't really necessary.
In every other case, we wheel our bags through town as others shoulder their heavy loads with audible groans. Since it's been thousands of years since early humans invented the wheel, it surprises me how many people still avoid this elegant tool.
In fact, one of our favorite activities (if a bit sadistic) is watching the new load of backpackers scrambling to find lodging as we sit under the shade of a palm, drinking a cool beer. To my eye, many of these people must be carrying a side of mutton in their bags, so laden are they. Sweating and moaning, they rush around like human turtles under the hot tropical sun. Turn them belly up and I am sure they would fry helplessly.
By contrast, the worst we suffer is looks of surprise as we storm our next destination by wheelie bag. Many locals aren't as familiar with these modern conveyances, so we occasionally can hear a chuckle or two. Never fear, we are strong and confident in our wheelie-bagdom.
So for those planning long trips, I say: Go wheelie. You will not regret it.
When we were planning our trip, my grandmother gave us two pieces of luggage as an engagement gift (Thanks Gigi). As we debated the costs and benefits of different styles of luggage, Erin laid down the law: She didn't want to travel for nine months out of a backpack. Been there, done that. No thank you.
So we bought ourselves Eagle Creek wheelie bags that can also be used as backpacks. What an inspired choice. In almost five months of travel, I have only used the backpack feature once. And even then, it wasn't really necessary.
In every other case, we wheel our bags through town as others shoulder their heavy loads with audible groans. Since it's been thousands of years since early humans invented the wheel, it surprises me how many people still avoid this elegant tool.
In fact, one of our favorite activities (if a bit sadistic) is watching the new load of backpackers scrambling to find lodging as we sit under the shade of a palm, drinking a cool beer. To my eye, many of these people must be carrying a side of mutton in their bags, so laden are they. Sweating and moaning, they rush around like human turtles under the hot tropical sun. Turn them belly up and I am sure they would fry helplessly.
By contrast, the worst we suffer is looks of surprise as we storm our next destination by wheelie bag. Many locals aren't as familiar with these modern conveyances, so we occasionally can hear a chuckle or two. Never fear, we are strong and confident in our wheelie-bagdom.
So for those planning long trips, I say: Go wheelie. You will not regret it.
P.S. In an ironic twist of fate, shortly after posting this entry, I was forced to endure the situation in the photo at the right. Specifically, we had to board a longtail at low tide at Ao Tonsai, which required carrying the wheelie bag on my head (the boatman carried Erin's - chivalry) for 200 yards over sharp coral in my flip flops. Karma.
Wheelie bags still rule though.
1 comment:
that's funny, go wheelie!
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