Malacca, Malaysia

Hey there friends! :D

I am starting a new series of blogpost, titled "PassivePeon Travelogue", to share my memories of my holidays and travels. After all, I've always like traveling and it will be a pity to let the memories of my holiday fade off gradually..

Hence, "PassivePeon Travelogue" was set up to depict the travel adventures of a very ordinary guy, just like you!

You know, the ordinary looking bloke you typically see out on the street, and wouldn't give a look at? Yea, I'm that kind of guy. ;)

Anyway, the mantra of my travels will be 'travel fun, travel far, travel cheap'. In no specific order at all.

Very cheesy mantra I know, but I'll try to live up to it :p

One guiding principle for my holidays is to travel within budget, and not affect my annual target rate of savings. Hence, any traveling expenses that I incurred during my holidays will and should, never affect my plan to be a millionaire!

Okay enough of yakking away. Let me start off with the first blogpost of this series where I traveled to...

Malacca city! Which is located in southwest Malaysia. 

Malacca is a place filled with a rather interesting colonial past, having been colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch and Britain at various point in history. 

WHICH I didn't have a proper opportunity to explore for the 2 days I was there :(

That's because Missus PassivePeon tagged along this time round and she's not very interested in history. But its okay because Malacca has tons of other things to offer, with shopping, feasting and exploring the streets taking up the bulk of our time!

First up, we did our shopping in Mahkota Parade, which is one of the largest shopping mall in Malacca. The highlight of this shopping trip got to be our trip to this popular cafe, 'Nadeja', which serves these very awesome millicrepe.

We tried the original, chocolate and green tea flavored ones and gosh..all I can say is that the three cakes are worth the calories!

After our hearty and 'healthy' teabreak, we set out to explore some interesting places near Mahkota Parade, such as the 'Porta de Santiago', an old Portuguese gate house which used to be part of a larger fortress defending Malacca. 

Didn't last long there before I was whisked away by Missus PassivePeon:( 

Anyway, you will be able to see trishaw riders with their heavily customized trishaws around the vicinity of the gate house. 

The phrase, 'pimp my ride', takes on a new meaning here as the trishaws are deck out in elaborate decorations, with popular cartoon theme such as Frozen, Hello Kitty, etc. You can see them in the photo right below!

If you walk further down, you will get to see some other interesting sights such as a retro propeller plane as well as a vintage looking train! Yup, that's us right beside the vintage looking train:)

Now, if you walk even further down, you will get to a staircase that will bring you right up to the famous St Paul's Hill, where the oldest church and military fortification in Malaysia is located.

Despite the death stare from Missus PassivePeon, I did not succumb to fear and I mustered my courage, grabbed her hands and dragged her to the hill top. 

To be frank, we were rather disappointed upon reaching the top as it was quite dull. 

But it would make a very interesting destination at night though, with its eerie ambient. 

There's ancient tombstones there for god sake! :0 

 

 

So what's next after reaching the top of St Paul's hill? 

Walking further down again of course. As in literally walk down the hill I mean.

You will reach another tourist landmark, which is the Dutch Square. Here, you will get to see some vintage items such as a very old fire engine from the colonial period, as well as some colonial building like the Dutch influenced "Stadhuys" (Dutch for town hall) building, and Christ Church Melaka.  

  

 

Once you are tired of sight-seeing at the Dutch Square, head for the river and crosses it. Upon crossing the river, you'll have reach Jonker Street! Which is a must-go if you're in Malacca.

Jonker Street is actually a combination of a couple of streets, and is designated as a heritage zone. Packed full of eateries, heritage areas and shops, you will be able to spend hours there just like we did.

  

The day and night activities at Jonker Street are quite different. During the day, take your time to explore the cafes, restaurants and place of interests scatter around the area such as "The Daily Fix"!

We highly recommend going to The Daily Fix to get your 'daily fix'. Pun intended.

Famous for their 'Gula Melaka (palm sugar)' pancakes, 'The Daily Fix' is a quaint little vintage cafe located in a back alley along Jonker Street.

Keep your eyes peeled for its small signboard or you might just miss it.
 

Besides being a food paradise, Jonker Street also offer interesting sites such as these artsy-fartsy walls that will make a good backdrop for your instagram photos! 

 

Another place of interest at Jonker Street is the Mamee noodles museum. Mamee noodles is a tidbit that is rather popular in Malaysia and Singapore. And apparently, Malacca is where it originate! 

Either that or the peoples in Malacca exceptionally idolize the noodles. 

Look! You can see the advertising and branding of Mamee in multiple spots in Malacca :0

 

Okay. Here's the interesting part.

When night fall, Jonker Street will be transformed as the streets are closed to vehicles and street hawkers come out to peddle their wares and food. This makes Jonker Street an entirely different place to explore at night even though you might have walked along the same street a couple of hours earlier in the day!

Once I satisfied Missus PassivePeon's shopping needs, we headed back to Hatten Hotel Melaka, which is our accommodation for the night.

The hotel while comfortable, is nothing much to shout about. But there's one thing that should deserve your attention!

Order their in-room dining meals as they serve one of the nicest food around in Melaka. Urmm.. Yup, thats solely our opinion.

But still, just to give you an idea how delicious their meals are; we ordered the Seafood Hor Fun, Fried Kway Tiao and Mushroom Soup for two persons, and we managed to finish every last bit of the food!

I know the photo of the food does not look too appetizing. But trust me, that is due to my mediocre photography skill rather than the quality of the food.

With these, I have come to the end of my narration of our short 2days 1night trip to Melaka :D

Total cost of this Malacca for 2 persons? S$500 in total; including accommodation and bus transport from Singapore.

Who says we can't have fun and have an enjoyable holiday while working our way to financial independence!

My SHET Bag (Ver 1.0)

Have you ever heard of a Bug Out Bag (BOB)?

Basically, a BOB is a bag packed full of essentials for you to survive in an emergency situation. I like the idea of a BOB tremendously as it provides me with a sense of assurance that when all is wrong with the world, I am still able to grab this bag, make a run and then survive.

BUT thennnn... a BOB seems like an overkill in this part of the world where I live in. After all, Singapore is not touted as one of the safest countries in the world for nothing. There has been no earthquake, tsunami or economic collapse for years and I personally do not think we will encounter such disasters in our lifetime. I will also look freaking weird lugging such a bag around in Singapore.

So with that being said, I dropped the idea of prepping a BOB.

Now now, I have another interest, and that is traveling! Traveling does not even have to be a holiday! Even a short stay at a kelong will put a smile on my face for days :D

When I travel, I prefer to travel light with just a backpack. I feel that having to lug huge suitcase would just hinder my mobility to experience the joy of traveling. My trip to Japan for 2 weeks during winter, while being geared with only what I have in my backpack is certainly a testament to this concept.

I also noticed when I travel, I always pack the same few items. Toothbrush, types of clothing, facial wash, etc. Hence, I got lazy and decided to just keep this few items permanently in my backpack.

AND thennnnn... Eureka! Why not have a watered-down version of a BOB combined with my traveling backpack permanently packed and placed in a convenient spot? When trouble or holiday is calling out for me, all I will have to do is to grab my bag and run!

Hence, the SHET bag was devised!

What is a SHET bag? It is a bag to ensure Survival, allows for Holiday, packed with Emergency items and capable of Traveling anywhere in the world with me (SHIT SHET) !

It will be a compromise between a BOB and a light travel bag. For example, common tools in a BOB such as a Swiss army knife will not be used. No airport security will allow me to check-in with such sharp objects :(

Yet at the same time, it will still be sufficiently equipped to give me the assurance that I can survive for days with just the SHET bag.

Okay, enough of me yakking away. Behold! Here lies a list of items that comprise my SHET bag:


The Bags

The 2 storage medium for all my other SHET belongings.


1. The North Face Big Shot II
My wonder bag from The North Face. This 32litres bag is so portable and check-in friendly that I never had an issue checking in with this as my carry-on bag so far. The dimension falls in line with most airline requirement. In fact, I cannot seem to find any airline with regulations that does not permit carry-on bags of this dimension.

In terms of functionality, this bag stores a lot for its size. I'll let the picture below do the talking:D

Yup, all the above items were stuff into the Big Shot II ;)

Additionally, I like how the Big Shot II feels so snug when I carry it. Guess their special 'Atilon' foam padding and their certification from the American Chiropractic Association certainly helps.

Another reason to love the Big Shot II is the nylon and polyester materials used in its construction. It feels genuinely tough as though it can withstand tons of abuse. Personally, I have not really abuse the bag (can't bear to;p). However, it did went on numerous trips with me already and yet not a single scratch mark was found. The sturdy zippers are also still working great! Given the material used, it is also water-resistant and hence, your belongings will still stay dry unless it is a heavy downpour.

If I really have to suggest further improvement to the Big Shot II, I will prefer one additional divider in the main compartment and improved material to be use for the back support so that it will not heat up so easily.

2. Porter International Melody Messenger Bag
This was a gift from my fiancee perhaps 5 or even 6 years back. The fact that I am still using it daily for work, shopping trips to town, and overseas travel, certainly reflects well on its durability and its timeless fashion relevance. My fiancee is quite a fashionista you see, and will definitely stop me from bringing it out when it is deem too 'outdated' to her.
 

Yup, sadly, she does have a big say in my dressing:(

This messenger bag is mainly used for carrying my essential items such as my wallet, mobile phone and portable charger. During travel, it will also be used to contain my travel documents for easy retrieval at the airport.


Any improvement required? Hmmm... maybe a more distinctive logo ought to be displayed. I have friends telling me that they did not realise the brand until they had a closer look. Not that it really bothers me. I'll certainly grab this bag again without hesitation when it gives way.


Electronics

1. Samsung Note2 Mobile Phone
This phone with a big screen has certainly served me well in my daily life as well as my travel. As with most smartphones, there are so many ways in which I have relied on it. Navigating, photo taking, web browsing, tracking of expenses, purchasing of stocks, digital bookshelf, gaming, and many more functions!

However, there are much better phones out in the market currently such as the Samsung Note4 or even the Apple iPhone 6Plus and I see no reason to still be holding onto an older phone model.

Nevertheless, this trusty old Note2 will stay with me until I saved enough to get a newer phone model. I want to take photos with a better phone camera! :D


2. Xiaomi Power Bank
Portable charger has become such an important item in my life nowadays and personally, I think Xiaomi Power Bank is the best of them all. The number of times it had saved my phone from dying is countless.

The Xiaomi Power Bank I have is the 10400mAh model, capable of providing about 2.5 full charge for my Samsung Note2 even after 1whole year of intensive usage. My previous portable chargers cannot even provide a single full charge after barely a few months of usage.

At it current price of $18.90, I feel that the Xiaomi represents the best value amongst all the portable charger in the market.

Oh, I got it for free by the way. One of the benefits of having good pal around :D hahah


3. Sonus Universal Plug Adapter
Universal plug adapter is a very essential item for a modern traveler with all the charging required by our equipments (phone, camera, etc) and the many different standard of power outlets/sockets around the world.

I obtain my adapter for free as a corporate gift and I do not think it is being retailed. However, I do know of this model that is being highly recommended though.


4. Random Cheapo Earphone
I am too broke to buy any good quality earphones and hence, my current earphone is some random cheapo earphone that is a hands-me-down from my fiancee.


Clothing

I have a standard set of clothing I will always carry regardless of the duration of the trips and the weather conditions. I believe these standard clothing that I always pack is more than sufficient for my basic clothing needs. After all, should I ever run out of clean clothing, all I will have to do is to wash my dirty ones.


Hence, these are the few standard clothing I will always have in my SHET bag:

1. Nike Dri-Fit Jersey
Nike has this line of apparel which utilise their Dri-Fit technology to keep us cool efficiently. Apparently, other brands have similar technology too, such as Addidas with their Climatecool technology.

Ultimately, they all work the same. Getting sweats off our body to the surface of the clothing quickly, enabling the sweats to be evaporated efficiently. The reason why Nike was chosen instead of the others is because Nike is the official jersey sponsor for my favorite soccer team. Arsenal. Do forgive the soccer fanatic residing in my heart =)  It looks good anyway, even though my fiancee deeply hates it cause I wear it every single week:(

In terms of comfort, I find it to be one of the best clothing ever manufactured. If I could wear it every single day, I would.

It does its job of keeping me cool so effectively, I do not even feel that I am sweating even when I can see the wet sweaty patches on the back of the surrounding people. It dries quickly too! Allowing me to cool down rapidly after strenuous activities. On occasions where I want to wear it consecutively for days, I would wash it and have it ready to be worn hours later since it dries so quickly.

Get it, especially if you are an Arsenal fan. If you are not an Arsenal fan, you should be one. Lol. Just kidding. You may consider Addidas Climatecool clothing too, since they work the same from what I understand.


2. Forever 21 Cotton T-Shirt (2nos)
Cotton clothing are extremely breathable, repeal dust, wick sweat well and feel soft to the skin. In short, they are one of the more comfortable clothing. They dries quickly too, often within hours after washing.

I have 2nos of cotton T-shirt from Forever 21. One black and the other grey. I feel comfortable wearing them and more importantly, they look great!

My fiancee said so. So it must be true.


3. Long Sleeve Shirt (1no)
For the more formal occasion or where I have to enter areas which require better dress code such as clubbing.

Badum Badum dum dum dum! Raise ye hands in the air!

JUST AN EXAMPLE. I do not club. Hear that Mrs PassivePeon? :/

No particular brand since I usually select based on availability and my mood.

4. Levi 501 Jean (1no) 

Do not get this.

Not the best jean I have worn. Does not looks good to me, breathability is poor, does not keep me warm in colder climate and quality is not as good as it is touted to be. I have a hole in it after just 1 year of heavy usage and I thought it was suppose to last for years!

However, a long pant is necessary for any adventure and this is the only pair of long pant I possess:(

Nevertheless, I will seek to replace it with a better quality pant once I have the $$$.

5. Padini Brown Bermuda (1no)
I have nothing but praises for this bermuda. It looks fantastic (yes, my fiancee endorse this) and the quality is awesome. I have worn this bermuda intensively for the past 4years and it still looks just as new. The colour has not fade and no holes are spotted. Fabric feels soft to my skin and it feels airy underneath the deep recess of my..... okay. Nevermind. You know what I mean!

Unfortunately, the store where I got it from (Padini) seems to have folded and the bermuda does not appear to be in production anymore:(   

6. Counterfeit Jersey Set (1 set) :p
This form my sleepwear actually. Consist of 1 polyester shirt and 1 polyester short.

Very comfortable honestly, for the price I paid. I got it on the cheap from Taobao but I am sure it can be easily found elsewhere. Just blogging about this sleepwear makes me feel so sleepy:0

7. Face Towel (1no)
Just a basic face towel. Though it is a 'face' towel, I use it to wipe my whole body since I do not wish to carry a huge towel around.

I am aiming to get one of these microfiber towel though since they are much more capable of absorbing water and drying out quickly.

8. Swim Trunk (1no)


9. Underwear (4nos)


10. Earth Runner Sandal  
Another awesome product I discovered. It is so light and thin, I can pack it into my bag without occupying much space.

It has multiple functions too! Acting as both a slipper and a sandal, it is very useful when I prefer to air my feet when I am out. When I am at the pool or the beach, I will also wear it. Although the surface is made with leather, it does not smell when it touches the water.

It is also extremely durable despite being so light and thin. I have been wearing it for the past 2years and the only damages it received is at the strap which is easily replaceable. Additionally, I have wore it for hiking trips and full-day shopping trips.

If it can survive a full-day shopping trip with my fiancee, it can survive anything:p

Comfort wise, I dare say it is one of the best sandals around. Unlike my previous sandals and slippers, my heels does not hurt, even after a whole day of walking.


11. New Balance U420 Running Shoe 
The best footwear I have ever worn. Looks extremely good (Yup, you guess it right. My fiancee said so. Repeatedly.) and the comfort level is unparallelled compared with my previous shoes.

The padding is just right and when I tried running with it, I genuinely thought that I am capable of beating my personal record. In fact, this has become my working shoe and I wears it to work 5 times a week.  


Clothing (Cold Wear)
The clothing listed here are usually omitted when I pack unless I am heading to a location which is cold. For cold wear, I feel that it will be better if we take a layered approach where we put on additional clothing until we feel sufficiently warm. This reduces the number of cold wear we are required to bring.

1. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka
I had worn this parka to China and Japan during winter where the temperature sometimes reaches slightly below 0 Degree Celsius and this parka has keep me sufficiently warm.

For the price I paid for this parka, I have no complains. If I have excess money, I will replace this with a lighter parka that come with improved insulation. 


Medikit

1. Recycled Sweet Container
To store the medicines.

2. Paracetamol Tablets (4 serving)
To relieve fever and flu.

3. Po Chai Pills (4 serving)
This medicine serve to relieve me from food poisoning and indigestion, which are both very likely during oversea trips.


Toiletries

1. SAF Toiletries Bag
Free toiletries bag I obtained while I was serving the army. No idea how to obtain it now.

2. Gotoob Travel Tube with Avene Facial Wash
This travel-friendly container holds my facial wash. My face is extremely important to me and hence, I uses only quality facial wash by Avene, which is properly stored in the Gotoob travel tube.

yes, you read that right the first time. My face is important and I am a vainpot:)

3. Toothbrush

4. Mouthwash in Travel Sized Container

5. Gatsby Hairwax in Travel Sized Container
To keep my hair looking fabulous when I am on holiday.

6. Tooth Floss


Miscellaneous

1. Casio Calculator Watch
Beside telling me the time, this watch comes in very handy when I am oversea, trying to convert the currency to Singapore Dollar.

2. Torchlight

A very important tool which I am still choosing,  between the Streamlight 66318 or Fenix E01. I will do a review of the selected torchlight in the next blog post for SHET.

3. Spectacle with Casing
I am a speckie :(

4. Contact Lens
To look handsome.

5. Contact Lens Solution with Casing
For the maintenance of looking handsome :p

6. Tissue Paper (3nos)
A million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok..nevermind.

7. Wet Tissue (3nos)
Similarly, another million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok... you get the drift.

8. Water Bottle
Water. The essence of life. And what better way to store it than a recycled plastic bottle!

Kidding. I am just too poor to get a proper bottle. I am aiming for this collapsible bottle though.


And this is it. My complete items inside my SHET bag for now.

When it is all packed in, I realised I have more than 50% of space left in my Big Shot II! This should offer plenty of space to store my souvenirs during my travel.

The weight of the Big Shot II when it is loaded, is at a comfortable and acceptable level currently. I will not be making my bag heavier any further. My experience of lugging a fully loaded bag during my Japan trip has taught me well.

Honestly, I feel that it functions more like a travel bag than a BOB currently. That is because I have a limited budget for now. In years to come as I earn more, I will be making improvement to this SHET bag and the updates will be posted on a yearly basis.

Phew...what a long blog post for me. Adios and travel safe peons!

Finally, my first post on a non-financial related matter! Instead, I am going to talk about one of my many interests :D

Have you ever heard of a Bug Out Bag (BOB)?

Basically, a BOB is a bag packed full of essentials for you to survive in an emergency situation. I like the idea of a BOB tremendously as it provides me with a sense of assurance that when all is wrong with the world, I am still able to grab this bag, make a run and then survive.

BUT thennnn... a BOB seems like an overkill in this part of the world where I live in. After all, Singapore is not touted as one of the safest countries in the world for nothing. There has been no earthquake, tsunami or economic collapse for years and I personally do not think we will encounter such disasters in our lifetime. I will also look freaking weird lugging such a bag around in Singapore.

So with that being said, I dropped the idea of prepping a BOB.

Now now, I have another interest, and that is traveling! Traveling does not even have to be a holiday! Even a short stay at a kelong will put a smile on my face for days :D

When I travel, I prefer to travel light with just a backpack. I feel that having to lug huge suitcase would just hinder my mobility to experience the joy of traveling. My trip to Japan for 2 weeks during winter, while being geared with only what I have in my backpack is certainly a testament to this concept.

I also noticed when I travel, I always pack the same few items. Toothbrush, types of clothing, facial wash, etc. Hence, I got lazy and decided to just keep this few items permanently in my backpack.

AND thennnnn... Eureka! Why not have a watered-down version of a BOB combined with my traveling backpack permanently packed and placed in a convenient spot? When trouble or holiday is calling out for me, all I will have to do is to grab my bag and run!

Hence, the SHET bag was devised!

What is a SHET bag? It is a bag to ensure Survival, allows for Holiday, packed with Emergency items and capable of Traveling anywhere in the world with me (SHIT SHET) !

It will be a compromise between a BOB and a light travel bag. For example, common tools in a BOB such as a Swiss army knife will not be used. No airport security will allow me to check-in with such sharp objects :(

Yet at the same time, it will still be sufficiently equipped to give me the assurance that I can survive for days with just the SHET bag.

Okay, enough of me yakking away. Behold! Here lies a list of items that comprise my SHET bag:


The Bags

The 2 storage medium for all my other SHET belongings.


1. The North Face Big Shot II
My wonder bag from The North Face. This 32litres bag is so portable and check-in friendly that I never had an issue checking in with this as my carry-on bag so far. The dimension falls in line with most airline requirement. In fact, I cannot seem to find any airline with regulations that does not permit carry-on bags of this dimension.

In terms of functionality, this bag stores a lot for its size. I'll let the picture below do the talking:D

Yup, all the above items were stuff into the Big Shot II ;)

Additionally, I like how the Big Shot II feels so snug when I carry it. Guess their special 'Atilon' foam padding and their certification from the American Chiropractic Association certainly helps.

Another reason to love the Big Shot II is the nylon and polyester materials used in its construction. It feels genuinely tough as though it can withstand tons of abuse. Personally, I have not really abuse the bag (can't bear to;p). However, it did went on numerous trips with me already and yet not a single scratch mark was found. The sturdy zippers are also still working great! Given the material used, it is also water-resistant and hence, your belongings will still stay dry unless it is a heavy downpour.

If I really have to suggest further improvement to the Big Shot II, I will prefer one additional divider in the main compartment and improved material to be use for the back support so that it will not heat up so easily.

2. Porter International Melody Messenger Bag
This was a gift from my fiancee perhaps 5 or even 6 years back. The fact that I am still using it daily for work, shopping trips to town, and overseas travel, certainly reflects well on its durability and its timeless fashion relevance. My fiancee is quite a fashionista you see, and will definitely stop me from bringing it out when it is deem too 'outdated' to her.
 

Yup, sadly, she does have a big say in my dressing:(

This messenger bag is mainly used for carrying my essential items such as my wallet, mobile phone and portable charger. During travel, it will also be used to contain my travel documents for easy retrieval at the airport.


Any improvement required? Hmmm... maybe a more distinctive logo ought to be displayed. I have friends telling me that they did not realise the brand until they had a closer look. Not that it really bothers me. I'll certainly grab this bag again without hesitation when it gives way.


Electronics

1. Samsung Note2 Mobile Phone
This phone with a big screen has certainly served me well in my daily life as well as my travel. As with most smartphones, there are so many ways in which I have relied on it. Navigating, photo taking, web browsing, tracking of expenses, purchasing of stocks, digital bookshelf, gaming, and many more functions!

However, there are much better phones out in the market currently such as the Samsung Note4 or even the Apple iPhone 6Plus and I see no reason to still be holding onto an older phone model.

Nevertheless, this trusty old Note2 will stay with me until I saved enough to get a newer phone model. I want to take photos with a better phone camera! :D


2. Xiaomi Power Bank
Portable charger has become such an important item in my life nowadays and personally, I think Xiaomi Power Bank is the best of them all. The number of times it had saved my phone from dying is countless.

The Xiaomi Power Bank I have is the 10400mAh model, capable of providing about 2.5 full charge for my Samsung Note2 even after 1whole year of intensive usage. My previous portable chargers cannot even provide a single full charge after barely a few months of usage.

At it current price of $18.90, I feel that the Xiaomi represents the best value amongst all the portable charger in the market.

Oh, I got it for free by the way. One of the benefits of having good pal around :D hahah


3. Sonus Universal Plug Adapter
Universal plug adapter is a very essential item for a modern traveler with all the charging required by our equipments (phone, camera, etc) and the many different standard of power outlets/sockets around the world.

I obtain my adapter for free as a corporate gift and I do not think it is being retailed. However, I do know of this model that is being highly recommended though.


4. Random Cheapo Earphone
I am too broke to buy any good quality earphones and hence, my current earphone is some random cheapo earphone that is a hands-me-down from my fiancee.


Clothing

I have a standard set of clothing I will always carry regardless of the duration of the trips and the weather conditions. I believe these standard clothing that I always pack is more than sufficient for my basic clothing needs. After all, should I ever run out of clean clothing, all I will have to do is to wash my dirty ones.


Hence, these are the few standard clothing I will always have in my SHET bag:

1. Nike Dri-Fit Jersey
Nike has this line of apparel which utilise their Dri-Fit technology to keep us cool efficiently. Apparently, other brands have similar technology too, such as Addidas with their Climatecool technology.

Ultimately, they all work the same. Getting sweats off our body to the surface of the clothing quickly, enabling the sweats to be evaporated efficiently. The reason why Nike was chosen instead of the others is because Nike is the official jersey sponsor for my favorite soccer team. Arsenal. Do forgive the soccer fanatic residing in my heart =)  It looks good anyway, even though my fiancee deeply hates it cause I wear it every single week:(

In terms of comfort, I find it to be one of the best clothing ever manufactured. If I could wear it every single day, I would.

It does its job of keeping me cool so effectively, I do not even feel that I am sweating even when I can see the wet sweaty patches on the back of the surrounding people. It dries quickly too! Allowing me to cool down rapidly after strenuous activities. On occasions where I want to wear it consecutively for days, I would wash it and have it ready to be worn hours later since it dries so quickly.

Get it, especially if you are an Arsenal fan. If you are not an Arsenal fan, you should be one. Lol. Just kidding. You may consider Addidas Climatecool clothing too, since they work the same from what I understand.


2. Forever 21 Cotton T-Shirt (2nos)
Cotton clothing are extremely breathable, repeal dust, wick sweat well and feel soft to the skin. In short, they are one of the more comfortable clothing. They dries quickly too, often within hours after washing.

I have 2nos of cotton T-shirt from Forever 21. One black and the other grey. I feel comfortable wearing them and more importantly, they look great!

My fiancee said so. So it must be true.


3. Long Sleeve Shirt (1no)
For the more formal occasion or where I have to enter areas which require better dress code such as clubbing.

Badum Badum dum dum dum! Raise ye hands in the air!

JUST AN EXAMPLE. I do not club. Hear that Mrs PassivePeon? :/

No particular brand since I usually select based on availability and my mood.

4. Levi 501 Jean (1no) 

Do not get this.

Not the best jean I have worn. Does not looks good to me, breathability is poor, does not keep me warm in colder climate and quality is not as good as it is touted to be. I have a hole in it after just 1 year of heavy usage and I thought it was suppose to last for years!

However, a long pant is necessary for any adventure and this is the only pair of long pant I possess:(

Nevertheless, I will seek to replace it with a better quality pant once I have the $$$.

5. Padini Brown Bermuda (1no)
I have nothing but praises for this bermuda. It looks fantastic (yes, my fiancee endorse this) and the quality is awesome. I have worn this bermuda intensively for the past 4years and it still looks just as new. The colour has not fade and no holes are spotted. Fabric feels soft to my skin and it feels airy underneath the deep recess of my..... okay. Nevermind. You know what I mean!

Unfortunately, the store where I got it from (Padini) seems to have folded and the bermuda does not appear to be in production anymore:(   

6. Counterfeit Jersey Set (1 set) :p
This form my sleepwear actually. Consist of 1 polyester shirt and 1 polyester short.

Very comfortable honestly, for the price I paid. I got it on the cheap from Taobao but I am sure it can be easily found elsewhere. Just blogging about this sleepwear makes me feel so sleepy:0

7. Face Towel (1no)
Just a basic face towel. Though it is a 'face' towel, I use it to wipe my whole body since I do not wish to carry a huge towel around.

I am aiming to get one of these microfiber towel though since they are much more capable of absorbing water and drying out quickly.

8. Swim Trunk (1no)


9. Underwear (4nos)


10. Earth Runner Sandal  
Another awesome product I discovered. It is so light and thin, I can pack it into my bag without occupying much space.

It has multiple functions too! Acting as both a slipper and a sandal, it is very useful when I prefer to air my feet when I am out. When I am at the pool or the beach, I will also wear it. Although the surface is made with leather, it does not smell when it touches the water.

It is also extremely durable despite being so light and thin. I have been wearing it for the past 2years and the only damages it received is at the strap which is easily replaceable. Additionally, I have wore it for hiking trips and full-day shopping trips.

If it can survive a full-day shopping trip with my fiancee, it can survive anything:p

Comfort wise, I dare say it is one of the best sandals around. Unlike my previous sandals and slippers, my heels does not hurt, even after a whole day of walking.


11. New Balance U420 Running Shoe 
The best footwear I have ever worn. Looks extremely good (Yup, you guess it right. My fiancee said so. Repeatedly.) and the comfort level is unparallelled compared with my previous shoes.

The padding is just right and when I tried running with it, I genuinely thought that I am capable of beating my personal record. In fact, this has become my working shoe and I wears it to work 5 times a week.  


Clothing (Cold Wear)
The clothing listed here are usually omitted when I pack unless I am heading to a location which is cold. For cold wear, I feel that it will be better if we take a layered approach where we put on additional clothing until we feel sufficiently warm. This reduces the number of cold wear we are required to bring.

1. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka
I had worn this parka to China and Japan during winter where the temperature sometimes reaches slightly below 0 Degree Celsius and this parka has keep me sufficiently warm.

For the price I paid for this parka, I have no complains. If I have excess money, I will replace this with a lighter parka that come with improved insulation. 


Medikit

1. Recycled Sweet Container
To store the medicines.

2. Paracetamol Tablets (4 serving)
To relieve fever and flu.

3. Po Chai Pills (4 serving)
This medicine serve to relieve me from food poisoning and indigestion, which are both very likely during oversea trips.


Toiletries

1. SAF Toiletries Bag
Free toiletries bag I obtained while I was serving the army. No idea how to obtain it now.

2. Gotoob Travel Tube with Avene Facial Wash
This travel-friendly container holds my facial wash. My face is extremely important to me and hence, I uses only quality facial wash by Avene, which is properly stored in the Gotoob travel tube.

yes, you read that right the first time. My face is important and I am a vainpot:)

3. Toothbrush

4. Mouthwash in Travel Sized Container

5. Gatsby Hairwax in Travel Sized Container
To keep my hair looking fabulous when I am on holiday.

6. Tooth Floss


Miscellaneous

1. Casio Calculator Watch
Beside telling me the time, this watch comes in very handy when I am oversea, trying to convert the currency to Singapore Dollar.

2. Torchlight

A very important tool which I am still choosing,  between the Streamlight 66318 or Fenix E01. I will do a review of the selected torchlight in the next blog post for SHET.

3. Spectacle with Casing
I am a speckie :(

4. Contact Lens
To look handsome.

5. Contact Lens Solution with Casing
For the maintenance of looking handsome :p

6. Tissue Paper (3nos)
A million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok..nevermind.

7. Wet Tissue (3nos)
Similarly, another million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok... you get the drift.

8. Water Bottle
Water. The essence of life. And what better way to store it than a recycled plastic bottle!

Kidding. I am just too poor to get a proper bottle. I am aiming for this collapsible bottle though.


And this is it. My complete items inside my SHET bag for now.

When it is all packed in, I realised I have more than 50% of space left in my Big Shot II! This should offer plenty of space to store my souvenirs during my travel.

The weight of the Big Shot II when it is loaded, is at a comfortable and acceptable level currently. I will not be making my bag heavier any further. My experience of lugging a fully loaded bag during my Japan trip has taught me well.

Honestly, I feel that it functions more like a travel bag than a BOB currently. That is because I have a limited budget for now. In years to come as I earn more, I will be making improvement to this SHET bag and the updates will be posted on a yearly basis.

Phew...what a long blog post for me. Adios and travel safe peons!

Finally, my first post on a non-financial related matter! Instead, I am going to talk about one of my many interests :D

Have you ever heard of a Bug Out Bag (BOB)?

Basically, a BOB is a bag packed full of essentials for you to survive in an emergency situation. I like the idea of a BOB tremendously as it provides me with a sense of assurance that when all is wrong with the world, I am still able to grab this bag, make a run and then survive.

BUT thennnn... a BOB seems like an overkill in this part of the world where I live in. After all, Singapore is not touted as one of the safest countries in the world for nothing. There has been no earthquake, tsunami or economic collapse for years and I personally do not think we will encounter such disasters in our lifetime. I will also look freaking weird lugging such a bag around in Singapore.

So with that being said, I dropped the idea of prepping a BOB.

Now now, I have another interest, and that is traveling! Traveling does not even have to be a holiday! Even a short stay at a kelong will put a smile on my face for days :D

When I travel, I prefer to travel light with just a backpack. I feel that having to lug huge suitcase would just hinder my mobility to experience the joy of traveling. My trip to Japan for 2 weeks during winter, while being geared with only what I have in my backpack is certainly a testament to this concept.

I also noticed when I travel, I always pack the same few items. Toothbrush, types of clothing, facial wash, etc. Hence, I got lazy and decided to just keep this few items permanently in my backpack.

AND thennnnn... Eureka! Why not have a watered-down version of a BOB combined with my traveling backpack permanently packed and placed in a convenient spot? When trouble or holiday is calling out for me, all I will have to do is to grab my bag and run!

Hence, the SHET bag was devised!

What is a SHET bag? It is a bag to ensure Survival, allows for Holiday, packed with Emergency items and capable of Traveling anywhere in the world with me (SHIT SHET) !

It will be a compromise between a BOB and a light travel bag. For example, common tools in a BOB such as a Swiss army knife will not be used. No airport security will allow me to check-in with such sharp objects :(

Yet at the same time, it will still be sufficiently equipped to give me the assurance that I can survive for days with just the SHET bag.

Okay, enough of me yakking away. Behold! Here lies a list of items that comprise my SHET bag:


The Bags

The 2 storage medium for all my other SHET belongings.


1. The North Face Big Shot II
My wonder bag from The North Face. This 32litres bag is so portable and check-in friendly that I never had an issue checking in with this as my carry-on bag so far. The dimension falls in line with most airline requirement. In fact, I cannot seem to find any airline with regulations that does not permit carry-on bags of this dimension.

In terms of functionality, this bag stores a lot for its size. I'll let the picture below do the talking:D

Yup, all the above items were stuff into the Big Shot II ;)

Additionally, I like how the Big Shot II feels so snug when I carry it. Guess their special 'Atilon' foam padding and their certification from the American Chiropractic Association certainly helps.

Another reason to love the Big Shot II is the nylon and polyester materials used in its construction. It feels genuinely tough as though it can withstand tons of abuse. Personally, I have not really abuse the bag (can't bear to;p). However, it did went on numerous trips with me already and yet not a single scratch mark was found. The sturdy zippers are also still working great! Given the material used, it is also water-resistant and hence, your belongings will still stay dry unless it is a heavy downpour.

If I really have to suggest further improvement to the Big Shot II, I will prefer one additional divider in the main compartment and improved material to be use for the back support so that it will not heat up so easily.

2. Porter International Melody Messenger Bag
This was a gift from my fiancee perhaps 5 or even 6 years back. The fact that I am still using it daily for work, shopping trips to town, and overseas travel, certainly reflects well on its durability and its timeless fashion relevance. My fiancee is quite a fashionista you see, and will definitely stop me from bringing it out when it is deem too 'outdated' to her.
 

Yup, sadly, she does have a big say in my dressing:(

This messenger bag is mainly used for carrying my essential items such as my wallet, mobile phone and portable charger. During travel, it will also be used to contain my travel documents for easy retrieval at the airport.


Any improvement required? Hmmm... maybe a more distinctive logo ought to be displayed. I have friends telling me that they did not realise the brand until they had a closer look. Not that it really bothers me. I'll certainly grab this bag again without hesitation when it gives way.


Electronics

1. Samsung Note2 Mobile Phone
This phone with a big screen has certainly served me well in my daily life as well as my travel. As with most smartphones, there are so many ways in which I have relied on it. Navigating, photo taking, web browsing, tracking of expenses, purchasing of stocks, digital bookshelf, gaming, and many more functions!

However, there are much better phones out in the market currently such as the Samsung Note4 or even the Apple iPhone 6Plus and I see no reason to still be holding onto an older phone model.

Nevertheless, this trusty old Note2 will stay with me until I saved enough to get a newer phone model. I want to take photos with a better phone camera! :D


2. Xiaomi Power Bank
Portable charger has become such an important item in my life nowadays and personally, I think Xiaomi Power Bank is the best of them all. The number of times it had saved my phone from dying is countless.

The Xiaomi Power Bank I have is the 10400mAh model, capable of providing about 2.5 full charge for my Samsung Note2 even after 1whole year of intensive usage. My previous portable chargers cannot even provide a single full charge after barely a few months of usage.

At it current price of $18.90, I feel that the Xiaomi represents the best value amongst all the portable charger in the market.

Oh, I got it for free by the way. One of the benefits of having good pal around :D hahah


3. Sonus Universal Plug Adapter
Universal plug adapter is a very essential item for a modern traveler with all the charging required by our equipments (phone, camera, etc) and the many different standard of power outlets/sockets around the world.

I obtain my adapter for free as a corporate gift and I do not think it is being retailed. However, I do know of this model that is being highly recommended though.


4. Random Cheapo Earphone
I am too broke to buy any good quality earphones and hence, my current earphone is some random cheapo earphone that is a hands-me-down from my fiancee.


Clothing

I have a standard set of clothing I will always carry regardless of the duration of the trips and the weather conditions. I believe these standard clothing that I always pack is more than sufficient for my basic clothing needs. After all, should I ever run out of clean clothing, all I will have to do is to wash my dirty ones.


Hence, these are the few standard clothing I will always have in my SHET bag:

1. Nike Dri-Fit Jersey
Nike has this line of apparel which utilise their Dri-Fit technology to keep us cool efficiently. Apparently, other brands have similar technology too, such as Addidas with their Climatecool technology.

Ultimately, they all work the same. Getting sweats off our body to the surface of the clothing quickly, enabling the sweats to be evaporated efficiently. The reason why Nike was chosen instead of the others is because Nike is the official jersey sponsor for my favorite soccer team. Arsenal. Do forgive the soccer fanatic residing in my heart =)  It looks good anyway, even though my fiancee deeply hates it cause I wear it every single week:(

In terms of comfort, I find it to be one of the best clothing ever manufactured. If I could wear it every single day, I would.

It does its job of keeping me cool so effectively, I do not even feel that I am sweating even when I can see the wet sweaty patches on the back of the surrounding people. It dries quickly too! Allowing me to cool down rapidly after strenuous activities. On occasions where I want to wear it consecutively for days, I would wash it and have it ready to be worn hours later since it dries so quickly.

Get it, especially if you are an Arsenal fan. If you are not an Arsenal fan, you should be one. Lol. Just kidding. You may consider Addidas Climatecool clothing too, since they work the same from what I understand.


2. Forever 21 Cotton T-Shirt (2nos)
Cotton clothing are extremely breathable, repeal dust, wick sweat well and feel soft to the skin. In short, they are one of the more comfortable clothing. They dries quickly too, often within hours after washing.

I have 2nos of cotton T-shirt from Forever 21. One black and the other grey. I feel comfortable wearing them and more importantly, they look great!

My fiancee said so. So it must be true.


3. Long Sleeve Shirt (1no)
For the more formal occasion or where I have to enter areas which require better dress code such as clubbing.

Badum Badum dum dum dum! Raise ye hands in the air!

JUST AN EXAMPLE. I do not club. Hear that Mrs PassivePeon? :/

No particular brand since I usually select based on availability and my mood.

4. Levi 501 Jean (1no) 

Do not get this.

Not the best jean I have worn. Does not looks good to me, breathability is poor, does not keep me warm in colder climate and quality is not as good as it is touted to be. I have a hole in it after just 1 year of heavy usage and I thought it was suppose to last for years!

However, a long pant is necessary for any adventure and this is the only pair of long pant I possess:(

Nevertheless, I will seek to replace it with a better quality pant once I have the $$$.

5. Padini Brown Bermuda (1no)
I have nothing but praises for this bermuda. It looks fantastic (yes, my fiancee endorse this) and the quality is awesome. I have worn this bermuda intensively for the past 4years and it still looks just as new. The colour has not fade and no holes are spotted. Fabric feels soft to my skin and it feels airy underneath the deep recess of my..... okay. Nevermind. You know what I mean!

Unfortunately, the store where I got it from (Padini) seems to have folded and the bermuda does not appear to be in production anymore:(   

6. Counterfeit Jersey Set (1 set) :p
This form my sleepwear actually. Consist of 1 polyester shirt and 1 polyester short.

Very comfortable honestly, for the price I paid. I got it on the cheap from Taobao but I am sure it can be easily found elsewhere. Just blogging about this sleepwear makes me feel so sleepy:0

7. Face Towel (1no)
Just a basic face towel. Though it is a 'face' towel, I use it to wipe my whole body since I do not wish to carry a huge towel around.

I am aiming to get one of these microfiber towel though since they are much more capable of absorbing water and drying out quickly.

8. Swim Trunk (1no)


9. Underwear (4nos)


10. Earth Runner Sandal  
Another awesome product I discovered. It is so light and thin, I can pack it into my bag without occupying much space.

It has multiple functions too! Acting as both a slipper and a sandal, it is very useful when I prefer to air my feet when I am out. When I am at the pool or the beach, I will also wear it. Although the surface is made with leather, it does not smell when it touches the water.

It is also extremely durable despite being so light and thin. I have been wearing it for the past 2years and the only damages it received is at the strap which is easily replaceable. Additionally, I have wore it for hiking trips and full-day shopping trips.

If it can survive a full-day shopping trip with my fiancee, it can survive anything:p

Comfort wise, I dare say it is one of the best sandals around. Unlike my previous sandals and slippers, my heels does not hurt, even after a whole day of walking.


11. New Balance U420 Running Shoe 
The best footwear I have ever worn. Looks extremely good (Yup, you guess it right. My fiancee said so. Repeatedly.) and the comfort level is unparallelled compared with my previous shoes.

The padding is just right and when I tried running with it, I genuinely thought that I am capable of beating my personal record. In fact, this has become my working shoe and I wears it to work 5 times a week.  


Clothing (Cold Wear)
The clothing listed here are usually omitted when I pack unless I am heading to a location which is cold. For cold wear, I feel that it will be better if we take a layered approach where we put on additional clothing until we feel sufficiently warm. This reduces the number of cold wear we are required to bring.

1. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka
I had worn this parka to China and Japan during winter where the temperature sometimes reaches slightly below 0 Degree Celsius and this parka has keep me sufficiently warm.

For the price I paid for this parka, I have no complains. If I have excess money, I will replace this with a lighter parka that come with improved insulation. 


Medikit

1. Recycled Sweet Container
To store the medicines.

2. Paracetamol Tablets (4 serving)
To relieve fever and flu.

3. Po Chai Pills (4 serving)
This medicine serve to relieve me from food poisoning and indigestion, which are both very likely during oversea trips.


Toiletries

1. SAF Toiletries Bag
Free toiletries bag I obtained while I was serving the army. No idea how to obtain it now.

2. Gotoob Travel Tube with Avene Facial Wash
This travel-friendly container holds my facial wash. My face is extremely important to me and hence, I uses only quality facial wash by Avene, which is properly stored in the Gotoob travel tube.

yes, you read that right the first time. My face is important and I am a vainpot:)

3. Toothbrush

4. Mouthwash in Travel Sized Container

5. Gatsby Hairwax in Travel Sized Container
To keep my hair looking fabulous when I am on holiday.

6. Tooth Floss


Miscellaneous

1. Casio Calculator Watch
Beside telling me the time, this watch comes in very handy when I am oversea, trying to convert the currency to Singapore Dollar.

2. Torchlight

A very important tool which I am still choosing,  between the Streamlight 66318 or Fenix E01. I will do a review of the selected torchlight in the next blog post for SHET.

3. Spectacle with Casing
I am a speckie :(

4. Contact Lens
To look handsome.

5. Contact Lens Solution with Casing
For the maintenance of looking handsome :p

6. Tissue Paper (3nos)
A million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok..nevermind.

7. Wet Tissue (3nos)
Similarly, another million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok... you get the drift.

8. Water Bottle
Water. The essence of life. And what better way to store it than a recycled plastic bottle!

Kidding. I am just too poor to get a proper bottle. I am aiming for this collapsible bottle though.


And this is it. My complete items inside my SHET bag for now.

When it is all packed in, I realised I have more than 50% of space left in my Big Shot II! This should offer plenty of space to store my souvenirs during my travel.

The weight of the Big Shot II when it is loaded, is at a comfortable and acceptable level currently. I will not be making my bag heavier any further. My experience of lugging a fully loaded bag during my Japan trip has taught me well.

Honestly, I feel that it functions more like a travel bag than a BOB currently. That is because I have a limited budget for now. In years to come as I earn more, I will be making improvement to this SHET bag and the updates will be posted on a yearly basis.

Phew...what a long blog post for me. Adios and travel safe peons!

Finally, my first post on a non-financial related matter! Instead, I am going to talk about one of my many interests :D

Have you ever heard of a Bug Out Bag (BOB)?

Basically, a BOB is a bag packed full of essentials for you to survive in an emergency situation. I like the idea of a BOB tremendously as it provides me with a sense of assurance that when all is wrong with the world, I am still able to grab this bag, make a run and then survive.

BUT thennnn... a BOB seems like an overkill in this part of the world where I live in. After all, Singapore is not touted as one of the safest countries in the world for nothing. There has been no earthquake, tsunami or economic collapse for years and I personally do not think we will encounter such disasters in our lifetime. I will also look freaking weird lugging such a bag around in Singapore.

So with that being said, I dropped the idea of prepping a BOB.

Now now, I have another interest, and that is traveling! Traveling does not even have to be a holiday! Even a short stay at a kelong will put a smile on my face for days :D

When I travel, I prefer to travel light with just a backpack. I feel that having to lug huge suitcase would just hinder my mobility to experience the joy of traveling. My trip to Japan for 2 weeks during winter, while being geared with only what I have in my backpack is certainly a testament to this concept.

I also noticed when I travel, I always pack the same few items. Toothbrush, types of clothing, facial wash, etc. Hence, I got lazy and decided to just keep this few items permanently in my backpack.

AND thennnnn... Eureka! Why not have a watered-down version of a BOB combined with my traveling backpack permanently packed and placed in a convenient spot? When trouble or holiday is calling out for me, all I will have to do is to grab my bag and run!

Hence, the SHET bag was devised!

What is a SHET bag? It is a bag to ensure Survival, allows for Holiday, packed with Emergency items and capable of Traveling anywhere in the world with me (SHIT SHET) !

It will be a compromise between a BOB and a light travel bag. For example, common tools in a BOB such as a Swiss army knife will not be used. No airport security will allow me to check-in with such sharp objects :(

Yet at the same time, it will still be sufficiently equipped to give me the assurance that I can survive for days with just the SHET bag.

Okay, enough of me yakking away. Behold! Here lies a list of items that comprise my SHET bag:


The Bags

The 2 storage medium for all my other SHET belongings.


1. The North Face Big Shot II
My wonder bag from The North Face. This 32litres bag is so portable and check-in friendly that I never had an issue checking in with this as my carry-on bag so far. The dimension falls in line with most airline requirement. In fact, I cannot seem to find any airline with regulations that does not permit carry-on bags of this dimension.

In terms of functionality, this bag stores a lot for its size. I'll let the picture below do the talking:D

Yup, all the above items were stuff into the Big Shot II ;)

Additionally, I like how the Big Shot II feels so snug when I carry it. Guess their special 'Atilon' foam padding and their certification from the American Chiropractic Association certainly helps.

Another reason to love the Big Shot II is the nylon and polyester materials used in its construction. It feels genuinely tough as though it can withstand tons of abuse. Personally, I have not really abuse the bag (can't bear to;p). However, it did went on numerous trips with me already and yet not a single scratch mark was found. The sturdy zippers are also still working great! Given the material used, it is also water-resistant and hence, your belongings will still stay dry unless it is a heavy downpour.

If I really have to suggest further improvement to the Big Shot II, I will prefer one additional divider in the main compartment and improved material to be use for the back support so that it will not heat up so easily.

2. Porter International Melody Messenger Bag
This was a gift from my fiancee perhaps 5 or even 6 years back. The fact that I am still using it daily for work, shopping trips to town, and overseas travel, certainly reflects well on its durability and its timeless fashion relevance. My fiancee is quite a fashionista you see, and will definitely stop me from bringing it out when it is deem too 'outdated' to her.
 

Yup, sadly, she does have a big say in my dressing:(

This messenger bag is mainly used for carrying my essential items such as my wallet, mobile phone and portable charger. During travel, it will also be used to contain my travel documents for easy retrieval at the airport.


Any improvement required? Hmmm... maybe a more distinctive logo ought to be displayed. I have friends telling me that they did not realise the brand until they had a closer look. Not that it really bothers me. I'll certainly grab this bag again without hesitation when it gives way.


Electronics

1. Samsung Note2 Mobile Phone
This phone with a big screen has certainly served me well in my daily life as well as my travel. As with most smartphones, there are so many ways in which I have relied on it. Navigating, photo taking, web browsing, tracking of expenses, purchasing of stocks, digital bookshelf, gaming, and many more functions!

However, there are much better phones out in the market currently such as the Samsung Note4 or even the Apple iPhone 6Plus and I see no reason to still be holding onto an older phone model.

Nevertheless, this trusty old Note2 will stay with me until I saved enough to get a newer phone model. I want to take photos with a better phone camera! :D


2. Xiaomi Power Bank
Portable charger has become such an important item in my life nowadays and personally, I think Xiaomi Power Bank is the best of them all. The number of times it had saved my phone from dying is countless.

The Xiaomi Power Bank I have is the 10400mAh model, capable of providing about 2.5 full charge for my Samsung Note2 even after 1whole year of intensive usage. My previous portable chargers cannot even provide a single full charge after barely a few months of usage.

At it current price of $18.90, I feel that the Xiaomi represents the best value amongst all the portable charger in the market.

Oh, I got it for free by the way. One of the benefits of having good pal around :D hahah


3. Sonus Universal Plug Adapter
Universal plug adapter is a very essential item for a modern traveler with all the charging required by our equipments (phone, camera, etc) and the many different standard of power outlets/sockets around the world.

I obtain my adapter for free as a corporate gift and I do not think it is being retailed. However, I do know of this model that is being highly recommended though.


4. Random Cheapo Earphone
I am too broke to buy any good quality earphones and hence, my current earphone is some random cheapo earphone that is a hands-me-down from my fiancee.


Clothing

I have a standard set of clothing I will always carry regardless of the duration of the trips and the weather conditions. I believe these standard clothing that I always pack is more than sufficient for my basic clothing needs. After all, should I ever run out of clean clothing, all I will have to do is to wash my dirty ones.


Hence, these are the few standard clothing I will always have in my SHET bag:

1. Nike Dri-Fit Jersey
Nike has this line of apparel which utilise their Dri-Fit technology to keep us cool efficiently. Apparently, other brands have similar technology too, such as Addidas with their Climatecool technology.

Ultimately, they all work the same. Getting sweats off our body to the surface of the clothing quickly, enabling the sweats to be evaporated efficiently. The reason why Nike was chosen instead of the others is because Nike is the official jersey sponsor for my favorite soccer team. Arsenal. Do forgive the soccer fanatic residing in my heart =)  It looks good anyway, even though my fiancee deeply hates it cause I wear it every single week:(

In terms of comfort, I find it to be one of the best clothing ever manufactured. If I could wear it every single day, I would.

It does its job of keeping me cool so effectively, I do not even feel that I am sweating even when I can see the wet sweaty patches on the back of the surrounding people. It dries quickly too! Allowing me to cool down rapidly after strenuous activities. On occasions where I want to wear it consecutively for days, I would wash it and have it ready to be worn hours later since it dries so quickly.

Get it, especially if you are an Arsenal fan. If you are not an Arsenal fan, you should be one. Lol. Just kidding. You may consider Addidas Climatecool clothing too, since they work the same from what I understand.


2. Forever 21 Cotton T-Shirt (2nos)
Cotton clothing are extremely breathable, repeal dust, wick sweat well and feel soft to the skin. In short, they are one of the more comfortable clothing. They dries quickly too, often within hours after washing.

I have 2nos of cotton T-shirt from Forever 21. One black and the other grey. I feel comfortable wearing them and more importantly, they look great!

My fiancee said so. So it must be true.


3. Long Sleeve Shirt (1no)
For the more formal occasion or where I have to enter areas which require better dress code such as clubbing.

Badum Badum dum dum dum! Raise ye hands in the air!

JUST AN EXAMPLE. I do not club. Hear that Mrs PassivePeon? :/

No particular brand since I usually select based on availability and my mood.

4. Levi 501 Jean (1no) 

Do not get this.

Not the best jean I have worn. Does not looks good to me, breathability is poor, does not keep me warm in colder climate and quality is not as good as it is touted to be. I have a hole in it after just 1 year of heavy usage and I thought it was suppose to last for years!

However, a long pant is necessary for any adventure and this is the only pair of long pant I possess:(

Nevertheless, I will seek to replace it with a better quality pant once I have the $$$.

5. Padini Brown Bermuda (1no)
I have nothing but praises for this bermuda. It looks fantastic (yes, my fiancee endorse this) and the quality is awesome. I have worn this bermuda intensively for the past 4years and it still looks just as new. The colour has not fade and no holes are spotted. Fabric feels soft to my skin and it feels airy underneath the deep recess of my..... okay. Nevermind. You know what I mean!

Unfortunately, the store where I got it from (Padini) seems to have folded and the bermuda does not appear to be in production anymore:(   

6. Counterfeit Jersey Set (1 set) :p
This form my sleepwear actually. Consist of 1 polyester shirt and 1 polyester short.

Very comfortable honestly, for the price I paid. I got it on the cheap from Taobao but I am sure it can be easily found elsewhere. Just blogging about this sleepwear makes me feel so sleepy:0

7. Face Towel (1no)
Just a basic face towel. Though it is a 'face' towel, I use it to wipe my whole body since I do not wish to carry a huge towel around.

I am aiming to get one of these microfiber towel though since they are much more capable of absorbing water and drying out quickly.

8. Swim Trunk (1no)


9. Underwear (4nos)


10. Earth Runner Sandal  
Another awesome product I discovered. It is so light and thin, I can pack it into my bag without occupying much space.

It has multiple functions too! Acting as both a slipper and a sandal, it is very useful when I prefer to air my feet when I am out. When I am at the pool or the beach, I will also wear it. Although the surface is made with leather, it does not smell when it touches the water.

It is also extremely durable despite being so light and thin. I have been wearing it for the past 2years and the only damages it received is at the strap which is easily replaceable. Additionally, I have wore it for hiking trips and full-day shopping trips.

If it can survive a full-day shopping trip with my fiancee, it can survive anything:p

Comfort wise, I dare say it is one of the best sandals around. Unlike my previous sandals and slippers, my heels does not hurt, even after a whole day of walking.


11. New Balance U420 Running Shoe 
The best footwear I have ever worn. Looks extremely good (Yup, you guess it right. My fiancee said so. Repeatedly.) and the comfort level is unparallelled compared with my previous shoes.

The padding is just right and when I tried running with it, I genuinely thought that I am capable of beating my personal record. In fact, this has become my working shoe and I wears it to work 5 times a week.  


Clothing (Cold Wear)
The clothing listed here are usually omitted when I pack unless I am heading to a location which is cold. For cold wear, I feel that it will be better if we take a layered approach where we put on additional clothing until we feel sufficiently warm. This reduces the number of cold wear we are required to bring.

1. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka
I had worn this parka to China and Japan during winter where the temperature sometimes reaches slightly below 0 Degree Celsius and this parka has keep me sufficiently warm.

For the price I paid for this parka, I have no complains. If I have excess money, I will replace this with a lighter parka that come with improved insulation. 


Medikit

1. Recycled Sweet Container
To store the medicines.

2. Paracetamol Tablets (4 serving)
To relieve fever and flu.

3. Po Chai Pills (4 serving)
This medicine serve to relieve me from food poisoning and indigestion, which are both very likely during oversea trips.


Toiletries

1. SAF Toiletries Bag
Free toiletries bag I obtained while I was serving the army. No idea how to obtain it now.

2. Gotoob Travel Tube with Avene Facial Wash
This travel-friendly container holds my facial wash. My face is extremely important to me and hence, I uses only quality facial wash by Avene, which is properly stored in the Gotoob travel tube.

yes, you read that right the first time. My face is important and I am a vainpot:)

3. Toothbrush

4. Mouthwash in Travel Sized Container

5. Gatsby Hairwax in Travel Sized Container
To keep my hair looking fabulous when I am on holiday.

6. Tooth Floss


Miscellaneous

1. Casio Calculator Watch
Beside telling me the time, this watch comes in very handy when I am oversea, trying to convert the currency to Singapore Dollar.

2. Torchlight

A very important tool which I am still choosing,  between the Streamlight 66318 or Fenix E01. I will do a review of the selected torchlight in the next blog post for SHET.

3. Spectacle with Casing
I am a speckie :(

4. Contact Lens
To look handsome.

5. Contact Lens Solution with Casing
For the maintenance of looking handsome :p

6. Tissue Paper (3nos)
A million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok..nevermind.

7. Wet Tissue (3nos)
Similarly, another million uses for this, such as wiping my hands, my mouth and my ass when I am done with.... ok... you get the drift.

8. Water Bottle
Water. The essence of life. And what better way to store it than a recycled plastic bottle!

Kidding. I am just too poor to get a proper bottle. I am aiming for this collapsible bottle though.


And this is it. My complete items inside my SHET bag for now.

When it is all packed in, I realised I have more than 50% of space left in my Big Shot II! This should offer plenty of space to store my souvenirs during my travel.

The weight of the Big Shot II when it is loaded, is at a comfortable and acceptable level currently. I will not be making my bag heavier any further. My experience of lugging a fully loaded bag during my Japan trip has taught me well.

Honestly, I feel that it functions more like a travel bag than a BOB currently. That is because I have a limited budget for now. In years to come as I earn more, I will be making improvement to this SHET bag and the updates will be posted on a yearly basis.

Phew...what a long blog post for me. Adios and travel safe peons!