Have Itch, Will Travel

Lucky You, Ramble Not Included Below is what I'm packing. My jeans, boots and camera are missing from the picture. Here is everything in their packing forms, minus the clothes I'll be wearing on the plane. And now, everything packed away. N.B. - I did have to remove some items as I hadn't considered all the bulky meds and chargers I needed to bring.  In List Form... Bags 65+10L backpack 30L foldaway backpack sling bag handbag Packing Organisers 2 shoe bags 3 packing cells stuff sack Tops and Bottoms 4 t-shirts 1 wife-beater 2 camisole/singlet tops 2 dressier tops 1 long sleeve button down shirt cargo pants black slacks jeans 3 pairs of shorts 2 sets swimwear board shorts sarong Layers 2 thermal shirts 2 thermal leggings cardigan hooded fleece bomber jacket rain jacket gloves scarf knitted hat Sleeping Gear compact down sleeping bag silk sleep sack 2 sleep pants bed socks ear plugs sleep mask Shoes and Socks Havaianas

The Only Vital Thing Besides Underwear passport:  should be valid at least 6 months before planned return to Australia vaccination certificate book and medical authorisation letter: Yellow Fever vaccination is required for entry into some South American countries driver's licence:  another form of photo ID return plane ticket: required for entry into some countries   travel insurance policy certificate  ATM card  and a travel debit card two different kinds of credit cards: Visa and MasterCard Some important information to also take with me include: insurance claims phone number bank's number: for reporting a stolen or lost credit card travel agent's number: for changing my return date

First Aid Medication Nearly everyone will get sick in their travels, whether it is the usual cold or flu, or something related to adjusting and being exposed to a different environment. Here are the drugs I will take: Simple analgesia (paracetamol) Decongestant (phenylephrine) Anti-reflux (aka Anti- Asian Flush medication, ranitide) Anti-diarrhoeals (loperamide) Gut antibiotics (norfloxacin, tinidazole) Broad spectrum antibiotics (roxithromycin) Drops for ear and eye infections (soframycin) Antiemetics (stemetil) Malarial prophylaxis and treatment (malarone) Altitude sickness tablets (diamox) Anti-inflammatory ointment (cortisone) I went to Dr Deb The Travel Doctor for my Yellow Fever shot and other shots. Along with the indispensable yellow vaccination certificate , I have a  medical authority listing all the drugs I am bringing with me to facilitate border crossings. The Travel Doctor is pricey compared to other clinics that will bulk-bill your visit, but travel spe

All The Luxuries You Can't Leave Behind Items we use in our daily lives can make the boring parts of travel more tolerable, as well as make you feel close to home. Electronic things have accessories like chargers and  plug adaptors , adding bulk and weight to packing. For Latin America, a US/Canada and a  Europe plug adaptor should cover most of the countries we are visiting. Camera And Accessories I have a  Panasonic Lumix TZ-7 (aka ZS3) digital camera  touting the biggest  MP and an even bigger zoom available in compact digital cameras. Other features that are appealing for travel include HD video recording, a half-decent burst mode, and stability control. Even the simplest point and shoot camera will come with accessories that take up valuable room in your luggage, like: mini tripod   multiple  memory cards extra battery   camera bag   battery charger  and lead USB card reader   MP3 Player And Accessories I have an old 20GB iPod Photo that is nea

Repairs And Laundry Double-sided tape can be used instead of a glue stick, temporarily fix a hem, or secure clothing to your skin. Cloth tape is good for repairing tears in backpacks and raincoats, packaging a box bound for home, and general jerry-rigging. A small sewing kit and safety pins in assorted sizes can come in pretty handy for the odd missing button, burst seam, small tear and even securing backpack zippers. A universal sink plug for hostels that are missing all of theirs and a travel clothesline can be useful too. Retrospect:  Of the items listed above, the only one I didn't use was the universal sink plug. Future travels will exclude the tape, as they were not absolutely necessary and are easily available to buy locally. Security A portable, lockable, and securable safe large enough for your travel documents, phone, iPod, wallet and camera could be handy if a trustworthy safe or locker is unavailable. The  Pacsafe  Travelsafe 100 is the tool for that occa

The Three Shoe Plan Goes Out The Window Read about the Three Shoe Plan and add some boots for winter. Boots can be suitable for a range of seasons, and a carefully chosen pair can be very versatile too. My preference is for leather, but rather than spending more money, I will be taking my old Snowjoggers that will retire after this season. As for socks , I intend to pack half a dozen pairs and my two knee-high woollen snowboarding socks. Having sherling lined boots mean that socks will not need to be very thick.

The Unnecessary Stuff For Ultra-Light Packers A good night's sleep is important when you are on the road, jet-lagged, or in high altitude places. Quality sleep allows you to feel alert , keeps your immune system in top condition, and stabilises your emotional state . Clean, comfortable bedding can be a refuge from the outside, a piece of home that is the same each time, somewhere safe when you're sick with the flu . Sleeping Bag Accommodations provide linen and blankets, and sleeping bags can be rented in many places, but the idea of sleeping in my own lice-free sheets is hard to resist. My bag was found on eBay; it is a Vango "Venom 225", a super compact down bag with a temperature rating of -10C (extreme limit). Retrospect:  The travelling that I did rarely required  the use of a sleeping bag. Only during the extreme cold of the high altitude Bolivian winter (-20 degrees Celsius) did I really use it. Travel with multi-day hikes would benefit more from packing

The Bulky Stuff You Want To Mail Home Layering provides some versatility in cold weather; add more if it's very cold and strip off as you warm up. Generally, there are three layers of layers: base, middle, and outer. Image courtesy  Mountain Warehouse Base Layer The base layer sits against your skin. They are available in natural or synthetic materials with differing features. Wool  is a terrific natural fibre for a base layer and has the  advantageous properties of superior warmth, anti-odour, warm even when wet, and reasonably quick-dry. Some disadvantages include its potential to be itchy and care in laundering to avoid shrinking or stretching. Polypro is a synthetic material that is ideal for active travellers. Advantages include moisture-wicking, quick-dry properties, and wash-durability.  Disadvantages  include its potential to smell if not laundered well, and its inferior warmth compared to wool. Middle Layer The middle layer is designed for warmth

Tees, Tops And Shirts What I packed: four tees a couple of camisole tops a couple of singlets   a black Bonds raglan tee which I wear all the time for just about anything a long sleeve button down shirt for protection against the sun, layering and for something a bit smarter a couple of dressier tops for nights out Retrospect: I ended up leaving half of my tops behind to do the greater part of my traveling in a 35L back pack. I had: one for sleeping  a camisole top  the long sleeve button down shirt black singlet two tees Pants And Shorts What I packed: two pairs of quick dry pants; one casual cargo and black slacks that can be dressier one pair of jeans because they're comfortable, warm and versatile three pairs of  shorts for warmer weather a couple of pairs of bikinis board shorts   a sarong   Retrospect: For the most part of my trip, I only used: my quick dry cargo pants two pairs of shorts   a summer dress  bought locally on

Being Organised Doesn't Mean You're A Dork, Much What's good about modular packing ? The greatest advantages are ease of unpacking and repacking, and finding items. I hate how shirts tumble out when a Customs Officer asks you to empty your bag so they can inspect it (while you have a connecting flight that leaves in 10 minutes). Modules are the way to go. Vacuum Bags Vacuum bags may be useful for winter clothing like jumpers, base layers, and fleece. Air is squeezed out through the one-way valve, creating more room in your bag and protecting your clothes. They may be found at your local Kmart in the laundry section. Retrospect: I didn't use these; they do not conform well to back packs as they may for suitcases. Additionally, creating more room in your bag allows you to pack more unnecessary weight in your luggage. Overall, I would rate these limited use . Shoe Bags My sneakers purchase included some cloth bags, though any old plastic bag will do to

Back Pack I have an Outer Limits "Andorra" 65L . It is an expandable front-loader travel pack  that zips up (as opposed to a top-loading rucksack that uses a cinch-pull system for closure). The straps can also be zipped away, which makes it less fiddly when checking in or being handled. I will be packing it unexpanded to allow me room later on. Retrospect: I ended up buying a cheap 35L back pack after sending my big jacket and boots home, and leaving half my clothes behind in Peru. I survived easily with 35L over the succeeding 6 months, and half the bag volume was occupied by my fleece jacket and toiletries. Packing light in this way has changed the way I travel and how I look at gear. I intend to pack no more than what can fit in a carry-on sized bag in the future. Day Pack The 65L came with a 10L day pack that zipped onto the main pack. The daypack has handy pockets and was comfortable to carry. Retrospect: The day pack was rarely used as other bags

I had always intended on taking my phone while travelling and there are reasons it is a good idea: it has a calendar , alarm clock and calculator , among other things people at home can contact you in the event of an emergency at home you can ring fire , ambulance or police in the event of a personal emergency if you are traveling with someone, you can contact each other if you are separated Julie never intended on taking a phone with her, and here are her reasons: it requires recharging too much it is another expensive thing to get damaged , lost or stolen whoever wants to contact her can do so by email Both sides have valid arguments. On one hand, its presence provides a sense of  security  in an emergency, and also allows the folks at home peace of mind . On the other hand, traveling without a phone truly disconnects you from your life back home. There are alternatives such as  international phone cards that are lighter and less burdensome options, voicemail