When traveling abroad, there are many great experiences and cultures to explore. Part of the magic of working from another country is being able to enjoy the daily lifestyle of a new place. Even the little things stand out, the faucets in Japan turn the opposite direction of those in the U.S., sandwiches in Denmark are open faced, and in Germany, most people seem to drink fruit juice or water with their lunch.

Television and entertainment in other countries can be a particular challenge unless you are fluent in the local language. It is not difficult to learn the words necessary to conduct minor business, such as shopping or going to a movie, but listening to the news requires a grasp of the local language. Many countries provide very little English language programming, even in top hotels.

Online newspapers have been slowly emerging on the web as a supplement to the daily print edition. One that we have found to be outstanding is the Washington Post online. The news coverage is thorough and you can even get your daily fix of the funny pages! The registration is free, and they will even email you the top stories of the day, which can be directed to your cell phone for extra convenience.

Belkin CableFree USB Hub*

In mid December 2006, Belkin was due to release in the U.S. a new wireless USB hub that allows connectivity between a computer and its USB peripherals, the CableFree USB Hub.  If it delivers as promised, the hub, priced at $199, could be a handy device for business travelers. We haven’t tried it yet but will be keeping an eye on it.

Described as the first wireless USB, it received Laptop Magazine’s Best of CES Award. It was one of eight recipients of the award.  

Last year, Belkin was scheduled to offer a four-port hub and dongle set to enable immediate high-speed wireless connectivity for any USB device without requiring software. The CableFree USB Hub promises desktop computer users the freedom to place USB devices, such as printers, scanners, hard drives, and MP3 players, anywhere in the room without running cables. Laptop users gain the freedom to roam wirelessly within a room while still maintaining access to their stationary USB devices.

The Belkin CableFree USB Hub also received the 2006 CES Popular Mechanics’ Editor’s Choice Award and the CNET Best of CES Award.

Belkin Corporation offers a diverse product mix for computer and consumer electronics users seeking integration in their homes, cars, and on the go. Founded in California in 1983, Belkin is a privately held company. 

*Photo: Businesswire

While we were viisting Tobago, there was a bomb scare in the U.K. that led to new regulations on carry on bags, including not allowing any carry on baggage from U.K. airports for several weeks. This led us to look into the possiblities of being able to check our laptops and cameras without fearing for their safety. This search eventually led us to the Pelican 1510.

If you have never seen Pelican cases before, they are used extensively in the military and civil agencies, such as fire and police. They are very durable, chemical resistant and watertight cases that can be used to protect equipment and supplies for transport. The Pelican 1510 is designed to meet the carry on luggage size constraints of most major airlines and has wheels and an extendable handle so it is easy to use.

There are several options available for the interior, we chose the foam blocks that are designed to allow the user to remove individual cells and form shapes to snugly hold equipment. In our case, we carry an entire professional photography setup, including multiple lenses and spare parts as well as a Sony Vaio laptop. On a recent trip to Africa, we found that this bag was perfect for use in the game viewing camps, as we could just hand it off to the porters to deliver to our rooms and trust that our equipment was safe.

Pelican also markets TSA approved locks that will secure this case if we ever have to check it. We hope it never comes to this, but if the worst happens while we are out there traveling, we at least have the option to keep our equipment safe and sound if it has to go into the belly of the plane.

You can order this case from