Tokyo Jim’s 生活

It’s almost time to grab my backpack and hit the road again, so I pulled out my trusty and tattered to-bring list.

I tend to pack rather light on these overseas trips, so you may think I forgot a lot, but trust me, I didn’t :-).

Because others have asked me to share this list, and because it’s time to commit it to bytes, here it is (in no particular order):

plane tickets (if not e-ticket)

printed flight itinerary (I never remember my flight times)

passport

extra passport photos (needed for visas along the way)

hat

sunglasses

towel, small (many hostels don’t provide one)

two pairs of long pants

short pants (weather permitting)

bathing suit

three t-shirts

two button-up shirts

windbreaker / light jacket

sweater (very light but warm)

jacket (only if Winter)

pyjamas

seven pair of underwear and socks

laundry bag

money belt

belt (if pants require it)

travellers checks (rarely used but good to have a few when the ATM network is down)

list of travellers checks numbers

hostel card

cash/credit cards/ATM card

list of CC numbers (in case they need to be cancelled/resissued)

international drivers license certificate (need varies by country)

sunscreen

shampoo

toiletries

ankle strap (only if biking)

earplugs (for loud concerts and snoring roommates)

small notebook / memo pad

guidebook(s)

flashlight (single AAA LED)

tiny push-to-light LED

copy of passport main page and any visas

GSM phone and charger

small padlock (for hostel lockers)

compass

umbrella, ultra compact

wristwatch (also used as alarm clock)

camera & card reader

camera battery travel charger

AC plug adapter (varies by country but the one for continental Europe works most everywhere except NZ & Oz).

apartment entrance key (so I can get back in when I return)

And a few things I always need to do before I leave:

pay bills

put snail-mail on Vacation Hold

set up vacation(1) response for e-mail

suspend newspaper delivery

clear out and turn off refrigerator (for extended trips)

turn off water heater/cable modem/router (on the morning I leave)