This was enough for ten months.  Travel light, if you can. You’ll be glad you did.

Joy and I took a ten-month trip around the world, from August 2007 – June 2008. A rolling carry-on suitcase and a day pack was more than enough luggage for each of us. A lot depends on toiletries – lotions and potions can really bulk up your load.

If you ever consider taking one of these long trips, this list may come in handy. If you’re a man. Joy’s bag was a mystery to me.

It comes to about 60 items, including the suitcase and daypack.

Clothing:

1. Two pair convertible long pants (zip-off legs)
2. Two pairs of cargo shorts (one would been enough)
3. Swim trunks
4. Four quick-drying underpants (designed for quick and frequent hand-wash in hotel basins)
5. Two tee shirts
6. Two short sleeved collared shirts
7. Two light-weight long-sleeved shirts
8. One sweater
9. One light-weight water-proof wind breaker
10. One belt
11. One baseball cap
12. One pair flip-flops
13. One pair sneakers
14. Four pair socks
15. Reading glasses (2)
16. Sunglasses (1)

Toiletries

1. One kitbag with small detachable 2″ mirror
2. Toothbrush
3. Toothpaste
4. Floss
5. Razor
6. Razor blades pack
7. Comb
8. Shampoo
9. Soap
10. Skin lotion
11. Sunblock
12. Chapstick
13. Band aids
14. Purell (very handy in India)
15. Neosporin
16. Tums (never needed)
17. Advil
18. Imodium (never needed)
19. Q-tips
20. Tweezers (used once)
21. Earplugs

Daypack

1. Camera (small)
2. Binoculars (small)
3. 1-quart water bottle (a big mouth is more flexible)
4. Headband flashlight (hands free for reading or cooking)
5. Cell phone & charging cord (expensive international phone plan – rarely used)
6. Guide book
7. City map
8. Puzzle book (sudoku, crosswords)
9. Book to read
10. Notepad
11. 3-4 pens
12. Needle and thread kit (small)
13. Wallet
14. Passport
15. Deck of cards
16. Folding cribbage board
17. Dice
18. Ipod, earbuds & charger
19. Ipod speakers & charger (small)
20. Power converter
21. Corkscrew (small)

It’s really nice to come home to a hotel room at the end of the day and be able to listen to your own music and play a game together. The speakers were our biggest splurge item.

We didn’t bring a computer, choosing instead to use internet cafes.

I would have brought a small pocket knife, but airport security varies.

What the well-attired tourist is wearing this year.

A sarong is optional, but it’s good manners to don one at Balinese funeral, and a good light-weight, multi-use souvenir.

I recommend flip flops with toe guards. It looks kind of dorky, but sneakers are too hot for the tropics, and these have prevented some nasty toe-stubbings.