Packing For A Long Trip

What do you pack when you travel? This is the second most common question I get asked when traveling for a long period of time next to asking if I’m crazy. Then they hear what I pack and feel that my craziness has all of a sudden been proven.

I’m totally an over packer. 100% of the time. I’m pretty sure most of my trips have had at least one article of clothing that was totally avoided and never even touched. I know I could do with less but for some reason I feel that it’s easier to bring more stuff than to buy stuff that I already own at home, should I actually need it.

One year I was traveling through Vietnam and decided that I should only bring one bra with me. I could wash it out at night and it would be dry in the morning, no problem. I have no idea why I thought this would ever be a good idea! Because one day, that one and only bra I brought with me broke. There was no way to fix it and I was stuck. So off to the market and shops I went seeking a new bra. Now picture the average size American woman and picture the size of an average Vietnamese woman. There aren’t a lot of similarities in the size and shape of both nationalities. We’re both women, we both wear bra’s but that’s about it. When I walked in the shop and told the ladies of my predicament, they all said in unison “Ohhhhhh…..you too big!” The only thing I could do was laugh knowing that that was exactly the problem. I was not a dainty Vietnamese woman, I was like Fiona in Shrek who just walked in the store looking for a miracle! After lots and lots of giggles and doing all they could do, I proudly walked out of that shop with a bra! It was about half the size I really needed but I had a bra and carried on.

One of the first things I packed for this trip were 3 bras. I’m sure it’s 1 too many but I’d rather have too many than too few. Here’s a list of other things I packed for my 6-week trip:

• 

• 6 tank tops
• 3 long sleeve shirts (1 wool)
• 1 fleece
• 1 dress (the item that will probably never get worn)
• 12 underwear (I’m sure that is 5 too many but I hate doing laundry)
• 4 pairs of socks
• 3 bras
• 1 yoga pants (the comfy flying outfit)
• 1 jeans (the first time I’m ever packing jeans!)
• 1 pants (it’s gonna be fall so I might as well grab another pair of pants)
• 1 capris
• 4 shorts
• 1 sarong
• 1 swim suit
• 1 puffy down jacket
• 1 raincoat
• 1 cardigan sweater
• 1 pair sneakers, flip flops and chacos
• miscellaneous: head lamp, electrical converter, belt, toiletries, 2 guide books, 1 giant book (Shantaram paperback), 1 journal, 1 loofah (for random laundry that needs a quick scrub), 1 DSLR camera, Kindle, all the damn power supplies these things require, mesh laundry bag.

What I’m not bringing with me:

• My computer and I couldn’t be happier! (I say this now…). What that means is that I’ll be updating this blog through an app on my phone and through internet cafe’s along the way. Going old school on this trip and am happy to be ditching the extra weight.

Could you do it? Could you manage for 6 weeks with only those items in your luggage? I’m pretty sure you could 🙂

Bags are packed, let’s get this show on the road!