Lots of people forget that part of backpacking means I have to leave behind all my luxuries from home and pack my whole life into one solitary backpack. The way I am doing things as well means that I will primarily be staying in hostels on bunk beds with other people. I have even read somewhere that one of the dorms in a hostel in Fiji holds 120 people! This means I have pack considering things like weight, but I also need to consider the cost of items as I should not trust anyone abroad!
The biggest change I am having to undertake is my clothing, whereby I am having to pack cautiously as this is what will take up my most room. I am primarily taking wicking t-shirts and trek trousers, along with shorts due to the extreme heat out there. I am still taking a very limited wardrobe compared to my current clothing selection! This is very difficult in some areas due to the fact that some areas of Thailand apparently have cultural issues whereby no flesh can be shown. In addition to this in Thailand is said to be very cold when I stay with the hill tribes in Chiang Mai.
In terms of footwear I am taking a pair of trail trainers, and will also take some sandals for the beaches. To overall maintain my "fashion sense" I have invested in some multifunctional headwear to add some colour to my look. The lucky thing is that I am likely to be able to buy other items of clothing if needed at any other location en route if needed. I should probably stop talking about fashion, I sound as if I know about fashion here.
In terms of electrical items I am taking my phone, which in theory should allow me to connect to WiFi so I can regularly update Twitter and Facebook. The thing I have got to be careful abroad is to not use my data. Lets say in an average month I use 250MB of data. 1MB abroad is £3, so if I use data abroad I think you can do the maths! I am also taking my webcam which means I will be able to Skype people in internet cafes as well as update this blog regularly. In addition to this I am taking my camera, and my GPS device so I can say I have found geocaches in 6 countries and 4 continents upon my return!
I won't go into detail about my wash kit and first aid kit, other than saying that if I eat something I shouldn't in Thailand I should be able to relieve any toilet issues swiftly! Other than the above I have got what I call the little things which build up quickly in my bag, including guidebooks, maps, mosquito repellent, travel adapter and ear plugs! The other thing I have invested in is a money belt where I keep my passport, money, and other important documents so that no one can easily get to them.
I hope this has given you an insight into what I am taking, and also reminded me of some things I have probably forgotten. I will post a picture of my bag up once it is packed so you can see how big it is.
No comments:
Post a Comment