One T-shirt - if the t-shirt is a little longer it can double as a nightshirt
One long sleeve polypropylene shirt - one that looks nice enough to wear into a restaurant - now - this one is a bit weird. I spent ages googling polypropylene, which seems to be a magic material that is 'wet wicking' and keeps you both warm and cool depending on the climate. I'm dubious - sounds like witchcraft to me. I went for plain blue in the end - the patterned ones looked a bit like something your gran would knit.
One micro fleece - if stylish it can be worn as a pullover in a nice setting - hehe it's baby pink, and makes me look like a marshmallow. Think Loz has a white one, so we can be marshmallows together...
One budget, breathable rain jacket - just need a bum bag now to complete the school trip look.
One plastic poncho - big enough to cover your backpack - 99p! Whoop. That's so not gonna last... and we will undoubtedly look like giant condoms.
One thin beach towel or sarong - extra large travel towels work well - Travel towel - it's very cool, and very small with antibacterial properties apparently... is a bit weird, doesn't look like a towel at all
One swimsuit - doubles as a casual top
One pair of trousers - not black, but dark and dirt hiding - lightweight, wrinkle free, comfortable, fairly stylish and easily washable with good deep pockets. I cheated and bought black... if they're dark enough to hide dirt, surely they might as well be black?! I wet them (deliberately, with water) left them on the floor overnight to test the drying and wrinkling... drying not so hot, wrinkling ok...
One pair of socks
2-4 pairs of underwear - special quick drying travel underwear if possible
1 pair of sports sandals - don't skimp on these, reasonably stylish, supportive, stay on during swimming, not rot when out of water, allow you to run for a train. I've found the nicest ones I can, but they don't seem to come in 'fashionable'.
1 collapsible hat - it's squashy - not sure how much good the squashing is going to do it. I'm wearing it now- I love it.
1 bandana - too keep you cool on warm nights, cover your mouth to protect you from dust, use it to dry off in the shower if your towel is wet. I bought 2... one needs variety. As Loz said 'I don't think I'm a bandana person, I'm tempted to agree... and I look a bit of a prat in them frankly, but hey - I'm embracing the book.
1 wrinkle free travel skirt
1 pair shorts
I'm following the book to the letter, but am a little unconvinced about how much I should be trusting it. 1 pair of shoes?! Really? We've bought some fold up ones... and so far we are on 4 pairs. 2-4 pairs of pants?! That's less pants than shoes... The list of the first aid kit is twice as long as the clothes list, so I guess if we have trouble we can just wear bandages.
It's not only the minimalist nature of the packing, but the fact that we're going to spend 6 months wearing pretty much the same outfit, and looking like either a marshmallow or a condom, or a prat in a bandana that is concerning me a little. Look forward to the photos guys!
All in all it's a small price to pay though - can't wait to go!!!
Cat xx
Posts
I've got you a miniature sewing kit in a little plastic box from Muji - I'll post it to you!!! Jen x
ReplyDeleteAww bless ya... I might have to fly you out if I need my shirt pinning :) x
ReplyDeletei'll tell you this for free - in 2 or 3 months you are just going to have to throw something away to buy a new t-shirt or something: its so refreshing just to see yourself in a different colour! And its not going to be multi-purpose, and its not going to be wicking or wrinkle free, because that's very much a first-world-only concept. Oh, and see how the fancy fabrics stand up to cheap laundry powder and dryers in cheap little laundrettes around the world.wisdom of stocking up on such expensive technical kit in the first place being questioned. Oh, and my reeeallly expensive fatface trousers are falling apart because I've loved them to literal bits. *sigh* I bet its so helpful that I'm mentioning this now rather than before you left isn't it?
ReplyDelete