My flying handbag.

I finally found it!

The perfect handbag.

When I travel I usually spend most of the time looking in the black hole that is my bag for passports, glasses and tickets, while stressing about the “other bag” that holds my camera, tablet, phone and the rest of my life.

I have been hunting for a while now  for a good looking bag that meets all my needs. Something that will hold all my valuables when I am travelling by air, but works as a handbag once I have reached my destination.

I finally found it, tried it out on a recent trip to Durban, fell in love with it, and I am not broken financially.

This  Miche bag is an investment and cleverly designed so you will never get bored.

You  choose the size and style of your base bag, select the look you want from a wide range of outer shells, add straps of your choice, and off you go. By purchasing additional shells or outers in a variety of colours, designs and different straps, you can have a totally new look for  your bag, and it is so easy to make the switch. You don’t even have to empty your bag.

I love the fact that I never have to “change“bags, as when I do this, I usually leave something vital behind, or realise that I can’t fit everything into the bag I am switching too. I am sure you all know what I mean.

With the Miche bag, it is so easy. Just unclip the carabiner, flip up the magnetic fold over, pull the base bag out and clip on the new shell for a totally different style.

What I love about it.

As airlines do not count a woman’s handbag as hand luggage, the bigger your handbag the better.

Three cheers for the lady who insisted that a handbag is a part of a woman’s dress code, as per official ACSA regulations.

The Prima is big enough to hold A4 documents, and a 14” laptop.

The lining is a light sand colour, so no black hole effect exists.

The magnetic strips ensure the bag never gapes open, but is easy to get into without taking it off your shoulder.

It looks GREAT!

The zips, pockets and holders for pen, business cards, and a zipped pocket for valuables make sense and allow for the logical packing of the bag, rather than the usual throw everything in, hunt for it for hours later.

I am slowly developing a system of certain items having a specific place.
When travelling, my bag holds the following comfortably, all easily located.

A large camera, a tablet, and my cell phone.  Glasses so I can read previously mentioned cell phone and tablet.

A notebook.  The paper and pen kind, I’m old fashioned that way.

Emergency make up bag for touching up before touching down after a dehydrating flight.

My hairbrush, sunscreen, keys, sunglasses, and wet-wipes.

My cigarettes, lighter, passport, ID. and tickets fit easily into the outer side pocket for rapid access.

Whats in the bag

Cost breakdown:

BASE BAG:  12CM WIDE X 38CM LONG AND 30CM IN HEIGHT.    R449

(Big enough to hold a 14” laptop)

Shells (pink outer) range from                                                     R570 to R750

White straps Set of 2                                                                          R100

Links   Set of 4                                                                                    R125

Chains set of 4                                                                                    R200

TOTAL                                                                                                R1000

This bag does not scuff and is well made.

It compares very favourably with other bags I have bought for similar prices at leading SA retail outlets. For more information and to view the various styles, colours and accessories, visit http://michebag.co.za/

Durban and Indaba 2015 highlights

I love Indaba, for me it has a slightly magical quality, a buzz that I never find at other travel shows. This year the Indaba team thrilled all bloggers by adding a dedicated day just for us, by way of the International Travel Bloggers Conference. #ITBC

I am  a huge fan of Durban and it’s winter weather which delivered loads of sunshiney warmth to grateful Capetonians.

My Indaba started on Thursday with an Instawalk along the Golden Mile , followed by sundowners at the lovely Moya.

This walk was also the start a 5 day hug-a-thon as bloggers and travel buddies reconnected, and digital friends enjoyed important relationship building face time.

Friday’s ITBC was a huge hit on so many levels. Starting with the selfie sticks that were given to all registered attendees, the day began on a high note and just kept on getting better.

Fabulous speakers sharing tips and success stories, coffee and delicious pastries available all day, lunch from one of two  food trucks, and craft beer or G & T on tap. Just when I thought it could not get any better, I won a GoPro. I must confess, I am still not sure how I won it, as when it was announced I just might have been outside having a quick ciggie, doing the hugging thing and yakking my head off.

William Price is my new favourite hero at SA Tourism, and I have so much admiration for these amazing bloggers Meruschka, Kate, Natalie and Dawn.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were spent at the Durban ICC in a flurry of meetings, info gathering, networking and workshops, with frequent forays up to the media centre to recharge gadgets with power and myself with food, coffee or a seat for 5 minutes.

The best place to be though was the TechZone.

It was here that travel met the future and all things digital were applauded, appreciated and accepted as normal.

Another blogger heaven. The coffee served free all day has to be mentioned, as it was not only local, but also addictively good. A big shout out to Colombo coffee and the folks who served with a smile and a friendly chirp for 9 hours a day, everyday. They are based in Durban, do pay them a visit.

Dane Foreman and Andy Carrie presented an informative talk on Instagram and introduced us to Storehouse, the hottest new sharing platform, check it out and get on board now!

This creative duo also hosted a very informative photography workshop.

Thanks guys, it was both entertaining and  enlightening.

I am putting many of your tips and tricks into practice so you better start giving me little orange hearts on my Instagrams. Please.

Early mornings and evenings were spent down at the beach. Wimpy coffee, camera and cell phone, watching the waves, the skies and the people.  Durbans Golden Mile is alive. About an an hour before the sun comes up the surfers, swimmers, kayaks and canoes start arriving, followed by the runners, walkers, strollers and breakfast seekers. It is dark before 6pm in the evening, but the promenade is busy until about 9pm.

The joy of Durban winter, playing in the sea and wandering around in your summer clothes.

My last day in Durban was spent exploring an architectural marvel, the Moses Mabhida Stadium on a Segway. These strange two wheeled machines will bring out the beaming kid in everyone, they are so much fun. The guided tour has you speeding (at 20 km/ph) around the perimeter, before heading into the stadium, dismounting and walking down onto the pitch from where you can truly appreciate the soaring design, and look up in terror at the height of the platform from which the crazy people take a leap for the Big Swing.

             

Sigh, I love my job.