I like to pack light.

September 21st, 2008

I have never written a ‘packing list’ before. I pack the night before I go away and even then it only takes me about 15 minutes. But, I’ve put together a list for you dear reader because I thought you might be interested to know how many pairs of underpants I’m taking with me on my upcoming trip. By the amount of ‘how to pack’ websites, though, there must be a lot of people out there who like doing packing lists. One website insists that: ‘Your top priority above anything else should be the acquisition, personalization, and use of a good packing list.’ There is even a (quite lame) website where you put in the dates you’re travelling, the weather, the type of accommodation you’re staying in, the transport you’re using and whether you’re going on ‘Glacier walks’ and it generates your own personally tailored packing list. According to my list I should bring (as well as the usual underpants and stuff): a small box (I’m not exactly sure why), a small scale map, a large scale map, a bookmark reading light, disposable syringes and, most important of all, your ‘packing list’. They also recommended I take some ‘duct tape’, although I didn’t tick the ‘S&M box’ in the activities section.

Because I’m going to the steamy climes of Southeast Asia on this trip I’ll have a very light pack (I should easily get it in under 10 kilos). Anyway, I know you’ve been dying to know, so here’s my list. Underpants and all.

1 pair of cargo pants
2 pairs of shorts
1 pair of boardshorts (which can double as shorts when I’m washing the other 2)
5 T-shirts (I usually buy a couple along the way as well)
1 thin fleece (it will be steaming hot in Asia, but the buses are ice cold!)
10 pairs of underpants (… and on the 10th day he washed all of his clothes!)
3 pairs of socks
1 pair of ‘trail shoes’ (which is sort of a cross between a hiking boot and runners)
1 pair of thongs (for any impromptu pole dancing – okay, I mean the other thongs)
1 cap (to keep the sun of my balding noggin)

1 incredibly thin (and almost useless) towel
1 toiletry bag (soap, shampoo, shaving gel, razors, hair brush, sunblock, lip balm, Panadol, toothpaste and toothbrush)

1 travel alarm clock
1 Nikon SLR Digital camera
1 iPod (with microphone for voice recording)
1 Swiss army knife
1 money belt

1 book to read (this trip I’m taking Paul Theroux’s new book ‘Ghost Train to the Eastern Star’)
3 exercise books (for writing my notes)
4 pens (on average I lose 3 a trip!)
1 passport (I find this comes in handy)

Oh, and some duct tape (there’s an S&M club in Jakarta I want to try out). 

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