10 "Quirky" Travel Items!

We ransacked each other's travel bags for quirky items we bring on a travel. Some items seemed quite normal but the reason behind bring the items sometimes defeats the meaning of a relaxing, slow and easy holiday travel. Read on to find out what our quirky travel items.

10 "Quirky" Travel Items found in our bags are…

1. Alarm Clock

2. Calculator

3. iPhone

4. Wet Tissue

5. DIY map

6. Snacks

7. Camera

8. Deck of Playing Cards

9. Nail Clipper

10. Sanitary Napkins/Pads

Our Team’s thought behind why we bring our quirky items when traveling!

KiraIqa: “The quirky item I've brought to a travel is…”

1. Portable Alarm Clock – You never would have thought to bring an alarm clock with you during a holiday right? Well, I have and it works for me!! An alarm clock is useful to me as it wakes me up on the right time. I like to keep a timed schedule for my holiday trip so that I can fully utilise my holiday time spent on enjoying myself at the right time. So waking up on time it important!! No lolling in on the bed you sleepy-heads! It's time Holiday Fun Time!!

2. Small Calculator – A "Must-Bring" item to have that is important when you travel! I definitely would have with me a small calculator, be it an application on your phone or the calculator itself. It is useful to me as I have to buy many souvenirs in large quantity for my family, friends and many many relatives. So having a calculator with me to check if i don't overspend just for souvenirs is important. I want some money left to spend on myself some memorable gifts to remember this trip! So bring a calsulator to make sure you don't overspend on your trip!!

Kuchiaa:

1. iPhone- iPhone is very very very useful, especially when you're travelling! As you know, there is a lot of functions in it, such as map, iPod music, games. The reason why I include iPhone is not only because of it's a smart phone, but it has a quite good camera. We can download some camera applications to do the effect. Two of the recommended cam apps are Pudding Camera & 360 Camera. They allow you to choose the effect and the effect is really very good!TRY IT =)
2. Wet Tissue- WET TISSUE.WET TISSUE.WET TISSUE. This is a very essential thing in my bag. I always have at least 1 or 2 packets of wet tissue in my bag in case I'm lazy or there's nowhere to find the place to wash my hands. This is convenient for us as in we don't need to worry IF we couldn't find anyplace to wash hands. As we are travelling, wet tissue could be our cleaning helper!

MildredQi:

1. DIY map- as a teenager, I prefer free and easy instead of following tour. However, free and easy needs to do a lot of researches in order to find out the best food, shopping place and etc. For me, I usually go internet rather than buying those travel books as it occupies space in my bag, very expensive and also heavy -,- Thus, I will "Google" about the information I want, copy and paste in the word document and print it out. It saves more money and we are able to get more information that might not be found in books.

2. Snacks- This is what we can't miss to bring when travelling! Due to long travelling journey, we will surely be super bored and we will just want to reach the destination as fast as possible. In this case, buy some snacks (maybe plums?) so that it can awake you during the long journey. Besides of that, if you have carsick, seasick or even airsick disease, plums can help you feel better also. I've tried it before, it really works!

Syaz:

1. Camera – There needs to be photos on every trip you go. Someone needs to be a photographer but it doesn’t have to be just one person. Memories will fade over time but these photos will be forever! Make sure to take many photos!

2. Deck of playing cards – Not really limited to just poker or blackjack. Card games are essential in any trips just to kill time or have fun. You can also bring other card games such as monopoly deal or even Uno!

Nanami:

1. Nail clipper. Not a usual item to be spotted in a handbag, but it is definitely useful in many situations besides having a broken fingernail. This tool can be use to cut unsightly stray threads hanging off the hem of your skirts or price tags for that beautiful dress you just bought back to the hotel to change into, and certain parts even doubles as a weapon to use in an emergency situation.
2. Sanitary Napkins/pad. Believe it or not, this item was actually invented for war. With its dependable hygiene standard and reliable absorbency, it can even be used as a first-aid tool. In fact, I had to use it once to stop the bleeding off my arm when I got a rather big cut by a metal rod sticking out of a fence.

Now, share with us your "Quirky" items!

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Travel safely with the first “Women-Only” taxis in Malaysia!

Have you ever thought of having “Women-Only” taxis?

Now, there really is such a thing in Malaysia.

Malaysia has recently launched “Women-Only” taxis catering only to women in Kuala Lumpur (KL)!
 

Due to an increase in rape and robbery cases involving taxis drivers and female victims, the Malaysian government has introduced “Women-Only” taxis in an effort to shield women from harassment and robbery.

Safety must be the top priority when you are travelling, especially for women. We believe that this is a good move by the Malaysian Government because it helps to protect women and make them feel much safer when they travel. Especially since parents are forever worrying about their daughters travelling overseas, this would help put them at ease.

These “Women-Only” taxis follows the idea of the pink-coloured train coaches and buses that were implemented last year. The reason for having such train coaches and buses was to help counter sexual harassment towards women on crowded public transport during peak hours in KL.

So the next time you think about travelling overseas, fun shouldn't be the only thing kept in mind, but the safety of yourself and your companions. If you're planning to go to KL for your holidays, especially if on a “all-girls trip”, you can consider taking the “Women-Only” taxis.

More to come in our next post about what we thought about Malaysia's "Women-Only" taxis and what we think Singapore should do! So do return to our blog if find out more about our thoughts on this issue!!

UPDATED!! >> New post link about our thoughts found below!!
"Why not have "Women-Only" MRT cabin in Singapore during peak hours?"

http://i-travel-destination.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-not-have-women-only-mrt-cabin-in.html

 

Here is the full article we found from Channel News Asia (CNA) >>

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1167905/1/.html

Here are some useful travel safety tips we found online >>

http://www.ezyhealth.com/magazine/travel-safely/

http://www.travel-security-and-safety.com/

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Dessert!! Taiwan Dessert I found it in Johor Bahru!

Taroyami

(37, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia)


Highlights/what's special: Taro ball recipe that they learnt from Taiwan.
Budget: $2 SGD - $4 SGD (RM4 - RM8)
How to go: Actually transport in Malaysia is not as convenient as Singapore, so I suggest you guys to take a cab! =)

Hey guys, I’ve found a nice “yumcha” place for dessert lovers which is –Taroyami. It’s newly opened in JB, however, you can see there are quite a lot of people having their taro balls there.

PS: Taro balls are also known as "yuyuan (芋圆)" in Taiwan. It's a very famous dessert which is served cold or hot in JiuFen, TaiPei.

From what I remember when I travelled in JiuFen, the texture of taro balls is resembled like tangyuan and there are many colors such as green (green tea), white (yam) and orange (sweet potato).

Hmm.. Let's just go in Taroyami and order my taro balls to see whether it's same with what I've eaten in JiuFen =)

Okay. I've ordered “Taroballs Ice Series” with green beans, yam and sweet potato (RM6.9) while my brother ordered corn peanut ice (RM5.9).

 

From what I’ve tried from JiuFen, both are almost the same, they are very "Q" and not sticky. Even old people can eat the taro balls =)

Besides of that, Taroyami has wider range of choices for you. For example, there are crushed ice series and beverage series. I strongly recommend all to go and try their taro balls~!

**White taro balls= yam flavor; Orange taro balls= sweet potato flavor
There is one more green tea flavor, but I wasn't able to take the photo as I didn't order it -,-""

Extra tips:
Tip 1: You can get a free one when 10 cups purchased. See, I’ve already eaten for 4 times there. You can see how much I like their taro ball!!!

Tip 2: If you want to find out more information about them, you may go to their Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/taroyamidesserthouse ) or call them @ 07-5585657.

Think that Taiwan is too far to you? What’re you waiting for?
Just go JB and try this out!

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Top 3 “Must-Bring” items when you travel!

How well prepared are you when you’re out of the comfort zone of your home? We look through the contents of each of our members’ travel bags for the top 3 most useful items and here are our findings.

The top 3 “Must-Bring” items most found in our bags are…

1.     Camera

This item is on most of our bags as we want to take the most interesting, funny or strange photos to remember the trip by. So be it a digital camera or a mobile phone camera, bring one with you to your trip!

2.     Music

Most of us want to have our favorite music with us on our travel so, this item is a must bring. Mp3, Mp4, iPod or any device you store your music in is, bring it with you to that you can groove as you move on your travel!

3.     Money

Money makes the world goes round as the going says. So money is on the top 3 “Must-Bring” so that we can enjoy our travel in comfort. Make sure you bring enough money for yourself as well as the souvenirs that you will buy for your family and friends!

Read on below to find the details on why each of our team members think is that these 15 items are most useful items when on a travel.

Our Team’s thought on why we bring these “Must-Bring” items when going traveling

KiraIqa: “Top MUST Bring Stuff for Travel for me is…”

1.      MP3 – Music is a must for me so there’s no way I will go anywhere without my music!!

2.      Camera – A must to take memorable and interesting photos on your travel!

3.      A Novel – The long waiting time to reach your destination can be boring, so bring a interesting book to cure your boredom!

Kuchiaa:

1. iPhone- I would bring it to wherever I go because it’s an essential thing for me in my life. It’s more than just a phone, but with a lot of functions. I can play games , listen to music and take photos.
2. Contact Lens/Spectacles - As I’m short-sighted, contact lens & spectacles would be very important when I am going on trip. 
3. Cash - MONEY.MONEY.MONEY. It is very IMPORTANT because we couldn’t do anything without money. We need money for meals, accommodations and also transportations.  Hence, we must bring sufficient money!

Mildred:

1.      Money- Money is what you basically need in your trips, in case there is emergency happens when you’re travelling. Also, you need pocket money to buy food and drinks and probably, to buy some souvenirs from the place you visited.

2.      Camera- Travelling is so happy and fun, so camera is a must to capture memorable moment in your life. ♥ Additionally, if you love taking photos, remember to take an extra memory card, so that you would not be worried about the problem of insufficient capacity of memory card.

3.      Travel document (IC/ Passport) - The most important things that you must bring no matter where you are going to (local or oversea). Take good care of them as this is your way in and out of foreign lands and documents that can identify yourself when you’re travelling.

Syaz:

1.      Camera – There needs to be photos on every trip you go.  Someone needs to be a photographer but it doesn’t have to be just one person.  Memories will fade over time but these photos will be forever!  Make sure to take many photos!

2.      Deck of playing cards – Not really limited to just poker or blackjack.  Card games are essential in any trips just to kill time of have fun.  You can also bring other card games such as monopoly deal or even Uno!

3.      Music – Tunes are important, or at least to me.  It helps keep you company on trips be it alone or with people.  Music helps set the mood and kicks up a great atmosphere.

Nanami:

1)      Mobile phone. Music player, camera function and games included. With so many uses all-in-one, it’s nearly impossible to be bored no matter where you are, unless you run out of battery. Useful in any situations, this item definitely tops the list of any travelers’ must-have items.

2)      Nail clipper. Not a usual item to be spotted in a handbag, but it is definitely useful in many situations besides having a broken fingernail. This tool can be use to cut unsightly stray threads hanging off the hem of your skirts or price tags for that beautiful dress you just bought back to the hotel to change into, and certain parts even doubles as a weapon to use in an emergency situation.

3)      Sanitary Napkins/pad. One of the most useful items a woman can ever bring with her, as you’ll never know when the red army arrives. With its dependable hygiene standard and reliable absorbency, it can even be used as a first-aid tool. In fact, I had to use it once to stop the bleeding off my arm when I got a rather big cut by a metal rod sticking out of a fence.

Now, share with us your “Must-Bring” items!

Read more »