Brands

I haven’t spent much money here, and because I feel that buying quality is always important, I decided to splash out a bit more on the final purchases. As I mentioned earlier, a new suitcase was required, bigger and sturdier than the bag I came here with. Also, I decided that I did not want to leave Australia without an Akubra hat. For both I decided that the premier brand would be a good idea, so the bag would be Samsonite and the hat an Akubra.

Just like Stetson is the generic term for cowboy hats in America, so is Akubra here. But both are also the premier makes. Akubras come in many different looks, with varying crown, brim and trim designs. After rather extensive pondering, I decided upon a Coober Pedy Akubra in Fawn colour. It has a triple pinched crown, a medium brim with bound edge, but most importantly, the hat trim is Kangaroo tail with an opal set into it.

The suitcase had to be 29″ tall, apart from that I was open to suggestions. The reason I wanted Samsonite was that it is one of the few brands that come with a proper international guarantee and repair service. I find that investing in their bags is a safe option, and probably cheaper in the long run. The bag I finally decided on was the 2006 Christmas model, so a year old, and thus on discount.

Both took a while to find, suitcases being easier. The hat took some hunting, but that was probably just down to the fact that none of us knew the right place to start looking. The hat ended up being $169.95 and the case $199.95. Funnily enough, I had left just enough for both on my bank account, leaving a mere 0.80€. This was cutting it close, and at the suitcase place when the eftpos machine malfunctioned, I nearly had a heart attack, thinking I was short by a dollar due to conversion rates.

Luckily it was not the case, and it saved me a surely embarrassing trip back home to move money back into the use-account and then back to the store. I haven’t been as nervous about anything in a long time, let me tell you. But after it was done I was quite, quite happy. I now had everything sorted. Which meant I was ready to go back… Wish I wasn’t.