Some notes
about “smart packing” for long term trips:
My fashionable
friend Faith (FFF), who is not only a great personal stylist but also a classy flight
attendant with American Airlines, asked me to dedicate a section of the
blog to smart packing. Not sure how smart my packing is, but after almost a year
on the road, it seems to be working well, so, I’m more than happy to share my
packing experience if anyone is interested.
Ok, I have a 75
litre backpack and a day pack. What’s inside them?
A pair of
jeans, a pair of runners, a pair of flats (Birkenstock) and a pair of
Havaianas. 4 pairs of shorts (2 long and 2 -not too- short). 4 tops with short sleeves; 2 long ones
for more conservative countries (they have to cover your bum and your
shoulders, mostly in places like the Middle East, some places in India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, …) and 2 fitted t-shirts. 6 singlets, 2 LBDs (black
dresses, 1 a bit more formal just in case) and 1 printed summer dress. A nice
cotton mid-length skirt. 4 bikinis, 1 beach shirt and 2 sarongs. Underwear, 3
pairs of socks and 2 pyjamas. 2 pashminas and a good collection of scarves to
help change your looks, for the days when you can’t stand the same clothes
anymore. Sunscreen, lip balm and
toiletries (remember, everything can be replaced and bought on the road, no
stress or overpacking needed). 1 travel microfibre towel (better to have it and
never use it than to need it and not have it). A medicine/first aid kit
(again, better to have it…). Sunglasses, a hat for beach and trekking. 1
cardigan or jumper (together with your pashmina it will keep you warm). 1 very light
“Ali Baba or Sarouel” (I guess cotton pants will do too) for long train, car or
bus trips. It’s not the most flattering piece in your bag but it is very
comfortable and very appropriate for “public sleeping”. 1 very light long-sleeved buttoned cotton shirt (a top will do) for visiting temples, mosques,
monasteries and churches in hot weather places. 2 necklaces and 2 rings or
whatever jewelry you like, for when you need to feel like a woman. 1 tiny pack
with nail clipper, nail file, clear polish, small bottle of polish remover or
whatever. 2 books to swap, 1 I-Pod, 1 laptop, 2 pens and 1 notepad, 1 camera
and 1 small, light torchlight, 1 pouch for passport, bank cards, extra cash,
extra passport sized photos for visas.
General tips:
- Always pack only what you can carry, you never
know what the conditions of your trip are going to be and it’s scary to have to
rely on other people to carry it when they are not there;
- Laundry services are available everywhere. It’s better to
wash your clothes regularly than pack more than you can carry;
-
You can buy whatever you need for specific
places, too hot, too cold, rainy, so you don’t have to carry too much
unnecessarily. Dump it at the hotel room before you leave;
-
You can replace anything as it starts to look
shabby. Please do! You really don’t want to look like a cheap backpacker, do
you? Not at our age anyway. I’ve just replaced 3 of my singlets in Delhi and
left the old, shabby ones behind. Thanking the universe for Zara and H & M;
-
Golden tip: always carry a toilet paper roll in
your day pack, again, so much better to have it…
-
Don’t be sorry for leaving things behind as you
don’t need them anymore. I’m sure I’ve made some hotel housekeeping ladies very
happy indeed. It’s good for your backpack and for your karma;
-
If you find yourself carrying something you like
but are not wearing/using on the road, post it home along with your souvenirs. We’ve done it several
times with clothes we like too much to dump.
