Travel Series: What to Pack

By request, I have compiled a list of what I would travel with for a trip of anywhere from a week to 3 months.

WHAT TO BRING:

1.iPod Touch – fits in a pocket, can access (free) wi-fi all over, downloadable maps for free or a few dollars, games, music, and email.
2.Oakley Bookbag – lots of straps useful for comfortable wearing, expandable, lots of external pockets, and you can strap the thing to a bicycle or motorcycle or tree.
3.Tarp/Picnic Blanket – great to lay on, eat on, sleep on, stay dry under.
4.Sleep mask + ear plugs = sound rest anywhere (bus, train, hostel)
5.Nail clippers and tweezers
6.small pack of wet wipes – shower anywhere, clean hands after a juicy peach.
7.a small ziplock of the round cosmetic pads for pimples (e.g. clearasil) – I use them to wash my face especially when it's hot and when I travel – I get the ones for sensitive skin so they don't dry me out and don't cause my face to sun burn.
8.Medicine: a few benadryls, a few tylenol p.m.s, a few ibuprofens, a few imodiums, and a few cough drops. I also like to have a a one time use thing of the triple antibiotic ointment and 1 band-aid, but not necessary.
9.Some ziplock bags (6 large gallon size, 6 quart size) – useful for saving food, preventing sunscreen spill over your clothes in suitcase, and protecting camera/wallet from rain in bookbag.
10.Powder laundry detergent in a ziplock bag (or oxiclean). More you are able to wash your clothes, less clothes you bring and more room in your bag for souvenirs.
11.A 3-4 foot piece of thin, strong rope – this is your clothes line in a hotel room, you always find a way to tie it.
12.Microfiber towel – miracle towel. Dries fast, can be used by 2 people for showering, folds up small, easily cleaned.
13. Matches – if you are sharing a bathroom.
14.Small umbrella – let the sightseeing continue on a rainy day!



Clothing:
15.1 travel dress – go to opera, go to dinner, go to beach all in the same dress – I have a jersey one from patagonia that I recommend because it's black and can be dressed up with jewelry, you can wear a bathing suit under it, can be washed in a bathroom sink and will dry overnight, and is a modest length.
16.Dri-fit hat – can be washed easily and dries fast, keeps you protected from sun.
17.1 fleece jacket + 1 pair stretchy long pants = warm layer. Also pajama bottoms if there are mosquitoes to cover your legs, or workout in or wear under jeans if cold or if jeans get wet an extra pair of pants.
18.1 pair of dark jeans. That's all you need.
19.Swimsuit – can be worn as underwear and washes easily in the bathroom sink and dries fast.
20.Good walking / running shoes (something name brand if you're going Eastern Europe – puma, diesel, etc. - then you can wear them as dress shoes or as walking or as running shoes – name brands are big and a pair of sneakers in the states for $60 would be $250 here) + one pair of nice comfortable flats (I have a pair of leather pointy toed flats that I love).
21.Pashmina / scarf = cover up (shoulders or ass in a bikini), blanket, hair bandana, seat saver, versatility.
22.2 t-shirts + 1 tank top (running one so it has a sports bra in it but long enough to wear with jeans – I love my lululemon one) + 1 nicer shirt (either a go-out shirt or a collared shirt – to wear with jeans or over your dress to make it like a skirt and shirt).
23.1 sports bra + 1 regular bra
24.4 pairs underwear and 3 pairs socks – and the socks are some that you will leave behind after the trip.
25.1 pair nike running shorts.