Nine must-have essentials while travelling with tips.

The first flight that actually landed on the Moon was 10 years before the Apollo 11. The year was 1959 and the country was Soviet Union who was successful in sending the first man-made machine, Luna on 13th September. It was not a manned mission and the Soviet Union made multiple attempts to land on the Moon between 1959 to 1976 where it changed its agenda decided to land on Venus.

On the other side of the world, the NASA in the USA safely landed its first crew on the Moon who collected rocks, pebbles, and sand for analysis. Then after, it sent six more flights that collected 382 kgs of Lunar rock and soils samples for studies and since then they have been shipped to universities and laboratories for research and educational purposes.

The world became a giant unified force and celebrated the first manned mission to the Moon with about 500 million people watching the broadcast across the world, it became a record in itself. However, a lot of astronauts that came back from the mission stated that they had a difficult time coping with life on earth after witnessing the earth from a place where it meant nothing but a speck of light or a tiny object.

An American astronaut named Scott Kelly even forgot how to walk. Because he had spent a year in space, where there was no concept of up and down, he’d just float around in his space ship all the time, which messed up his orientation. Having pushed back on the gravity of the earth, his feet would still hurt even after two months. This is one of the long list of effects space travel has on scientists who choose to travel and work in the ISS for a long time.

You can watch the video here

Scientists are trying to resolve this problem so we can travel deep into and not go through the same problems on return. Until mankind is blessed with a technology that can take us on a space tour, we will focus on travelling within the earth’s stratosphere.

After all, you will need essentials by your side in both situations. Space travel or mass travel, there are things we cannot function without. Let’s not space out anymore and make a list of tips/things you’d need for your trip:

Avoid distractions:

The first moon landing happened with the help of 4,00,000 people right from carpenters, engineers, designers, scientists, mathematicians, historians, writers, etc. who came together to turn one country’s vision into reality. Imagine if even a person got distracted with their phones or something someone said five years ago only to get one thing wrong. The whole mission would have come tumbling down.

A lot of artists, musicians, and even some actors go on a complete lockdown from the online world to focus on their craft. While some believe in travelling so they can come back with better conscience.

It certainly does not mean you are sacrificing anything or making losses, rather, you are giving up control of some material possessions for a while that tie you down on an average day because you deserve a time out in a beautiful place, with yourself to figure out things.

Reserve an extra day:

I know it sounds crazy. Why would you want to spend a day doing nothing at home after a long trip? Specially, when you have booked your flight tickets months in advance, picked all the sightseeing locations, set aside a day for leisure, and made end to end hotel bookings.

As Fatherly as I sound, save that one extra day away from activities once you get back home – to recoil for the work that may have piled up on your desk or the thousands of email that are waiting for your reply once you open that laptop. Let that wait for another day. It can. In order to jump at the deep end of the pool you have to set yourself for the dive first.

Obtain a travel insurance:

Travelling without an insurance at this day and age is as gormless as it is to pull down your mask while talking to the person next to you. It is necessary and highly recommended because you take a number of public as well as private transports throughout your trip. Whether you are travelling on a business trip, or backpacking, get yourself covered.

Insurance companies have started covering a host of untoward incidents within India. Get a good of the plans to see if they cover all that you need. It is more of a safety precautions than a fearful investment.

Embrace your impulsive side:

A great experience is a result of great planning but keep room for some temptations. After all, you are travelling some place you might not have a chance to visit again, at least not anytime sooner so feel free to act out of impulse.

Take a walking tour of the town without following Google maps. Get lost on purpose, and instead of asking people for directions, sit down with locals at the eatery and interact with them. Sometimes, memories are best created when they are not planned.

Make copies of everything:

Whether you are travelling abroad or within India, try making copies of the documents, travel itinerary, tickets, hotel reservations, and stack it in a folder. Ensure you have a soft copy and hard copy both since some hotels don’t usually approve seeing documents on phones. Some might even want to see your tickets to ensure everything is indeed in place. Carry at least two originals along, or a passport would suffice.

In case you are travelling alone, keep your close ones in the know of your plans. Share a copy of your schedule with them so even if they are unable to reach you on the phone because of poor service, they would know which accommodation centre to reach out to. That cuts down on a lot of stress for both the parties.

Socket essentials:

I heard on a podcast a few months ago that a lot of food and technology inventions took place because scientists needed supplies for their space travel in a form that would last for a long time.

The water purifiers we have at homes are because of space exploration. Not only that, the GPS systems, wireless headphones, frozen food, and even computer mouse is a result of that.

The same way, whatever essentials we pick up for our travel, are useful when we come back home. Carry a power bank in case you need it during an emergency, a four-way or six-way extension cord if you are travelling by train. An all in one charginng cable if you are carrying multiple devices including Apple products.

Don’t forget to charge your DSLRA camera and its batteries, beforehand. There’s another important object that you must carry with you – a small portable lamp or a low-powered flash light if you are someone who likes to stay up at nights, reading or on laptop

Take stock of your luggage:

A lot of people struggle with packing especially, when it comes to deciding on the kind of travelling bag to go with. Determine the weather at the destination and whether you will hitchhike/trek or take public transport throughout and accordingly pack your clothes along with the skincare that works for you.

Your trip depends on how much luggage you are carrying at all times. The bags you choose will either slow you down or pace you up. If you are going on a backpacking trip, a trolley bag or a suitcase just wouldn’t cut it. Carry a rucksack for the winter clothes and a duffle bag to keep your essentials.

Don’t keep all your money in the same place:

This goes without saying. Keeping your money safe is always a smart idea. Whether you travelling or making a living. Don’t put too much effort in cash transactions. Book your stays online as long as possible, so you don’t have to worry about running for atm machines all the time.

If you are travelling abroad, try to exchange it with local currency and get a card with minimum or no fees. Card money is always a smarter option. However, have some cash in your pockets to pay for bus fares, or tea stalls that don’t deal in online currency.

First-aid:

The most important essential in the list. Do not make the mistake of compromising on medication and tools in the First-aid kit.

First and foremost thing, check with your family doctor or any local physician the weather conditions you are going to experience and ask them to suggest something that will help in case of an untoward illness such as gastrointestinal problems, skin issues, and respiratory illness. In case you are on a medication, try to carry extra doses just in case. You never know when the delays in flights or trains might hit you.

Everyone experiences weather change differently. If you are going on a summer trip, carry prescription-based dehydration medication and SPV lotions to save yourself from skin burn and major tan.

To conclude:

These tips will help you have a safe and a hassle-free trip. Remember that a little selfishness is not harmful while travelling. You need to take care of yourself first so you can take care of those around you. Use social media to a limit. Never go around bombarding your Instagram story line to look as if you have only gone to capture the place through Instagram filters.

Wish that you end up in a place so beautiful that you don’t have to look at your phone screen or feel the need to talk to people away from you. Else, set aside a day without any mobile devices and social media and get to know yourself better. Travelling also sometimes change you a bit. Whether you realise is or not. But, it is important that you realise that and use the qualities back home too.