10 Must Have Apps Before You Leave For The Big Bad World

“Vices are sometimes only virtues carried to excess.”

-          Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Phones today aren’t just phones anymore. In the small (or big if you’re a Samsung user, pity be on you), devices you carry in your pockets are the modern lifelines of humanity. A phone is not only your means of contact with the rest of the world, but also your alarm, calculator, calendar, camera, contact list, messaging and music. Chandler Bing once proclaimed that phones bring you closer to people… who have phones. But I discovered the true potential of my phone while backpacking alone across Shanghai in the middle of the night.

So here I give to you the 10 apps which you must have before you begin your voyage of the world.

10.       Weather

Weather forecasts for a week might be deceptive. In this age of Global Warming and Arctic Winters, it’s impossible to be too prepared. You need something which can tell you about the weather on the go. There’s nothing like a handy weather notification which tells you how the weather is NOW! Ofcourse you can’t pack for it, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared.

Editor’s pick: BBC Weather

9.         Scheduler

When you’re out, you often have a strict itinerary to follow. Check-out times, trains, buses, metros. You don’t want people to wait for you nor do you want to be left behind. In the chaotic pit of information overload, this little friend helps you organize your activities and tells you when you can take that walk in the park you’ve been eyeing since you got there.

Editor’s pick: Google Calendar

8.         Quick Notes

Suddenly you get a piece of information which you’d like to retain. An email-address, an advertisement, the name of the cute girl at the bar, a new idea of the next ground-breaking revolution which will give the world sustainable energy for the next 2 centuries… No matter what the thought is, it’s worth looking back at. But ofcourse you don’t have a pen and paper to note it down. And you don’t need it! Have an app which takes you 2 clicks to get to and note it down. We’ll stalk her on Facebook later.

Editor’s pick: OneNote

7.         Recorder

But there’s not always enough time to type. You happen to make up a limerick in the midst of a crowded street. You don’t want to stand and type. You need something faster. And lo! Technology gives you the option of the recorder app. Just speak what’s on your mind and we’ll judge you later.

Editor’s pick: Easy Voice Recorder

6.         Truecaller

No choices on this one. While traveling, you’ll be called by random people whom you just met along the way and chances are, you’ll be in the shower or the tube when they call. But you don’t want to spend your precious minutes calling a number you don’t recognize. Truecaller helps you decide whether to call back or not. Snowden might be mad, but then, who cares about privacy these days anyway.

Editor’s pick: No sweat

5.         Social Media

For a lot of people today, traveling is just a means to post upside-down pictures of themselves on Instagram. We’re not judging, but if are enthusiastic about showing off, why not as soon as possible. Phones allow Facebook, Skype, Watsapp, WeChat, Snapchat, Viber, BBM and many more disgruntling services which a technologically challenged individual like me might not be aware of. So go for it and watch those likes build.

Editor’s pick: Too much to choose from

4.         Mail

You’re on in town. You’re sitting on the banks of Huangpu contemplating to quit your job. But the boss doesn’t care. He wants to know why you didn’t send out the documents due two days ago. Not being in the city is simply not an excuse anymore. Even you’d like to know did the guy from the publishing house respond about your manuscript. Love it or hate it, you have anxiety issues if you don’t check your email every 24 hours. This is one of the most can’t-do-without apps your phone needs.

Editor’s pick: MS Outlook

3.         Browser

But having a mail service isn’t enough. You also want to check your Twitter feed. You also want to listen to the song buzzing in your head on Youtube. You also want to see the update on your Quora account. And there’s this guy who thinks you’re a jerk if you haven’t seen the crazy gif of a giraffe eating a candy bar. Your phone is connected to the internet, and the browser bridges the gap. But be careful, don’t miss out on the sights to see how candy becomes giraffe poo.

Editor’s pick: Safari

2.         Maps

In the day of urban cities equipped with GPRS satellites, it’s impossible to be stranded. All you need is to know where you are and where to head. And that becomes easy when you have a map which not only fits in your palm, but also tells you precisely where you’re standing and which is the nearest refuge. This is one app traveling without which is just foolish. But to be fair, the foolish traveler often makes room for more serendipity.

Editor’s pick: Google Maps

1.         Translator

Let’s face it! Less than a quarter of the world’s population speaks English. High chances that wherever you go, you are going to have language issues. It’s always advisable to have a translator. Most countries will offer one at $25/day. Mobile phones give it for free. Have this app downloaded and you’ll never have language issues again. Just be specific about what you type else you might end up eating worms when you ask for the “no meat” dish on the menu.

Editor’s pick: Translator

Vishal Gupta

(The Lonely Traveler)

February 2014

A Traveler’s Backpack

Over the last 7 years, I left home and lived a Nomadic Existence. I travelled India North, South, East and West. I went to Singapore and spent a semester in Shanghai. In my travels, often I was required to leave on short notice, pack quick, and sometimes go with the bare minimum. Over the years I needed the ultimate packing list. One which would have all my essentials yet be light enough to simply pick up and go. When I couldn’t find one, I decided it was time to make one myself.

A.         Prima Facie

First of all, the can’t-do-withouts. The basic essentials. Don’t leave home without them.

A1.       Bag

You need a bag while leaving home. Big enough to get all your stuff in place, small enough to be stuffed into an airplane’s overhead compartment and strong enough to not break while climbing a rough hill. Personally, I prefer Wenger and American Tourister for just the purpose.

A2.       Underwear

Be it asking a girl out in a bar or preparing to die in a duel (though not much difference in the two). You want to have clean underwear.

 

A3.       Liquid Soap

You don’t know what life is going to throw at you, but once in a while, you're going to want to wash it off your hands.

A4.       Water bottle

Because some day, you'll make money selling it.

A5.         Plastic Packets

And to the environmentalists we say - Not Today.

A6.         Towel

“A towel, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.”

A7.         Spectacles

I prefer specs to lenses for easy removal. Also, if you're in a barbeque party, you don't have the lingering fear of plastic melting in your eyes. But be sure to keep an extra pair and an empty case with you so that you don't have to sleep with the specs on. (Though that can be an experience too, the dreams are clearer :P )

A8.         Socks

If you care for other travelers, or yourself (in case you're in a sleeper train in India), always keep your socks on.

A9.         Shaving Kit

This isn't just your shaving kit. It's your blades, after-shaves for before-dates, nail-clipper, dental care, band-aids, medicine, screwdriver... Anything you think you just need to have, if it fits in your shaving kit, it qualifies. Again my vote to American Tourister.

B.         Pockets

You're not going to leave empty handed. There are a few essentials you need to carry close. Really close.

B1.          Phone

While I'm not a fan of phones, I'm a fan of their apps. The alarm clock, language translator, clock, calendar, notes, calculator, documents, maps... A smart phone used smartly can be a life saver in many difficult positions. Plus, it reduced the weight of the traditional bag by half. I think a little weight in your pocket isn't such a bad deal.

B2.          Wallet

There's a reason why a wallet is designed as it is. You keep the things most important to you in there. Your identity card, ATM cards, pictures of loved ones, death note, and ofcourse - money.

B3.          Swiss Knife

This is useful is saving both money and life. Be it cutting a cake a cake at a birthday celebration or thwarting a pimp in an isolated Shanghai street. This is your friend for life. (But be sure to keep it in your bag before boarding a plane)

B4.          Handkerchief

Because I don't like to be sneezed, coughed or spread marinara on.

C.         Also

There're some things you can do without for a while. But they later come back to bite you. Better safe than sorry.

C1.          Phone charger

Because the anticipation of your phone dying is worse than it really shutting off.

C2.          Shorts

Once in a while, you're going to want something in between underwear and jeans. And that's why God created shorts.

C3.          Shirts

Because even the same wife gets frustrating after a while.

C4.          Trousers

Wash regular and stay clean, and you won't need more than 2 of these. Carry 3 if you're Sheldon Cooper. And while you're at it, don't forget the belt. These pants don't need it, doesn't mean none will.

C5.          Bedsheet

Since the LOTR days, it's the new rope. And indeed very useful in Mordor. What about a bit of cloth? You’ll want it, if you haven’t got it. Well, you’ll want it. You can’t get it now.

C6.          Universal Adapter

You might not need this if you're traveling domestic. But once out of the country, this little thing might prove to be a life saver. And after you've shopped in that country, the constant companion.

D.        Expendables

And finally, the expendables. The ones which you can do without but you'll carry along anyway.

D1.         Laptop

Because you've forgotten how to live without it. I do recommend a break from the technology frenzy, especially if you have a good smartphone to check your mail. But after seeing the image you're not even listening to me anymore. It's already in your bag.

D2.         Laptop charger

Now that you've already packed the laptop, it'd be foolish to leave without the charger.

D3.         Book

Once you have a phone/tablet/laptop, a book is just additional weight. But for bibliophiles (myself included), nothing can replace the pleasure of running your fingers through the leaves of a good book. Nice try Kindle!

D4.         Footwear

Because whatever you're going to wear out is not going to be enough. But this is the last item in your packing and the most space consuming, so go for what you can manage. Don't forget to use the space inside the shoes too!