Backpacking 101

“You need more than that!”

My sister looked at me despairingly as I showed her the contents of the small plastic food container I now called my first aid kit.

“What about the latex gloves? You’ll need syringes. Oh, and don’t forget a bandage or two. Stay right there, I’ll be right back…”

A few minutes later I pushed the pile of medical supplies to one side. “Sis, I know you’re a paramedic and all, but seriously? I’m not taking all this shit with me!”

Having carted armfuls of medicine around the world with me in the past – all of which eventually expired without seeing the light of day – I had decided on one simple rule this time around.

Less is more.

Ever wondered what you should take on the road with you in the way of electronics? After several years of travelling I’ve figured out what works for me – and what doesn’t – when it comes to technology. Here are the gadgets that grace the inside of my backpack and a few tricks for getting [...]

How many packs are too many? For many years I’ve laughed at a good friend of mine who seemed to have more backpacks than he did pairs of underwear. As I stood and gazed upon the contents of my wardrobe a few days ago however, I came to the realisation that I’m not much better. There seemed to be luggage for every occasion, from the super small black bag that fitted only a bottle of water and a city guide, to the stained and dirty blue suitcase that carted most of my stuff home from the UK several years ago. Several day packs of different shapes and sizes, plus the 90 litre behemoth that accompanied me on my last round the world trip. In this apartment, I swear half of my storage space has been taken up by storage space. Obviously, therefore, it was time to go pack shopping…

Grab your pencils folks, it’s time to play Backpacker Bingo! This fun game can be played alone or with any number of friends as you make your way from hostel to hostel around the world.

The rules are very simple:

1. Print and cut out the handy bingo card above.

2. Following the definitions below, mark off on your card when you successfully identify a hostel stereotype.

3. When your card is full, jump up and down shouting “BINGO” at the top of your lungs. Ideally, this will be at 3 in the morning.

4. Insist that all other players buy you a drink. If you are playing alone, buy yourself two drinks.

5. Print out a new card and start again.

Good luck!

About to head off and see the world but feeling a bit daunted by the whole thing? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The great thing is that it really doesn’t have to be that hard – a little knowledge goes a long way.

Here’s a few useful tips that I wish I’d known before I went travelling for the first time.