Travelling Light

At around the second week of June, I got word that I am supposed to leave for the United States to attend the 1st International Grand Alumni Homecoming of UNEP/MMC Graduatates in Chicago at around the last week of July.

It has been around six years when I last had a MAJOR international travel.  That was to an International Law Conference in Berlin which included a trip to Weisbaden to visit a friend in which she was able to squeeze in a weekend motorcoach tour to Paris.  My 2007 trip to KL, Malaysia does not count because it was only for a few days to attend another conference, the Rotary Zone Institute and I did not need a visa for the trip.

My first concern whenever I decide to take such trips, whether local or international, is what to bring.  In 2004, when I went to Germany, I had a large "maleta" (luggage), that was as high as my waist, a carry-on luggage that was actually an overnight bag and of course, my larger than usual handbag.  It was crazy and difficult to travel especially at the last part of my Germany tour.  I had to take the ICE (or TGV - I don't remember now), from Berlin to Weisbaden alone.  I was struggling with my big maleta that a co-passenger joked that he hoped there were no dead bodies inside coz it was so heavy even for him (he helped me after seeing me struggle).

The thing is, I thought my luggage was already streamlined.  In 2004, I surfed the net for tips and ideas on how to travel light and yet, was still lugging around about 70 lbs of luggage.

Now, I am travelling solo again, international.  So, I started surfing the net again for new ideas. I had good reason to do so, because my packing list is now longer than when I started to adopt it in 2004 from the website onebag.com.  It is nice to know that the old classics are still up and running.  http://www.travelite.org/ is still up along with http://www.onebag.com/ and the Universal Packing List (http://upl.codeq.info/). 

The advice I get from these websites are truly a great help specially for me because I travel a lot locally.  I maintain a toiltetry bag which I replenish every month and keep several no-wrinkle clothes.  Here are some of my advice to add to the plethora of knowledge on the matter:

1.  If you travel a lot, it is wise to maintain an overnight bag with the basics: a toiletry bag, a first-aid kit, a t-shirt, pants, slippers (flip-flops), underwear (1 bra, 3 panties).  I also include basic ladies accessories in my bag like a string of faux pearl necklace and earrings (people don't care if its real or not).  If I have no time to pack, I just take the bag and go.  If I need to wear something fancy or dressy and I was not able to pack something of that caliber, I just buy when I reach my destination.

2.  When I travel, I always check in my maleta (luggage or overnight bag) and have with me my carry-on.  My carry on always have one pair of underwear, a t-shirt and a boxer shorts.  This saved me when my connecting flight from Berlin to Amsterdam was late and I had to be booked by my airline in a hotel overnight to catch the next flight to Manila.  The airline only gave me (and the rest of the group who was delayed) a 7 Euro gift check for toiletries.  It was a fortunate that I brought an extra shirt so I would be fresh for next day's flight.  I forgot, we were also given a phone card that we can use to call home for five minutes only.  I used it to call my Dad that I was going to be delayed.

3.  Always follow the rules.  It is difficult to talk to people to beg them to make you an exception.  If they say you have to be at the airport 3 hours before departure, do so.  Its alright to wait, as long as you are waiting at the boarding gate and not in a taxi stuck in traffic somewhere and your plane will leave in 30 minutes.  This is universal.  Even in the Philippines, when the gate is closed, it remains closed.  There is so much hassle.  So, just follow the rules to make your trip stress free.  One time, I had to shell out more than the amount I paid for my ticket just to get on the next flight that I missed due to traffic. 

4.  Always bring basic medicine like paracetamol, immodium, etc...  You will never know when you will need it.  I alwasy do bring home remedy stuff. 

Thats my take on travelling light.  He who travels light, is a happy traveller.