those gifts can break your back

Gifts, gifts, gifts! Many have suffered from carrying that perfect gift thousands of miles for weeks and have the spinal damage to prove it. We should not neglect our family and friends but try to find gifts which do not weigh us down. International postage can be high, but many countries have a special book rate which allows book shipment at a relatively cheap cost. Find a book then write a special note, poem, or draw in the book making it a distinct and unique gift. Then ship it directly to the person you would like to receive the gift. A postcard, once mailed, is a gift you do not have to trudge across numerous borders. Your back will thank me for this advice. Please, comment and share any ideas you might have!

oh the burden of gifts

Another great way to travel light is to bring a couple gifts which are slightly larger and greater in number than the gifts you intend to bring home. Your bag will feel heavy and full with a couple bottles of local wine/local history books/regional gifts in it. When these gifts are given to other travelers or locals, you will notice your pack quickly lightening with each new friendship. Replace these gifts with smaller and lighter gifts for yourself or a family member back home. This will lighten your bag and create more room at the same time. Please, feel free to comment as you wish and happy traveling!

saftey wallet

Carry a safety wallet. What is that you ask? It’s basically a decoy wallet given out at the bequest of a thief.  I have never been robbed, but I use an old wallet containing an expired credit card, an expired passport, the local currency I was planning to spend in the next couple of hours, and about 20USD (or your home currency). Hopefully, the thief will see the cards/cash and run away quickly not realizing the documentation is expired until far away. I will gladly sacrifice 20 dollars and old wallet keeping current documentation, and myself safe. Please feel free to comment and provide any feedback you like.