My OperaPacking - the hard way
Monday, September 6, 2010 4:42:13 PM
One of the upsides of having hobbies like I do:
- I get out more.
- I see (a lot) more.
- I experience amazing stuff.
- I get to meet fantastic people....
.....and I get quite good at packing bulky, heavy stuff.....
Not to mention spending more time in check in lines all over the world convincing ground staff that it really is OK to bring along what I have packed.
Triathlon/Biking
What you need: A biiiig suitcase, I prefer the hard case one.
Flying Air Asia in the region, as well as many other low cost airlines - pre-purchased additional weight is the way to go. The simple reason is that this is often less than 50% of the prize you have to pay at the check in counter
For long-haul flights, and also for local flights - do let the carriers know that you will bring an over sized case . It's highly recommended to print the baggage regulation for the carrier and show to the ground staff in case of not reaching an agreement. One of the majors arguments always seem to evolve around the subject sports equipment vs. over sized suit case - as sports-equipment normally has an additional price tag
Diving
Diving used to be so much fun. Then I got myself an underwater camera, and it all got even more fun. I've only been a diver a few years, but living in this region - I've experienced some of the best dive sites in the world. My absolute favorite being Barracuda Point in Sipadan , but Rashdoo Atoll in Maldives was also fantastic. After upgrading my camera from compact to SLR (bought the underwater housing to my existing camera), and getting myself a good macro lens and an external strobe, muck diving (looking for the small critters) got even more fun!
Mabul, and especially Paradise II is a definite favorite. Packing the gear however, has only gotten more troublesome. My complete dive gear (not including camera) weighs in at 15 kg. Camera equipment adds another 8 kilograms, add a 4 kg laptop, and I'm no longer on the favorite list of the airlines 
Thursday I'm off to Lembongan Island east of Bali, diving in the area around Nusa Penida. Even though it is not peak season for Mantas, I really hope to see one. The other fish I really hope to see is the Sun fish, or Mola Mola, which is the biggest bone fish in the world - and truly looks like an alien fish.
Wish me luck
- I get out more.
- I see (a lot) more.
- I experience amazing stuff.
- I get to meet fantastic people....
.....and I get quite good at packing bulky, heavy stuff.....
Not to mention spending more time in check in lines all over the world convincing ground staff that it really is OK to bring along what I have packed.
Triathlon/Biking
What you need: A biiiig suitcase, I prefer the hard case one.
Flying Air Asia in the region, as well as many other low cost airlines - pre-purchased additional weight is the way to go. The simple reason is that this is often less than 50% of the prize you have to pay at the check in counter For long-haul flights, and also for local flights - do let the carriers know that you will bring an over sized case
. It's highly recommended to print the baggage regulation for the carrier and show to the ground staff in case of not reaching an agreement. One of the majors arguments always seem to evolve around the subject sports equipment vs. over sized suit case - as sports-equipment normally has an additional price tag Diving
Diving used to be so much fun. Then I got myself an underwater camera, and it all got even more fun. I've only been a diver a few years, but living in this region - I've experienced some of the best dive sites in the world. My absolute favorite being Barracuda Point in Sipadan , but Rashdoo Atoll in Maldives was also fantastic. After upgrading my camera from compact to SLR (bought the underwater housing to my existing camera), and getting myself a good macro lens and an external strobe, muck diving (looking for the small critters) got even more fun! Mabul, and especially Paradise II is a definite favorite.
Packing the gear however, has only gotten more troublesome. My complete dive gear (not including camera) weighs in at 15 kg. Camera equipment adds another 8 kilograms, add a 4 kg laptop, and I'm no longer on the favorite list of the airlines Thursday I'm off to Lembongan Island east of Bali, diving in the area around Nusa Penida. Even though it is not peak season for Mantas, I really hope to see one. The other fish I really hope to see is the Sun fish, or Mola Mola, which is the biggest bone fish in the world - and truly looks like an alien fish.
Wish me luck
