Plastic Feet

In the last month, efforts to reduce our plastic footprint have increased. We try to be conscious, and it’s a fun new way of problem solving. We encourage each other and work together to reduce our imprint. The message gained from “Addicted to Plastic” and some of the topics covered in our earlier blog about plastic are impacting our actions more and more each day. The more we think, the more responsible we feel. The greater our efforts, the greater our motivation to strengthen these efforts.

We have about nine plastic bags that we reuse: a few are used to organize our clothes, one to keep my conditioner from exploding over the contents of my bag, and we carry several to use while shopping. Of the plastic bags that we carry and reuse, one is from the delicious Zam Zam bakery in Mumbai, India, where we bought boxes of cookies back in March. Another toughie was acquired at the Gaylord Hotel, dating from December of 2009. We also have the Gaylord to thank for two disposable (but actually incredibly strong and durable) plastic cups that we continue to carry and use with frequency.

When we left the United States, I packed two forks and two spoons with us, so we can refrain from accepting plastic utensils with to-go food. But I kick myself for not hanging onto a set of wooden chopsticks.

Now that we are in more westernized regions of the world, we have discontinued our bottled water purchases. We drink tap water from our Nalgene bottle, which we carry everywhere. This is made much easier in Turkey, for roadside water coolers are abundant, and many businesses also set public water coolers out on the sidewalks. The water is clean and completely safe for consumption.

My flip flops keep breaking, but I am obsessed with trying to find a replacement that is more eco-friendly: leather or wood or a combination. Soon I shall be barefoot. Cyprus had plenty of gorgeous Roman-style sandals, but I couldn’t justify the 80+ Euro price tags. I am a humble backpacker, after all!

Whenever possible, an easier feat in this part of the world, we try to purchase food in bulk and shop for homemade goods that are less likely to be wrapped in plastic. Yesterday we bought the most delicious cheese, a sour mozzarella that cuts like butter. We asked for 2 Turkish lira worth of this decadent cheese, and had the shopkeeper put the cheese in a Tupperware container that we carry with us. He barely batted an eye, but tried to put the plastic container inside of a plastic bag. Sorta defeats the purpose!

A jar that once had homemade peanut butter from Ghana is now filled with a homemade spicy tomato paste purchased here in Turkey, perfect for dressing up cheese and cucumber sandwiches.

Nathan has cut himself off from buying packaged ice cream from the cooler and now only indulges when hand-scooped cones are available.

But that’s not to say that it is always easy. In fact, some people are terribly confused by our actions. Some of them appear to be downright horrified when we pull out an obviously-used, rather wrinkled, perhaps even a bit dirty, plastic bag instead of accepting a new one. I have even had to argue, heatedly, against pushy salespeople armed with mountains of flimsy plastic bags. Our Point-It Book lacks images to communicate recycling or reusing or eco-friendliness.

I am desperate to find a translator; I feel that it will heighten our decisions and help people to understand our intentions. I’d like to write out a small card that reads: “Thank you for your understanding. We choose not to use plastic because we feel that it harms the environment.“ Please email me if you can help with this translation in Turkish. I will be needing Bulgarian, Croatian, Italian, Serbian, and French as well.

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Travel Gear and Material Possessions

Out in the world with material possessions carried on my back, I quickly established my favorites. This blog serves as a guide to those packing for a grand adventure, and as a shout-out to those who helped to prepare us!

Twisty, Elastic Clothesline: a last-minute gift from Piper, I fall more in love with this clothesline every day. It has suction cups on either end (or you can choose to use the hooks instead) and can stretch across a wide range of distances. Lightweight, compact, and infinitely better than using a piece of rope, especially in windy places where your clothes will dry in a snap, if they don’t blow away.

Tea Tree Oil: I’m so grateful that I had the foresight to bring this along, since I haven’t seen it anywhere along our travels. Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic…great for small cuts, scrapes, wounds, and even to disinfect hands in a pinch. It’s also great for easing the swelling and itching of insect bites. The pungent smell was also a lifesaver in the horrifically-stenchy shared bathrooms of Ethiopia, and daubed on a handkerchief to hold against the mouth and nose in some parts of India.

Sleeping Bag: Perhaps I have already expounded enough on the joys of my sleeping bag enough, but here’s one last bit…I love my sleeping bag!! It has been fantastic in lieu of questionable hotel sheets, as padding on hard sleeping surfaces, as a throw on cold trains, and as a generally cozy comfort item. Thanks Mom!

Point-It Book: If you haven’t already read the blog posting on this book, read it. Certainly get one if you plan to travel in lands where you don’t speak the language so well. It also works well as a distraction for finicky and noisy children and can be a splendid conversation piece. It’s like our version of a party-trick.

Business Cards: We love passing out our Hotel business cards. Our contact information is readily available on them, it advertises the hotel, and people are less inclined to lose or throw away a business card as they are a small scrap of paper. People all around the world really respect business card culture, and it ensures that we get contact information in return. One even scored us a free hotel room at a hostel in China once!

Drain Plug: Perhaps N would argue that this isn’t a favorite (of his)….but really, he’s just holding out. He knows that it’s awesome. I bought a universal drain plug from Home Depot before we left, probably $1. It’s invaluable for plugging up the sink to do laundry, stopping up the tub/shower depression to soak dirty and aching feet, and even once to close a creepy hole in the wall of our bathroom. 

LUSH Solid Shampoo: Thanks to a gift certificate from Lisa, we are still enjoying our LUSH shampoo. No worries about TSA restrictions, and it weighs much less than a comparable liquid amount. Doesn’t melt in the heat, is natural, and you can use only as much as you need to. One bar has lasted us five months…and counting. A backpacking girl doesn't get too many luxuries, but this fits the scene.

Microfiber Towel: Although I usually poo-poo techie or expensive travel gadgets, this one is well worth it. Incredibly absorbent, rolls up pretty tightly, and dries so quickly. We usually wrap our computer in it (nice padding) and have used it as a blanket many times.

Headlamp: From spelunking through the rock-hewn churchs of Lalibela, Ethiopia, to daily power outages in India, our headlamp has been a lifesaver. It's a considerate option when I want to stay up late reading and N wants to sleep. Great for sleeper trains and camping and even the night that we slept in a truck on a lonely road, waiting for a surging river to subside far enough to make a crossing (story here).

Nalgene Bottle: Great for tea in China, making hot soup in a pinch, and (now that we are back in the land of purified tap water) reducing our plastic waste by drinking the local tap water.We've used the bottle as a food storage container and as a tiny washing machine too. 

The only thing that I didn’t bring on this trip, that I wish I had, is a pedometer. I would love to know exactly how many thousands of kilometers we will have walked by the end of this journey. I bet it’s a lot.

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