July 09, 2010

What's In My Travelling Bag

I love my job but one of the downsides of being a researcher is that you usually travel at the drop of a hat. The appearance of a white travelling slip on the worktable is usually followed by a wail of, "AGAIN?! But I just got back/ Haven't done my laundry from the last trip/ Have a pile of papers to go through/ Need to clean my house!"

During a 6 day work trip out to the countryside last week, one of my colleagues gloomily observed that it felt like we have been away from home for years like Rip van Winkle.

"I half expect to reach home and find my kids grown up," he said glumly.

"And my wife fat," added another.

We sputtered beer all over the table.

Since I am on the go all the time, I have a plastic bag of toiletries on my bathroom shelf ready for me to grab and run at any time. Click to see what I bring!

Clockwise from left:

1) Johnson & Johnson's Baby Top-to-Toe Wash. Great for washing your body, hair and clothes. I use about a bottle a month while travelling (partly due to lazy male colleagues who forget to bring their own body wash). My only grouse is that J&J's Top-to-Toe can only be found in Guardian outlets in Sabah.

2) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Moisturising Sunscreen. Still the best sunblock I have used so far. I have tried Sunplay but it doesn't work when you have to trek several kilometres under the sun or stand in the middle of paddy fields to interview farmers.

3) Himalaya Herbals Moisturising Cream. Discovered this gem a few years back and continues to be my fallback moisturiser whenever my skin throws a hissy fit. I usually decant this into a smaller container to use at night.

4) Mitchum Anti-Perspirant. I do lots of walking under the hot sun. Need I say more?

5) Comfy Care dry shampoo. For the days when I can't be arsed with washing my hair or just in case we camp at a place with no water supply.

6) SunSilk Leave-in Hair Treatment. Not CG-friendly, I know but I hate using a wash-out conditioner when I travel and this is a great size.

7) Cetaphil! Everyone's sweetheart, this one. I am not going to lug a big bottle around the place with me so I filled up a travelling bottle instead.

Not pictured are things like toothpaste, toothbrushes and that essential travelling companion: Minyak Kapak. Smells like my late grandmother and works a charm for everything from headaches to killing leeches to centipede bites. But that's a story for another time

4 comments:

AskMeWhats said...

oohh I can see your Neutrogena Ultra Sheer moisturising sunscreen! I have it too but haven't use it yet :) Thanks for sharing

rinnah said...

Hmm, normally I just grab whatever small sized stuff/samples I can find for travelling! But then again, I don't travel as much as you do. :)

@DdY said...

I saw the J&J Top-to-Toe wash in 1U Watson having a promo. Both in the bigger and smaller bottle in a package. Can't remember how much though..

Sprinkled! said...

minyak kapak is a must for me too! my friends always teasing me: "eh, macam orang tua ba.."