I recently travelled to East Asia for two weeks. I wanted to share a couple things I learned.

Things I packed that I didn’t use:

  • dress pants/trouser, instead I wore my button-down shirt with khakis.
  • shorts, I just don’t wear shorts, even on a warm sunny day. I wore lose-fitting long pants instead

Things I was glad I packed:

  • two wallets. I had a passport wallet with large bills and a backup credit card. This usually stayed safe in my one-bag in the hotel room. I also had a slim wallet for a credit card, a transit card, a hotel room key and local cash.
  • swimsuit. I brought a speedo and a small micro-fibre towel (that I didn’t need) and Swedish-style goggles. I only swam once, but it was nice that I could. I forgot my swimcap, which is required in Asia.
  • first aid kit. I had polysporin, hydracortizone, vaseline, bandages, Advil, tylenol and an antihistamine, all of which I used. I also had gauze, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial medication and rehydration salts, none of which I used, but which didn’t take much space.
  • travel router. Once I connected to hotel wifi, all the family’s devices worked as though they were at home (because I gave it the same name as our home network). It even had a VPN, which felt safer and sometimes bypassed site blocking.
  • international multi-plug with USB ports. Great for charging up to five devices, in any country.

Things I wished I had:

  • SIM tool. Buying a cheap data-only SIM card is awesome. Having a SIM tool becomes important. A paperclip could work, but I didn’t have one, either.
  • shoulder bag. I used a small backpack as a daybag and I looked like a tourist. (That, and being white in touristy spots.)

What made people mad:

  • My extended family got so mad about my carry-on sized, backpack-shaped one-bag. They were mad it didn’t have wheels and a handle, mad that I was carrying it on my back, and mad that I didn’t pack more stuff. Maybe it made them feel stupid? Especially when I could manage my own bags and help with theirs. It’s so irrational.
  • I was mad when someone threw away my disposable water bottle. And when I left my first aid kit in my one-bag instead of keeping it in my daybag. So much, that I made a list of things I wanted to bring with me in my daybag every day.

Day bag:

  • jacket, hat, sunglasses
  • wallet, with enough cash for the day and a transit card
  • first aid kit, feminine hygiene
  • hand sanitizer
  • tissues
  • water bottle
  • phone charger / power bank
  • guide book and map, but these are both on my phone

Thoughts? Questions?