true life planet

Earlier on this site, I posted my packing list…Guess what? After I road-tested it in real life, I’ve made alot of changes.
What I learned from a real-life test:

1. Some things washed/dried into a wrinkly mess, even though they said “wrinkle free”.

2. Layers, lots of them, work better than heavy things

3. I felt more comfortable in skirts than pants

4. Having a little color is a good thing

5. I’ve got foot issues-so I’m bringing way more shoes than most people, as two pairs(the usual suggested #) did not meet my needs.

6. No matter how many packing lists I read, in the end it’s about what I need to bring for me…

7. It really all does still fit in a Kelty daypack (Moraine Trail series daypack).

8. Using two medium sized Eagle Creek compression bags makes a significant difference in how much I can pack.

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What I’m doing on this trip: volunteering at orphanages, schools, women’s healthcare centers; volunteering working with wild animals; volunteering working with domesticated animals; volunteering teaching English; working with sex workers in the area of education and alternative employment;volunteering at farms; volunteering at ecolodges,hostels;volunteering at health care clinics;volunteering with microloan programs;
AND

traveling on a shoestring budget/staying in mostly hostels and cheap accomodation;visiting some European cities;spending time in cafes/museums;visiting holy places;visiting places which require conservative clothing for women; light to medium trail hiking; walking several pilgramages thru out the world; riding elephants;riding camels;visiting animal preserves;going to the rainforest;living simply;traveling alone and occassionally with other travelers.

TRAVELING BY

Walking;flying;buses;trains;bicycle;rickshaw;camel;horse;elephant;houseboat;ferry;sailboat

The LIST, roadtested in real life: Every single thing I’m bringing, in detail:
Packed into a single, small,carry-on size
Daypack(see details above)
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thanks to the 100+ women(and the guys, too!), who sent me suggestions on ways to improve my list. I appreciate you all!
For good sites on packing light, I also used: www.travelindependent.com and women-on- the-road.
For tips on how to overpack—just kidding!

THE CLOTHES:
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1. goretex rain shell with hood/green, Marmot Precip/REI online

2. black fleece front-zip cardi-jak/black,Royal Robbins/Royal Robbins online

3. Capilene leggings, ltwt/Patagonia,black/Patagonia onlineOriginally had 2 pairs on the list-road test showed I only need one pair

4. Travelvest w/ pockets,nylon-cotton blend/Travelsmith,khaki/Travelsmith online

5.. Roomy,longer length poly tunic shirt/Travelsmith,black/Travelsmith online(primarily for conservative areas-but also nice to sleep in, too.)

11. Pyrethrin treated , button front L/sl shirt/Ex officio “Buzz off”,khaki/Ex Officio onlineRead that people got rashes from this product-did not have problems as long as I wore tank top underneath

12.Nylon L/sl travelshirt, button front/Ex officio,wine, and white /Rei store(2 total)Decided after wearing these that they were amazing-held up well under all conditions-decided to bring 2

14. black L/sl synthetic breathable t-shirt/pullover top/Columbia’s titanium line,black/Rei online(2 total)

13.coolmax t shirt l/sl/Athleta /Horny Toad online

14.tanktops,blend,with bra/Athleta,white,black,one color/Athleta online-Activa sports online

15.Skirts-Convertible to shorts and pants! The Macabi skirt in:(4 skirts, total)
Khaki,Black,Grey,Purple
(I know it’s odd to travel with just skirts, from a western point of view-but take a look at her site,
and you may be convinced -a simply amazing skirt!…www.macabiskirt.com)

16. Goretex rainpants/Goretex,black/Cabelas online( bought mens-they were better made)-I will not be taking these right awy, will have them shipped to Panama where I will start to need them

17. silk 1/2 slip/Wintersilks,neutral/Wintersilks online(an extra item-but feels nice, and will keep me warm!)

18. quick wicking underwear/Ex Officio,misc colors,an undisclosed amount! /Travelsmith online

19. Coolmax sportsbra/Activa/Activa online

20. Coolmax bras/title nine online

DIVIDED INTO SMALL ZIPLOCS / STUFFED INTO AVAILABLE EMPTY SPACES
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21. 2 pair heavier wt backpacking socks,Thorlo socks,mid weight
22. 3 lighter weight Thorlo socks
23. one banadana with crystals for colling off in hot climates, navy blue

24. 2 scarves, one is a pretty ruana(wrap), already had, weigh nothing(can trade or give away as I go)
25. 2 bandanas, one is Buzz off brand/Ex Officio online
26. Goretex w/ SPF hat w/brim/OR for Goretex,black/Campmor online (crushable)

SHOES:
______________

Note about this entry-Ambulator shoes, though comfy, have NOT held up to road test this week. Therefore the three pairs are NOW hiking boot, keens, and chacos. I am bringing orthodic inserts instead.

I have read alot of sites that say “just take one pair of shoes” or “absolutely not more than two pairs of shoes” and so on…
I have come to realize that that may work for some, but not for me. Since I knew I had to take more shoes than average, I looked for especially lightwt shoes, particularly in the area of hiking boots.

1. Ambulator sandal with anti micro insert, with orthodics/Footsmart/black leather(to be worn on all planes and transport,any periods of long sitting also=prevents DVT.)
Replaced with orthodic insert instead. I am not bringing these. They did not seem like they would last under travel conditions.

2. Water-lt hiking shoe /Keen H2O Newport shoe-sandal,green/Rei store

3. dressysandal/ black water sandal/Chacos,black/Zappos online( dressier sandal than Keens)

4. goretex hiking boots/Montrail with Gyptonite soles,black and grey/Zappos.com

FOR COMFORT/PERSONAL/SPIRITUAL:
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1. silk dreamsack/Dreamsack online
2. journal and waterproof pen in ziplock bag
3.small notebook for taking notes,etc.
4.spanish dictionary(for first part of trip only..will change out as I go along)
5.book of Yeats poetry, very slim volume
6. book by Francis de Sales
7. little statue of Mary, prayer beads
8. a few pretty headbands
9. herbal tea bags and instant coffee packets, just a few
10. photos of people important to me,laminated
11. chopsticks,plastic,lightwt(not fancy titnanium ones!-cheap plastic ones fromAsian market!)
12. spork/Rei
13.enamel cup /Rei
COMMUNICATION
________________

1. address book to put in peoples addresses as I go
2. tiny book with pictures and no words to explain what I want if I don’t speak the language
3. booklet I made to remind me how to do everything on the computer/internet, in case I forget how(!)
4. language dictionary to start out with-Spanish
5. List of telephone #’s,phone card.List of emails.
6. map/world atlas, with very good detailed maps

PERSONAL CARE/FIRST AID:
________in ziplock bags…____________

1. BAG 1: small toiletry bag with 3 ounce bottles of:
conditioner, baby shampoo,sunscreen,deet,face lotion

2. BAG 2: minimal makeup,chapstick, hairbrush,comb,toothbrush,paste,floss,bobby pins,hairclips.

3. BAG 3: nailclippers(with out file),emery board,tweezers,safety razor, a few bandaids,gauze,
anti biotic cream 2 ounces, anti itch cream 2 ounces, fungal cream 2 ounces, aloe vera gel 2 ounces,
tiny bottle styptic powder, arnica cream for sprains, emergen-c hydration packets, cold sore topical,
a few sealed packets of gauze soaked with alcohol,anti-nausea med,anti diar. med., motion sickness med.
antihistamine,laxatives,tylenol,salt hydration packets,products for women’s gyn health

4. BAG 4: Medicines/prescriptions/Vitamins:
Personal presciptions,enough for 90 days
Cipro, enough for 30 days
All three Malaria meds, enough for 60 days each
Oral Anti Fungal, enough for 30 days
Vitamins: Multi,B-12,Cranberry Concentrated Capsules

5. FOOT CARE:
Prescription Ankle wraps, 2, washable
Ace bandage,1,washable
Prescription Knee wraps,2,washable
Moleskin
Blister care products
Pumice stone with brush
1 pair compression knee-high hose for plane trips/long bus rides
(also good to help prevent DVT and leg fatigue in general. These are the more expensive, durable variety so one pair should suffice)
PRACTICAL THINGS FOR TRAVEL:
_________in ziplock bags….__________

1. BAG 1: Portable laundry kit:Rick Steves clotheline,a few stain remover packets,universal sink plug,small size packtowel(for drying long hair;I plan on using sarong above for a towel, otherwise.)

2. BAG 2: Sewing/repair kit:Tiny roll of duct tape, tiny sewing kit,2 hooks for hanging mosquito nets,one set extra shoelaces

3. BAG 3: Digital camera,extra set of batteries,2 memory cards,etc. in waterproof black bag;travel alarm clock;pedometer w/clock;a few clips to clip stuff onto backpack

4. BAG 4: Bag for dirty shoes,extra ziploc bags of misc sizes

5. BAG 5: Torn out parts of LP guidebook for Central America(will either buy or have shipped to me guides for next part of trip)

6. BAG 6: Things useful for travelling/meeting local people/volunteering: Children’s book of popular songs in English,
2 animal finger puppets, nice workgloves,a few small “gifts” for hosts in Central America
(will buy more along the way: tiny set of magnetic checkers, tiny kids set pick up sticks,postcards of USA, etc.)

7.BAG 7: Water kit: First need Water Purifier, with extra filter( gets all known pathogens known to man out of water, even Cholera)/Rei store; Iodine tablets for emergencies; Nalgene bottle; Platypus flat bottle(fits into the top flap of my daypack) for long hikes,etc

8. Packable ultralite umbrella/travelsmith

9.Compact roll of Toilet paper, and “Freshette”-device I bought at Rei so women don’t have to sit down to pee(I’m thinking this will come in might handy, having seen photos of some of the bathrooms out there!)

SAFETY/SECURITY STUFF:
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1. headlamp/Petzl
2. extra batteries
3. doorstop/plastic cheapie,bought at hardware store
4. cheap sunglasses(I put these in the security category,because I’ll probably only wear them to avoid eye contact!)
5. roll of velcro

6. money belt
7. passport with extra pages(had extra pages glued in before I left)
8. 3 extra sets of passport photos for Visas
9. All the documents/letters of entry/letters from organizations/visas for any country I am entering in the first year
and applied to enter while still in the USA
10. drivers license
11. certified copy of birth certificate
12. 2 small combination locks for zippers on pack,one for bag main compartment listed below
7. bag for daypack to go into, black,waterproof,also good for laundry…
8. yellow immunization card/yellow fever card
9. Visas from countries I applied for while still in the USA
10.Travel insurance info and card

11.credit cards
12.atm card
13.cash
14.$500 travelers checks(can’t be used that many places where I’m going-but still good to have, I think)

15.important phone #’s and addresses,emails(also all online)
16. copies of all documents(also copies at home)
17. small cheap, coinpurse
18. Bag, similiar to a small,flat to the body, messenger bag, that I already had, and added things to to make it more secure
(had a friend sew on an additional webbing strap, etc,velcro in all pockets, etc.) I do not plan on carrying this bag all the time, or keeping valuables in it-will use it for a guidebook, bottle of water,etc.

That’s it. It doesn’t look like so much stuff until I write it all out!The end.

Tags: 1, packing list, women

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