Packing. It’s my least favorite thing to do when I’m about to travel. If there’s anything I’d want to put off ‘til the last minute, it’s that. But of course I can’t do without this! I have to force myself then I end up piling up my clothes in my luggage that when I get to my destination, I realize that 1) I don’t like the clothes I brought with me, or 2) I brought too much clothes, or 3) I don’t have enough. There’s just really a lack of planning.
This ALWAYS happens for my business trips since it’s already become routinary. Haha! But for my “personal” ones, the travels that I’m REALLY excited about, I tend to pack early. I actually even imagine what I would wear, what goes with what, should I just leave some things at home…
Now that our Big Trip is just around the bend, I’m posed with a new challenge: How should I pack my stuff with just ONE BACKPACK? What should I bring?
Friends, it’s checklist time. :)
– Passport and laminated copy of passport
– Plane tickets
– Credit cards / atm / money
– Toothbrush / toothpaste
– Soap
– Towel (Aquazorb)
– Shampoo (2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner sachets)
– Underwear
– Socks
– 3 shirts (1 dri-fit, 2 cotton shirts)
– 1 pair of cargo pants
– 1 pair of shorts, 1 board shorts
– 1 dress
– Jacket
– Cap
– Sunglasses
– Swimwear
– Water bottle
– Flip flops and Vibram
– Mobile phone (Nokia) / charger / universal adaptor
– Nikon camera / SD cards / charger / extra battery
– Notebook and pen
– Mirror
– Flashlight
– A thin blanket / malong
– Sunblock
– Safety pins
– Garbage bag
– Flash disk
– Combination lock and wire
– Lonely planet book
Medical kit:
– Anti-diarrhea medicine (Imodium / Diatabs)
– Laxative (Dulcolax)
– Aspirin
– Paracetamol
– Band aid
– Tiger balm
– Motion sickness pills (Bonamine)
– Vitamins
Keep numbers and documents handy:
– Credit card / atm / insurance hotlines
– Doctor / telco provider / airline / airline ticket numbers
– Telephone numbers of Philippine embassies in each country and Blas Ople Policy Center
– Trusted family / friends telephone numbers
– Email addresses
– Save important documents at email / memory stick
Make 2 photocopies (place in different places):
– Passport
– Airline tickets
– Driver’s license / IDs
– Visas (if applicable)
Thanks to Robert Alejandro, he has this checklist in his book, Backpack.
I even Googled this. Here’s what a CouchSurfer has to say: You are what you carry.
Another interesting site on the art and science of traveling light: OneBag.com
It’s just a week from now! I’m halfway done. ;)
* * *
Image from: Threadless Tees.
The Traveling Havaianas 
