Alternative to a Money belt

Dav

I stumbled upon a thread the other day on what a pain in the *ss money belts can be. I thought I would share my alternative to the hassles of a money belt. I have travelled extensively throughout India and South East Asia using this method with no dramas.

I had a large pocket sewn into the inside of my trousers and shorts. In essence it is a hidden pocket (right near where your normal pocket is but on the inside) It was large enough to comfortably carry mine and my girlfriends passports, tickets home, banks cards, and a stash of cash. The pocket had a zipper to ensure complete security and is impossible to pickpocket.

Upon arrival in Mumbai I had a good tailor help me with my request. This time around, I think I'll enlist the help of my beloved mother.

I hope this helps at least one person!

Dav

ps: If you see me walking around India with a bulge in my pants, you'll know that I'm not just pleased to see you!

__________________
Davinski

skell

How will we know that you are pleased to see us?

amogasiddhi

two bulges in one's pants is considered to be auspiscious in India so if you find people following you about, that's why.

Dav

Hi Skell,

As Amogasiddhi so kindly pointed out, by the auspiscious bulge in my pants. (passports, money ect enclosed in my hidden pocket)

lyndy

Hi Dav-As I like to carry my own docs, money etc., what advice would you give (along the same lines as the pocket, including the bulge contained therein) to a female of the species?

Thanks in anticipation!

Lyndy

Dav

Hi Lyndy,

I see no reason why you can't use the same method as a female by sewing the pocket into whatever you wear to cover your bottom half. It's great going to sleep on public transport knowing that your valuables are totally secure. (I think you'd wake up if someone was trying to put there hand down your pants!)

Here's another alternative for you if you have the room. I found this elsewhere on this website but don't know how to cut and paste the link.

Safety in Bras

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Hi

I never use a money belt. But here's a tip for the ladies...! Try to find a bra with secret pockets in the side and in the cup. I got one a few years ago from Argos Additions catalogue (unfortunately stopped doing it now) and spent 3 months overlanding in S.America with my money stuffed down my bra. I've now put on weight so it's a bit tight but to be honest if you are a small cup size (which i am) you can still stick it in the "padding" and it won't look odd (and in plastic ziploc so it doesn't get too sweaty. A credit card will also fit under the elastic on the side,

lyndy

I sleep pretty soundly, however I might wake up if someone tried to put their hand down my pants. Just not sure. Anyway bra thing is a good idea except would need to be rather large bra to hold passport, air tickets, credit cards, cash etc!

I will phone my favourite sewing person & see what she can come up with!

Thanks!

aghori

You must consider one thing, whatever you change to Rs, it will be way more batch of money, sometimes money belt etc. will not have enough space for let's say 300$ changes by 100 Rs, they not always can change you money with 500Rs.
I used to wear money belt (some wear money in a small bag on their neck also), one friend adviced me before my first trip to India: "Don't take it off even in a shower" Crazy! Then I relaxed and begun to wear money in a pocket in my bag just as I do at home.

amogasiddhi

Lyndy, if you're not sure that you would wake up if someone stuck their hands down your pants, may I suggest a mousetrap or chastity belt? Perhaps one of those alarmed back pack locks with a retractable wire cord?

A woman having a bulge in her trousers is definitely less auspicious though you may attract even more attention for having one. It's a wide world.

What's wrong with a belted wallet which you could slide your stuff into? When stuffed into your trousers/ Shorts/ Skirt/ Salwar Kamese nobody would know, apart from you and the guy with his hands in your pants. You must have very large pants Lyndy.

indiadreamn

This thread is wacky!

I dont like the money belt just because it adds extra bulk to my front, which I hate. Plus its sweaty, though less sweaty than the money-necklace thing. The fun party of a money belt is wearing a skirt with it (not in India). I was once confronted with the question of how to reach my passport in my money belt without sticking my hand up my skirt. Good times. Is there a lesson to be learned? Never wear a skirt on days when you have to exchange money.

amogasiddhi

I think i've found a niche in the money belt market. you wear it, i find it. couldn't be better. we're both happy, you probably more than I, may i add.
Or better still, Indiadreamn meet Dav. He has a problem bulge as do you. Two peas in a pod. Why don't you get together and share sweaty bulges?
This is a dream right?

lyndy

amogasiddhi-after an INCREDIBLE amount of research, I find I'm not alone in sleeping through a hand down my pants. I've phoned several acquaintances, colleagues and friends and we all agree, if there is room in the pants for a hand, then one would probably not wake up. Unless, of course, if the hand got caught in the pants and could not be removed easily or if the hand moved around or violently jerked or something similar. So I know I'm not alone in sleeping through this kind of scenario and I don't have a serious problem requiring a chastity belt. For heaven's sake. Where do you buy them, anyway?

I kinda think the mousetrap idea is good. It does not require me to wake up. The damage is done to the perpetrator! Excellent practical solution. A lot of research and thought went into that idea, I'm certain!

Actually and factually, I usually wear a kind of vest under my shirt/sweater/jacket (you get the idea?) and it covers my neck wallet. The vest has small bells attached to it and if a person interferes with the bulge on my chest which is my neck wallet, the bells ring, quite loudly. Unfortunately, I have been known to sleep through the bell-ringing and I have been interfered with, on several occasions, although not recently.

The idea of buying even larger pants than the ones I already wear does not appeal or interest me. Nor does any discussion about the size of the pants I wear. OK!

indiadream has posted the most logical solution of all.

aghori-you mean to say you do not take security precautions such as a neck wallet, moneybelt, bell-vest, secret pocket? Heaven help us!

I'm about done with this thread. Some people are not taking the issues seriously.

amogasiddhi

(In extremely pompous victorian englishman's voice)

'Then madam Lyndy, you have never had this man's hands down your pantyhose'.

(now in normal voice....a deep, soft, mellow, soothing, yet slightly irate as he's not quite out of character....enough.....yes well anyway)

It just so happens, by an amazing coincidence, that I not only know where you can find such an item of 'sous-vestement' but I can make you one, taylor made.
I defy the most skilfull and cunning of all of Mumbai's taylors to fashion the same thing from a material of their choosing.
I am......was, a few careers ago, a welder, of the like no man has ever seen. I tell you I can make just about anything out of sheet metal. No matter the size of your pants. Integral mousetrap you want, integral surgical steel ruby encrusted cyber-mousetrap you shall have! Initialled....with a slight paisley motif.....and little metal hoops on the side for no particular reason. Woof! I'll put bells on things you didn't know ya had goddamit! Grrrrrrr...... Any man coming within five feet of you will cause him to believe that he had drunk a bhang lassi and inadvertantly stumbled into a bellfrey! Grrrrrowwwlllll! Large pants don't scare me...oh no....parachutes for a gusset....

Wait a mo, waddad ya mean you're done? I'm just getting started.......hello......oy!.. ....you,yes you..........up there in your same icon thingy as me......are you a Taurean? G&T right? Knew it first time I read your post.........oy!.....you can't just leave dammit! I've only got 28 days to go before I arrive in Mumbai

......sheeeeeeeeeeeeetttt!


And call me Moga, only my mum calls me Amogasiddhi.

lyndy

Hi Moga

I sincerely appreciate your very kind offer to weld me a....mousetrap. I'm sure now, I won't be needing it, though. My corner shop has wooden ones for $1 and I can always use some floral art on it and a bit of gilt round the edges.

However, I really do think it was a very kind offer and I'm sure you are a skilled tradesperson, of some repute and will be famous for your ability to come up with solutions to various issues and problems raised by other india mikers, just not my issues & problems.

I'm going to persevere with the bell-ringing vest. It does seem to work sometimes and does not require me to do much other than wear it. If I cease taking the 10mg valiums and stop drinking the vodka & tonic, then I might just wake up when/if the hand goes down my pants, so to speak.

I'm changing my avitar. It attracts the wrong type.

aghori

I did at first, then only when on a train.
This time I am not going to take anything from what you mentioned, but I am going only to few places, that I already know. So I don't find it necessary.