The first thing I needed for my long-term travels was a backpack of course! I have opted for an Osprey Fairview 40L Backpack. I love this bag. It is carry-on compliant so hopefully I can avoid waiting around for checked-in luggage and start my adventures right away.
This bag is specially designed for women's bodies so it has thinner shoulder straps and a wider hip belt for ultimate comfort. I love how it opens out like a suitcase so I won't have to pull everything out any time I want something that is towards the bottom of the pack.
I am also using packing cubes to ensure all things are easily organised within the pack.
Clothes
Swimsuit
Swimsuit cover
Sarong
3 pants
4 tops
Origami Dress
As I aim to travel really light, I've had to put much thought into the clothes that I am taking with me. I have found a wonderful Canadian designer 'Diane Kroe' who puts together travel capsule wardrobes full of quality, versatile pieces.
I've made black my base colour to ensure that everything with go together and I can use accessories and scarves to add a pop of colour.
I have included, from her collection, an black Venezia origami dress that can be a skirt, top or various configurations of dresses. This I have paired with a burgundy shrug that doubles as a belt and can be worn in various ways with the dress or other items.
I also have a pair of long black Diane Kroe pants with a skirt that is also a jumpsuit. 2 other pairs of light black pants make sure I am always covered.
I have a few light, flowy tops that are already part of my wardrobe and have added 2 tops to this to round out my wardrobe.
Underwear
3 bras
4undies
4 socks
Packable day backpack
Meds
Twelve months of my current medications accompanied by a letter from my doctor stating that I need to carry this many for my long-term travels
Ceremony Dress
Kabaya (traditional Balinese ceremonial blouse)
Sarong
I am planning to ask my Balinese friends Kadek and Suma if I can leave my Kabaya set with them and any visitors they have that would like to loan it may do so. This means I will always have it there when I visit them.
Towel/Sleep Sac/Parker in a Pocket/Thongs
A decent sized light-weight travel towel will be very handy, especially when I am staying in hostels, as will the thongs.
The sleep sac is a very light sleeping bag that I can sleep in if where I am staying is a bit 'ick'
The Parker in a Pocket is a purchase I made from Kathmandu that will ensure I can stay warm when I head up into the Himalayas and Nepal.
Safety/Miscellaneous
Diane Kroe instructional cards (how to origami clothes)
Small first aid kit
Small hand fan
Thermometer
Perfume bottle (I'm having my Mum's favourite discontinued scent made up for her)
Sarong clasp
Multi-media cable (USB to various outputs)
Multi travel wall plug (with various attachments for many countries)
Door lock
Nail kit
Scrunchies
Dress Bangle (part of the origami features)
Neck cooling strip
Toiletries
Toothbrush set
Insect Repellent
Hair Brush
Deodorant
Face bar in a tin
Shampoo/Conditioner in a tin
Tiny facecloth
Face cream
Inside Pocket
Scrubby bag (with sea-to-summit pegless clothes line inside)
Dry bag (to keep any dirty clothes in if I skip a day or 2 of washing)
Jewellery case
Head lamp
Handbag (Zoom-lite anti-theft travel bag)
Passport (with Int'l Drivers Permit, Visa, Customs Form and tourist tax paperwork for Bali)
Whistle
2 pens
Sleep mask and ear plugs
Coin purse
Luggage Weigh
Spare battery bank
Makeup
Purfume
Tech
Iphone in wallet case
MacBook Air 13"
Power cords
Vlogger Kit
Water Bottle - I have chosen the Grayl Ultrapress. I really wish it came in pink, but alas, we can't have everything. This bottle is amazing. It filters any water to be drinkable (including Bali and India), so no more pesky polluting single-use water bottles for this gal.
The full backpack:
The cost of this set-up comes in at around $2000 (excluding laptop and some items I already owned), which I'm pretty happy with.
Is my pack perfect? No. I imagine that as I travel I will find some things work really well for me and then there will be other things that I will need to think about a bit more. I'm ok with this. I've put a lot of thought into my pack, but I know I will refine and modify as I get stuck into my adventures
(Editor's Note: Sorry about the white glare of the page - I am still working out how to change the page background. This is all a big learning curve for me, so please bear with me while I work all this tech stuff out)
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