Packing

So I’m not sure if y’all will think this is interesting but living out of a backpack is rather tough and deciding what is important and what isn’t is even tougher! So here I will keep track of what I keep and what gets tossed throughout the trip. Remember- I’ll be in Egypt the hottest week of the year there but then I head to Russia where it’s always cold!

The best items in my pack:

-Car shammy to dry off with so I didn’t have to carry around a bulky and gross wet towel

-Old towel that bunched up really well (it doesn’t have to be too thick because your just using it to wrap around yourself since the shammy got all the water off!)

-iPod speakers that don’t need batteries or to be plugged in

-Universal converter- it’s small and has everything covered so there’s no need for that massive kit they sell!

-Make up remover cloths- they just make life simpler

-Ziplock bags of every size- everything small that I own is in a Ziplock- they may not be the prettiest but they serve their purpose. Be sure to pack extras because after about 4 months of being tossed around they started to get holes!

-I didn’t have one but half way through the trip I really wanted it: a small, inexpensive laptop with internet access::: http://www.pcworld.com/video/id,448-page,1-bid,0/video.html

MASTER PACKING LIST

Clothing

3 pair pants (2 pair jeans, 1 pair slacks)

1 pair shorts

1 pair sleeping boxers

1 pair track pants

14 tops (5 going out, 9 everyday)

3 t-shirts

1 sweater

1 long sleeve shirt

3 going out dresses

14 pair underwear

2 bras

8 pair socks

1 bathing suit

1 fleece

1 beanie

1 scarf

1 rain jacket

1 pair walking shoes

1 pair heels that can withstand cobblestone (I suggest wedges)

1 pair running shoes/1 pair running shorts/3 sports bras (optional)

1 pair flip flops

1 pair shower shoes

1 pair sunglasses

Toiletries (in 2 zip lock bags- one being for shower stuff)

1 travel size hair brush

1 giant bottle 3-in-one body wash/shampoo/conditioner

1 deodorant

1 toothbrush

1 tooth paste

Dental floss

Makeup- the cheap kind!

Tweezers

Travel-size Q-Tips

Travel-size body lotion

Face moisturizer

Bobby pins

1 small bottle hairspray

Hair rubber bands

Chapstick

Nail clippers

Makeup remover clothes

Shaving razor/spare razors

Perfume

Extra contact lenses/ lens case/solution

Glasses/glasses case

Med Kit (in a Ziplock bag)

Neosporin

Pepto or other stomach meds (Depending on what countries you’re visiting the doctor can prescribe you to some hardcore stuff)

Tylenol

Tylenol PM (good for sleeping on long journeys)

BandAids

Electronics (in a Ziplock bag)

Universal adaptor

iPod

iPod charger (wall outlet)

iPod speakers

Universal cell phone

Cell phone charger

Camera

Camera battery charger

Extra

Car shammy and old towel

Small pair scissors

Tide pen for clothing

Pad lock

Sleeping bag (smallest kind available)

Rain cover for pack

Travel size umbrella

Small day backpack

Blank thank you notes/envelopes (in a Ziplock bag to prevent from getting beat up)

Sharpie marker

Pens/pencils

Travel diary

Ziplock bags (all sizes)

Jewelry (cheap and in a Ziplock bag)

Travelers’ checks and copies of all credit, ID (including student), DAN and insurance cards, passport (kept hidden in a Ziplock bag on bottom on back pack)

Travel itinerary notebook with copies of any/all reservations for hostels/flights with directions/phone numbers to hostels

ROUND TWO PACKING LIST- I went home so let’s see what I’ve learned…

2 pair jeans

1 pair blue pants

1 pair track pants

1pair gym shorts

1 pair khaki shorts

1 pair sleeping boxers

3 dresses

14 tops

3 t-shirts

1 long sleeve shirt

1 sweater

2 fleece jackets

1 rain coat

8 pair socks

15 pair underwear

3 sports bras

3 bras

1 bathing suit

1 beanie

1 pair New Balance sneakers

1 pair running shoes

1 pair black Reefs

1 pair Tevas

1 pair shower shoes

1 pair gold heels

1 pink bandana

1 black scarf

1 pair sunglasses

Clothing Discarded

1 pair sunglasses (they broke)

1 bra (this sounds really creepy- it just went missing)

1 sock lost, its pair discarded

1 fleece jacket (I think I left this on the night bus from Barcelona to San Sebastian)

1 (another) sock lost, its pair discarded (maybe they were of the same pair?!)

2 tops (because of holes from being washed too much)

1 scarf (I tried to wash it and it shrunk)

1 beanie (tossed it after the Belgian party… You wouldn’t keep it either!) 

1 pair sunglasses (the ones I bought broke!)

1 pair shower shoes (no need to carry these home!)

Clothing Purchased

1 pair sunglasses

1 scarf

3 light weight scarves (for 1 Euro a piece!)

Original Clothing Packing List

1 pair nice jeans

1 pair nice long khaki linen pants

1 pair blue pants (I realize that sounds weird but that’s what they are…)

1 pair khaki Capri pants

1 pair dark khaki shorts

1 pair gym shorts

1 pair sleeping boxers

1 pair track pants

8 tank tops

2 t-shirts

1 long sleeve shirt

2 dresses

1 skirt

3 sports bras

4 bras

6 pair socks

13 pair underwear

1 bathing suit

1 snow cap

1 hat

1 scarf

1 fleece jacket

1 rain jacket

1 umbrella

1 pink bandanna

1 pair Tevas

1 pair shower flip-flops

1 pair brown heels

1 pair Rainbow sandals

1 pair New Balance sneakers

2 pair sunglasses

Clothing Purchased

4 tank tops

4 t-shirts (from Nevis, Sky Diving, one came free with a beer purchase, one bought in Harajuku)

1 long sleeve shirt

1 fleece jacket

1 pair running shoes

3 dresses

3 pair socks

1 pair gold heels

1 pair gold flats

1 pair silver flip-flops

1 pair sunglasses

Clothing Discarded

1 pair sunglasses (they broke!)

1 pair of sunglasses (I left them in a hotel in Aswan, Egypt)

1 bra (which snapped in two when I accidentally put it in the dryer!)

1 umbrella (I left it at the first waterfall in the Blue Mountains thinking I would return to get it!)

1 pair Rainbow sandals (I’m not sure where these went…)

1 tank top

1 t-shirt (from Nevis and to be honest, it’s ugly)

1 pair khaki capri pants

2 dresses

1 skirt

1 pair socks