we were packing for all kinds of weather conditions
from winter and freezing conditions in Asia
to the height of summer in Africa
what i did take (and didn't regret)
- wide brim flexible Cancer Council hat
- wooly beanie hat with inbuilt visor
- large pashmina scarf
- Gorman - 1 x long sleeve organic cotton top & 2 x Gorman singlets (thick strap and thin strap)
- black linen fisherman type pants (comfortable and great for all weather conditions & any travel related occasions)
- Kathmandu merino wool zip up hoodie with zip side pocket
- Oil of Olay with SPF 15 (Complete All Day UV Moisturiser)
- black leggings (layering, wearing around)
- long sleeve shirt
- gortex lightweight jacket
- two facewashers
- two piece bathers (handy as extra clothing in hot weather)
- reef sandles (with velcro straps, can venture into water and are extremely comfortable for lots of walking)
- old hiking boots that i knew i could throw out when we hit hotter weather
- small 10.1" laptop and 500GB external hard-drive
don't take
- double ups eg. a second sundress or second scarf
- so many t-shirts (two is enough)
- tracksuit pants (are too bulky and unnecessary)
- quite so many toiletries (buy along the way)
next time bring
- more Gorman organic tops
- more merino wool clothing
- runners
- a spork (spoon/fork)
- bottle/wine opener
THE BAG
a backpack is the easiest bag to maneuver
up and down stairs and along cobblestone or unmade roads
be mindful of your physical capabilities and don't over pack it
you will pack more into a larger bag (der)
can i call myself a real backpacker with wheelie luggage?
who cares, it's about what works for you
you might not be able, or want to carry, a backpack
think elevators, helpful passersby and good quality wheels
the ultimate combo - wheelie backpack
or more realistically, a bag with backpack straps
think about how often you will put this bag on your back
most are not meant to be carried for very long
we took a 40lt backpack without additional day backpack
a camera bag (also my day bag)
and a good quality Osprey backpack wheelie bag with day backpack
we never put the Osprey on our back, once
SOUVENIRS & POSTING
street vendors are resourceful
they sell useful items
you can be guaranteed to find inexpensive scarves, t-shirts, sunglasses (check the UV rating), hats, shorts, sundresses, thongs (flip-flops) in most countries
during the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan
we bought two winter jackets for AUD$20
they weren't pretty
but they were enough to keep us from freezing
and we didn't mind donating them later on
posting things back home is expensive
and it can be a difficult process & time consuming
so think about what you are buying
do you really need that $2 souvenir?
it will likely cost you a lot more later on
the reality is that you will not
see and do everything you want to do
or everything you see listed in your lonely planet
this is a good opportunity to discover
what really interests you
why line up for hours and spend a day
traipsing through an art gallery
or climbing to the top of a church spire
if it's not something you will really enjoy?
it is not a time to be lazy
but don't fill you days
seeing 'things' you won't really appreciate
or remember years down the track
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