I am impressed with people who can pack very lightly like Lin and Andrea. I still have to learn how to travel light; in fact I felt like I actually packed half of my wardrobe on some trips to Europe! The problem with me is that I always think ‘Hmmm, this only weighs maybe 300 grams so I’ll just add it’, ‘I really must bring this top!’ and ‘It’s always better to pack more than less’. You won’t believe it but I once carried a 15-kg backpack on my back for a whole month. Heck, at times I can’t believe it either. That is something I definitely am not keen to repeat.
I used to carry a bigger version of this bag around I have long since invested in trolley bags – oh my, are they convenient – rather than lug around a travel bag or a backpacker’s backpack on my poor back; besides, I don’t normally have a porter or some eye candy to help me carry my bag.
Don’t Cha wish you have some hunky helping hand like theseHowever, there are benefits to travelling light especially if you’re on a budget and flying a low-cost airline as most low-cost airlines in Asia now impose checking-in fee just like their European counterparts (I still have to pay for checking in my bag when flying intra-Europe though as no way can I pack a bag less than 7 kg for Europe!). Besides saving money, you also save time as you no longer need to wait for your luggage when you arrive (at some terminals like the LCCT, it could cost you up to half an hour of waiting) – unless you have some hunks to wait your bag with or hunks to wait for your bags for you, and they do so happily and cheerfully *sigh*.
I still made the mistake of packing too many clothes for the Macau trip (but thankfully I had a cabin trolley bag – which by the end of the trip was literally bursting at the seams) so I’m still learning how packing light (vacuum packing my clothes would be the last and desperate resort). What to pack though? Well, this part is always a headache for me. For trips within Asia and/or ASEAN countries, I prefer to pack light-weight clothes because of the heat and humidity (but I don’t necessarily have the right clothes!). Here are my tips on packing as promised earlier:
Clothes
1. A pair of long trousers or cargo pants. No jeans for me ever, not in this heat, thank you very much.
2. For a 4D 3N trip, three pieces of t-shirts or shirts at most. For a week or more, don’t pack more than five tops (note to self: remember this too!). I usually launder my clothes when I travel because I don’t like to bring lots of dirty clothes back.
3. Innerwear: about 3 pairs plus another pair for a longer trip. And a pair of nightwear item too for me.
4. A hat.
5. A thin towel, in case the one provided is dodgy-looking.
6. Prayer attire and a small prayer mat plus compass.
7. Three pairs of socks if I’m wearing any of my Converse pair.
Others:
1. Toiletries and a transparent, resealable plastic case to store those LAG (liquid, aerosol and gel-based) toiletries if you don’t check in your bag. Remember your toiletries must be in containers less than 100 ml/gram if you want to carry them along with you. And do pack your toiletries in a good toiletry bag – to avoid spillage.
2. Vitamins and supplements. Also some paracetamol, diarrhoea pills, oral rehydration salt for me.
3. A small brolly - optional if I already have the hat and the weather forecast is favourable. Must be responsible and protect my skin from the harmful UV rays and possibility of skin cancer.
4. Food: some cereal bars, chewing gum, instant noodles or instant soup and a tumbler. A bottle of water if I’m flying the national carrier so I don’t have to hunt for a grocery store immediately for my supply of H2O when I land.
5. Waterless hand sanitiser and wet tissues.
6. Gadgets: camera and chargers – I invested in a universal charger some time back.
7. A light novel.
8. A small notebook to keep account of my trip and a pen too of course (especially with all those arrival and departure forms to fill up!).
9. Travel toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste.
10. Pantiliners and cotton wools.
11. Sewing kit – I’ve not really packed this but it’s a good idea to pack those kits you can get from hotels for wardrobe malfunction emergencies.
12. Some combination locks – I don’t trust myself to remember where I place the keys so combination locks are better for me!
On myself or hand-carry:
1. Long trousers or cargo pants.
2. One of the three t-shirts I pack for the trip.
3. Camera.
4. My Converse shoes or Crocs.
5. Shades – to protect my eyes against UV, not because I’m vain.
6. My ‘travel bracelet’ and ‘travel necklace’ to hang my shades - something like Cesc wears here (just focus on the necklace and not the ugly t-shirt. Sorry, honey).
7. My sling bag or small backpack to store my money pouch, passport, camera, pen, notebook, novel, hand sanitiser, wet tissues, cereal bar and chewing gum (just like in the pictures below).
So remember the above regardless of whether you’re travelling alone or with friends.
Happy holidays and happy travelling! And maybe it’s a good idea to let your baby take care of your teddy in your absence. Or get him to get you a smaller teddy (of whichever kind, heh).
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Golly, another week is all that’s left to December. Both Cesc (he hopes to be back this weekend) and Adek wish everyone happy holidays and Happy New Year 2010! Have a great white holiday or a fine sunny one!
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