Real Travel Adventures: Part 9 - What I’m packing…
This title had a totally different meaning when I was in the military!
Debb’s 🐝🐝List
Here is what I packed for a one month autumn trip to northern Thailand and northern Vietnam (late September through late October). It is the shoulder season between the rainy and dry seasons there, with moderate temperatures and still a possibility of some rainy days.🌦️
Remember that old construction adage ‘measure twice, cut once’…the reverse applies to packing, ‘pack once, then cut twice’. Meaning put everything you think you NEED into your suitcase - then take out anything that can only be worn one way, and any piece of clothing that is more than a duplicate. The Navy taught me a lot about the meaning ‘essential’. When I think of clothes I try to choose items that work well together. The questions I ask are: will I have sun coverage or something to cover up if the weather cools off; do I have at least two things to wear (in case I wash something and it is still wet)? Most places will have options to buy the thing(s) you ‘need’.
I am taking one carry-on hard-sided suitcase and a personal item (original TruBlue daypack).[1]
Some confirmed items of my packing list!
1 waterproof pair of sandals and 1 pair of Owlkay walking shoes💙 * and a pair of pink waterproof silicone shoe covers
2 pairs of socks
Lightweight rain jacket with a hood (if I decide I really need an umbrella☂ I can buy one locally)
2 pairs of pants
1 maxi dress
2 long-sleeved cover-ups
1 scarf
1 linen blouse and 2 tank tops
2 bras (wear 1 – wash 1)
2 panties (wear 1 – wash 1)
1 pair of Thigh Society cool leggings (for under dress)
1 pajamas (because I’ll be sharing a room)
1 pair of sunglasses and case 😎
1 pair of reading glasses and case 👓
Sash cross-body bag (for going around the city)
one lightweight reusable bag (for shopping)
Laptop (and soft case), charging cord, electrical adaptor, USB storage stick (I will still need to have some (hopefully limited) contact with the office while I’m away, and to write and post on my blog.)
Cellphone, charger, mini tripod, lapel microphone, macro lens for phone, 1 small flashlight
Travel size toiletries: sunscreen, face serum, eyeliner, eye cream, lipstick💄, concealer, kitsch bar hair shampoo and conditioner, homemade essential oil mosquito repellent🦟, several hair ties, comb, bamboo toothbrush, floss, toothpaste tabs, deodorant, perfume sample, tweezers and small magnifying mirror
One laundry soap bar 🧼for handwashing clothes
⚕️First Aid: Probiotics and Activated Charcoal, Band-Aids, purifying water bottle, 1 small pack of tissues, Organika electrolytes 🍍
Itinerary (printed), a pen🖋️, small note/sketchbook
Some foreign currency, passport and visas, international driver’s license (and a waterproof bag to put them in)
Travel neck pillow (first time use - I always toughed it out before! ⚓)
a couple of small gifts to give away (flag patches, blank cards, ball-cap, etc.) - because it is nice to say ‘THANK YOU’ when someone helps you out
mittens 🥊and a toque (end of October when I return to Canada and it will likely be very cold) 🍁❄️
Total weight 13.8 kg: The heaviest items being the empty hard-sided carry-on suitcase 2.7 kg, and my laptop and charger 2.8 kg.
Note: the soft hp (Star Wars) laptop bag fits inside my daypack
Is there anything missing on this list that you think are essential items? Let me know in the comments.
Please note that I am not being sponsored for any items listed, I attach links purely out of the possibility that some of my readers may be interested in these products I recommend.
[1] I have sprayed my pack with Water Shield in the hopes it will stay a little drier in the rain (considering the ongoing rainfall post-Typhoon Yagi).
* I’ll wear a pair of light Merrell hiking shoes on the plane (as they weigh the most). I usually restrict my packing to 2 pairs of shoes, but the temperatures (and rainfall) may fluctuate, and I’m also planning a mix of city walking and hiking.
