Chapter 3: Pillage and Plunder before going Down Under! (Part 1)

On March 16th, I will be enduring my 4th visit to Sydney, Australia. I say "enduring" because the plane ride is no less than 13 hrs each way. And this time, I will be enduring a 30 hour plane ride, for a 36 hour visit! Yuck! Note that I only like to fly Qantas... their recent addition of OnDemand TV and movies have saved my life. Another thing that has saved my life is knowing how to pack my carry on.
In this public service announcement, I will share with you some of my carry on tips..

The first must have item, which is a new product (and a lifesaver) is WISP by Colgate (http://www.colgatewisp.com/wisp/HomePage).  I would like to thank Justin for buying me these little guys so I would shut up about how cute they were! They actually ended up being extremely handy! For some reason, the WISP website touts this mini semi-toothbrush stick as a use-this-and-go-home-with-a-one-night-stand-with-fresh-breath item. They have a video of hot girls, dancing in a club, obviously all of them have fresh breath from this WISP mini toothbrush!  Pretty interesting, although I digress. I like to use it to fight bad 'plane breath'. Let's face it...it's tedious to get up 15 times on a 14 hour plane ride anyway, why get up a 16th time to brush your teeth? Please note, going 14 hours without brushing those chompers is not ok! So, buy some WISPs. They don't require water and are better than chewing gum.
The most important item that should end up in your carry on (and I should have brought this up first, but I was so excited to share the WISP) is an extra set of clothes. Shirt, pants, socks, sweatshirt, and undies are mandatory. "Why?" you may ask. Because if your check-in bag happens to be lost for days at a time upon arrival, you DO NOT want to be stuck in the same clothes you wore on the plane. I am tempted to use an aboriginal metaphor here, but since aborigines are my favorite culture to observe, I will spare any offensive talk about lack of hygiene. You may also need these clothes for other reasons (ie: some kid throws up on you, you step in pee because you forgot to put shoes on before going to the bathroom, etc.. )
Another very handy kit I make is a 'relax pack'. Being able to relax makes hours of travel more comfortable. My relax pack includes ear plugs, an eye mask, lotion, comfty socks, and a blow up pillow. Usually on long international flights, airlines give you something similar... but I have flown and not received one of these delightful little kits. Therefore, I always travel with my own.

I also add Dr. Hauschka's Jet Set pack (http://www.healthchemist.co.nz/moisturisers/dr-hauschka-jet-set-body-care-kit-travel-p911936.html). It contains a face wash, face lotion, destress oil and other fun 3 oz. TSA approved tubes that make you feel pampered while you're crushed in a small seat and breathing recycled air. The most handy item I add to this relax pack is my Tylenol PM. Works like a charm...everytime!
If you are blind (like me) and wear contacts, it's not safe to wear them on an airplane for the entire trip. I fill up my little case with solution before I pack and have my glasses at arms length on the plane. When it's sleepy time, I pop those contacts out while sitting in my seat (this may also require a travel mirror, and yes, I also travel with one of those)! If I wake up from my tylenol pm induced slumber and require my use of vision, at least my glasses are close by.
I will be following up this chapter with a 'Part 2' because I didn't want to bore you in one long blog post, but also I will be shopping more before my trip in a few weeks. Check back in before the 16th and I will post 'Part 2' (which will include more airplane saver items to pack, along with what foods and drink are the best for jet lag!).