Instruction Manual :: To Read or Not to Read

If we put labels on ourselves, we are:

• instruction-manual-reader types
• try-before-you-buy types
• read-the-reviews-before-committing types
• speak-to-other-users-of-a-product types

We were not always like this. We used to be more spontaneous. When we backpacked, we used to just go and rent a room when we arrived. It was like Russian roulette. Sometimes we discovered gems. Sometimes not. The birth of TripAdvisor brought about a game change. However, reading the reviews didn't mean we get it right either. We had some shockers even though some accommodations received great reviews.

Currently, I am glad of the way we have labelled ourselves. We set up the tents when we brought them home by following the instructions. We did forget to bring the set-up instruction the first time we camped. And we also forgot that there were instructions sewn on the inside of the tent bags. But if we didn't put up the tents at home, would that have been a problem when we were in the "wild"? I don't know.

I have a funny story from my local chemist, Hung (pronounced as Hoong). He told me of the problem with a particular thermometer that he was selling at his shop. A customer returned to his shop demanding a refund for the thermometer he'd purchased recently. The problem? He believed he had a fever, but the thermometer read 37.0 permanently! Hung had a look at the thermometer, and pointed out that there was a "peel here" instruction. The 37.0 was just a plastic coating that protected the screen. The customer was not the only one who came to return their "faulty" product.

In short, do what you feel that is right for you. In any case, the experiences themselves, good and bad, create stories. Well, actually the bad experiences create better stories. And yes, I have great stories from my backpacking days just on accommodations themselves!