Spelunking. The term sounds sooo kick-ass but it simply means exploring a cave. But not all cave explorers are called spelunkers. There are also CAVERS and SPELEOLOGISTS, which are labels for the more hardcore and geeky cave explorers.
the term "spelunker" to denote someone untrained and unknowledgeable in current exploration techniques, and "caver" for those who are. Speleology has always been an interdisciplinary science, requiring one to have at least a smattering of geology, hydrology, biology, chemistry, climatology and survey techniques in addition to whatever specialty one has.
socket.net
Tomorrow we're spelunking with a 4-year-old kid in tow. Yey! We're going to explore a cave in Tanay, Rizal called Calinawan Cave. I chose this cave because 1.) it's close to where we live which means less travel time and less expenses; 2.) It's just a 30-minute trip inside the cave so anytime there's a sign that Sput's not enjoying the trip, we can exit fast; 3.) It's not yet too popular so I'm hoping it's not too crowded.
Sooo..packing. We expect to do duck walks and body-bending positions inside the cave so we're packing really, really light. We're preparing Hugo's regular-sized backpack and Sput's teeny-weeny bag (just so she would be responsible for her own stuff).
WHAT'S IN HUGO'S BAG:
* First aid kit
* Small pouch for our wallets
* Camera
* Extra shirts
* Slippers (for post-spelunking)
* Alcohol
* Face towels
* Century Tuna (big can)
* Can opener
* Water bottles
* Flashlights
* Head lamps
* Spoons+ forks
* Rice inside a lunchbox (to be packed)
WHAT'S IN SPUT'S BAG:
* Yam the bear
* Whistle
* small Flash light
* Snacks
* Small water bottle
That's all. Just the basic stuff. I hope spelunking with a kid would be fun (and safe) for everyone!
Showing posts with label camping prep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping prep. Show all posts
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Packing for Our First Family Camping Trip
The house is a total mess right now. We just finished packing for our Anawangin camping trip and boy, it surely was a pain in the arse.
Hugo did most of the packing because that's his thing while I made all hardcore organizing- menu, things to bring, boat schedule and all that jazz. So in the middle of packing, I read the things on my list to make sure we have everything. It went like this:
Me: Safety kit?
Hugo: Packed.
Me: Chopping board?
Hugo: Skip that. Let's just use our plates.
Me: No. We need a chopping board. If you're worried about space, we have one that's thinner than a place mat...Barf bag?
Hugo: I can't find it. Let's just use the garbage bag.
Me: Garbage ba&*#%. Well...give me one so I can put it in the easy-access pouch.
Hugo: I already packed it in the big bag.
Silence.
Me: Anyway...next on the list. Gunther? (Sput's inflatable duck)
Hugo gave me an "I'm thinking, stop talking" look. Then, we started searching for Gunther which lasted for about 30 minutes.
Packing for a trip with a kid is ten times more time-consuming and headache-inducing than packing for a solo travel. I anticipated that it's not going to be easy but I never expected it to be this strenuous. The kid in the equation makes all the difference. But seeing our little girl's face light up when she saw the backpacks ready made it all worthwhile.
So, without further ado and hopefully without sounding like a know-it-all, here are the lessons I've learned from our first family packing experience:
Start packing at least three days in advance. Especially if it's your first time and if you're busy days before the trip. We did it in one day but that's almost eight hours of hardcore packing, not including the time we spent buying the groceries and other essentials.
Let the kids help. Don't just let them watch TV while you do all the packing or else you'd lose a great opportunity for teaching them valuable lessons. I let Sput pack her small backpack. I told her to put in it everything she needs. I checked her bag after a few minutes and my heart melted when I saw her toothbrush, panties, toothpaste and her favorite teddy bear. I called her and assisted her all the way making sure she feels like it is her responsibility to pack her stuff. If you have a toddler, let her decide which clothes,books and toys to pack. If the toy is too big, then gently tell her to pick a smaller one...and so on.
It's okay to argue a little. Packing is a test of compatibility and patience. If you're a nit-picking type like me, you'd want to know why he packed certain things and why he didn't pack certain things (which you firmly believe are important, i.e. the chopping board). If you keep quiet and silently dwell on it, you'd start to think about how this reflects your relationship. So before you ruin the trip that hasn't even started, simply ask him why. As in "Why don't you want to pack the chopping board when it's obviously more useful than the snorkeling gear?" Then respect his answer. Just learn how to "argue" nicely.
A checklist is a MUST. I was never really fond of checklists when it comes to packing. Since college, I like to do last-minute packing because it gives me the rush and I become more excited of the trip. But now that I have a four-year-old, spontaneous packing is simply not possible. Well, it is but I don't want to risk it when a little person depends on me. Make a list of your essentials as a family and make a separate list of your kids' essentials to make sure you'd pack everything that you need.
I don't want to make a checklist of things to pack when camping with baby because it would be a looong list. But here's a list of essentials if you're camping with a kid:
Mosquito repellent
Milk
Distilled water
Sunscreen
Diapers (for long travels)
Wet tissue
Floaters
alcohol
Beach toys
Her favorite things (favorite pillow, teddy bear or nack).
A book
Sweater/ warmers
Me: Safety kit?
Hugo: Packed.
Me: Chopping board?
Hugo: Skip that. Let's just use our plates.
Me: No. We need a chopping board. If you're worried about space, we have one that's thinner than a place mat...Barf bag?
Hugo: I can't find it. Let's just use the garbage bag.
Me: Garbage ba&*#%. Well...give me one so I can put it in the easy-access pouch.
Hugo: I already packed it in the big bag.
Silence.
Me: Anyway...next on the list. Gunther? (Sput's inflatable duck)
Hugo gave me an "I'm thinking, stop talking" look. Then, we started searching for Gunther which lasted for about 30 minutes.
Packing for a trip with a kid is ten times more time-consuming and headache-inducing than packing for a solo travel. I anticipated that it's not going to be easy but I never expected it to be this strenuous. The kid in the equation makes all the difference. But seeing our little girl's face light up when she saw the backpacks ready made it all worthwhile.
So, without further ado and hopefully without sounding like a know-it-all, here are the lessons I've learned from our first family packing experience:
Start packing at least three days in advance. Especially if it's your first time and if you're busy days before the trip. We did it in one day but that's almost eight hours of hardcore packing, not including the time we spent buying the groceries and other essentials.
Let the kids help. Don't just let them watch TV while you do all the packing or else you'd lose a great opportunity for teaching them valuable lessons. I let Sput pack her small backpack. I told her to put in it everything she needs. I checked her bag after a few minutes and my heart melted when I saw her toothbrush, panties, toothpaste and her favorite teddy bear. I called her and assisted her all the way making sure she feels like it is her responsibility to pack her stuff. If you have a toddler, let her decide which clothes,books and toys to pack. If the toy is too big, then gently tell her to pick a smaller one...and so on.
It's okay to argue a little. Packing is a test of compatibility and patience. If you're a nit-picking type like me, you'd want to know why he packed certain things and why he didn't pack certain things (which you firmly believe are important, i.e. the chopping board). If you keep quiet and silently dwell on it, you'd start to think about how this reflects your relationship. So before you ruin the trip that hasn't even started, simply ask him why. As in "Why don't you want to pack the chopping board when it's obviously more useful than the snorkeling gear?" Then respect his answer. Just learn how to "argue" nicely.
A checklist is a MUST. I was never really fond of checklists when it comes to packing. Since college, I like to do last-minute packing because it gives me the rush and I become more excited of the trip. But now that I have a four-year-old, spontaneous packing is simply not possible. Well, it is but I don't want to risk it when a little person depends on me. Make a list of your essentials as a family and make a separate list of your kids' essentials to make sure you'd pack everything that you need.
I don't want to make a checklist of things to pack when camping with baby because it would be a looong list. But here's a list of essentials if you're camping with a kid:
Mosquito repellent
Milk
Distilled water
Sunscreen
Diapers (for long travels)
Wet tissue
Floaters
alcohol
Beach toys
Her favorite things (favorite pillow, teddy bear or nack).
A book
Sweater/ warmers
Monday, December 17, 2012
It's the End of the World and We're Camping!
Three days from now, it will be December 21, 2012, which is the end of the world as we know it.
On that day, if things go according to plan, we'll be in Anawangin pitching our tent, making fire and decorating sand castles. The Apocalypse was never really part of the equation when we planned this trip. It didn't matter. No one in the house cared or was even slightly interested about it. Period. The only reason we decided to go there on the 21st is that I was too worried there might be no buses on 24th and I was too lazy to inquire. So I set it on the 21st, simple as that.
But now that we're just three days away from Doomsday and everyone's talking about it, I can't help but entertain the thought of it actually happening. Just a teeny weeny possibility. The small voice that says "what if" when I see commercials of Doomsday Preppers is now loud enough for me to actually imagine our scenario if the world actually does end three days from now. Hmmm...we'd be on a boat or on an island when the world ends with our tent, cooking tools and emergency kit. Not bad. I think, if there's an alien invasion (those guys surely would not choose to land on a small island) or a zombie attack (tee-hee), there's a higher chance we'd all survive if we're on an island and we have a boat. There is a much lesser chance for collision and encounters. In that case, all we need is plenty of gasoline for the boat and plenty of food supply and...Okay, I have to stop this. I feel like I'm writing a script for The Walking Dead.
Hmmm.
On a deeper level, I'd like to believe it's a nod from the Universe saying " Go ahead. You're doing the right thing", "this is what you should be doing" or something like that. I'd like to believe it's a beginning of something wonderful because as they say- and in connection to the end of the world- all ends are new beginnings. Haha. I can't believe I managed to insert a quote right there. I just like it that we'll be trying something new when the new cycle begins. Can't wait to start packing!
P.S.
Here's an informative but very fun video about everything you need to know about the End of the World.
But now that we're just three days away from Doomsday and everyone's talking about it, I can't help but entertain the thought of it actually happening. Just a teeny weeny possibility. The small voice that says "what if" when I see commercials of Doomsday Preppers is now loud enough for me to actually imagine our scenario if the world actually does end three days from now. Hmmm...we'd be on a boat or on an island when the world ends with our tent, cooking tools and emergency kit. Not bad. I think, if there's an alien invasion (those guys surely would not choose to land on a small island) or a zombie attack (tee-hee), there's a higher chance we'd all survive if we're on an island and we have a boat. There is a much lesser chance for collision and encounters. In that case, all we need is plenty of gasoline for the boat and plenty of food supply and...Okay, I have to stop this. I feel like I'm writing a script for The Walking Dead.
Hmmm.
On a deeper level, I'd like to believe it's a nod from the Universe saying " Go ahead. You're doing the right thing", "this is what you should be doing" or something like that. I'd like to believe it's a beginning of something wonderful because as they say- and in connection to the end of the world- all ends are new beginnings. Haha. I can't believe I managed to insert a quote right there. I just like it that we'll be trying something new when the new cycle begins. Can't wait to start packing!
P.S.
Here's an informative but very fun video about everything you need to know about the End of the World.
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