Packing List

I’m currently lying on my bed listening to Sam Hunt sing from my speakers, all while wearing this silly little travel cushion around my neck haha.

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I finally have some free time to write a quick blog about getting ready for my travels overseas!!
Last Friday was my last day at work for the next few months. The other administrative girls bought me a cake for my ‘Last day’ which was really nice of them 🙂

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As I leave tomorrow to head up to Auckland, I’ve spent the day packing all my stuff together and hoping that my backpack ends up at a respectable weight…
The final weight was just under 14kgs so I think I did alright. Ecspecially as I’m taking shampoo, conditioner, a big bottle of fake tan and lots of contact lenses!!
These past 2 weeks I’ve been have eye after eye problems so I was slightly freaking out that the first part of my trip I’d have irritated eyes but it’s all cleared up now 😥
I had been using this eyelash serum called F Lash for a few weeks (this was to make my eyelashes supposedly grow and not get eyelash extensions) and I ended up getting a swollen cornea from it 😣 was so annoying! And then two styes on top of that!
I know some people who use the serum though and they’re fine, I think my eyes are just really sensitive to stuff.

So yes, I haven’t quite gotten to my maximum weight of 23kgs I’m allowed on the plane. Im a bit disappointed however I couldn’t stay under 12kgs. That was my goal weight!

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I figure most of the stuff I’ve packed I’ll use up on my trip so it can only get lighter ☺
It’s not too bad to carry on my back, but I do want to buy stuff along the way.
I’m thinking I’ll collect magnets as my souvenirs from everywhere I go. It was either that or pens haha.
This is what I’ve packed so far. (And please note that I’m a real girly girl so some of this stuff most people wouldn’t bring)
☆ 2 pairs of shorts
☆ 3 tops
☆ 2 pairs of gym pants (1 long and 1 short)
☆ 1 casual play suit
☆ 1 dressy play suit (for dinners/going out)
☆ 1 light dress
☆ 2 skirts
☆ 1 pair of jeggings
☆ 5 pairs of socks
☆ 5 bras (2 strapless for dresses)
☆ 5 pairs of underwear
☆ night gown
☆ small/light dressing gown
☆ 1 Kathmandu insulated jacket
☆ Jandals
☆ canvas shoes
☆ Nike sport shoes
☆ 3 face cloths (I use these every night to wash my make up off)
☆ 1 bottle of kerastase shampoo
☆ 1 tub of kerastase masque
☆ small bottle of contact lense solution
☆ 90 pairs of contact lenses (dailies, grr. Wish I had great eye sight)
☆ st tropez dark mousse tan
☆ tanning mit
☆ razor
☆ talcum powder
☆ toothbrush
☆ sunglasses
☆ hair brush
☆ hair straightener
☆ travel hair drier
☆ pillowcase (I like to have my own)
☆ 1 towel
☆ camera
☆ camera charger
☆ phone & tablet chargers
☆ adaptors for each country
☆ bathroom bag

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Which has
– make up brushes
– make up (Eg, foundation, blush, powder, concelor, Mascara, lipstick)
– travel sized shower gel
– travel sized moisturizer
– night cream
– day cream
– eye cream
– face scrub in a little travel sized tub
– body bronzer in a little 100ml bottle
– cotton tips
– ear plugs
– sea sickness tablets
– pain relief
– mouth ulcer ointment (I always get them when I’m run down 😩)
– Bactroban ointment

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In  my carry on bag I have…
☆ My passport
☆ all my documents in a folder (including all my Contiki tour stuff)
☆ glasses
☆ phone
☆ wallet
☆ tablet
☆ kindle
☆ headphones
☆ ipod
☆ 5 magazines (which I’ll get rid of when I’m done haha)
☆ small torch
☆ spare top & pants
☆ lip balm
☆ small travel tub of my origins overnight hydrating mask
☆ face wipes
☆ travel toothbrush and paste

I think I’ve covered pretty much everything.
Let me know if you think I’ve forgotten anything. I feel like all the stuff I’ve packed I’ll actually need. I know I could just pack my phone and not bring my tablet or anything but I’m going to use it on the plane and watch all my ‘Orange is the new black’ on it. Plus I feel it’s pretty good for writing my blogs and watching stuff on the long bus trips.

It’s weird, I feel I’d be more excited for this trip because everyone else is. I just don’t think it’s really hit me yet that I’m going. I think once I’m on the plane I’ll be like “holy shit I’m going overseas by myself”
Eek!

Happy travelling everyone xx

Backpack Vs. Suitcase

I have yet to see if a backpack worked out better than a suitcase on my travels but I thought I’d write a little blog about the two and how I decided to purchase this snazzy thing instead of taking a suitcase with me.

Buy Terrane 70L Wheeled Trolley Backpack - Denim online at KathmanduBuy Terrane 70L Wheeled Trolley Backpack - Denim online at Kathmandu

I got it on sale the other day from Kathmandu (www.kathmandu.co.nz) for NZ$270
If you look closely it has little wheels on it!
Now it’s not one of those trolley bags where it has the handle and wheels and you can drag it around like a suitcase (Pictured below)- this one just has wheels on the bottom. From what I’ve read and heard, the trolley bags are really uncomfortable to carry as it has such a hard back and they’re heavier because it has the handle that pulls out which adds more weight to it.

Buy Split Level 100L Wheeled Luggage Trolley - Dark Red Online at Kathmandu

When I was looking at bags I had two things in mind. It had to be big enough to carry all my stuff, and it had to be light!
I’ll have trouble later on because the bigger the bag, the more stuff you’re going to want to have in it!
I’m lucky in a sense that when I fly TO America, I’m only allowed 23kg’s but on the way back I’m supposedly allowed 30kgs. Yay!
I’m going to try and take less than 10kg’s over so I have lots of room for shopping 😉 , but we’ll see…I’m going for 3 months so that’s quite a few bottles of Fake Tan.

The bag I got is called a Terrane Wheeled Trolley Backpack.
It doesn’t stand up by itself so if I do want to stand it up it has to be leaning against me. (Unlike a suitcase which will sit by itself)
It has the custom C-3 harness which is easily hidden by zipping up the flap – great for when it’s going on the plane and you don’t want the harness to get tangled up with other passengers luggage!

Buy Terrane 70L Wheeled Trolley Backpack - Denim online at Kathmandu

It’s 70L and I’m thinking it doesn’t quite look like enough room….
I haven’t tried putting in all my stuff yet as I have a few months till I leave for my trip but I might this weekend.
The weight of the bag itself is 3.44kg’s (Including the day bag attatched) so I’m going to see if I can pack about 8kg’s. I’ll use the day bag as my carry on luggage 🙂
It’s worth noting that there’s 2 sizes of this bag. Depending on your frame – so if you are going to go ahead and buy a backpack make sure you get it fitted in the store or ask them how to fit them properly. They’re meant to sit on your hips, not just hang off your shoulders like I thought!
The straps on the bag I ended up buying were slightly smaller than the one on display (I’m assuming the one on display was for taller/wider people)
I also liked how this bag zipped open like a suitcase. I hate having to rummage through my whole bag just to find something at the bottom!

Backpacks

When I went to Thailand with my friend, I bought a different friends backpack with me. It was great as we stayed in Phuket, travelled to Koh Samui, went to Phi Phi Island and Koh Phangan.
We didn’t just stay in one place so it was easier to heave something on my back and travel around like that.
The only time it got annoying was when we were on Phi Phi Island trying to find some accommodation in the sweltering heat and I was walking around for an hour carrying 20kgs on my back.

Pro’s of Backpacks
– Better mobility
Stairs at a hostel? I’d rather carry a backpack than lift 23kg’s up 4 flights of stairs.

– Roads/un-even surfaces
I don’t have to worry about dragging a suitcase down a cobblestone road in Europe.

– It helps to check out of Hotels easily
When I want to go, I can go. I don’t have to worry about leaving my suitcase at reception until my flight later than night. (Even thought I might take advantage of free storage after check-out anyways)

– Your hands are free!
When you’re paying for stuff or having a browse in a store you don’t have to worry about putting your suitcase down and leaving anything behind.

– They’re durable
The backpack I bought is meant to be able to withstand wear and tear pretty well so here’s hoping! x

Cons

– Cost
Some are bloody expensive! I’m happy I got mine on sale but still – $270! This better last me lots of trips.

– They can be a burden on your back
If you don’t get them fitted properly I’m sure they’ll end up hurting your back but I’m hoping mine will be fine 🙂

– Hard to organize
As mine opens up like a suitcase I’m hoping that it’ll be easier to find stuff then having to dig right down to the bottom for a toothbrush.

-Safety
Unless you have locks on all the zippers, someone can easily come up behind you and sneak something out of your bag without you realising.

Suitcases

When I think of a suitcase I think, Holiday
Like an actual relaxing by the pool, drinks in my hand, book in my lap-type holiday.
When I went to Bali last year having my suitcase was perfect. My partner and I stayed at hotels for long periods of time and we always travelled by Taxi so we never really had to carry our bags. Even if we did have to roll them anywhere there was always someone willing to take them for us (At the hotels, not just some randoms)

Pros

– Your belongings won’t get damaged
Well, not as much… I wouldn’t be taking a laptop in my backpack but I would in a suitcase (And just stuff it in between some towels)

– You won’t get a sweaty back and yucky bag straps
Nothing worse then walking around with a bag on your back all afternoon and having a massive sweat patch. Plus all that sweat getting on the straps! gross.

– Easier access
You open it, and everything is spread out for you to see!  Easy 🙂 and so much tidier.

– Some are waterproof

– Much easier to clean

– You can wheel it around (And it makes a good seat)
Obviously.

Cons

– Harder to carry up stairs

– Rough ground, grass or sand
Those wheels will not glide through/on very well…

-Size
They can be bulky and hard to fit under beds in hostels or in lockers

– More can go wrong with wheels
If one’s broken, you pretty much need to get a whole new suitcase for your travels. Or you can just wait until you get home and half wheel it around.

Thanks for reading! 🙂