The Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus,” meaning “Always ready.” My time in that service instilled in me the most vital of all concepts: preparation. I really felt that I was prepared for my time in Bangkok, and in many ways I was. However, my first week showed me that there were several tools that I should have brought with me. The Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus,” meaning “Always ready.” My time in that service instilled in me the most vital of all concepts: preparation. I really felt that I was prepared for my time in Bangkok, and in many ways I was. However, my first week showed me that there were several tools that I should have brought with me that would have made my life so much easier. While I’m still learning, here’s a list of some of the little items that really helped me out.
(Image Credits: Carlos G. Menendez)
A Coin Purse
When my wife and I visited Japan for a birthday expedition a few years ago, I won a small Nescafé-branded coin purse from a capsule machine. The little thing proved useful almost immediately. Much like Thailand, Japan is a largely cash and coin-based economy, and it’s pretty common to see people making numerous transactions throughout their day using a bill here or a coin there. While I tried using my pockets like any other American, the weight of the coins was starting to pull my pants down. For the sake of practicality and decency, avoid the same mistake I made and invest in a simple coin purse. Mine was a measly 100 yen, and its value is easily 100 times that for me now.
(Image Credits: Carlos G. Menendez)
A Day Bag
It was my time in Hawaii that showed me the value of a small day-bag. Worn either on the chest or the back, a small bag was a command center where I could contain my passport, wallet, coin purse, power bank, bug spray, sunscreen, and maybe a drink and a snack handy. If you’re economical with the size of the bag and the contents you put in it, there’s no issue you can’t handle wherever you go. I even keep a handy-dandy foldable Bluetooth keyboard in mine, which I’m using to write this very article. Fill yours with the tools that you use every day.
(Image Credits: Carlos G. Menendez)
A Power Bank
Wandering the city, a smartphone is a priceless commodity. Serving as my navigation system, translator, ambient music, and food order system all wrapped up into one, my beefy Samsung is seldom idle on the streets of Bangkok. The downside of this is the fact that my battery tends to drain pretty quickly on my more productive days. It’s in circumstances like these where I’m thankful I invested 1000 baht in a power bank from 7/11. Providing enough power for my phone, earbuds, and even my mini-keyboard, this power bank provides the comfort that wherever I go, my most powerful tools will never die on me when I need them most.
(Image Credits: Carlos G. Menendez)
Quality Ear-Buds / Headphones
While I have always loved listening to music on the go like anyone, Bangkok is the first place where I have felt that having not only access to music but also active noise canceling is a complete necessity. Wandering around the Central World or Platinum Fashion shopping centers, the density of the people around you and vendors enticing you with their wares can be extremely overwhelming, and that’s coming from a guy who used to work on an active gun range. Do yourself a favor and make sure that whatever audio device you rely on has that delightful noise-canceling option. It can be a lifesaverduring rush hour on the cramped metro.
- Travel Apps
I’m cheating a little bit on this one, but travel apps. Google Maps, Google Translate, and Grab are absolutely vital when traveling in Bangkok, and have seen the largest majority of my phone’s battery usage. Google Translate even has an option to take pictures and translate for you on the fly, which has prevented plenty of painful mistakes when my wife and I go out to eat. Thai spice is some powerful stuff, and it’s helpful to know what foods WON’T come with those deliciously painful red chilis.
The 2006 romantic comedy film “Stranger Than Fiction” features a main character whose life is dictated by his wristwatch. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the moral of the story centers around how the small, insignificant items that occupy our lives are there to save us. Looking back at the little items I’ve written about now, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is entirely true. Without any one of the items listed above, my stay here in Bangkok, even my ability to tell you about any of it, would be greatly hindered. What matters most,, thou,gh is that these items were picked by ME, after some consideration. I strongly encourage you to think carefully about the tools that you use every day, and work to maximize their performance consciously. Your list might differ from mine, but I assure you, it will be no less valid or vital.
