My Ultimate Packing List - Clothing

At last, the final in my series : My Ultimate Packing List - featuring Clothing.

Standard List:

1. Cotton tees

2. Shorts

3. Cargo long pants - for the outward and return flights

4. Cargo shorts or denim skirt - depends on destination

4. Old, faithful comfy tee and shorts - for sleeping

5. Towel - medium thickness

6. Sarong - doubles up as a 'beach/floor mat', extra 'blanket', or pillow 'cover'

7. Undies

8. Socks - in case it gets too cold at night

Beach List:

1. Swimwear

2. Light loose tee

Jungle / Trekking List:

1. Leech socks

2. Extra socks

The length of the travels determines how many tees and shorts I'd be packing. I normally bring 4 tees, 2 shorts for a 3-4 day trip. I can't remember the last time I wore my jeans on trips. Too heavy, and too hot to wear in our climate.

Rolling them up into swiss roll-like shapes is the best way to maximise space. Tried and tested. And apparently least crinkly. Undies are kept in a separate cotton string bag for easy retrieval.

I'm also thinking to be on a lookout for those lightweight, super absorbent, quick-drying, travel towels next time; don't think I can find it here in KK. Ah, so my shopping is not yet complete.

I want to buy:

1. Adidas kampung - Recommended footwear for jungle trekking. Won't break the bank :)

2. Leech socks - after my pacat incident, I want to invest in something like these.

3. The abovementioned travel towel. Only if the price is reasonable.

4. Combination locks - at least 2.

5. Wide brimmed bush hat - coz it provides better coverage than a cap. And it's foldable. 

I promise myself I won't splurge. In fact, I'll be frugal - so if anyone knows where I can get a good deal, please give a shout.

My Ultimate Packing List - Footwear, Accessories and Miscellaneous

Part 3 of the series - My Ultimate Packing List, featuring Footwear, Accesories and Other Miscellaneous Items:

1. Brown FOS flip flops (as pictured above)

2. A pair of socks.

3. My Adidas Gazelle, Originals or Teva - optional, only if needed.

4. Cap - either my Puma or Meridien.

5. Shades. Cheap one coz I lost my RayBans and refuse to buy branded ones anymore.

6. Bandanna.

7. Spare bag - either my FOS or my RuMe. Or both.

8. My faux moleskine and pen.

9. My slim, pocketbook calendar.

10. A book to read - which ever that's in queue.

11. Spare plastic bags (for footwear or rubbish).

12. A few small Ziplocs.

13. A few small padlocks.

14. My 'emerald' rosary.

Instead of padlocks, I am thinking to get me some combination locks so I won't need to carry any keys. I might misplace them what with my current 'amnesiatic' spell and blonde moments. Duh.

And I always carry a rosary with me in my bag. Habit? Superstitious? Don't know. It just makes me feel better and 'covered' by the Big Guy in the Sky :).

Well, the last in this so-called series will be ....tada, the wardrobe a.k.a. clothes! Coming soon!

My Ultimate Packing List - Toiletries

My Ultimate Packing List, The Series - featuring toiletries.

This looks like a long list, but believe me I think this is the minimum I need. Blurry picture above, emptied from my toiletries bag, from last trip in March.

1. Toothbrush. Full size. I don't like those travel-size, or cut into half thingies. 

2. Toothpaste. Small tube about 30-40 ml.

3. Shampoo. Small tube 50 ml.

4. Conditioner. Small tube 50 ml. Sometimes I bring small sample packets.

5. Face wash. Small tube 50 ml.

6. Face moisturiser. Small tube 50 ml.

7. Body Lotion. Small tube 50 ml. 

8. Sunblock for face. SPF50.

9. Sunblock for body. SPF30/50.

10. Vaseline. Small tub 50 g.

11. Dental floss.

12. Bath gel. Small bottle or tube 50 ml.

13. Small bar of soap.

14. Wet wipes. One packet.

15. Hand sanitizer. Small bottle 50 ml.

16. Shaver.

17. Tweezer.

18. Liquid foundation. One bottle.

19. Lipstick. One light pink shade.

20. Eye make-up. One.

21. Multipurpose lens solution. Travel size.

22. Lens case.

 

Related items :

1. Sanitary pads, if needed. 

2. Paracetamol. 

3. Handyplast/band aids.

4. Medicated Balm.

5. Small nail clipper.

6. Hair clip and scrunchie.

7. My spectacles and its case.

8. Salon Pas medicated plaster.

9. Disposable Shower Cap.

10. Some cotton buds.

All packed into a toiletry bag I got from Guardian. Makes it quite a substantial weight, perhaps almost 1 kg.

I wonder if I missed out anything?

My Ultimate Packing List - Gadgets

My Ultimate Packing List, The Series. Featuring : Gadgets.

Funny how the first list that's finalised is for gadgets. I guess that's pretty straightforward. Here goes :

1. My Nokia handphone.

2. Handphone charger.

3. Handphone earphones.

4. Nokia USB.

5. My Pentax Optio camera.

6. Camera charger.

7. Camera USB.

8. MP3 player + earphones ** (I have trouble charging this thing. I want an iPod or something better in future) 

All bundled inside a cotton drawstring bag, except the handphone and camera of course. The one I'm using now is actually a shoe bag, courtesy from KLCC Convention Centre. Since I don't have shoes that are fancy enough to warrant them individual bags. If I had Manolos or Choos, that's a different story altogether. But why would I travel with fancy shoes in the first place? ;P

Anyway, it's good to have the cables tied with rubber bands to prevent tangling.

Alogether they are a substantial weight. Perhaps a good 700 gms or so.

Next - toiletries.

I Want To Travel Light, a.k.a. My Ultimate Packing Checklist

I've always wanted to travel light.

With the luggage fees imposed by Air Asia, I'd rather save the money towards actual travelling expenses. The advantages of light travelling outweigh the cons, and I like the fact that it 'forces' me to plan and think of what to pack. Instead of just chucking things into the bag like I used to. Bleh, I was so ignorant and blur = lazy.

What I like most about travelling with just one backpack is that it is easier for you to move around, your hands are free and the weight is spread comfortably on your shoulders. And another big plus is that you need not wait for your luggage at the carousel in the airport, you just whizz by after the Immigration :). Especially after a long flight or a delay.

I always bring another small slingbag for the purse, phone, camera, tickets etc. This helps a lot as I don't have to take off my backpack to fumble through the pockets for all these little things.

Until recently I used to death a brandless backpack I bought from Parkson in 2002 or 2003. The zipper gave way, the rest of it still in good condition. For the price I paid, 5 years is a good lifespan.

My current backpack is a simple High Sierra design, expandable by about 30% so that helps with extra stuff and purchases. Good for a 3-max 4 day trip, it probably fits about 25 litres or so full size, I think. In future I think I might get one that's slightly bigger, if I see one that I really like at a pretty price. Those high-end ones are really nice. With very pretty price tags too.

I have been discovering best ways to travel light through trial and error. 

And I'd like to think that I have almost perfected the art of travelling light; in truth I have not mastered it yet actually. Some days I find that I end up with things I don't really use and I bring them just because. And some days I forget things, like sunblock (I have 3 bottles now, duh)

Am currently doing some homework to prepare My Ultimate Packing Checklist. Will post when it's ready :)