Global travel writer abandons all baggage, stuffs all his goods into his clothes
- By Bruce Sterling
- August 20, 2010 |
- 5:52 am |
- Categories: Uncategorized
http://www.rtwblog.com/2010/08/why-rolf-is-traveling-around-the-world-with-no-luggage/
“When I first announced my intention to circumnavigate the globe for six weeks without carrying so much as a fanny-pack, I got a common (and admittedly reasonable) reaction from my friends: Why? Why travel the world with no luggage?
“Well, for starters — as someone who’s spent much of the past 16 years traveling to various corners of the world — the idea of hitting the road without any bags sounds like an intriguing challenge. Not to mention a whole lot of fun.
“But I also see my journey as a field-test for a more philosophical idea — that what we experience in life is more important than what we bring with us. (((I wonder why American writers like this guy and that EAT PRAY LOVE chick feel driven to say stuff like this. You can bet that the crew on Magellan’s ship didn’t worry much about their rollaboards. Scurvy and hostile locals, yeah; fanny-packs, probably not.)))
“This is an idea that goes back to the initial travel-dreams of my childhood. When I was a kid dreaming of faraway places, I didn’t imagine what I would pack — I imagined what I would do.
“When I got older I eventually learned that world travel was cheaper, easier and more life-changing than I had ever imagined — and I shared these lessons in my first book, Vagabonding. Traveling light is essential to the notion of vagabonding, and the more I traveled, the more I became intrigued by the idea of giving up luggage altogether. I took note of other vagabonders who were conducting their own experiments in traveling light, and I began to wonder what it would be like to take this idea to its logical extreme — to go around the world with no baggage whatsoever. (((The “logical extreme” would be travelling the world naked, but never mind.)))
“As I was wondering how I might implement such a journey, I got an offer to field-test some travel clothing for an Idaho-based sportswear company named ScotteVest. As a travel writer I get these kind of offers all the time, but I was intrigued by the fact that ScotteVest apparel features a system of strategically located pockets. In a whimsical fit of inspiration, I emailed back: “Why just send me clothing? Why not send me around the world with no luggage?”
“Within a matter of days this idea had made its way to ScotteVest CEO and founder Scott Jordan, and — with some key input, assistance, and an around the world ticket from Sean Keener, founder of the budget travel network Bootsnall.com — the “No Baggage Challenge” was born. In late August of 2010, we decided, I would embark on a luggage-less journey that would take me through 12 countries on five continents.
“As my departure date neared, a strange thing began to happen: Baggage began to make headlines. Ryanair hiked its check luggage fees to more than $60 per bag, Spirit Airlines raised the ire of Congress by charging as much as $45 for carryon bags, and — perhaps most spectacularly — JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater responded to an in-flight fuss about overhead luggage by deploying the emergency exit chute on the runway at JFK.
“Suddenly, the notion of traveling without luggage began to seem downright sensible.
“Still, I’ll be the first to admit that my no-baggage adventure is a “stunt” of sorts. … ”
(((Well, yeah, it is. But check out all that circuitry this guy is toting, and his network-dependent stuff like the credit cards, and you’ll realize that it’s not so much about those geek cargo pants as it is about a massive atom-to-bits transition.)))
• iPod Touch and earbuds
• Wireless foldable Bluetooth keyboard (for blogging drafts using the iPod Touch)
• Toothbrush
• Passport
• Credit and debit cards
• ID cards
• Small digital camera
• Tiny deodorant and toiletries (”A good social gesture,” according to Potts)
• Two to three pairs of super-lightweight quick-dry socks
• One to two extra SeV Performance T-shirts
• Extra SeV Underwear (“Prototypes made just for us,” Potts notes. “We’re putting them to the test before they’re even on the market.”)
• A small bottle of concentrated detergent (for daily washing of socks, underwear, and Performance T-Shirts)….
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