I cant do without books. I like internet too, but not for anything more than sending emails when I am travelling, because it involves sitting in an internet cafe. With books, I can sit someplace more interesting.
I never take any music with me, so I suppose I find it easy to do without.
Mel
Reply to this I almost always travel without books, apart from guidebooks, but even then, I've travelled to places without them. The only time I've carried a book with me was on a 11 month trip through Europe, which included reading "Lord of the Rings" during my camping trip around the continent - reading Tolkien whilst sitting in a tent in the Swiss Alps or the Vienna Wood is recommended.
Music is the next to go, most of my travels have been completed without an MP3 and it was only an addition to my travel bag in the past 12 months. I usually prefer to listen to the local music to give me a feel for the local culture.
Internet is the most important one on this list, which is why my computer always travels with me now. Plus it is a much cheaper method of staying in touch with people then using the phone!
Reply to this Definitely books, but then I don't even go on the bus at home without something to read. I can go weeks without internet or music but I really need to have something to read! Lara
Reply to this wouldnt like to have to do without Internet as i was using it for storing photos and other important info. and staying in touch with family back home etc.
i think the time is coming where internet is not just acessed inside cafes & hostels, probably soon we are going to see laptops with built in connectivity , like the blackberry phones.
books
im not much of a book reader it must be said, but depends where your going i suppose. im usually so entertained by my surroundings i hardly find time.
on the road i found that i did not have any more need for books than i do at home, apart from a couple of weeks in small beach towns, while in peru i went to a local vendor and baught childrens books in spanish to pass the time and improve my vocab.
music
i would not like to have to live without music, but i think theres no need to bring much if any when travelling.
after having my mp3 player stolen, i got me diskman (after a long search) and started up a collection of local music cds in south america, and it changed my outlook on music forever.
i suppose it depends what you want from music, i like music to take me away somewhere nice, my old music from home was taking me home... i wanted to feel the place i was in.
Reply to this I'm a sucker for all three! - but Music is the first to be ditched - but I'm often carrying a guitar or some other instrument.
Compared to even 5 years ago - mp3 players are so tiny now - if you have one - why wouldn't you take it? - books take two - swap more on the road - you'll end up reading things that you'd have never chosen (which sometimes is a good thing!). Internet - a 1kg netbook is perfect!
Travel - even budget independent travel - has never been easier.
But I agree with the underlying sentiment - if all you're going to do is hermetically seal yourself inside a bubble of comfortable entertainment - why leave home at all?
Anyone guilty (and willing to own up to) - taking a mobile phone and constantly sms'ing friends/family back home?
Reply to this Anyone guilty (and willing to own up to)...
I generally spend 30 mins to an hour per day on the internet emailing my boyfriend while I am travelling. Mostly for entertainment, but also because it makes me feel safe when somebody knows exactly where I am and will go next, and it reassures him that I am still alive and safe.
I considered getting a notebook to take travelling so I could access the internet more often, but then I considered that there are internet cafes everywhere(just about) and the internet would be too much of a distraction if it was available all the time.
And I always have a book to read. It is an absolute must have, for if I am alone at night, or in isolated places. Same as Lara. I can do without the rest, but I must have a book. 😊 Same as Matt, I find the surroundings entertaining enough a lot of the time while I am travelling.
When I go to Dublin, I spend several hours per day watching movies. There is a cinema there that shows the types of movies I like.
Reply to this Can't do without a book. I need it esp while waiting it out at airports, plus I do read before sleeping....that is, unless I drop the book right on my face , which always happens. Lol.
Reply to this Music is the first to go, just because mp3 players are expensive to replace if they get stolen. Books are cheap and light, and good for long bus rides... Internet I only use to check in with people back home every now and then, so I don't feel the need to have a laptop with me. Plus I think I would use it too often; it would take away from the travelling!!
-22
Reply to this i could always check internet in cyber cafes, even if it was just for a few minutes to send a one-liner saying i'm ok and happy. could totally do without it for a week or two if i was trekking for example. so many cyber cafes anywhere on earth that carying with a laptop was absolutely not a necessity for me
books, i always had one but wouldn't always read it, even on bus rides. when i finished, i swapped. important, but guess i could do without for a little while.
music, for me is like oxygen. can't go very long without it. i'm surprised to see it's the first to go for most of you. i'd rather die first than give up on music on the go, especially on long bus rides! but can totally do without it on treks (i also love nature's sounds) and in town (bc i always go out to listen to music!!)
Reply to this I bring my nintendo DS, my mp3 player & a really thick book so it lasts me the entire holiday. If not, I just buy a magazine.
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