Backpacking Round the World: What Not To Pack!

Where backpacking is concerned: less is definitely more!

Picture the scene: you've just stepped off a six hour minibus ride that you were assured would take 3 hours. You're hot, you have dust in your eyes and up your nose, your bottled water is down to the last warm plastic-flavoured drips and you're craving some food that doesn't look like a skewered locust. Behold! You spy a hostel gleaming at the end of the lane so you adorn your trusted backpack and head towards that paradise of beds, cool beer and delicious curries. You have 2 choices:

Option A

Your backpack contains at least one of the following: the plug for the plug-less bath in the land of showers, a fleece just in case Asia's climate takes a historical plummet, a thick jumper based on the same reasoning, a pair of hard core trekking shoes when you've been prancing over mountains in your 1 dollar flip flops, a 2.5 kg iron chain and lock (waterproof variety) to protect your backpack in all eventualities. You get the picture. You struggle a few steps but the shouts of the tuk tuk touts prove too tempting for the lift to the hostel, even if you know it's at the 'special' touristica price.

or

Option B

You carry a simple roll of toilet paper for those doubtless bouts of traveller-tummy, a guide book for some friendly advice, spare undies, toothbush and paste to keep that smile gleaming, a scarf-it's multi-purpose, shampoo, cash and passport. The essentials. And you're away…at the hostel in no time, a bargainous clean bed acquired and a cool beer in your hand. You know it makes sense!

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Tags: backpacking tips, overland, travel tips, Travelling, World travel