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Or they could be just like me who don’t own any luggage for myself but borrow from my Mother who happens to own a handsome-looking golden hard case Samsonite luggage. I always think that they would be infrequent travellers like me because who would be sane enough to go more than twice a year carrying a luggage that is heavier than what you would and could put in them, wheels notwithstanding.
One type of luggage and owners that I spotted on my way out of Sydney to Bangkok recently stood out from rest however. The set of bags were so worn out and dated and were a “mix bag” (pun unintended) of soft imitation leather orange vinyls cracking at edges, as well as hard case luggages with patches of green peering from airport stickers – from Athens to Zaire - plastered onto them. The owners seem to be as proud of their bags as lady next to them with her Louis Vuitton designer label soft case with wheels luggage.
I reluctantly classed them as retired seasoned travellers who are romantics at heart and who would not trade their worn-out, beaten luggages who each carry special memories, for classiest Louis Vuitton in world.
I must confess I have been tempted on a number of occasions to strike up a casual conversation with owners of these hard to decipher luggages to confirm that my suspicions and mental cataloguing are correct. But who wants to spoil wonderful world of fanciful fiction over harsh reality of boring facts. Not me. And not in midst of all rush and enforced waiting in special places called airports.
Flor Bonifacio is co-founder of TAC Discount Luggage - an online shopping store offering savings of up to 80% on name-brand luggage products.