| Item Description |
Info |
| Wash Kit Bag |
- Buy one that's large enough to fit all your stuff
in. Check it before you leave!
- It's also useful if you buy one with hooks and
straps on it to make it easy to hang up.
|
| Shower Gel. |
- Easiest stuff to wash with. Soap is a pain because
it needs to be put in a little box, and it always goes
mushy after about 5 days.
- Try to buy shower gel that can be used on your hair
as well (most types can) so you don't need to carry
extra shampoo around.
- However, every so often it's nice to buy a little
bottle/packet of shampoo because shower gel doesn't
quite have the same effect. You'll see what I mean when you start travelling.
- Bottles of shower gel can be bought almost
everywhere and are really cheap in Asia (even the big
brands!).
|
| Hair Gel.
|
- Not essential for everyone. But if I don't use hair
gel, then my hair goes all fluffy, hence a small array
of nicknames including 'Mr Duffle' and 'Fluffy the Cow
Turd Buy' (don't ask, a long story involving
disappearing in a big field of cow poo).
|
| Toothbrush. |
- As they say, 'Don't forget your toothbrush'.
- Again, these can be bought everyone for almost
nothing. Remember to replace frequently.
|
| Toothpaste. |
- It seems as though Colgate is the backpacker's choice.
Everyone seems to have it.
- This is also very easy to buy almost everywhere.
|
| Razor. |
- Initially I bought one of those nifty little metal
razors that unscrew into little pieces and are kept in a
cool, tiny metal box. However I soon realised that
trying to screw the thing together with wet hands is a
pain in the proverbial buttocks.
- Just buy plastic disposable razors, they are easily
found everywhere and are really light. In fact, razors
are so small and light, why would you need a fold away
one?
- The un-screwable, fold-away razor wins the Most
Useless Gadget Award.
|
| Shaving Oil. |
- Fantastic stuff! Instead of using foam or gel which
come in cumbersomely large tins, use this stuff which
comes in tiny, little bottles. And don't be misled, over
the course of my 8 months away, I only went through 1
and a half tiny bottles!
- Note this stuff also gives a really close shave,
even with disposable razors! Bye bye big, heavy,
expensive Mach 3!
|
| Contact Lenses. |
- If you need these, make sure you bring enough. You
might not want to wear them every day though. I was away
for 8 months, but only took 4 months supply. It can be
difficult in some places to keep to the level of
cleanliness required for lenses, so usually glasses are
easier.
- If you have monthly ones, don't bring loads of lens
solution with you. You can buy solution in most places.
(But in South-East Asia, Thailand is the place to stock
up)
|
| Spare Glasses. |
- That's the spectacles type, not the pint type.
- If you wear glasses, never, ever travel without a
spare pair. Glasses can easily get broken, so unless you
want to be blind for a long time, you need a backup
pair.
|
| Small Mirror. |
- Useful for shaving, doing your hair, admiring your
face etc.
|
| No Pegs Clothes Line. |
- Really useful if you decide to do your own washing.
They can be hung up from almost anything, making clothes
drying easy no matter where you are.
|
| Universal Sink/Bath Plug. |
- Many baths and sinks that you will encounter won't
have a plug, so bring your own! One of these is great if
you want a bath or need to do some washing in the sink. Or if you want to fill a sink with water and some little paper boats.
|
| Electric Hair Curlers |
- I didn't really take one of these, and if you
believed I did then you're a muppet!
|
