Alternative to a Money belt

amogasiddhi

She hung up? typical! what is this world coming to? An unconditional offer of support and friendship during a time of need and what do I get? nothing, nada, niente, nichts.
You'll regret it when you see everyone wearing peronalised 'ladyplace-guards'(tm)(c). Just you mark my words.
Anyone else want a personalised chastity belt? 10% Discounts for IMers.
And i'll be listening for the mysterious ringing lady of Mumbai when i'm there........in 28 days. Did I mention that i'm going to India in 28 days?

Dav

You guys are freaks! : Even though the chastity belt does have some merits if you are a single female travelling in India.

In an attempt to put this thread onto the straight and narrow once again, I will try to answer a couple of issues raised.

The hidden pocket that I had made is large enough to carry quite a lot, including a large wad of rupees, my passport, tickets home, US dollars, travellers checks, ect. I keep them all in a smaller compact passport holder and it is no more uncomfortable than have all of these items in a normal side pocket. The zipper keeps it safe even if someone was going to try to pickpocket it.

In terms of access, I simply suck my belly in and grab whatever is required whenever quick access is required. I will confess that this does involve placing my hand down the front of my pants to retrieve my valuables but I can assure you that this is not for any self-gratification purposes. This is something that a male travelling in India can get away with without causing a scene.

Moga: have a ball in India! I've got 36 days before arriving and can certainly share your excitement.

ps: This is a very difficult subject to keep clean!

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Davinski

lyndy

Hi Dav

Thanks for taking the lead and restoring some semblance of decorum, to this thread.

Is there any chance you might measure the dimensions of the said pocket?

I don't want to take all my docs, tickets, credit cards, money etc. to my sewing-wallah.

Thanks in anticipation.

Dav

Hi Lyndy

I'm not sure exactly. The one that I had last time I travelled was quite large. To hazard a guess, maybe 20cm by 15cm (maybe larger?). It might be a good idea to do a trial run with an existing trouser pocket. If it all fits and is comfortable, at least you'll know it's all ok. Placing it on the side under you're existing pocket, maybe more comfortable than the front?

Good luck!!

wonderwomanusa

>>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?<<

I normally have salwar-kameez made by a tailor pretty quickly after arriving in India. I ask for pockets in both the pants and the shirt -- and I carry some amount of Velcro which I sew onto the finished pockets once I get the clothing back to my hotel. (Note: do not use the sticky-back Velcro meant for hanging pictures, etc; it makes a mess when you launder the garments).

Dav

Hi Wonderwoman / Lyndy,

Could you have a pocket sewed into the inside of your salwar-kameez? Sorry for my ignorance but I am not familiar with this form of apparel? Thinking laterally: another suggestion is a seperate really deep pocket inside your normal pocket separated by a zipper. How good is your tailor?

At least this way you could avoid the embarrassment of having to retrieve your valuables from down the front of your pants?

lyndy

thanks Dav & wonderwomanusa...first I'm gonna find the pants to re-model with the new "Dav" pocket then I'll get another pair made complete, in Mumbai.

I've heard lots of woman say that a salwar is very comfy to wear but I'm not sure I want to go "native" until I'm a bit more confident! Some people look fabulous in gear such as salwar & saris however I'm a cargo pants/capri pants kind of gal. Built like an Amazon! or Brunhilda the Viking! Nothing delicate about me, except maybe my feet! Thanks again guys.

monkgonemad

i dont like the pouch around the neck thing, it doesnt look comfortable and can be seen.

hidden pockets are ok but 2 issues > you cant put a pp and 50,000 rupes in a hidden pocket AND if clothes go to laundry sooner or later youll forget that 100 quid note and pp stuffed in the pocket - sure nuff

for me, money belt is best. it can be hot and/or uncomfortable. when in low risk situations i wear it outside and whenlowest risk areas,i turn it round to my bum and wear it outside.

readmymind

i lived with a small backpack on while i was in india. it is made so that the top closes when the shoulder straps are pulled tight and slipped on the shoulders. the only way someone could have slipped their hand in would be to take it off of me first and that wasn't going to happen. i locked the hotel room door when i was in the shower and sometimes slept with my passport and wallets in deep in my pillowcase. (i carried 3 wallets. a small one, that could be carried in a pants pocket, for easy access to daily spending money.. a medium size one that had about half my rupees and half my travelers cheques... and one that held my passport, airline ticket and the rest of my money and travelers cheques.)

i've never tried a money belt, but i may someday. it's all about trying different things and finding what works well for you. : )

good luck and enjoy your trip !!

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~ everything is right for it's place and time ~

AlainB

Hi,

I had a small pocket sewed on one side of each of the 3 underwear I will bring. This pocket is very small, just for holding a credit card and a few dollars bills.

This is my last recourse safety device.

I also have a flat money belt holding my passport, plane ticket and most of my money. I wear this belt in the back, covered by my underwear. It is also protected by my pants and belt. It is unnoticeable.

In my rear pocket, I carry an old wallet filled with worthless cards like carboard imitation of credit cards, expired metro cards etc. I also filled it with a bundle of a strange thing that we have here in Canada that is the Canadian Tire Money. It is a coupon with a money value, of 5 cents to 1 dollar that you receive on every cash buy, corresponding to about 2% of the sale. Anyways, these coupons look like real money for someone who don't know. I carry 20 bills of 5 cents in the wallet.

For a pickpocket, this would be the most easily accessible thing on me. After five years I am still waiting to have a good laugh imagining the happy face of the thief contemplaiting his new fortune.

In my front pocket, I carry the money for the day, my camera, a compas, an old plastic watch and my passport photocopy.

(btw, If you have a black cotton money belt, be sure that it will not discolore on your pants and shirt. Also, keep all the valuables inside plastic bags)

Alain

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TimMakins

On the subject of money-belts, its worth looking out for a good one before you leave the UK, as it has to be comfortable and your best friend. A lot of the ones they are selling in London have a very thin belt-strap which does not lock in position, and hence people stop wearing them, keep them in their day-sack, and then get them stolen. I bought mine a number of years ago, but am very happy with it - even replaced the zip once, as it has a belt that does not slip through the buckle. I wear it in the small of my back, and most of the time I can forget that it is there. I guess you could add a thicker strap to the other type if that was all you could get hold of - one of those straps to secure luggage would do.

Here's a tip for anyone still stuck with paper airtickets: Get some grease-proof paper, the kind you use for baking, and cut out some rectangles to go between each page of your air-ticket. That way, you can keep your ticket in your money belt for months without the carbon ink rubbing off on to the next page.

My thoughts about 'bum-bags' or 'waist-bags' - do not wear them unless you (a) want to look like a tourist, and (b) want to have sign saying 'Here are all my valuables - slash the waist band and they are yours !'.

In South America, it was considered very silly to rely on a money-belt - all the muggers knew about them, and that was the first place they went for. I'm glad that India has not sunk to that level !! I used to keep some money in a knee-support bandage, under my trousers.

Tim.

traceyam

lyndy - I'm 6' and a former triathlete. Don't worry about wearing a salwar kameez, one of the bonuses of wearing them is that they look good, carry well, and are exceedingly comfortable on ANY body type. They are worn by women of all body types in India. You do not have to be petite and wispy to wear one at all. The only caution I would give you is that if you're big, have one tailor-made. I cannot buy off-the-rack salwar kameez because my shoulders are apparently broader than the standard for women in India.

Dav - this is a salwar kameez. Best clothing ever invented!

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"Don't you sometimes wish the arctic was strawberry flavoured?" -- Thermoman

davey

I found mine to be a pain in the arse, not that it didnt fit properly ,but when you need to get cash out of it it was obvious that you had cash and probably plenty of it in there, they all know we use them anyway! so if you were robbed properly they would get it anyway. next time Ill take it for my passport etc and use a leather pouch with good zips one that dosent bulge too much would be best I found India to be safer and better than Thailand and Indonesia for safety which surprised me. I read plenty on belts etc and really its not a problem I reckon I needed one no more than I would here in Australia apart from carrying passports etc.

Bytheway

I bought one in the Netherlands. I didn't use it. Why? There was no reason to.
I did put some small change in my pocket and left the creditcards in the hotel
(safe). In the wallet was some big money, it ws also in my pocket, but we
never had a problem. Amsterdam is much more dangerous then India!

phobal