Several have asked for my recommends for Monoball heads - during the last 10 or 15 years, the world has filled with small easy-to-travel (no long handles) monoball heads of all ilk - take a look at any of the websites of the usual suspects - in the USA: B+H, Adorama, Calumet, etc.
Best ball head thinking to present:
California's genius - ACRATECH
Germany's longtime best innovator - NOVOFLEX - ballheads and many other marvels.
The Gemini (aka Vitec) twins - Gitzo and Manfrotto.
and ofcourse the standard, original but mysterious Arca-Swiss ballheads of photographers-designers (and father-son) Phillipe and Martin Vogt - the only mystery is two too busy to get a site up - I know the pain. -Gary