Backpacks and Packing Light

“Ma’am saan po kayo lalayas?” quips the grinning airport staff assigned at the first xray machine in Mactan – Cebu International Airport. He was looking at my suitcase with fascination.

I was 25 and it was my first time to fly and yes, my bag was rather big. Err huge.

The staff continued to grin sheepishly while helping me pull the suitcase out of the conveyor belt. It was quiet heavy. Grinning and looking alternately at the suitcase and me, I knew that he was waiting for a sort of response.  I grinned back my most winsome smile, hoping that my beaming face will stop further questioning. When my bag was finally on the floor, I scampered away from the area as fast as I could. I swear my face was flaming red as I made my way to the check-in counters. I begun to notice others were looking strangely at my direction. I must have been a sight, very payatot me and my oversized baggage haha.

*I was very thin when I was in my early 20s.

I have been in airports countless times since that first time I’ve flown and by jove, I haven’t seen anything as large as what I was lugging that day.

Then  my infamous suitcase strike again…

When Titus was assigned in Ilocos, he asked if I can lend him a big suitcase for his initial trip to Ilocandia. “Sure! I have one that’s just perfect.” When he saw it, he was guffawing ‘kasya buong bahay dyan ah’.

Well, I did say it was a big suitcase. Hehe.

Many years after that embarrassing airport scene, you can hardly find me with a big suitcase. In fact, I don’t do suitcases anymore, backpacks have become my norm. It allows better flexibility and more convenience, suits me to a tee you can say.  😉

I have also grown accustomed in packing light. But just because I am traveling light, it doesn’t mean I don’t have a daily change of clothes. I do, in fact I usually have an extra one or two “outfit” in case an occasion calls for it. I don’t subscribe to wash and wear clothing while on the road and exploring the Philippines, especially not when I am on vacation.

This is how I usually pack my travel clothes which is mostly shirts and shorts; roll it up nicely and neatly. Creases and crumpled shirts? I don’t really care.

When I am on the road for a 3-days or a week-long vacation, expect me to have a backpack slung over my shoulder. If my trip is longer than a week or overseas, I may consider using a suitcase then.

I am not a hardcore backpacker, I leave it for others. But I do travel light, no more ultra-big suitcases for me if I can help it.

🙂

But my backpack needs changing now, the red one is screaming ‘change me! or else I’ll disintegrate fully before your eyes.’  😥

After the Baguio trip last January it crossed my mind that I need to buy a new one. But I totally forgot about the state of my backpack when I got home.

Last Friday, I took it out again. Snatched some shirts and shorts from my closet, grabbed my travel essentials, hurriedly put everything I need for the trip inside the bag. Of course I missed some essentials, what do you know hehe. 

I was done packing in a flash. The state of my backpack totally escaped me until I got to my destination. I started to unpack, and was getting puzzled over these tiny red flakes that were sticking like sore thumb on my shirts. As I pull out shirts, more and more of these red things get exposed.  I delved into my backpack,  checked the linen and there I found the source! Oh noh. 

Need. A. New. Backpack.  Urgent!

LOL. 

Lights shines through =)

That is why I have to put the clothes in a plastic bag in the picture above so I don’t have to deal with lining confetti sticking into my clothes when I unpack upon my return hehe.

Cheapskate versus Practical?

This is also the thing with me, I am a cheapskate or at least I try to get the most value out of something. Bakit bibili kung mapapakinabangan pa ang isang bagay? Mahirap maghanap ng pera and I know it.

*I make an exception for food because I do splurge on good eats.

This is also the reason why my laptop IsoldT looked so sorry before I finally changed her. I try not to buy things unless I really need it or I’m left with no choice. I am also not brand conscious; my guiding principle is go for the most value for my money. If the thing happens to be branded and expensive but I know it’s worth the price, I go for it. I save for it.

Cheap things doesn’t always translate to good buys especially if its gadgets and if it’s something that you will use regularly, like a backpack in my case since I do travel for my blog. =)

So yes now I’m bidding my time until I can find a new backpack. Hope it won’t be a long search; your suggestions are most welcome because I sure don’t want to use my suitcase again in case an unexpected trip comes my way.

Have a great day!

Cille =)

He who would travel happily must travel light.

Antoine De Saint  – Exupery

Backpack Update : I now have a new backpack! Yeyyy! Bought it during a sale so from P1,599 paid only P1,439.10 or $35. 🙂 That’s just a 10% discount but heyyy, it’s still discounted so it’s a good buy! The awesome part is Oly of Lakbaypilipinas sponsored the backpack! Am I lucky or what? Heheh thanks Tita Oly! =)

Now, where to travel next with my new backpack?