Minimalist packing is high at the top of the prep list. I
have hauled bulging suitcases and overstuffed backpacks to destinations around this country often enough to know I do
not want to do it in a foreign country, where travel etiquette and courtesy are
nearly non-existent. Fortunately there are lots of helpful blogs and websites
devoted to traveling light, so I’ve collected some good tips, not only on what
to take, but how to take it. The first thing I did was order this suitcase, which
is really just a soft-sided bag.
Only 30 bucks, and it is the exact same dimensions as my
regular carry-on size suitcase-on-wheels! But instead of the wheels and
extending handle, it has a regular handle at the top center, plus a shoulder
strap; but the really neat thing is the pocket on the backside that unzips to
release two hidden padded backpack straps. I love that! And since I’m packing
light I should be able to withstand the weight long enough to get from place to
place. Oh! The other great thing about this bag is that it only weighs 1.5 lbs.
when it is empty. My other suitcase is nearly 7 lbs. before I even put anything
in it! I also got one for Cameron, and after Steve saw ours, he decided to
order one too.
My keywords for clothing on this trip are “thin &
lightweight.” If it isn’t that, it doesn’t go. Cameron & Steve keep rolling
their eyes at me. I say, “Sure, roll your eyes at me, but just don’t forget to
roll your clothes when you pack.” Yes, rolling clothes is the way to go, along
with a couple small mesh packing cubes for organizing. I also have a really “thin &
lightweight” toiletry bag that unzips so you can hang it from a towel rack.
Minimal stuff will go in there too, but we’ve been advised to buy any OTC drugs
and remedies here, to take with us, rather than trying to buy there. If the
labeling isn’t clear we could end up buying the wrong thing, or sometimes the
Chinese version of a product we can buy here is not necessarily the same.
Fortunately, our doctor has also given us a supply of
antibiotics to take with us if we happen to pick up any gastric agitators while
we’re traveling. You cannot drink the
water. Bottled water is plentiful, but
Cameron is excited about the prospect of going to a place where Coke is
considerably better and safer for him than water. He plans to drink it with
every meal – strictly as a health measure, of course.
So, until we can actually start packing, we are reading
guide-books and watching videos on youtube, so we won’t be totally bewildered
when we get there. We watched one yesterday called “9 Reasons Why You Got Robbed While
Traveling.”
We have been told that crime in China is very low, but
pickpockets and scams are everywhere, especially at a lot of the touristy sites
we’ll be visiting. After years of trying to teach Cameron to be helpful and
polite, he’s going to have to learn some new skills in self-preservation and being rude for all the right reasons. This
also circles back to traveling light – the less stuff you have to haul around,
the easier you can maneuver away from situations you need to get out of
quickly.
Have I mentioned my
favorite quote about traveling? It’s this:
“To travel far, carry
less.”
It’s a slight variation
from a book about hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain,
(Something else I
would like to do!) called
To Walk
Far, Carry Less.
22 days to go!
22 days to go!
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