Preparing to travel: Packing like a pro

Credit: Austin Ban

Packing for 7 months can be quite frustrating, so here is a few tips we hope you’ll find helpful. Don’t forget most things you should be able to find while you’re away especially toiletries so don’t over pack as you’ll soon get very bored of carrying such a heavy bag everywhere and packing and unpacking every 2 or so days. Here is a few recommendations to get you started:

• Washing peg line: This has been very useful, it comes with pegs (clips) attached and can easily be stretched between any kind of post or pole. (Amazon: £3.47)
• Hand sanitiser: A lot of public toilets don’t provide soap so sanitiser is better than nothing, it’s small, lightweight and can be kept in your day bag.
• Tissues: you’ll probably get a cold at some point from the amount of air conditioning you’ll encounter, not only that most public toilets don’t provide toilet paper or occasionally do for a small fee, so always carry a pack in your pocket, you’ll thank me later. 💩 (In pretty much every Asian toilet you’ll come across a bum gun, so you’ll definitely need toilet paper after using this!)
• Flannel: (It’s small and lightweight) We didn’t bring one but it may be useful in Asia in some hostels/ guest houses to dry your hands and can double up to dry the sweat off your face when you’re stuck on a bus with no air-con for 8 hours or climbing up a mountain for 7 hours. 😰 I had cropped leggings that were too long and hot which I just literally cut the bottoms off to make into shorts and am now using the excess fabric as my flannel which has come in very handy!
• Medication: plasters (you’ll be doing a lot of walking, carrying a heavy bag and may be clumsy like me so you’ll need plasters to cover the blisters and cuts), paracetamol and ibuprofen are always useful for the odd headaches or muscle aches and pains from all the walking.
• Action camera: We bought a YiLite which is lightweight, durable and cheap 👌🏽we also bought an accessory pack bundle which has come in very handy, which included a head mount, chest mount, waterproof case, floating device and various clips and sticky pads.
• Sleeping bag liner: The sleeping bag liner has come in very handy when the sheets don’t look too clean or there isn’t one provided also great from sleeping in anywhere from an airport restaurant to a 10 hour bus/train. (decathlon: £7.99)
• Microfibre towel: lightweight, quick-drying and folds up small and most hostels will only provide them for a small fee (decathlon: £5.99)
• Packing cubes: packing cubes have come in very handy to divide everything up in your bag, separating tops, trousers, underwear and toiletries. (Amazon: £8 for a pack of 7)
• Baggy trousers: They’re lightweight, comfortable and cool, not only that if you’re going to South East Asia and want to visit some Temples, woman aren’t allowed to go in unless they’re wearing some form of trousers that cover their knees, some temples more strict and you have to be wearing long trousers. If you’re a big fan of elephants or loud patterns then there are plenty to choose from when you get there!