Travellers should take an antiseptic cream. I would never travel without a tub of Savlon (which contains cetrimide). It is safe, soothing, cleansing, and non-greasy and is useful for a wide variety of skin ailments and sores, as well as the usual cuts and scratches. Even a sore anus, which is often caused by bad attacks of diarrhoea, is soothed by this versatile cream. It is a good idea to take a few sachets of antiseptic wipes. You may have to cope with cuts (say on a bus trip in the Indian desert) when you can’t find clean water.
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In my earlier years of travelling, I wasted far too much time and money on shopping-sprees: hoovering up “antiques,” clothes, knick-knacks—almost anything. Somehow, buying was part of being abroad. I then reacted against this, and always returned home empty-handed. Now, it amuses me to search for just one object which captures best the spirit of the country I’ve visited.
