I’ve always had a very laissez-faire approach to packing for a trip. Sometime before heading out the door – it varies from a matter of hours to a matter of minutes – I grab my bag, fling it open and shove in what I think I may need. Mostly I just grab whatever is closest to hand.
Sure, it means I often leave stuff I need at home. Useful stuff, too. But that just forces me out on the streets looking for a toothbrush as soon as I arrive rather than locking the door and peering out the peephole which is my first natural instinct.
So I was interested to read the Forum question posted by Wanderlust magazine editor, Phoebe Smith. She wanted to know what myWanderlusters regard as the must-pack piece of kit. Phoebe nominated walking shoes or boots, saying she’d hate to miss out on a fantastic walk just because she hadn’t packed them. Has she never experienced the joys of tackling the great outdoors in inappropriate footwear? I must have a word with her...
From wet wipes to cotton dupattas, zip-off trousers to underwater cameras, a host of myWanderlusters listed the items that form their indispensable kit list. I found myself agreeing with satkinson though. If you’ve got your passport and some money you’re pretty much set. Although I must admit, I did go to Sweden recently without any money. Not intentionally. I’d left my Visa card in the card machine at Millets earlier in the day. But I got by OK. It seems some Swedes have a bit of a thing for aging Aussie backpackers.
But I digress. Elsewhere on the Forum, treacleminer is reminiscing about the unsavoury medical practices he has come across while abroad and wants you to as well. Beetrootbetty wants some advice on things to do in Bratislava. And mattyboy876 wants the address of the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants Rick Stein has been visiting on his recent curry tour of India. You can help them all out here.
Howellsey is just back from wild camping in Snowdonia where he found himself spurning the advances of an inquisitive buzzard. And Alexis S has returned from Croatia singing the praises of the Blue Cave on Bisevo. It’s magical, she says.
It’s all happening over at Experiences this week. Ianhoward ponders what constitutes a dangerous road. Suzycatpope warns that the biggest challenge starting a new job in Cambodia is deciding what to have for lunch. And hmoat 01 goes searching for ice caps in Sri Lanka. JessMcA22 looks back on an angst-ridden trip to California as a 16-year-old and has a few harsh words for her teenage self. And markymark983 steps up for the lost dogs of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus.
Finally, make sure you pop over to the Photography section and check out Ianhoward’s set of images of roads and track, Angela R’s snaps from San Francisco Bay and chandaala’s ambitious set of montages from India.
