What to pack is one question I struggle every time I pack for a trip, whether it’s a quick weekend at the in-laws or the full month adventure in a foreign country. I always go with the minimal, not because I like to travel light, but simply I just don’t have that many clothes. When I immigrated to Canada, I only brought 1 medium luggage, one cabin luggage and a handbag, but that was another story.
Recently I divorced my lugages and go on with my new-found fling: cabin backpack from Osprey. I particularly chose Farpoint 40 model because 40 liter is as much as I am willing to carry on my back and it fits in the cabin. This will save me the hassle of waiting for my bag at the airport.
It is a bit small so I have to pack wisely and this makes me a compulsive travel packer. I plan my trip in details, I plan each day of my voyage; where will I be and what will I be doing that day. This way I can plan my outfits. I also consult the pros from dozens of travel blogs and books. Do all these information and planning keep me from over-packing? NOPE. I will always be a pair-of-shoes too much and a dang-I-forgot-my-charger kind of traveler. I was born this way.
I always try to be an organized adult, and altho I successfully failed doing so, I managed to build a list of what I have to bring with me on every trip (minimum of 5 days). This helps from forgetting my basic necessities:
- Underwear. I bring only those underwear that boost my confidence, comfort and easy to dry. I might look like a homeless Gollum when I travel, I make sure I look like a VicSec models underneath. I also add a pair of everything for good luck and few panty liners. Whenever I go somewhere that allows me to wear bikini, I always pack two pairs. I can hang one to dry while wear ing another.
- Toiletries.Sunblock, moisturizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, deo, roll on perfume, towel, everything on travel size. Once I get to my destination, I usually buy a decent bottle of cheap face soap like from Nutrogena. I use it not only for my face but also for my body, it washes all the dirt and the sunblock I wear easily. Since I use it for shower, I always spend a bottle on a trip, this way I have no extra bottle to carry home.I am proud owner of towel, PackTowel from MEC. Its very compact and it absorbs water very quick and dries quick too! It comes in every size. Mine is the biggest size, I need to dry my bubbly butt properly. The fabric of this towel reminds me a bit of that Kanebo Chamois thing (the yellow towel you have for car, fast absorbent piece of fabric), but much thinner, softer and way faster to dry.
- Make up. Moisturizer, fav lip balm, fav compressed powder, fav eyebrow pencils, 2 colors of fav eye shadows, and a fav pencil sharpener since most of my make up comes in pencil shape. I don’t want to be stranded in an exotic place without eyebrows properly drawn! Bring only your basic fav essentials, y’all!
- Bottoms.A pair of my fav jeans, the one that lift my bum nicely kind of jeans. This is a must! A pair of comfort and chic looking short and one cargo pants that you can fold up shorter.
- Dress.One maxi dress or one short dress, depends what weather will I be in.
- Shoes. Vibrams, trainers, flipflops, fancy sandals for a dressy option.
- Head protectors.Big scarf, hat, sun glasses.
- Gadget thingy.Camera, phone, powerbank, chargers, plugs.
- Outerwear. A denim jacket or a sweater is a must. You never know when the chill comes.
So mostly that’s what I bring with me in my backpack. Of course the amount is adjustable according to the length of my travel. The kind of fabric is also depends on what season am I travelling.
Since I bring limited clothes, I have to do my laundry while traveling. I prefer to have it done by a professional laundry service. Not the one the hotel provides whose price of washing a knicker is nearly as much as the price of buying a new one tho. Instead I go to a public laundry (finding a laundro-mat is another exciting adventure).
Washing laundry in the bathroom sink is definitely my last option (I do however always bring 3 meters of nylon cord for hanging my laundry properly and few cloth pins). I hate doing it, especially because my laundry doesn't magically dry over the night. It stays damp the next morning however I set up the temperature in the room (windows open and all), and you know what damp laundry is like; stinks and stinky.
You can not do anything with a damp laundry but to let it dry completely. I can't pack it since it just going to make it worse (ewww to the bacterias that are growing due to the damp environment). Not fond of the thought turning my knickers into new bacteria residential areas. I can't leave it hanging in the room either while I am enjoying the day out of the hotel even when I told the concierge that I don't need a room service for that day. What if they do check each room anyway? I can't take the risk of having anyone see my uncivilized side with room full laundry hanging every where.