For someone who has been traveling as long as I have, I sure do detest packing. Every time I have to leave a place, the most dreadful part is to pack up my things, mainly because I pack my thing to the point where my bags are bursting and have to resort to applying pressure to decrease the volume.
Although I still have to go through the five stages of grief every time, the following procedures have helped me greatly to overcome, or at least shorten each stages of grief:
When I pack, I usually bring all the things I need and put them in piles around the luggage-it helps visualize the load-and check off the list while I place the items in the bag so that way I don't leave out anything. but then again, my problems tend to be over-packing, not being unprepared.
-Making a thorough packing list.
If you are a frequent traveller, it's a good idea to make a basic packing list for your trips, regardless of your destination or the purpose of the trip. Keep it as a text file and email it to yourself so you don't have to make a list every single time you decide to pack.
Some suggestions:
Tooth brush, Sun glasses, mp3 player, headphones, camera, camera charger, USB cable, etc.
*Even if the items are really minuscule, write it down, the idea is to prevent omitting anything out.
I also keep a few additional short lists, sorted by the climate of the regions/purposes of the trip-for example, the list for hiking, the list for tropical regions, etc.
-Check the weight limits.
Try to weigh your entire luggage before leaving your place. Take into consideration that international flights usually have higher baggage allowance than domestic flights, so you might have to make some changes if you plan on taking both international and domestic flights.
-Check the appliance settings.
You may need a converter and sometimes the travel converters are not powerful enough for some appliances, such as hair dryer and hair straightener. I should know. I burned through a hair straightener and a very expensive Apple power adaptor. For any category of packing, less is better. Some hostels/hotels may already have appliances you need, such as small irons, and hair dryers, so ditch them if possible. If it is essential that you bring an appliance, check the appliance settings of the region ahead of time-check the voltage, the plug shape, and whether your appliance needs a converter.
-Weed out anything you would hate to lose and find absolutely irreplaceable.
It may give you solace to bring your grandmother's heirloom necklace or your favorite vintage band shirt on the road. Can you imagine living the rest of your life without ever seeing those items again? Theft happens, and so do misplacement and robbery. Unless you are prepared to have it with you 24/7, (and even so, things happen) leave it at home.
-Utilize zip lock bags and pack a few extras.
I usually collect ticket stubs and pamphlets from the places I visit and by the end of the trip, they mount up. Zip lock bags are lifesavers to collect these not just for the organizational sake, but also to keeps them clean and dry. I use zip lock bags to store my important documents, Moleskine sketchbook, and books etc.
-Make a copy of important documents.
When traveling, you sometimes need to show your passport as an ID. I usually keep a color-copy of my passport (the picture page) handy and put my actual passport out of sight. I've never had a problem using the copy instead of the actual passport, so unless the situation calls for something official, you probably don't need to show the real one.
I also make copies of my important documents, such as credit cards(front and back), debit cards, visas, vaccinations, prescriptions, and insurance, etc. I needn't tell you that you can group them and make a copy so you don't end up with a novel-sized copies of important documents. I usually keep a copy with me all the time and another separate one in my backpack, both stored in zip lock bags.
-Remember, downsize, downsize and downsize!
I know I am the least qualified to lecture on this subject but learn from my mistakes, don't be a human-snail like me.
In India, someone told me that there was a saying, "You suffer as much as you bring," which is so, so, so true. Although some things might seem absolutely indispensable at the moment of packing, you won't even remember bringing them once you hit the road. I always find myself changing into different clothes a lot less than I had expected,(not to question my personal hygiene) as well as not using many of the things I bring on the road.
I am not encouraging people to go underprepared. There's nothing peskier than a bunkmate who frequently asks to borrow something you have while he/she walks around with a bag light as a feather. Be prepared, just weed out the unnecessary.
The packing article ended up a lot longer than I had expected so I am breaking them into parts. The next Nomadic Amateur will cover the clothing.
In other news, I'd really appreciate it if you could vote for me here.
-Make a copy of important documents.
When traveling, you sometimes need to show your passport as an ID. I usually keep a color-copy of my passport (the picture page) handy and put my actual passport out of sight. I've never had a problem using the copy instead of the actual passport, so unless the situation calls for something official, you probably don't need to show the real one.
I also make copies of my important documents, such as credit cards(front and back), debit cards, visas, vaccinations, prescriptions, and insurance, etc. I needn't tell you that you can group them and make a copy so you don't end up with a novel-sized copies of important documents. I usually keep a copy with me all the time and another separate one in my backpack, both stored in zip lock bags.
-Remember, downsize, downsize and downsize!
I know I am the least qualified to lecture on this subject but learn from my mistakes, don't be a human-snail like me.
In India, someone told me that there was a saying, "You suffer as much as you bring," which is so, so, so true. Although some things might seem absolutely indispensable at the moment of packing, you won't even remember bringing them once you hit the road. I always find myself changing into different clothes a lot less than I had expected,(not to question my personal hygiene) as well as not using many of the things I bring on the road.
I am not encouraging people to go underprepared. There's nothing peskier than a bunkmate who frequently asks to borrow something you have while he/she walks around with a bag light as a feather. Be prepared, just weed out the unnecessary.
The packing article ended up a lot longer than I had expected so I am breaking them into parts. The next Nomadic Amateur will cover the clothing.
In other news, I'd really appreciate it if you could vote for me here.
Posts
not sure if this posted last time, but why no advice on packing with just one arm? you know, just in case you have an arm in a cast or something? hehehe
ReplyDeletehahaha because I failed miserably.
ReplyDelete