Gadgets on the go: 6 must-carry tech toys for vacationers

Itrsquos almost that time of the year when the kids are getting their annual break mdash it is time to pack the bags and get going for a holiday So whether you are headed out of station or just to your moms place in town technology goes with you and where technology goes you should also have a few essentials tagging alongAs a child the only thing I needed while travelling was my Sony Walkman that was the only option if I wanted music on the go Then came the mobile phones the laptops the tablets camera books got replaced by Kindle and my small travelling purse got replaced by a backpack to carry all these gadgets So here is a rough guide about things you could ensure you pack when you head out for a breakFor better hygieneGoGirl with Tube Rs 450Though this is one of those things that you may not look at as technology but it might be one of the most essential things in a womanrsquos backpack when holidaying Since asking for a clean public washroom is out of the question in most of the tourist spots you end up using the washroom standing up which is rather uncomfortable to put it mildly The GoGirl is made out of medical grade silicone is flexible and reusable after a washCarry an emergency lightPortronics Mojo Rs 1299This is a great device to have in your bag at all time After all you never know when you might need it mdash it could be a dark alley or for that chance moment when you drop something valueable and have to hunt for it Most hotel rooms do provide you with a flashlight but the Mojo does a lot more It is small enough to fit in your purse and is rechargeable with a battery life of about two to three hours of usage It has four brightness levels and acts as an SOS flasher and an emergency external battery for you to charge your phoneRead booksAmazon Kindle Rs 4999At just R4999 there is no reason why you should not buy the Amazon Kindle Personally I had a tough time leaving paper books behind I loved the way they smelled the way they felt in the hand but then you were limited to one or two books on a holiday what happened if you got bored of them and what holiday is complete without sitting with your feet up a cup of garam chai and a great book The Kindle allows you to carry nearly 1400 books and if you have Internet connectivity you can also buy more on the go So no more hunting down that book shop which does not have the classics or figuring out the book you wanted to read but was left behind The other good part is that the battery lasts nearly a month so no need to carry a chargerTake photographsOlympus TG850 Rs 19900The TG850 has a flexible tilt screen that tilts upto 180 degrees You can shoot photos and videos underwater in the snowy mountains it can survive average falls and kicks from kids and the battery lasts for nearly 300 shots good for a week long vacation without any chargerKeep a knife handyVictorinox Swiss Knife Rs 750 onwardsThis has been one of the most essential items in my travel bag Because most hotels and restaurants have metal detectors itrsquos not easy to carry this around However having a knife on you definitely makes you feel more secure Also having multiple tools allows you to get your hands dirty if the need arises The most useful tool after the knife which is good to cut your own fruit when you are lounging at a beach or while driving in the car is the cork screw to open that bottle of wineListen to musicJabra Solemate Mini Rs 4999I have always loved music Since childhood the crooning voices of Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar have given me a welcome break from daily chores These days the Jabra Sole Mate Mini is my goto speaker It does not produce the best quality sound but its sevenoddhour battery and resistance to water means I can take it to the beach Also it is built to withstand drops and shocks so I donrsquot have to worry about dropping it anywhere It pairs with phones over bluetooth and in case your phone does not have bluetooth you can also use a 35 mm cable that comes with the speaker to hook up things The sevenhour battery is good for one hour of music every day for a weeklong vaccation