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ideas for gift for globe-trotting friends
hi everyone, i've been completely swamped with work lately and totally MIA, i don't even have time to lurk! but two of my closest friends are leaving thursday to spend a year traveling the world, and I haven't even gotten them a gift. 
and she was my MOH! so i thought it'd turn to my trusty, creative nesties...
any ideas for something i could get/make them by wednesday night? keep in mind that they're only taking 20 pounds each. i was thinking a gorilla tripod - one of those you can attach a camera to and take photos of yourselves - but they got a fancy digital slr for the trip, and not sure if that would still work.
i'm wondering if i should just get them a spa certificate or gift certificate to a fancy resort for when they come back, b/c i can't think of anything that's small and useful enough for them to want to bring, that i'm sure they haven't thought of already!
i still have a ton of posts to catch up on, and no time until maybe next week, but congrats!! to lola808 and robin, nancy - i hope you feel better soon, great job to kristianna and sujen (even though you were in pain! hope you've recovered), and i'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you, anna! oh, and I LOVE all the new siggy photos - marino, ashton, alexa, so cute!
hugs and thanks, sandra
Re: ideas for gift for globe-trotting friends
How about a mini-emergency kit with blister pads, second-skin, band-aids, neosporin-to-go, advil, phone card, etc. You can pack it all in a little case...for them...just in case!
As for the gorilla tripod, I love that idea! I would think that it would work on their fancy SLR.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
A gorilla tripod works with a fancy SLR. I can give a little more detail... it works well, meaning that it mounts easily. I think it is a fun, great gift. Your friend just needs to be aware that the weight of a SLR with a good lens may tip the gorilla over
I would chalk that up to user error. Her H will have a fun time playing with it.
I've never been to Europe, so am only imagining the options:
1) Could you use a credit card to purchase something that could be waiting for them there? Too bad they don't have lei greetings at their airport. Think of something along their travels where you could purchase a meal, a spa treatment or have flowers waiting.
2) Can you buy a pass for something? Train, sightseeing, attraction, adventure?
3) Can you upgrade their flight to first class with miles that you have? (long shot)
Newlyweds since 2007
Wow-- just checked out their website. That sounds pretty cool. I can also totally see my DH similarly freaking out at the beeping of a baby thermometer and suggested we put it off and travel for 9 months instead.
My big question is: how on earth are they able to afford this?
I think both the gorilla pod and "emergency" kit are great ideas (put tampons in it! I had such a hard time finding them in Greece, it was crazy.) A phone card is also a good idea, but I don't know how that would work in several countries.
I think the tripod is a great idea!
The emergency kit is also a good idea, as long as it's small (and doesn't include any painkillers...you can't always travel with those, depending on where you're going).
I'm not sure the phonecard would work - I know when I've traveled, I've had to buy different ones depending on the country I'm in.
Do either of them keep journals? A nice Moleskine notebook would be cool if they did.
That is the coolest thing! I would love to have done something like that - B & I used to dream about being on the Amazing Race!
I think the gorilla-pod would be a nice idea, but it doesn't work with a heavy lens. I tried using it in Japan with my 20D and a 16-35mm L lens and it just tipped over. I haven't tried it with a lighter lens though. The one I have is supposed to work with a DSLR, though.
i'm not sure i'd give them a "thing." we backpacked through europe one year, and even though it was only for 3 weeks, we still seemed to have too much stuff in our packs... and i'm not sure where i would have put something else.
maybe you can make them a homemade card with photos of you guys and familiar, homey sites -- they can carry it with them to remind them of what they'll likely grow to miss. and you can promise to take them out to dinner after they return so you can hear all about it!
good luck, and thanks for the congrats!!