Destinations Where they went Travel gear Student travel Sensible traveler
Words on the water
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 05/26/02
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Destinations Where they went Travel gear Student travel Sensible traveler
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How can you be sure that glass of water is safe to drink? Solar engineer Miles Maiden offers the Steri-Pen, a water purification system that can zap a 16-ounce glass of water with a dose of ultraviolet light, destroying 99.9 percent of protozoa and viruses and 99.9999 percent of bacteria in under a minute. A child-safety code and liquid sensors prevent it from being used improperly, and it comes with a one-year warranty. The 7-inch-long, 8-ounce Steri-Pen (made by Hydro-Photon of Blue Hill, Maine) is small enough to tuck into your purse or pocket, and since it works with light instead of heat or chemicals, it's easy to use in almost any setting. It runs on four AA batteries (alkaline batteries last for 20 to 40 treatments; lithium batteries for 130 to 140), and its UV lamp lasts for about 5,000 treatments — about 4 cups of water a day for almost seven years. It costs $199 (replacement UV lamps are $60) and is available at REI stores; Magellan's catalog (telephone 800-962-4943); directly from the manufacturer (telephone 888-826-6234); and online at www.hydro-photon.com, www.magellans.com, and www.rei.com.
Burying your treasure
Discourage pickpockets by keeping your valuables close by. Magellan's secret neck pouch and waist wallet are each large enough to hold your passport, money, and credit cards, but small enough to be hidden discreetly under your shirt or flat around your waist. Made of a durable polyester/cotton blend with a soft, antimicrobial lining, the pouch and wallet cost $12.85. Order through the Magellan's catalog (telephone 800-962-4943) or online at www.magellans.com.
Having the last word
Electronic Scrabble Express packs the fun of the classic word board game into a tiny, portable hand-held device. Packing nine levels and games for one or two players, it is endorsed by the National Scrabble Association. You do need three AAA batteries, but you don't have to bring a dictionary; it's built in, with about 105,000 words. The game is available for about $30 at many toy stores, Wal-Mart stores, and online at www.boardgames.com/scrabex.html, www.kbkids.com, and www.areyougame.com.