I made 2nd camping trip to the forest this weekend. My intention was to make a good video but the camera didn’t let me to do it by showing “battery low” warning in first 10 minutes. However, even despite of the camera disaster I could make some clips and took some pictures at least.
When I got there I walked at least for 45 minutes to find a good spot. While I was walking I saw some guy wandering around. Was the first bad sign? During the day I encountered at least a dozen of people. I personally don’t like much people around; especially in nature. I don’t know is it just me but I feel uncomfortable when people around. I can’t trust others in this country.
Yeah, my new backpack (which is turned out not so comfortable), my tent on it (the blue-orange bag), and my tripod (the water bottle). π Ah also bread and sausage in the plastic bag next to the backpack. Also as you can see my sleeping mat is so big to backpack, I need an inflatable mat instead of carrying this oversized mat. Also need to change tent system because of the poles. If you look carefully you can see the tent poles wrapped in green cloth (actually it was a military underwear before I cut it and make pole pouch), looks like a radio antenna in the bag. Also because of the mat and poles I can’t squeeze the backpack’s top.
In 2 minutes I cleaned the ground from pine cones and place the tent. I don’t use tarp or something to put under the tent. Because ground is not hard and weather is really hot.
Then I attached the poles.
After place the poles it took almost 5 minutes to set the tent. However in that 5 minutes I sweat like hell. Weather was really hot and between trees I had direct sunlight on me. Also I felt I was getting hungry.
So it was the time to gather some woods to make fire and cook. It took 1 and half hour to gather that woods and branches around. Yea, looks like not a big pile but I just don’t like to cut from living trees if it is not a survival situation. I prefer to gather dead wood fallen on the ground.
Then next thing to do was digging a firepit. The dry pine needles on ground are highly flammable. You need to very very carefully to make fire in forest. Especially after we lost 95% of forest around the city. Yes 95%… But only 15% of it lost by fire. The percent lost because of touristic places (i.e. hotels) built. Yea, it is a shame…
Look close to the firepit. Deep enough to make big fire. Around 30 cm (~12 inches) in diameter.
I also found some woods left by some picnicer. I guess they tried to make swing or something for kids.
Finally the reward of the hard work. Black coffee and sausage in bread. I can’t say “yum” but better than nothing. π
Later in evening I made same meal again but half of sausage turned into coal. π I really need to learn how to cook things properly.
Ok I put Youtube video here but I prefer you to watch it on Youtube website. Please don’t forget to click “Like” button if you like and support me if you will, so I can make more quality videos than current ones. Thanks again.
Ok this post will not be long, on the contrary will be very very short. I embed the video below, so you can watch it here or on Youtube, whichever you like.
First time I recorded a video with my own voice. And yes, I agree with you, I don’t like my voice either. π You will learn the reason later.
Finally my backpack arrived and I recorded the Youtube video without losing time. Fortunately there was a cloudy weather when I recorded the video, so the clouds made a natural diffuse lighting. Natural equipment hehe π
Ok lets put pictures. π
This is how it look like when folded. Looks so small but when you unfold it, it gives enough space (except my tent poles, lol). Its measurement is 30 x 45 x 63 cm. (appr. 12 x 18 x 25 inches)
This is how it looks like from behind when its folded.
Hello again. Here is yet another box opening post which I did on same night with the tableware box opening. Unfortunately the picture and video quality very poor, so I won’t upload the video to Youtube.
Ok lets add some pictures.
As you can see, the bag put into a transparent plastic bag, nothing special. The kit has no brand, no model, just a China made product. It is very cheap that I can afford (because I’m unemployee) but still a good product, better than none. π
The bag has two loops, so you can attach it to a carabiner. On its back side there is nother wide loop for you can attach to your belt.
The bag comes with some first aid stuff included inside. Here is the list:
Package included:
1x first aid bag
1x PBT bandage
1x Scissor
1x Self adhesive plaster
1x Non-woven fabric adhesive tape
2x Alcoholic tablets
5x Band aids
1x Tweezers
1x Mask
2x Iodophor bar
10x Cotton swabs
I know the picture is really crap, sorry about that.
My new shiny tableware has arrived finally. I opened box, record video and took pictures but I can make Youtube video and blog post today.
Lets write its properties first, then put some pictures. But let me warn you about the picture quality: That night I didn’t notice that the light is not enough. So please don’t mind for the poor picture quality. The headline picture is taken from the product store website.
Item Description:
Features:
3 in 1, a tableware set of spoon, fork and chopsticks , complete and useful
Foldable and portable, you can even put it in your pocket, best choice to take it for camping, picnic, hiking or other outdoor activities
Send with a box, sanitary and convenient
High quality Eco-friendly ABS material, easy to cleaning
Tableware Material: Eco-friendly ABS
Tableware Color: Orange ,Blue ,Green
Folded Size: 12 x 6 x 2cm / 4.7 x 2.3 x 0.7in
Weight:65g / 2.3oz
This is how it is look like unopened.
Secured with transparent paper, some Chinese writings on it.
The placement of tools inside the box.
Here is the tools unattached.
… and attached versions.
If you noticed, the timestamp on the pictures looks like reversed. Actually I took pictures “after” record the box opening video. So, every picture taken went through backward steps.
I went to woods at 29th of April to test out my equipment and stuff. I also tested the action camera I bought in cheap store. It is Probiel brand, G22 model, SJCam’s fake. Its performance is not so terrible but is not so perfect either. I published a Youtube video about the camera, also I will add some pictures in this post, so you can see its photograph quality.
This is the ground where I place my tent. Please ignore the timestamp, because I haven’t set time-date on the camera when I was record these pictures and video.
After I pick the flat surface to set my tent, I cleaned the ground from twigs and stones.
Here is the tent, poles, pegs and tent bag. Bagged size is roughly same as a middle-age man’s leg size. π Okay okay, I’m lazy to take it from my backpack and measure it by both metric and imperial system; so I gave leg size example.
After I install the tent, I dig a fire pit, gather dead wood, gather stones to build fire shield. The forest I went in has no river, so I had to bring a 5 liter (approximately 1.32 US gallons) of water with me. I used old canned food can to boil water. I used that boiled water to make coffee, cappuchino, and even soup.
Here is right side of the tent. I did not cut any living branch from trees, all the woods you see are dead wood that gathered around.
And this is left side of the tent. The problem is that I couldn’t calculate wind direction. After I start the fire, all the smoke filled in my tent. I should set tent and fire pit to right opposite direction but well this was the “test” camping. So I learned from my mistakes. π
Here is the fire pit after burn some woods and made a cup of coffee.
Also here is the Youtube link to test the action camera and it shows the fire burning (and smoking into my tent): Probiel G22 Test Video
P.S.: This is not only movie review blog anymore. I am planning to blog my trips and stuff. For now I don’t have professional equipment but with time I am hoping to get good equipment. Thanks for reading. Have a perfect day on purpose. π