Compression Cubes/Top Adventure Countries/Disease Updates
Nomadico issue #139
A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.
Compression Packing Cubes
I’m only a casual user of packing cubes, finding that I can get more into my bag by rolling and stuffing to fill all available spaces, but I do use a few each trip. My favorites are the compression cubes with two sets of zippers. The first closes the pouch as normal, but then the second zipper compresses it down further, squeezing what’s inside so it takes up less room. They’re great for underwear/socks or dirty laundry. There are lots of knock-offs available, but if you want ones more likely to last, go for Eagle Creek, Thule, or Tortuga.
Top Adventure Destinations
If you want to geek out on which countries are serving adventure travelers best, check out the just-released Adventure Tourism Development Index, the first one put together since the pandemic. Among developed countries, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Norway came out on top in the multi-factor scoring system. Among the emerging economies, the top scores went to Costa Rica, Chile, Thailand, and Brazil. There were a few surprises in the top 10 of the latter, like Montenegro and Romania.
Wash Your Hands More
I learned two important things this week. 1) There’s been a huge spike in Norovirus cases lately and this time it has gone well beyond cruise ships. 2) Hand sanitizer is useless against it. So what can you do to lessen your chances of getting it? Wash your hands often with soap and water and lay off the shellfish, especially oysters and clams. See more info here.
No Malaria in Egypt
Egypt was recently declared malaria-free. From the BBC: “The disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in October after certifying that almost 100 years of anti-mosquito efforts have finally rid Egypt of malaria. It’s the third country in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to get a clean bill, following the UAE and Morocco. Unfortunately, dengue fever cases have tripled in parts of Latin America in part due to a hotter, wetter climate. Pack your DEET.
01/16/25
