A Year Off Page 6
Yet despite the research we had done and the coverage plans we had made, a few things slipped through the cracks. Looking back, we had focused more on trip-related logistics and left without really thinking about some of the more practical things in life that were not addressed in any of the blogs and books we read, like vehicle registration renewals and potential hiccups with landlords in a housing-frenzied city like San Francisco. We ended up having to engage with life back home in ways we hadn’t expected to, and while unforeseen hurdles are bound to come up, we could have easily avoided a few had we known about them in advance.
THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO TAKE CARE OF BEFORE LEAVING
At the end of the day, there are really only a few key things to get done before leaving on your trip. With a solid coverage plan for home in place and a strong sense of your route and budget, the rest can be addressed as you go.
1/ Daily Life Logistics
Even though you may be gone, life back home doesn’t stop. The mail still comes, and bills will crop up. Make sure you have a plan in place for managing all the logistics of day-to-day life, which may mean involving a crew of friends and family who are willing to help.
• Housing and Storage: If you’re going to return to your home base, decide if you want to sublet or rent out your place. If you’re not planning on returning, you can put everything in storage and make a plan to stay with family or friends when you get back.
• Mail: When you go on a vacation, you can put your mail on hold, but when you’re gone for a year, you may miss critical things by doing this. Forward your mail to a trusted friend or family member who can open anything that looks important and email you bills, renewal notices, and the like so you don’t get caught off guard, miss a payment, or get nailed with a huge fine while you’re traveling.
• Recurring Payments: For any recurring payments you have, make sure all credit cards are up to date or automatic withdrawals are set up. Ensure you have enough money in linked bank accounts to cover these payments. If you have a vehicle you’re leaving behind, make sure you thoroughly research what the policy is for your annual registration renewal. If you need to renew your registration while you’re gone, designate someone else to help take care of this while you’re away.
2/ Passport Check
Make sure your passport is up to date and won’t expire while you’re abroad! At this point, you may be thinking, “well, duh . . .” But you would be surprised how many people get so excited about planning their trip and don’t look at their passport until a few weeks out, only to find it’s expired. Another thing we didn’t know before we left was that some countries, like Laos, Myanmar, China, and Indonesia, require your passport to be valid for six months from the date of entry. India requires your passport to be valid for six months from the date you apply for a visa.
3/ Visas
Research the countries that require advance visa applications and make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to take care of the paperwork. There are agencies in the U.S. that can help you do some visa applications, and certain countries, like India, now require you go through an agency. You can easily apply for some visas while on the road, so bring along several extra passport-size photos with you.
Tip: When taking your extra photos for travel visas, try not to smile. Some countries have different photography requirements, and you wouldn’t want to be rejected because of grinning from ear to ear.
4/ A Solid Backpack
As far as geeky gear goes, this is the only area to pay attention to. Invest in a REALLY GOOD backpack. Trust us on this one. Make sure the pack is very comfortable, is the right size, and feels great on your back. We were not “backpacking,” but there are many times when you will need to walk for a while before arriving at your destination and will be appreciative of a contained, secure, and comfortable backpack.
Tip 1: Make sure your backpack will fit in the average overhead compartment on an airplane. Checking luggage around the world will be a waste of time and money, and opens you up to potential theft, so you want to ensure your pack can easily come on the plane with you. Our backpacks were 35 liters standard and could be expanded to 40 liters if needed. We found they fit in every single overhead bin we encountered.
Tip 2: If you can, find a backpack with a built-in rain fly. Even if you aren’t planning on being in places with lots of rainy weather, the rain fly is incredibly useful. It served as great protection the few times we decided to check our packs, as it kept all of our straps contained and the bags clean. It also became an extra layer of security during transit. In train stations, for example, risks of theft are much higher, but if you cover your backpack with the rain fly, you automatically create one more deterrent for potential thieves.
Tip 3: Find a backpack with multiple entry points. Our backpacks not only opened from the top but also unzipped in the front, which was very convenient when packing and unpacking.
Tip 4: Consider a backpack with less widely known branding. We went with Gregory, a solid but less commercial brand in the States, and what we liked about these packs was not only their incredible form and functionality but also their complete lack of obvious branding. We felt less likely to be targets for theft, and the nondescript, neutral colors helped us blend in more.
5/ Vaccinations and Meds
Make an appointment at a local travel clinic and get all the shots you’ll need based on your general route and the regions you’ll be visiting. If you have insurance with your employer, do this while you are under their coverage. You may also want to stock up on some emergency meds, like Cipro and malaria pills if you decide to take them.
6/ Travel Insurance
Getting travel insurance is a must. First of all, it’s really affordable. Second, it will cover any medical emergencies that may arise, including an airlift evacuation if needed. Finally, if something gets lost or stolen while you’re on the road, your travel insurance will cover the cost of replacement. There are several providers out there, but we had a great experience with World Nomads.
7/ International Driver’s License
We always wondered if an international driver’s license was actually necessary, but when a friend in England offered to lend us his car and his insurance company required one of us to have an international driver’s license, we realized there are in fact some situations when it’s needed. While you may not think you’ll be driving at all, you never know, and it’s both easy and inexpensive to get an international driver’s license. AAA can take care of it for you quite quickly. It’s much easier to get your international driver’s license before you leave, but it’s still possible to get one while on the road. You can mail in your application to AAA along with two recent passport photos (signed on the back), the fee in check form ($20 as of 2018), and a photocopy of both sides of your U.S. driver’s license, but if you go with this option, make sure to leave a big window of time for getting the international license back. You’ll also need to have an address for AAA to mail the license to in a few weeks’ time. Alternatively, you can have someone in the States go to AAA on your behalf with all the necessary materials and send the international driver’s license to you, which could be somewhat faster depending on how they mail it to you.
We Look Ridiculous
Sydney, Australia
ALEXANDRA
33.8688° S, 151.2093° E
David and I had been on the road for three weeks when we realized what a mistake it had been to bring adventure pants. Every website and guidebook had strongly encouraged all sorts of quick-drying, lightweight clothing, and we had succumbed to the pressure, packing what could only be described as a cross between yoga pants and a parachute. We committed to the adventure pants, wearing them day in and day out for the two weeks we spent traveling around New Zealand, but when we got to Sydney, Australia, we knew we just weren’t adventure pants people, even the round-the-world-travelers versions of ourselves. Sure, our pants dried surprisingly fast, and they weighed practically nothing, but they
made us feel unattractive and like obvious tourists. They also swished when we walked, which didn’t add to any allure they might have held before we left.
We hit a low point when we were spending the day in the hip, stylish, and incredibly attractive Sydney neighborhood of Bondi Beach. We had been introduced to some locals through a friend back home, and these newfound acquaintances had invited us to a lawn bowling birthday party. After a stroll along the unbelievably gorgeous coastline, we arrived at one of the most picturesque sights one could imagine for a party. The bowling lawn was a vibrant green outcrop overlooking the sea below. David and I quickly identified the gathering of very well-dressed good-looking people as the party we were attending, and as we looked down at our slightly shimmery adventure pants and quick-drying shirts, we had never felt frumpier. For a moment, we considered turning around and not going. We ended up having a really nice time at the party despite some gracious but sideways looks at our ridiculous attire that whispered of a week on safari, but it was a turning point for us. We did not want to spend the next ten months looking and feeling like idiots. When we arrived in Singapore the next day, we found the nearest H&M and purchased cheap, lightweight jeans and regular shirts. We instantly felt more like ourselves.
UNPACKING WHAT TO PACK
There is no singular packing list, as preferences and routes vary, but after living out of our backpacks for a year, we have a few opinions on what ended up feeling necessary, what was nice to have, and what proved to be nothing more than extra weight. Your route will serve as the foundation for what you pack, but here are a few tips to help filter and focus.
Tip 1: Make sure all your basic bases are covered: you’ll want flexibility for hot weather and cold weather, and rainy weather and dry weather, while knowing that depending on your route, you are not likely to encounter many extremes throughout most of your journey.
Tip 2: Dress how you would dress at home. Pack what’s natural and comfortable for you. If you’re a T-shirt and jeans type of person at home, you’ll likely be a T-shirt and jeans person while on the road. The one thing to keep in mind is weight. You may need to explore lighter versions of what you typically wear to keep your load more manageable.
Tip 3: Most clothes are disposable. You can swap things out as you go to add some variety and help you feel more blended in with the local scene. The clothing in your backpack when you return will likely not be the same as what you packed when you left.
Tip 4: Bring a few favorite pieces of clothing and accessories that remind you of home. These could be a beloved T-shirt, a hat, a scarf, or a pair of earrings that make you feel really special. Having these small pieces of home can be comforting and provide a sense of familiarity in a world of unknowns.
Tip 5: In many countries, it’s harder to find shoes in larger sizes. If your feet are larger than size 11/12, you may want to come more prepared.
DOING LAUNDRY ON THE ROAD
Take a quiet moment now to appreciate how incredible dryers are; they are responsible for supersoft towels on your face in the morning, comforting undershirts throughout the day, and heavenly sheets at night. Based on our experience, air-drying is the norm outside of the U.S. This means crispy laundry that never smells quite as clean.
We assumed we would be washing a lot of clothes ourselves. Generally, a washing machine was easily accessible, but several times we hand-washed our clothes in sinks or showers. For this reason, we recommend always carrying a small amount of soap and a clothesline.
At points throughout our trip, we did outsource our laundry. Through Southeast and Central Asia and India, it’s easy to find people who will do your laundry for you at a very cheap price, but in our experiences, our clothes often came back still damp and not smelling particularly clean. We found ourselves rewashing quite often until we got to Europe. Once in Europe, most everywhere we stayed had washing machines and drying racks, so doing laundry regularly was easy.
THE PACKING LIST
As you pack, keep in mind two things:
1. Is it worth the weight? This is a good question to ask yourself for every item you consider. It also reinforces what your priorities are. In retrospect, we regret not bringing a portable speaker with us, as music is a big part of our lives and listening directly off our phone was less than mood setting.
2. If you go with a smaller backpack, roughly 35 to 40 liters, try to only fill it to 60 to 70 percent of capacity. This way, you’ll easily be able to carry on your backpack on all flights and have space for things you pick up as you go.
THE PACKING LIST
Quick-drying underwear (6–7 pairs per person)
Down jacket (packable)
Windbreaker (packable)
Lightweight thermals (top and bottom)
Lightweight rain jacket (packable)
Moisture-wicking socks (5 pairs)
Practical walking shoes (1 pair)
Nicer shoes (1 pair)
Flip-flops or sandals (1 pair)
T-shirts (2–3)
Tank tops (2)
Short-sleeved button-down or blouse (1)
Long-sleeved button-down or blouse (1)
Shorts (1 pair)
Pants (1 pair)
Long-sleeved warm top (1)–a lightweight sweatshirt or sweater
Dresses (1–2)
Bathing suit (1)
Scarf
Warm hat
Quick-dry towel (1)–extra-large size
Bandana
Sunglasses
Portable clothesline
First-aid kit
DIY pharmacy of useful things that are harder to get around the world (ibuprofen, Sudafed, Cipro, malaria pills, Benadryl, charcoal pills, Imodium, probiotics, chamomile tea, Neosporin)
Menstrual cup (tampons are often hard to come by around the world)
Nail clippers
Lightweight water bottle
Zip-top freezer bags (2 quart sized, 2 gallon sized)
Money belt–for travel days
Foldable shoulder bag
Compression sack–for minimizing clothing volume in your pack
Water sterilizing “pen”
Spork
Lightweight metal cup (which also doubles as good storage space)
Note: A lot of folks recommend a small daypack, which we initially brought, but rarely used as they were not comfortable for long distances and stood out in small towns and cities. When needed, we found you can easily and cheaply purchase these, but the shoulder bag proved to be an essential.
TSA-friendly locks for your packs
One cable lock–useful for locking up your pack when traveling on trains and buses
Universal adaptor
Flashlight and/or headlamp
Journal and pen
Book or e-reader
Unlocked smartphone
Lightweight laptop or tablet with typing attachment
Camera and mini-tripod
Travel guitar
Extra camera battery and memory cards
Note: We brought a Martin backpacker guitar all around the world with us. This isn’t a must-pack item, but we loved having our little guitar with us. It was also quite the conversation starter!
WHEN NOT TO SKIMP
While a lot of what you bring in your pack doesn’t have to be high priced or high-end, there were a few items we felt were worth more of an investment. These were the things that proved invaluable to us when we were on the road, the items we continuously felt grateful for having.
• ExOfficio® underwear: Of all the techy clothing we read about, ExOfficio® underwear proved to be the garment that truly made a difference. They are lightweight, easy to wash, dry overnight, and pack up really small. They are also incredibly comfortable.
• Lightweight thermals: Thermals take up little space in your pack but make all the difference in a variety of climates. When it’s cold, they give you an extra layer of warmth without the bulk, and when it’s hot but buggy, they make for a more breathable sleeping attire op
tion.