the roads are getting nearer

Sunday, October 02, 2005

` Sunday, October 02, 2005

After traversing a portion of the globe rather intensively for a grand total of about 3.5 years, I've found the following to be absolute essentials to the frequent business traveller (in no particular order of importance):

Of course, who can forget my ever-trusty Sammy Boy, an affectionate name coined for the poor luggage that has been my constant travel companion, and which has been subject to my cruelly forced 'binges', as a result of overzealous shopping sprees (please see previous posting for evidence). I came to realise how important it was to invest in this purchase (soft material, as compared to the hard shelled ones, can stretch and contain much more), as it is frequently subject to abuse by baggage handlers and curt customs officials in particular countries imposing unreasonable demands. Not to forget ever-dependable ol' Nike, which has been with me on my weekend jaunts and short leisure trips.

Then there's my trusty IBM, which allows me to post entries onto the blog, chat with friends on MSN and email, surf the Internet and listen to familiar songs. The fact is that losing it is tantamount to losing an almost significant amount of my work and life's memories. 'Nuff said.

Ask any business traveller and they'd be lying if they said hotel laundry wasn't a necessary expenditure (or evil when it came to justifying the exorbitant charges). Bear in mind that the more experienced (and potentially streetwiser) person will typically charge for items requiring pressing and dry-cleaning, but leave the unmentionables and sundries for self-laundering (ie. the basin becomes a temporary manually operated washing machine not unlike the dhobis in the earlier days).

Admittedly, this has been my de-factor drink of choice for breakfast, lunch, tea and possibly after-dinner. As a matter of fact, over-consumption has led to under-contribution of the caffeine to my productive hours. Still, I reckon that the hot mocha is possibly one of the best I've tasted among the various coffee chains.

Lastly, who can dispute the most mother of all travel essentials, being the place where one returns after a long day at work, for nocturnal peace and slumber? I can't stress the utmost importance of requesting for a king or queen bedroom that does not reek of smoke, with clean white sheets and fluffy pillows and an adequately thick duvet to disappear into at bedtime. The bedroom experience makes a big difference, especially when one is away for an extended period of time. In this case, I'm immensely grateful and full of praise to the Conrad for immaculate and thoughtful housekeeping personnel leaving adequate bottles of drinking water, a daily topped up fruit basket, a complimentary teddy bear and rubber duckie at the bathtub and lovely chocolates.

Comments:

Wah! Did you just learn to post pix up on your blog? Been resting my eyes for a few days only to return and find your blog plastered with all these lovely shopping and other pictures! Makes me want to splurge too!

# posted by

cLaiRe : Monday, October 03, 2005 7:35:00 pm

Haha, all the blogs were done in a moment of inspiration, with the great help of my Nokia (which seems to load faster onto the blog than camera pictures due to the file sizes).

Have fun shopping in Hawaii!

# posted by

sPuTneeK : Tuesday, October 04, 2005 8:26:00 am