5 More Packing Tips from a Long-Term Missionary

This is part two of a guest post by Thomaida Hudanish, a writer, blog reader and traveler whom I met when she came to Palestine as part of a long-term volunteering/mission trip. Make sure you check out part one of the post here. Enjoy. - Genevieve

Type of Trip:

Extended Volunteer/Mission Trip/Pilgrimage a.k.a. Around-the-World-to-Help-Children

Length of Trip:

Indefinite

Destinations:

India, the Middle East, Western Europe

5 More Tips

1. Guidebooks

During trip prep, I love reading guidebooks for historical and cultural insight, maps, and background info about top sites. I thought I would easily find guides as I went, but this wasn't the case. Airport bookstores or large, chain bookstores(where you could find them) were the most reliable places to find guides.

2. Bearing Gifts

Previous volunteers clued me in to what gifts I could bring for the orphanage at my first destination, such as mosquito nets, coloring books and printer ink cartridges. You may also consider some easy-to-pack items unique to your home region. For friends at my second destination, I purchased gifts in India. For hosts at my third destination, I brought something from Turkey and so on.

3. Excercise

I walked a lot and used the stairs more, but let's face it, I wasn't active in the same ways that I am at home. I packed two exercise bands and although I didn't do as many bicep curls as I planned, I was thankful for my occasional mini-workouts.

4. Final Preparations

In the 10 days between my last day of work and take-off for my trip, here's what I did: took a private 1-hour camera lesson, picked up leather inserts to boost the support in my well-worn walking shoes, purchased an international driving permit at AAA, distributed copies of my itinerary, financial info and contact information to trusted friends, drafted a power of attorney, requested a PIN code for my credit card and alerted them of my travel plans, renewed my drivers' license (which was due to expire while I was gone), and purchased travel insurance.

5. Teachable Moments

Although I made a few "mistakes" in my packing, I don't regret anything because it all worked together to make a memorable trip.

• Too many shoes? I packed 4 pairs of shoes + flip flops; seems like a lot for a light packer. I was glad to have extra shoes after I accidentally left my trusted walking shoes on a bus.

• Consider a Global SIM. I found out that in some countries it takes 3 or more days to activate a local SIM card. I think I should have had my phone unloacked and purchased a global SIM (from companies such as gosim.com or worldsim.com) so that I had an emergency communication option available at all times. I ended up purchasing a phone in India and local SIM cards as I went. Now I have a phone loaded with fun Indian ringtones that I can use anywhere.

• Bring a nit comb and favorite lice treatment if you're going to be working with children. I didn't wear my hair back, gave lots of hugs and got lice. What's the positive side? I bonded with one of the older girls while she picked nits out of my hair for two hours and after two weeks of combing and searching, multiple home remedies and lots of washing, I was nit-free! I'll know exactly what to do when facing lice in the future.

• Be Prepared for Air Pollution. India and Palestine have poor air quality for different reasons. I wish that I'd packed a nasal rinse system to help alleviate the coughing and sinus issues I had. Instead, I learned how to rinse with a cup and now I have a new survival skill!

• Brush Up on Driving a Manual Transmission. Not only will you be ready to help out with driving anywhere in any car, but in many cases you may find that stick shift cars are cheaper to rent and more readily available.

For Further Reading:

Two books that I referenced in preparation for this trip were Ron Wolf's Vagabonding and Lonely Planet's First Time Round the World. Although my travel style is less vagabond and more volunteer/pilgrim/tourist, I found practical advice and inspiration in both of these books. One great suggestion they made, for example, was to ship souvenirs home as you go, so you don't have to carry the extra weight in your suitcase. Additionally, I read packinglust.com and travelfashiongirl.com, among other girl-written travel blogs, to keep my naturally functional style balanced with a little bit of fabulous.

While on the road I met up with two other writers whose blogs and travels inspired me prior to departure. Whatever you take away from what is written here about packing and traveling, I hope that you'll also consider that the Internet is a window revealing just a small view of the amazing relationships and places out there to discover. I challenge you to move from the virtual and the vicarious to the rewarding experience of meeting each person and destination with all your senses.

May your journeys be blessed!

Thomaida wrote a series of articles about her 7-month volunteer pilgrimage covering India, Turkey, Israel/Palestine, France, Germany and England at www.honeybeebuzz.org. She lives, writes and dreams up new ways to make the world a better place in Portland, Oregon.

Top 5 Packing Tips for A Long-Term Mission Trip

This is part one of a guest post by Thomaida Hudanish, a blog reader and traveler who I met when she came to Palestine as part of the trip she talks about in this post. Stay tuned for part two which will be published in early November. Enjoy. - Genevieve

Type of Trip:

Extended Volunteer/Mission Trip/Pilgrimage a.k.a. Around-the-World-to- Help-Children

Length of Trip:

Indefinite

Destinations:

India, the Middle East, Western Europe

Overview

In November 2013, I set off for a trip to volunteer with Orthodox Christian ministries in various places, beginning with an orphanage outside of Kolkata, India and continuing to a school in the West Bank, Palestine. While I packed with the intention of continuing to volunteer after these first two assignments, instead I returned to the United States via a 5-week tour of France, Germany & England, to seize a job opportunity in line with the same goals and mission that inspired me to take this journey.

Tips

1. Two Kinds.

Rick Steves says that there are two kinds of travelers: those who packed light and those who wish they had. I agree and I'm still in the second camp. As much as I wish that I could throw everything on my back and jump onto a moving train, that's not the kind of trip I planned and let's face it, that's not the kind of traveler I am. So, yes, PACK AS LIGHT AS YOU CAN. Then read on to learn why I'm still glad I brought more than I wanted to.

2. Tell Your Story.

I packed a letter-size laminated US/World map and an inexpensive, 20-pg photo album with pictures of friends, family members and everyday happenings in my life at home. These are two tools that helped me to share about my life and relate with new friends, in many cases across language barriers. Alternatively, you might consider making a little slide show to flip through on whatever electronic device you bring.

3. Compartmentalize

I'm a huge fan of packing sacks, regardless of brand. They help me to stay organized even after I settle into a location. The other thing I did was to create designated Ziploc bags for my office, first aid & medications and electronic accessories. For example, the "Office" bag held pen refills, a permanent marker, binder clips, a highlighter, sticky tack, post-its, and a glue stick. The "First Aid" bag had Bandaids, anti-diarrhea medication, vitamin-C packets, hydrocortizone cream and so on. Another Ziploc held chargers, plug converters, cords, and extra batteries. This way, even on the road, everything had a place. I also packed a few extra Ziplocs in varying sizes.

4. Fashion vs. Function

Knowing that my travel destinations could involve the beach, a formal event or a professional work setting, I had to plan for variety, but focus my packing on the known activities: playing with children and going to church. Long skirts were a must for the conservative cultures and monastic environments that I intended to be a part of, so I brought three. Additional favorites were: a merino wool pullover, a cream-colored long- sleeve shirt with some lace detail to help dress up some outfits, a lightweight henley with adjustable sleeve-length, black leggings, and a pair of comfortable, sturdy mary-jane style Privos. A daily moisturizer with SPF was the MVP of my cosmetics, but I also used a little makeup, sparkly hair accessories and earrings for special occasions.

5. Technology on the Road

I didn't want to lug my laptop around the world--what a hassle! As a writer, however, it's the one tool I used every day. I brought along an extra hard drive for biweekly backups and packed it in a separate bag from the laptop in case of theft. In addition to writing a blog, editing photos and keeping up with my family and friends via Skype, I used the laptop extensively in each volunteer position. I purchased a new camera for the trip because documenting my experiences for readers at home was a priority. My older point & shoot camera came along as backup for excursions involving sand, water or questionable security.

Another gadget I like for journeys big and small is the humble headlamp. It's great for reading in bed after you've crawled under the mosquito net for the night.

Thomaida wrote a series of articles about her 7-month volunteer pilgrimage covering India, Turkey, Israel/Palestine, France, Germany and England at www.honeybeebuzz.org. She lives, writes and dreams up new ways to make the world a better place in Portland, Oregon.

Best [Travel] Bags of 2014

Prince Charming and I both have a love affair with finding the perfect luggage. Of course, the perfect bag doesn't exist, which makes the pursuit an endless one. There's always a better bag out there, and that makes it fun to keep looking.  It also means we love our almost-perfect bags because, well, they are almost perfect. Here are the best bags of 2014 as recommended by me, Prince Charming, and two other expert travelers:

1. Convertible Carry-on by Rick Steves

In a phrase: Classic, affordable, and dependable.

This is my go-anywhere bag. I've been traveling with it for about two years. I own it in graphite (a dark grey) but wish I'd purchased the same bag in a lighter color - something easier to notice on a luggage carousel on the rare occasions I need to check it.  Something like this color would have been nice:

I love this bag. It seems indestructible. I've never had an airline tell me to check it due to luggage size restrictions.  Things I love about it:

• It has a easy-access mesh water bottle holder on the side.
• It has back back straps and a waist belt that offer lots of support but can fold away if I want to carry it like a suitcase.
• I can easily put it in most overhead bins.
• It has lots of roomy exterior pockets.
• It can expand past carry-on size when necessary.
• The bag has very no frame or wheels, so it's very lightweight.
• It's affordable, making it the only thing on this list good for travelers with a luggage budget of less that $150.

My only major issue with this bag is that it doesn't have wheels. Sometimes it would be nice to roll in airports. I do feel that carrying backpack style is safer than rolling with less risk of the bag being stolen.  Also, the bag is just a little too big, making it too easy for me to over stuff it. (Yes, sometimes I'm guilty of over packing despite writing a blog about living with less baggage.)

2. Red Oxx Luggage Set

In a phrase: The toughest, ruggedest, manliest, locally handcrafted luggage money can buy.

You guessed it, this is Prince Charming's preferred luggage. He has an entire set. It was one of the first things he introduced me to when he was wooing me.

He loves how these bags are made to last. They will probably outlive our great great grandchildren, unless by then we are all traveling with only Replicators - that's the thing that instantly makes whatever you need in  Star Trek, right? Anyway, Red Oxx bags are made by hand in the U.S.A. They have really big zippers and these wonderful shoulder straps that are thick rubber so they never slip off your shoulder even if you lean over to give someone a hug goodbye at the airport.

Here's Prince Charming with the shoulder strap of one of his Red Oxx bag's visible. Even though it's twisted and definitely not centered on top of his shoulder it's not slipping around.

Personally, I prefer backpacks or rolling bags to one-shoulder carry bags. I sense that carrying weight evenly will prevent back and shoulder injuries. Many Red Oxx bags, including those Prince Charming owns, are one-shoulder carry, but the company does make some back packs. No rolling bags though, obviously because rolling a bag creates a loss of manliness points. Seriously. Picture a man rolling a bag in the airport. Now picture the same guy carrying a sturdy shoulder bag like it's nothing. See what I mean? Just for the record, Prince Charming has a racked up such an abundance of manliness points that he could roll a bag for the rest of his life and still  keep his man card.

3. The Atmos 50 by Osprey

In a phrase: Ready for any adventure.

Here's a bag that withstood a cat peeing on it in a closet in North Carolina and the multiple washings that followed (which did get the smell out). And then it happily traveled South America. This is the bag my friend Kimberly owns and used as a weekend pack during her trip to Colombia. She loves its "Airspeed Suspension," which I think refers to a lightweight frame and special features that make carrying it less sweaty and more fun than other, less air speedy packs.

Other features of the bag include:

• Hip belt
• Hydration Sleeve
• Sleeping pad straps
• Loops and ties for holding tools (such as an ice pick for those icy climbs).

4. 2nd Generation Wknder Wide by Spencer Divine

In a phrase: So pretty, can I touch it?

For non-vegans, there's nothing quite like smooth, buttery Italian leather. This bag is a splurge, and a favorite with my stylish sister who got it on sale on Bottica.com. She carried this bag when she visited us in December and it was amazing how much warm winter gear she was able to fit in it while still looking like a free-spirited bohemian sprite. The term "schlepping" could never apply here.

Things I ooh and aah-ed over:

• It's not just pretty, but strong and practical.
• It can carry as a shoulder bag, suitcase, or bacpack.
• Okay, back to the pretty. There's a colorful cotton lining that's like a special party for your eyes only in the bag.

Okay, those are my top four bags for 2014.

Have you found your almost perfect bag?

If you have a tripped planned, which bag will you be traveling with? Let me know in the comments please.

Adventures in the Antarctic (and what to pack)

Note: This is a guest post by Christine Bernasconi, a professional photographer, blogger, avid traveler and people lover. I'm really excited she's sharing her adventures in the Antarctic with the Packing Lust Community. I hope you enjoy! --Genevieve

Going to the Antarctic was always a dream of mine since I was 5 years old :) I'm not exactly sure why I had this dream at such a young age. I just remember looking at books and giving my Dad the 'Scott' book {not sure which one} for a birthday one year.

It obviously started something for me.

It way exceeded my expectations and I feel humble and blessed that I've had the privilege of experiencing this awesome part of our planet.

It really was the trip of my dreams. Whales, seals, penguins (lots of them) birds, beautiful landscapes and icebergs – I really, really loved the icebergs.:)

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We organised our trip through Quark (click here if you’re in the States) or Peregrine in Australia (click here).

We booked the ‘Crossing the Circle’ Tour  which was 14 days aboard the ‘Sea Spirit.’ – a beautiful ship. Well appointed spacious rooms, an open bar :), dining room, theatre lounge, a library, gym, a hot tub, gift shop and lots of deck areas to relax and take in the sights. The service? Seamless. Nothing was a chore for the staff and everything was done with a smile.

A zodiac heading back towards the Sea Spirit

A zodiac heading back towards the Sea Spirit

The Sea Spirit

The Sea Spirit

The ship carried 114 passengers of which 49 of them were Australian. Being such a small group meant great friendships were formed early. We were all linked by the same thread – an adventurous nature and the desire to experience the Antarctic. I met people from all over the world. I  know I will remain friends with some of them forever. We all shared something very special.

Our voyage left from Ushuaia (the bottom of Argentina) and it was a two day trip to the Antarctic Peninsula across the Drake Passage. I loved watching the mainland of Argentina disappear behind us. To me it felt like a true adventure. We explored many bays, islands and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula over the 14 days of our voyage.

Leaving Ushuaia and the South American Continent behind

Leaving Ushuaia and the South American Continent behind

The most amazing part of the trip however (besides the scenery) was the service and professionalism provided by the expedition leader and her team. Cheli is a true leader and a wonderful, passionate individual. All of her staff have an expertise, whether it be birds, whales, glaciers, photography or history. They have all done many similar trips and their experience and knowledge is second to none.

Each day in the Oeanus lounge, one of them would present a lecture on a particular aspect of the Antarctic – marine mammals, the great Antarctic explorers or sea birds – just to name a few. There were even some documentary movies about this fascinating part of the world. It was wonderful to be educated and to hear them speak so passionately.

Most nights one of the expedition staff would sit at your dinner table to get to know you and mix with the passengers. This really personalised the trip and within a few days, they were also friends.

Each day we usually had two zodiac expeditions to an island or part of the Antarctic mainland. Getting everyone in and out of the zodiacs plus keeping everyone safe and informed was handled brilliantly by the expedition staff.

Each disembarkation and embarkation meant going through a disinfection process (you had to step in a solution) to protect the fragile environment.

These outings were fantastic. Whilst you saw lots of scenery from the ship, getting out on the water, feeling the wind in your face and observing the scenery and wildlife from this low perspective was awesome :)

Hootin along...

Hooting along

Every single island or mainland excursion offered something individual. The landscape was always vastly different, and yes, there were always penguins :)

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I never tired of looking at the endless beauty that surrounded us. I loved being on the shore and exploring. Lots of the islands had relics from days gone bye – old whaling boats and whaling stations, whale bones and huts that would have housed the brave people that spent part of their lives living here.

An old hut - Deception Island

An old hut – Deception Island

The wildlife was spectacular. Albatross flying at the back of the ship, humpback whales, Minke whales and even Orca’s! Wedell, Leopard and Crabeater seals and of course, penguins. Sometimes these animals were seen from the decks of the Sea Spirit. At other times you were up close and personal with these animals in the zodiacs.

Imagine being in a zodiac – drifting through the brash ice – icebergs all around you and a humpback surfaces around 50 metres away? What a scene. Absolute magic.

This humpback whale was so close to our zodiac...

This humpback whale was so close to our zodiac…

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Look at the size of him…

So close...

So close…

The Albatross. What a magnificent bird

The Albatross. What a magnificent bird.

The staff organised trivia games, we danced the night away a couple of times , met the Captain at the ‘Cocktail Party’ and I got ‘over enthusiastic’ in an auction to raise money for the penguins (I really wanted that Antarctic water.)

Other nights we sat in the bar talking to our new friends over a glass of wine (or two) – well, you couldn’t go to bed early as there was up to 18 hours of light per day!

We celebrated Australia Day on board with a BBQ up on deck and one patriotic Australian had our flag – I certainly won’t forget Australia Day 2013 in a hurry!

I also participated in ‘The Polar Plunge’ – yes, you could dive into the Southern Ocean (with a rope tied around your waist) to experience the ‘coolish’ waters of the Antarctic. Yep, I did this too. Click here to read about that adventure.

I slept a night on the ice – yes, I did. You can also read about that here :)

I also also slid down a mountain at Neko Harbour (it was so much fun, I felt like a 5 year old)

Yours truly...

Yours truly…

One of the highlights (there were so many) was Crossing the Antarctic Circle. That was a great day. The weather was really cold (-2) and it was a fantastic to think we were at 66 deg 33’44′ S.  To mark this occasion, the crew organised a fantastic event called ‘Kiss the Fish’. We all grouped outside on the bow of the ship to Cross the Circle and the crew dressed up in various ‘fishy’ style outfits. King Neptune was there and we all had to ‘Kiss the Fish’ before being given a red mark on our foreheads which denoted ‘Crossing the circle.’ One word – hilarious – especially kissing a frozen fish!!

Me, taking a pic and kissing the fish

Me, taking a pic and kissing the fish

The most common question I’ve been asked since being home is ‘How cold was it’? On the warmest day it was 8 degrees and the coldest -2. Nowhere near as bad as I thought. The only time I felt really cold was on the ‘crossing the circle day’ and at times in the zodiacs when we were going a little faster than the normal trawling speed. Quark supplies you with a parka (yours to take home) that really does the job. They also lend you ‘boots’ for the duration of the trip. These are used every time you leave the ship.

For anyone that's going on one of these trips, here is what I took with me…..

• All the sea sick medication I could find (travel calm, the wrist bands, ginger tablets) – It worked for me, I took one travel calm the first night – just in case and a couple of other ‘rougher’ sea days wore the wrist bands – all good.
• 2 sets of thermals – bought from the Kathmandu store – black bottoms and pink/black/white and blue/black/white long sleeve tops.
• 2 really warm zip up hoodies – one from Kathmandu and the other from the gift shop on the ship.
• 4 pairs of super warm socks (Kathmandu store.)
• 2 pairs of warm track suit pants.
• A warm hat.
• 2 pairs of water proof gloves (only ever wore one pair) and they were too cumbersome to take pics with, so I bought a fingerless pair from the gift shop on the ship.
• A warm sleeveless vest (bought from a shop in Ushuaia.)
• Waterproof pants – if you're an Aussie, you will pay a fortune at home for these. I bought them in Ushuaia the day before we left at around $50AUD – bargain – (there were plenty of sizes and choices and plenty of shops selling this gear in Ushuaia.)

Check out the sunny weather...on this day I just had a tshirt on under a hoodie...

Check out the sunny weather…on this day I just had a tshirt on under a hoodie…

Each day when we went on a shore excursion off the boat I wore…

• A thermal top and bottom and trackpants over the thermals.
• Waterproof pants over the track pants (the track pants tucked INTO the boots.)
• A warm sleeveless vest over the thermals or, if I felt a bit colder a long sleeve hoodie.
• 2 pairs of socks (always.)
• The parka, hat and gloves.

Here I am in one of my 'thermal tops'

Here I am in one of my ‘thermal tops’

On the ship (which was as warm as toast) I wore…

• Jeans and a tshirt and sometimes a hoodie. I dressed up one night for the Captains cocktail party  (if you call a skirt and top seriously dressing up.)
• Closed in shoes (my rockports.)

Back in Buenos Aires and Santiago I wore….

• shorts and tshirts (super humid.)

So if you’re interested in going and want to know more – I'm gonna have to come with you to show you the ropes :)

Please feel free to contact me in the comments section below or on Facebook , twitter  or pinterest.

Me in action...

Me in action

Packing for Gaza - or Someplace You Visit Frequently

Today's guest post comes to us from my Prince Charming, who generously offered up this advice after I generously complimented his speedy (ten minute) packing for a trip to Gaza. Considering it still takes me an hour to pack, I was impressed. He makes this trip to Gaza so frequently because he has a lot of work to do in the Gaza office of his organization; he sort of lives there for a few days every couple of weeks. This information will be helpful to you if you:

a) Often travel to the Gaza Strip. b) Often travel to any one location (for example, you travel to your sister's house every couple of weeks to accompany her to medical appointments). c) Are a minimalist international (or national) traveler.

How to Pack for a Split Life in Gaza

By Prince Charming

For a visit every two-three weeks, when you start traveling each time you come, bring at least one or two items you can leave behind. The things you leave behind should be

• toiletries
• a pair of jeans
• a clean white t-shirt
• pajamas
• flip-flops or slippers
• a hat
• a sweater
• extra socks
• underwear

If you arrived as a minimalist and only have one of each of these things, slowly acquire cheap extras as you build up your Gaza closet. In an ideal world, if you will have lots of important meetings, it is good to leave a sports jacket or suit behind as well as a tie or two, one tone no fancy design, in blue, yellow, or red.

I brought in an extra flashlight, travel alarm clock, and two pictures of my wife (can I get a collective "awww" says Genevieve) for my bed stand.

Once you’ve got a basic after-work attire settled there, all you need to bring in is work attire. I usually stay 2 – 3 days at a time.

My usual clothes packing list is:

• 2 pair khakis
• 2 -3 pair socks and underwear (enough to leave at least one clean pair of each behind for the next visit)
• 2 t-shirts, exchange with the last one you left behind
• 1 Work sweater if winter
• 1 – 2 long sleeve knit shirts or button down depending on weather
• 1 jacket, casual if no special meetings planned
• 1 pair of shorts if summer

In the event that I have to stay longer than three days, there is a washing machine available.

I also bring:

• dual-sim card cell phone (to cover the trip from Palestine-Israel-Palestine,)
• Kindle
• travel umbrella if looking like rain
• reading glasses
• a snack
• R2-D2 (a small good luck token - see above photo)
• my work laptop
• phone charger or mini-usb cable for phone charging on laptop

I usually bring a phone charger, but that is only because I’ve been too lazy to pick one up in Gaza. An even easier approach is to bring a mini-usb cable and charge the phone through my laptop. A travel speaker such as our Jawbone is good if going for a longer visit. I take the projector from my office and use it with my laptop and speaker to watch movies in the evening.

Of course, you can assess the local market and buy within Gaza as needed too if you don’t want to shuttle items back and forth. I bought a chess set and cards locally for the guesthouse in case anyone else is staying aside from me and wants to play a match. You can get a pocket knife locally as well; don’t bring one across the border, and don’t bring any spirits either.

Having done this, it now takes me ten minutes to pack for Gaza and for a while I was leaving with less than what I brought it.

Packing Solutions for England Trip

I get on a plane bound for England today, (yesterday if you are reading this on Tuesday) and I've solved my packing dilemmas of last week.The big concession I made was deciding not to bring my laptop. I'll have to do a lot of writing longhand in a small notebook. It's been a while since I've worked that way, so it should be interesting to see if I can get done what I need to get done: reading and making notes on my book manuscript, and drafting part of screenplay number four.  I love to have my laptop with me for quick and easy writing and web surfing. I'm very comfortable and at home on it and it lets me get work done fast. But for this trip, there just isn't room. When it's time to publish the blog, I'll borrow Calli's computer.I took some photos of the packing process. As you can see below, the camera will take up a lot of weight and space in the bag.  I'm just getting started here...

That's more like it. You can see my face paints up in the left hand corner. I'll put those in the green toiletries bag, if they fit. Everything on the green towel is what I will wear on the plane, so it doesn't have to go in the bag. Almost as big as my laptop is the printed manuscript, which you can see in the middle of the growing pile:

You can see that I am not bringing a hand bag. That little gold wristlet will have to do. I might decide to throw in a lightweight fabric roll-up shopping bag if there's space at the end. Also, a major concession is that I'm bringing almost no cold-weather clothes. I don't have them anyway, and Calli and her friends are glad to lend me what I need, for example, Wellies for tromping around muddy wetlands. I'll bring my trusty knitted cap, and a light jacket that I'll wear on the plane.  As far as shoes, I'm bringing just one pair in addition to the sneakers I wear on the plane. I hope my old grey leather boots will be dressy enough for a fancy restaurant or club. It's time for everything to go in the bag:

Okay, I managed to zip it up. It weighs in on my American scale at 19 pounds, which is 8.6 kilograms, well under the limit of 20 kilograms for easyJet luggage. Now it's time to measure it...

It comes in at or under the maximum allowed dimensions. Except for one sort of bulgy part, which is just over, but I figure if they pull out their tape measure I can just repack it so there's no bulgy part. Later, I realized I forgot my cell phone charger, the battery for the camera,  ear buds for the plane, and a converter to plug in the camera battery charger and my phone charger in England.  This is one reason why it's good to pack well in advance.Those are small items and will be easy to throw in... momentarily  as soon as I find them. I'm hoping that I can use my unlocked smart phone to get on a free WiFi connection in England so I can chat with Prince Charming on my phone using a Skype app and/or WhatsApp but my phone today is showing an error message when I try to get online. We'll see if Charming can take a look at it. I've got blogging and packing to finish.I'm proud to be traveling so lightly on this trip.Calli and England, here I come!

Pack With Style

Your Basic Wardrobe

This is a basic wardrobe list whether you are packing to travel the world, or staying where you are and simply updating your classic minimalist closet. .I created this list for people with a stylish bent, not for those who don't care how they look. It is aimed toward women, but men may get helpful hints out of it and can adjust it for their needs.It won't work in extremely cold weather, but it's great for everything else.

You may also enjoy my Pinterest board, What to Pack to Travel the World.

Clothes

• Little Black Skirt
• Little Black Tank

Together, they create an LBD look

• Trench Coat - great for wearing with the above LBD look. The classic trench coat is not meant to handle rain, but if you can get one that doubles as a rain coat, all the better.
• Cream V-neck Tee
• Classic Button up shirt - white is the standard color, but you can also pick any solid neutral color that flatters you: think grey, tan, gold, cream, etc.  Pick a color that looks nice with your trench coat, as the trench and the collared button-up are a classic combo.
• Medium or Dark rinse jeans that make you look and feel great. Keep embellishments and trendy details to minimum.
• Jacket - Probably in black. find one that emphasizes your waist and makes you feel amazing. Style can be lapel, tuxedo, double-breasted, mandarin collar, whatever style suits you. I have a light black jacket in thick cotton. I can roll up the sleeve a little for a warmer day.
• "Business in the front, Party every where else" top - this is a top that can look modest in the front for wearing with a jacket in conservative parts of the world. It doubles as a cute flattering top for going out without the jacket. Maybe a silky backless halter top, a tee with cut outs, or an embellished tank?
• Black cotton yoga pants - for lounging and sleeping in - and doing yoga after a long day of tourism.
• Soft tee for sleeping. PJ preferences vary widely, but bring something super soft and comfy that is reserved for bedtime.
•  Soft, long sleeved, high neckline shirt. For wearing in the cold or conservative religious areas.

I recommend one  of the following, depending on your destination:

• Long, comfy skirt that goes with everything. - better in conservative places.
• Day dress - a super comfy mini dress, probably in cotton, that is easy to throw on for shopping, hitting the beach, or touring on a hot day. Can be worn with heels and jewelry for a night out. Ideally, it goes with your jacket and your trench coat. This is better for destinations where it is acceptable for women to show their legs.

If you are a runner or like to exercise, add:

• Long pants for running (shorts are not frequently seen in many parts of the world)
• Sports bra
• Running shoes
• Quick drying tank or tee.

Accessories

• Scarf - in almost any color or pattern. It should look good next to your face. Since most of your clothes are neutral tones, almost any kind of scarf should go. I like a pretty big scarf for doubling as a swimsuit cover up.
• Swim suits - two. Interchangeable bikinis are my favorite.
• Jewelry - I like to bring inexpensive, colorful statement jewelry, plus a couple of special delicate things that add a little shimmer.
• Cap - keep your heat in your head on those cold nights. Consider a sunhat for desert and beach locations.
• Big sunglasses - big, dark sunglasses are a great for so many reasons. They protect your eyes, and the skin on your face from wrinkles and sun damage. They provide privacy from staring eyes in parts of the world where ladies that look like you are a rare sight.
• Optional for rainy locations: Umbrella or rain poncho.

Foundation Wear

• 1 black bra
• 1 skin-toned bra
• As many pairs of clean socks as you want. (This is a personal pet peeve of me and Prince Charming's we both like to have clean, dry socks to change into anytime. If your feet are happy, the rest of you is happy.)
• 1 black thong
• 1 skin toned thong
• 1 black underwear
• 1 skin-toned underwear

Get your underwear in in quick-drying material (hanky panky is the is the best brand - quick drying, long-lasting, and very comfortable). I recommend thongs because they dry even faster (overnight) and you can do a quick sink wash and have clean, dry knickers in the morning.

Shoes

Ah, shoes. I love pretty shoes, but pretty and good for travel rarely go together. So it's always a source of fun to meet the challenge of finding a shoe that can do so many things.If you are a runner, you must bring running shoes. Running shoes usually take up the most space in my bag. My running shoes are good for hiking, too.For non-runners, or people whose main exercise will be walking around as  a tourist (which is very good exercise), I recommend:

1. One pair of calf high or knee high boots (for walking in cool weather). You should be able to wear them  with a skirt, dress, or jeans. No heel for comfort (unless you are one of those rare people who can do everything in heels - in which case, go ahead!)

2. One pair of beach-appropriate sandals - I have a pair of gold flip flops that I feel comfortable walking around a city in, and also getting wet and sandy on the beach. A better option would probably be something that stays closer to my foot (to keep rocks and dirt further from my feet). Something like a gladiator sandal or Birkenstocks or Tivvas. However, I haven't been able to find anything that has met my aesthetic sensibilities as well as my gold flip flops.

3. One pair of going out shoes. You'll be able to go out at night to casual venues in any of your shoes (except your running shoes) but optionally, pack a special pair with a heel. Anything you want.

Options:

• Classic black heels
• Eye-catching Red heels
• Strappy gold heels
• Turqoise Peep-toes with a kitten-heel
• Espadrilles (a super summery option)

4. One pair of cute walking shoes. I saved the most challenging for last. My style-friendly pick would be a sturdy ballet flat.  Make sure there is a good buffer between your soles and the hard, rocky street.

Other  options:

•  a classic sneaker, from Converse or Puma, for example.
•  A flat, lace up ankle boot.
• Comfy leather sandals.
• Peep-toe flats (especially in a hot climate).

For versatility, this shoe should look good with a skirt, dress, and jeans. Your choice will depend on your body type and personal style.

I hope this helps you have fun with fashion while having a light bag.

Lust for Fashion? How to Pack a Minimal Wardrobe...

...And Still Look Incredibly Amazing

Ladies, my travel fashion philosophy is this: wear what makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. Wear what feels good against your skin. Wear things that have positive, loving emotions associated with them.More Do's and Don'ts:

• Don't try keep up with trends, unless that is a passion for you.
• Do choose things that are flattering with your skin and hair color.
• Do pick a few colors that go together and only pack things in those colors.
• Do pack pieces that show off your favorite things about your body.
• Do select items that can be worn in at least two ways, if not more.
• Don't be afraid to cycle through clothes and experiment.
• Don't be afraid to throw or give away clothes that don't work for you.
• Do pack lots of hair accessories, bright scarves, and a few colorful pieces of statement jewelry.

If you follow these guidelines, you can pack light and still feel well-styled.

Packing Ideas on Pinterest

I've recently updated my packing list ideas board on Pinterest. It's a great resource that's updated as I find clothes and things that might be useful or beautiful for traveling. Check it out here.

Minimizing Makeup

Happiness is a light makeup bag.

In my previous packing list, I blithely skipped over listing out individual items in the toiletry department, as most packing lists do. I shall be different, and give you the details. Anyone who wears makeup might want to see what's in my bag.Caroline McGraw  of A Wish Come Clear writes, "I’ve lessened my ‘need’ for specialty products and reconsidered cosmetics. For now, my look is simply this: moisturizer with SPF, tweezed brows, curled lashes, a touch of lipstick (or tinted Burt’s Bees balm), a little concealer and vanilla extract for ‘perfume’. You don’t need tons of makeup to look beautiful, and you can care for yourself (and the planet!) with less. There is elegance and class in going low-maintenance."Inspired, I decided to simplify my makeup routine. I do love makeup. I love playing with it. It's all a fun, artistic experiment that allows me to be vain, which I enjoy.  But stuff is suffering. Happiness is a light makeup bag. So I experimented and the results are that I've whittled down my daily use make up products to this very small grouping that make me feel  pretty, smart (because of how many multi-use items are here) and light-of-bag:

• 1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30: Sunscreen is an always-must-use. Every single day. I make sure to put a double dose it on places that face the noon sun: the top of my nose, my shoulders, and my boobs on a perky day. I'm looking for a better sun cream since this one smells chemically and feels bad on my skin.
• 2. Concealer: This is a little container of the remainder of a large tube I had before I left. It is Sheer Tint Base from Glo. A little goes a long way. The original tube lasted over a year. I really like this product.
• 3. Vaseline: The Queen of multi-use products.

1. I use this on my lips before lip color,
2. Then I blend a little lip color with some Vaseline in my palm and use it as a cheek stain.
3.  I use it to groom my brows.
4. I use it on small cuts or dry hangnails.
5. I use it to remove eye make up.

• 1. Red color stick: This is an organic Zuzu Luxe lipliner in Hazelnut that I bought at Whole Foods in LA. It works great on top of Vaseline on the lips and as a cheek stain when blended with Vaseline.
• 2. Eyelash curler: Revlon, I think.
• 3. Brow Tweezers: Revlon. Also good for splinters and picking up very tiny things.
• 4. Brow/eye liner brush tool: I can use this to groom my browns and remove clumps of mascara. I use the other end to apply:
• 5. Gel eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio, in brown. I just smudge it on with the small slanted brush mentioned above and it seems somewhat waterproof.
• 6. Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara: In extreme black. Ick. I don't like this formula. It clumps my lashes together. When I run out I will try something else.
• 7. GloMinerals Revive Hydration Mist: This is a luxury item that my sister gave me, but for me it replaces powder as a setting agent and feels much better than powder in this hot, dry season. It smells and feels nice to spritz on at the end of doing make up.

Perfume to me does not count as make up. I'll have to do another post about my perfume needs, er, desires.

Finally, these are the products I use daily, but I brought more with me, and I haven't gotten rid of them… yet. I don't know if I will since, like jewelry, cosmetics don't take up much space and provide variety in looks when one's clothing choices are slim due to bag space.

The Real Packing List

To: The Middle EastTrip Duration: Two Years

The packing situation for this trip was exceptional because we plan to be abroad for at least two years. Our home apartment in the West Bank will be our home base from which we will travel to Turkey, Greece, Egypt, and more.Since Prince Charming's company paid for the cost of shipping, we had three boxes sent our ahead of time. Well, those boxes are still sitting in customs. No matter, we'll get them sometime. Nothing in there was vital, mostly books and a few things to make our home more comfortable for us. The important point is that we didn't have to have those boxes sent. We sold and gave away most of our stuff before we left California, and we probably would've gotten rid of everything if the organization hadn't paid for us to bring a few boxes over.

So this list, which leaves out those non-essential in the boxes, is what I brought with me on the plane, the Real Packing List. (Not what I affectionately refer to as the Travel the World Indefinitely Packing List, which is even more minimal and is aspirational for me at this point).

First, a photo of almost everything (except for what I mention below) that went into two checked bags:

 

The Real List

• One long, multicolored skirt.
• Black skirt, knee length, classic
• Black skirt, calf length, vintage silk lace
• Reversible quick-drying work-out & yoga pants
• Multi-colored dress, knee length
• Black jacket, heavy cotton blend, double breasted style
• Pink and grey workout jacket, quick drying, sporty
• Grey cardigan, long, basic
• Tan sweater, cropped
• Black cardigan, short sleeved, flowy
• Blue silk scarf, Mozart print
• Pink umbrella, travel size
• Ivory tee, v-neck
• Black tank
• Tan tank
• Black tee, scoop neck
• White hat, wide brimmed
• Black hat, ball cap
• Regular bra
• Strapless bra
• Lingerie
• 12 pairs knickers
• Two bikinis, interchangable colors, bikini bottoms double as knickers
• 5-7 pairs socks
• Black belt, skinny, woven
• Tan and black belt, wide
• Sunglasses
• Gold flip flops
• Silver heels
• Red hand bag
• Two neck stashes (one I'm bringing to my prince)
• Two blank journals
• Clothes drying cords, Rick Steves brand
• Assorted kitchen-ware for my prince
• Tape
• Scissors
• Pens
• Pencils
• Checkbooks
• Small flashlight
• Camera lens cover (bringing for my prince)
• Assorted CD's (mostly for learning Arabic)
• Camera
• Video camera
• Assorted cables for: phone, Kindle, camera
• Batteries
• Plug adaptors
• Assorted jewelry
• Assorted hair accessories
• Pantiliners
• Lunette (way better than pads or tampons in so many ways, ladies)
• Small microfiber towel
• Two nighties
• Blue robe, vintage silk
• Assorted toiletries: makeup, wet wipes, skincare, sexessories, etc.

And this is what I kept out until the last minute (plane outfit, workout clothes and shoes) and the things that went in my carry-on:

 

After my last workout before getting on the plane, I put these items into my checked bags:

• Running/hiking shoes
• sports bra (doubles as bikini top)
• Black & white tank top, halter, quick-drying fabric
• Black shorts, quick drying fabric
• Mesh bag for dirty laundry
• Laptop and charger
• Mousepad
• Mouse
• Phone & Charger
• Razor
• Yellow pad of paper

Then there's what I wore on the plane:

• Red tank with shelf bra
• Red and white striped t-shirt, flowy scoop neck
• turquoise necklace
• Dark rinse jeans, wide-leg high-waist trouser style
• Black and tan ballet flats

All that's left to list is what I carried on with me:

• Travel documents (passport, forms, etc)
• Wallet with cash, CA drivers license, debit cards, coins
• Black Moleskine journal
• Kindle
• Cell phone
• Cell phone charger
• toothbrush
• small makeup kit
• toothpaste
• hand moisterizer
• comb
• one pair of socks
• extra pair of knickers
• My prince's old sweater-shirt for warmth and snuggling

And that concludes the real list!

Things I'm Leaving Out Until the Last Minute

Things I am leaving out of the bags I'm packing for the Middle East move until the very last minute:

• Phone and charger
• Journal
• Kindle
• Computer, mouse, etc.
• Wear-on-plane outfit
• toothbrush

It's a very basic list, but writing this list down helped me decide what to pack first. I was feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, so I sat down and created this short list before I could move on to the big list. The point here is that packing to go abroad for two years is a big job; to make it a little less daunting, divide it up into small parts and promise yourself a break after completing just one of those small parts.

Travel The World Indefinitely Packing List

To: Everywhere and AnywhereTrip Duration: Undefined

This is the dream list, not the real list. I enjoy variety in clothes and shoes too much to be this minimalist, but I'm getting here one step at a time and one multi-use item discovery at a time.

The Two Bags

• One carry on size back pack
• One cross-body smaller bag, purse, or hip-bag for holding money, papers, small camera, etc.

Electronics

• Small laptop/netbook, cables, extra battery
• All necessary adapters and battery chargers
• Small camera & case
• Phone/Ipad/Iphone /kindle? For entertainment, reading, skyping?
• Doorstop alarm (or plastic door stop)
• Earphones/headphones
• Kindle and charger

Random But Important

• Passport (with copies of all documents with trusted folks back hom)
• Credit cards/debit cards
• Cash
• ID
• Travel documents
• Paper notebook
• Pencil, pen
• Jumping rope or parachute cable
• Can opener
• Flashlight
• Small matches
• Granola bar
• 2-3 gallon ziploc bags
• Very small cable lock
• Small travel candle
• Vitamins and/or emercenG
• Scissors
• tape

Toiletries

• Deodorant
• Toothbrush
• Fingernail clippers (share)
• Comb
• Solid shampoo/soap from Lush
• Razor for shaving
• Sexessories
• Lip balm - burts bees spf 8 (share)
• Tweezers
• Face/body wipes (share)
• Solid perfume
• Travel GLO brush
• GLO basic makeup pressed powder
• Solid eyeliner- brown
• GLO quadri-color eyes and cheeks
• Band-aids (share)
• Advil (share)
• Eyebrow comber/thin brush
• Small, super-absorbent towel (share)
• Lunette
• Pantiliners

 Liquids (limited)

• Hair conditioner for hair and shaving
• Nail polish
• Jojoba oil (trader joes) for moisturizing
• Toothpaste (share)
• Waterproof Mascara
• Face cleanser (share)
• Acne spot cream
• Small concealer
• SPF (recomended riemann once a day spf 20) (share)
• Neosporin (share)

Wardobe - Medium Climate

Underthings

• One strapless bra
• One sports bra that doubles as a bikini top
• One regular bra (wear)
• Four pairs of underwear, one that doubles as a bikini bottom (wear one)
• Three pairs of light-weight socks
• black stockings, one pair

Accessories

• Inexpensive/hard to steal jewelry
• Lightweight hair accessories/headbands
• Hair bands
• Hair pins
• Watch
• Running shoes
• Ballet Flats (good for walking)
• Medium weight scarf
• One warm hat
• Belt in the same color as my ballet flats
• Sunglasses

Clothes

• Black tee
• Black skirt
• Black icebreaker bodyfit crew top
• Nightgown
• Long colorful broomstick skirt (wear as skirt or dress)
• Light-weight jeans
• yoga pants - dark color
• Black workout shorts
• One quick-drying workout top
• One spagetti strap tank top
• One long (tunic-dress) tee shirt
• One tank top
• Light weight trench coat with waterproof coating for travel
• Emergency rain pain poncho (plastic)

Cold and/or Wet Climate Alterations

• Boots instead of ballet flats (boots with caribiners)
• Additional two pairs of heavy socks
• Waterproof jacket with hood or warmer rain poncho
• Gloves or mittens
• Heavier weight scarf
• Additional vest like ExOfficia women's convertible vest
• Switch out warm cap to a extra warm hat with ear area warmth
• Thermal underwear (long johns)
• Switch out nightgown for warm pajama set

Hot Climate and/or Beach/Tropical Alterations

• Flipflops instead of ballet flats
• Additional swimsuit
• Sarong/scarf instead of medium weight scarf
• Sun hat instead of warm hat
• Skip long yoga/travel pants

For more fantasy packing fun, check out my Pinterest board, What to Pack to Travel the World.

What About You?

Is there anything I left off that you think should be on there? Could you travel with this list? Need more? Need less?