''Any sufficiently advanced technology, is indistinguishable from magic.''
Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Travelers from decades ago would probably laugh at travelers today and our dependence on our electronic devices. The truth is, I can't go anywhere without my phone and like most people, I rarely use it to actually talk. For better or worse, ours is a connected world and until the metal braincap is available (in the year 2025, according to Arthur C. Clarke), humans will continue to carry a handful of devices. On this trip, I will carry my phone, my GPS watch, my two-way GPS communicator, a GoPro camera, Bluetooth headphones, a Surface tablet running Windows, and adequate external storage to offload my videos and images as I travel. Of course, all of these devices except for the memory need to be charged.
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| A Plug for Every Country! |
International travel adds its own degree of complexity; not so much due to voltage differences these days as most devices are rated for both 120v and 220v, but primarily because of the differing AC power outlet standards and form factors. USB charging ports have become commonplace in public spaces in the US, but not so much overseas and I have no idea about the third world countries I'll be visiting. Even in the US, charging current from most public USB ports is so minimal that many devices barely charge at all. I have to take what's available for me and focus on AC outlets. I did a little research on the outlets in Paris, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Tibet and have determined that I will need up to six different AC plug adapters in order to keep my electronics charged. My compact multi-port USB/AC adapter operates on 50/60Hz 110-240V, so all I have to do is connect the right AC adapter, plug it into the local AC power, and I can simultaneously charge my own devices and still have ports to
share with other travelers when outlets are scarce. I'm preparing for the fact that electricity may not be available in my quarters at some of my sleep stops and I will bring along a high capacity Anker battery bank that should hold me over for those nights. Of course, this only works if I can keep the bank itself charged. The Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle I'll be riding does not have a USB charger, but the guy I'm renting from assured me that I can install one on the bike before I head out. I'll leave it there for the next rider. I'm hoping this ability to charge on-the-go will keep the music and audio books playing in my helmet throughout the long riding days...and maybe sleepless nights.
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| USB Battery Tender |
share with other travelers when outlets are scarce. I'm preparing for the fact that electricity may not be available in my quarters at some of my sleep stops and I will bring along a high capacity Anker battery bank that should hold me over for those nights. Of course, this only works if I can keep the bank itself charged. The Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle I'll be riding does not have a USB charger, but the guy I'm renting from assured me that I can install one on the bike before I head out. I'll leave it there for the next rider. I'm hoping this ability to charge on-the-go will keep the music and audio books playing in my helmet throughout the long riding days...and maybe sleepless nights.
Some have asked, but no; I won't be bringing a drone on this trip, despite them being legal to fly. Interestingly, Tibet's drone regulations are more permissive than Nepal's. I would love to capture some epic aerial footage, but the curmudgeon in me just doesn't want to deal with dragging all the batteries in my carry-on bags, transporting all the drone gear daily, and keeping everything charged for spur-of-the-moment flights. Processing and transferring my daily captured footage, and then doing all the editing after the trip for content that virtually nobody will see isn't exactly inspiring either.