Welcome to the 32nd issue of B.

Travel always leaves you with memories, whether you traveled to a far or close destination. I still vividly remember touring Europe with a friend during my sophomore year of college 20 years ago: the red carbon copy boarding pass, the Eurail timetable, the travel brochures, the creased and crumpled maps. It was my first trip abroad, and the time I spent walking the streets of France, Italy, and Spain, observing little details like street signs and even the logo on the side of a dump truck, has left me with valuable memories. Traveling has changed since that time, made easier by electronic tickets and Google apps, but a trip is still a time for me to take a break and seek out new ideas. It is the beginning of a new life, but also the ultimate destination. Perhaps being able to travel freely without any restrictions is something everyone dreams of.

But I think your traveling companion is even more important than your destination or accommodations. It’s quite difficult to travel for more than a few days, however, without having any conflict with your companion even if he or she is your best friend. Spending days together requires that two people share something more than just intimacy—something that can help them overcome their individual differences as they deal with daily events. Depending on who accompanies you, the places you go every day might leave you with the best memories, while great travel destinations are stressful. If having a good companion is the premise for an authentic travel experience, perhaps it’s more difficult to find the right companion than to reserve an expensive plane ticket or an exquisite hotel.

Each and every traveler possesses his or her distinct characteristics including the way each person packs for travel. People pack their necessities and personal items in their own way in a suitcase, and for this reason, I think a suitcase is like a “moving house.” Whether it’s something cheap and practical, a luxury bag protected by a cover, or an old bag that shows its age through traces of repairs, a travel bag holds its owner’s values along with their things, just as a house does.

This month, we introduce Rimowa, a German luggage brand beloved by people who like bags that are a bit out of the ordinary. Founded in 1898, the brand launched their unmistakable groove-patterned suitcases in 1950, using aluminum similar to that used on airplane fuselages. Rimowa also offers bags made of polycarbonate, which is lighter and more practical, but most of Rimowa lovers believe that the Rimowa brand is best reflected in its aluminum suitcases. They also enjoy decorating their suitcases with stickers, even though they know it will be hard to get them off later. Rimowa’s shiny metal suitcases may also be familiar from spy films where they are often the carrier of choice for cash and weapons. Through this issue, we encourage you to see the unique sensibility of luggage that only comes to reveal its true character with the wear and tear of the road.

In the whole luggage market, Rimowa’s market share is rather small compared to its reputation. The brand’s goal, however, has been to stay small as they continue to refine the form they made decades ago. They insist on production in Germany and America and have pursued slow growth. Perhaps for these reasons, I find my old Rimowa bag all the more special and precious.

All this thinking about luggage makes me feel like going on a vacation, even if it’s not with a likeminded companion. I miss the joy of waiting at the baggage claim and seeing my suitcase come out, like an old travel buddy.

PublisherSuyong Joh

http://www.johsuyong.com