One of the most important aspects of preparing for an extended trip abroad is the need to pack light. No mean feat if you, like me, usually take six alternate outfits for two days away. So, in an effort to assist anyone currently packing for a trip, I decided to compile a list of outerwear that I, personally, found invaluable while away for ten weeks.
1. Leggings - surprisingly useful. With a long t-shirt or short dress with sleeves you are dressed respectfully should you be visiting a local village. They are also usually a cotton/lycra mix so they are quite cool if it's hot, and they are comfortable enough to sleep in.
2. About 5 baggy t-shirts in dark colours - two reasons; stains don't show (be this dirt from trekking or from spilling your dinner down yourself), and more comfortable as they won't stick to you.
3. Hareem trousers - avoid pink or you might wind up looking like a pantomime genie but they are good leg wear in multiple situations; in a temple, on the beach, or on the bus.
4. A Hoodie - a kit list might recommend a light weight fleece that stays warm when wet but I recommend your standard hooded top too. Comfy clothes are essential and a hooded top keeps you toasty on overnight air-conditioned transport.
5. A scarf - probably the most useful accessory ever. Use it as part of an outfit, wrap it round yourself to keep warm, use it to cover skin otherwise exposed to the sun, use it to elegantly dab your face (sweating is inevitable but not nice), use it as an emergency hair band, even wrap it round your head and use as a hat. Wait until you are in country and pick up a traditional scarf. Souvenir and essential item in one!
6. Trainers; Converse or similar - because sometimes you need more on your feet than flip-flops but just don't want to fight with your boots.
7. Sunglasses - for health and safety reasons you should have a wide brimmed hat in the sun but hats make my head itch and so I advocate UVA/UVB protective sunglasses as an addition.
8. Knee length strapless dress - (this is a very 'girly' list isn't it?) can be worn in the evening, as a cover up in case of communal showers, or turn it into a skirt and make your limited outfits go further.
9. Long sleeve shirt - button or no button, a long sleeved shirt is multipurpose. You can even buy fancy ones impregnated with mosquito repellent. Clever.
10. A rain poncho - no joke. Plastic rain ponchos are not only sold incredibly cheap, they pack easily, they keep you completely dry and they are an alternative method of keeping everything else dry. The bright colours are cheery on a rainy day too.
There are a hundred other items that you will want to have, a plentiful supply of underwear and socks no doubt. But the above ten items are my recommendations - would be and seasoned travelers alike, what would you recommend?
1. Leggings - surprisingly useful. With a long t-shirt or short dress with sleeves you are dressed respectfully should you be visiting a local village. They are also usually a cotton/lycra mix so they are quite cool if it's hot, and they are comfortable enough to sleep in.
2. About 5 baggy t-shirts in dark colours - two reasons; stains don't show (be this dirt from trekking or from spilling your dinner down yourself), and more comfortable as they won't stick to you.
3. Hareem trousers - avoid pink or you might wind up looking like a pantomime genie but they are good leg wear in multiple situations; in a temple, on the beach, or on the bus.
4. A Hoodie - a kit list might recommend a light weight fleece that stays warm when wet but I recommend your standard hooded top too. Comfy clothes are essential and a hooded top keeps you toasty on overnight air-conditioned transport.
5. A scarf - probably the most useful accessory ever. Use it as part of an outfit, wrap it round yourself to keep warm, use it to cover skin otherwise exposed to the sun, use it to elegantly dab your face (sweating is inevitable but not nice), use it as an emergency hair band, even wrap it round your head and use as a hat. Wait until you are in country and pick up a traditional scarf. Souvenir and essential item in one!
6. Trainers; Converse or similar - because sometimes you need more on your feet than flip-flops but just don't want to fight with your boots.
7. Sunglasses - for health and safety reasons you should have a wide brimmed hat in the sun but hats make my head itch and so I advocate UVA/UVB protective sunglasses as an addition.
8. Knee length strapless dress - (this is a very 'girly' list isn't it?) can be worn in the evening, as a cover up in case of communal showers, or turn it into a skirt and make your limited outfits go further.
9. Long sleeve shirt - button or no button, a long sleeved shirt is multipurpose. You can even buy fancy ones impregnated with mosquito repellent. Clever.
10. A rain poncho - no joke. Plastic rain ponchos are not only sold incredibly cheap, they pack easily, they keep you completely dry and they are an alternative method of keeping everything else dry. The bright colours are cheery on a rainy day too.
There are a hundred other items that you will want to have, a plentiful supply of underwear and socks no doubt. But the above ten items are my recommendations - would be and seasoned travelers alike, what would you recommend?