Around the World Travel. Part 16 (Packing the Bag)

I am a 33 year old female going on a 6- 12 month trip. Once I was able to trim down the toiletries and electronics and enlist a few packing strategies, my backpack was surprisingly light and only 3/4 full. Here is what I packed:

BACKPACK

55L Women’s Osprey

Women's 55 L Osprey Ariel

• 3 pants (2 Patagoniaesque + 1 blue jean- just can’t let these stay home)
• 1 fleece jacket
• 1 Northface waterproof/wind jacket
• 4 pairs super fast dry underwear
• 2 socks
• 4 t-shirts
• 3-4 tank tops
• 1 long sleeve t-shirt
• 1 dress/skirt miracle worker- it makes about 6 different outfits
• 3 sun dresses
• 1 hat
• 2 sports bra
• 1 swimmers towel (lightweight and thin)
• 2 bathing suits
• 1 pashmina (moonlights as scarf, shawl, blanket, towel, head dress, sarong)
• 1 nylon reusable shopping bag
• 3 shoes: ballet flats, keen voyager hiking/walking shoes, & croc sandals (all plastic, so no worry of offending mildew smell)
• toiletries: travel size (toothpaste, shampoo, cond, dove soap,toothbrush, hairbrush, etc)
• 2 bottles Coppertone sport sunscreen
• medicines (anti-diarrhea, Aleeve, band-aides, Neosporian, cipro, Prep H)
• 1 inflatable sleeping mat
• 1 pair goggles for snorkeling

Packing Secret: Space Bags- all my clothes are divided and put into these bags and then all the air is sucked out, my 55L bag is surprisingly light considering the journey I am embarking upon….guess that means more travel swag for me!

DAYPACK-

Patagonia lightweight backpack (similar to nylon tote but has backpack straps)

• 1 iPad + other electronica (see post Around the World Travel. Part 15 for more details)
• 3 various travel guide books (many are already downloaded on iPad -this saves tons of SPACE!!)
• 2-3 physical books to read
• sleep mask + ear plugs
• inflatable head pillow (good for airplanes and bumpy bus rides)

Important documents/financial

• passport (duh!)
• 10 passport sized photos
• 2 sets of photocopies of credit cards, birth certificate, and passport (hide one and give another to friend to hold on to)
• 2 debit/credit cards from 2 diff banking institutions
• OMG! emergency money stashed away

New Haircut

After hemming and hawing for a couple days about my hair, I decided to cut it all off. I am fortunate to have a head for long and short hair.

before