Is it a good idea to start packing twelve hours before leaving for your six month trip? Probably not. But I ended up doing it anyway.
This is what I planned on taking with me:
As you can see, its all about the important things in life:
– a couple of cameras, associated cords
– a USB reader to upload while on the road
– Paperwork
– Books (Shalimar the Clown, Samarkand, 1000 places to see before you die, Bill Bryson down under, Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk)
– gifts from work colleagues (note the I love NY boxer shorts and toilet paper)
– laptop
– toiletries
– medicines (though I have no idea what half of them are for- succumed to consumer marketing and got swindled into buying an “Adventure Medical Kit for Zone B travel”. “Zone B”, for those of you unfamiliar to the world of consumer marketing in the travel world, refers to what is commonly known as “third-world nations” or euphemistically as the developing world)
– All-important “Not all who wander are lost” t-shirt gifted to me
– running shoes and clothes
– oh, and some clothes
Unfortunately, about twenty five seconds into packing I discovered that my goal of traveling around the world with airline-compatible carry-on backpack alone was not going to happen, and so had to resort to adding a duffel bag to my travel group (primarily for the winter clothes for Europe).
So, after hmming and hawing, I finally managed to fit all my stuff into this:
Of course there were some casualties who couldn’t make it:
I have a sneaking suspicion that I won’t use half the things I’ve taken with me, and will probably find a dozen things I should have taken. Well, I guess part of taking such trips is to take things as they come and not try and plan everything. Anyway, I will be touching India in March and can buy stuff there or drop stuff off there to lighten my load. Plus I can impose on friends in London as well next week!!
Well, this is my last post from New York. Expect the next one either from sunny Jamaica or drizzly London.
