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Travel Packing Essentials
My recent trip to Myanmar made me realize that I’m getting good at travel-packing. *tribal applause* Well, I’m not a light-packer. I’m not a backpacker either. I’m just a mother… no, master packer? Now that’s a big difference, you see? HAHAHAHA Packing is an art, a science, and a whole lot of math all rolled into one big bag of travel. It looks fun and easy at first, but once you really understand the importance and relevance of efficient packing, you begin to see that you have to be artistic, logical, and well… you realize that you have to be capable to be able to maximize the packing process (and the packed stuff). By doing so, you save time, energy, and a few dollars in the process.
One of the most important preludes of a successful travel
experience is to have a well-packed baggage. Whether you’re a backpacker, a
business traveler, a travel neophyte, a well-packed baggage serves as your
greatest weapon in charting the unknown realms of a new place. Everything
inside your baggage should scream “comfort zone”.
Now, what to pack?
I’ve learned the hard way: had truck load of travel mistakes,
that’s why every time I travel, I assure myself to have these things as part of
my travel baggage. Aside from the bare essentials, I consider these things
mandatory items.
Hand-carry bag
It should be something light weight, “compartment”-heavy, ultra
comfortable, low profile, and easy to move around with. It would be ineffective
to buy something trendy or something expensive if it doesn’t fall under the
mentioned criteria. At the end of the day, what’s important is the whole travel
experience and not the potential “I-got-mugged-because-of-my-hand carry” moment.
Cheap coin purse
Especially if you’re traveling in a foreign country, it’s very
useful to have a separate coin purse, where you can put all your coins or loose
change. Easy to transact if you’re on a different place, since it’s not eye
candy for robbers. You also won’t be tempted to swipe your CCs so that’s also a
good thing, right? There see: dollars saved.
Smallest bottled water
For some reason, this is my least favorite mandatory item but
would have to admit that it’s as important as everything else. Notice the word
“smallest”? Meaning, you shouldn’t opt to bring one gallon or one bulky Coleman
for you to enjoy your travel. It shouldn’t take up space in your baggage (or
hand carry). Plus, it will only serve as an optional drink, you know, in case you’re
on the road and there’s no store nearby.
Best mobile phone
Come on, really. I never fully grasped this essential item, until
I got my Apple phone. (whatsup iphone users! facetime facetime! HAHAHAHAHA) It
should serve as your micro laptop, where you can surf, take pictures, listen to
music, record videos, go facebook, check Google translate (?!), convert
currencies, and of course, communicate. It’s one of the best inventions for
avid travelers!
Mints
You know - to keep you cool and fresh (…breath). It gives some
sort of energy boost because it tricks your mind that you are refreshed. To
some it can even trick your body to think that you’re no longer hungry!
HAHAHAHA true story. Don’t forget to bring some of your favorite mints in your
baggage so that it will keep you cool when the going gets tough.
Power strip
Of course this one’s the funniest but I assure you, it’s the most
practical. Most of the places I’ve been to do not provide enough sockets for me
to charge all my gadgets – thus, the need to bring one. You can buy these at
any hardware store. They call it power strips, extension block, power boards,
plug boards, what have you. This comes in very useful if you want to charge all
your electronics in one go. Of course, don’t forget to bring a travel
adaptor first before having this, but this is one mandatory add-on to
your electronic gadget list.
Duffel bag
Never really appreciated this item not until I had a ton of things
to bring back home HAHAHAHA it’s like it’s not there, but it is. Because it can
be rolled up or flat out or whatever shape you desire, it’s so convenient.
Poof, you have an extra bag when you need it! It's cheap and you can get
it at any local department store. Duffel for the win!
Wet Wipes
I don’t know if I should be ashamed or what but this
is actually a rip off from my friend, who really cannot leave without having
wet wipes inside his bag. Take note: he’s a GUY! Talk about vanity, err SANITY.
No no no, don’t get me wrong: it’s for poop purposes that’s why HAHAHAHAHA
well, and then I realized that this is indeed MORE convenient than bringing
alcohol with you (liquid = bottle = bulky? I guess). This one, you can easily
throw away once done, plus it’s more "light weight" than a bottle of
alcohol. When you’re in a foreign land, you don’t know what kind of germ you
will attract, so it’s best to fight it with wipes. It’s not 100% guaranteed
that you’ll be clean as porcelain, but hey, you can only be 99.9% clean, right?
HAHAHA big check.
Sure we all have our mandatories and optionals when it comes to
our travel baggage, but at the end of the day, remember that we’re doing this
for security, flexibility, and essentially, an ultimate travel experience.
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