I just came back from a two-week Asia trip (okay, I've been back for more than a month now but don't people say that you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? I did just that). Anyhow, thought I'd share some of the stuff that became so essential on my trip, so much so that they also became an inseparable part of my everyday life.

We went to China and Japan in the last two weeks of September. Unfortunately the weather in Japan during that time was still unusually hot and humid. We had to walk outside for a good amount everyday under 90% humidity and were always completely drenched in sweat. The best decision I made for the trip was to have brought these Fog Linen handkerchieves with me. They are 100% linen, light and thin, so easy to carry around. And boy, did it help wipe off all the sweat and help me to stay cool. It can also be used as a mask under pollution - I found myself reaching for it all the time when we were exposed to the terrible pollution in Beijing, and I know a few instances where I even used it as a face towel. It's the most eco friendly item to carry on a daily basis and, in my opinion, is so much cooler and more chic than the disposable tissues. It's very easy to clean - takes two minutes to wash every night and the next morning, voila, you have a clean, soft, and wonderfully smelling hankie to use! The pastel blush and blue colors are so in now that every time I take it out from my pocket, it becomes such a compliment to my outfit as well.

I remember I always carried a hankie when I was a little girl. And then somewhere along the way, it was replaced by the disposable tissues for convenience. Now in light of the eco movement and the zero waste lifestyle I'm trying to adopt, I can't think of a better way than carrying this little guy again with me everyday as an essential.