Travelling Light-Carrying the World on Your Shoulder

chillibreeze writer — Anju Lavina

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I recently took off on another one of my random trips – I do that a lot when the travel bug hits me. As always there was a glint in my eye and a spring in my step. This is probably because over the years, I have learnt to travel light and right in a way that allows me to hop, skip and jump without any serious physical injury. Travelling with the right amount of luggage also helps you get the most out of the journey, I’ve learnt.

I learnt this lesson when once while on an adventure camp with 20 children from vulnerable backgrounds, their warden brought in a stroller that looked like it could hold up to 40 kgs of clothes. Keeping in mind that we were going to be climbing hills and swimming through rivers, this seemed ridiculous! I’ve come to see that travelling light need not be something you do while backpacking. Even on official trips, there is a way to pack and a list of things to carry that will make you a smart traveller who makes the most of the trip.

When I’m packing for a trip, these are a few things I do to make sure I don’t carry the weight of the world on my shoulder.

1. Make a checklist: I’m not just saying this because I love making them. I call it my list of unforgettables. I started this habit when on every trip I went on, if I’d left something behind, it would be something essential.

Brew yourself some hot coffee and sit down at the table. Relax and think of all the things that you CANNOT leave behind. Free associate till you think the list is exhausted. Don’t worry if you include things that you’re not going to pack for this trip. Typically, this list includes clothing, shoes, toiletries, maps, guidebooks, reading material, and hotel and rental car information, travel tickets etc.

2. Go shopping: This part is just as exciting as the travel itself- looking for travel size toiletries in the nearest supermarket. If you are travelling within India, you can just buy a bar of soap for Rs. 5 and the rest of your bare essentials for under Rs. 20. In that case, you will save a lot of space in your bag while travelling. If you prefer to carry your own, buy travel-size containers regardless of the length of your trip.

3. Rock and Roll: I learnt this when I was backpacking across Europe, the best way to save space and fit more into your luggage is to use the “roll” technique, where you lay 2-3 items on top of each other and roll them up like a sleeping bag. This not only saves space but also prevents your clothes from wrinkling if you flatten it before you roll. If you want, you can also lay some packing paper or tissue between the clothes.

Some precautions I take, especially when travelling in India is:

Packing sweaters and underwear in reusable compression bags: This creates more space, locks in odours and can be used to carry dirty laundry.
To prevent the toiletries from spilling and making a huge mess in my bag, I put them in an airtight plastic bag.
For times when I may feel hungry or dehydrated, I carry a pack of mints and sweets. This is also useful if you are planning to interact with the locals and there are children amidst them.
I’ve had a pretty bad experience when travelling in the Indian monsoon. Trust me; your waterproof luggage will not suffice to keep the rain out. As insurance, I wrap up all my clothes in a plastic cover.
Split up your valuables. In case you get robbed, you won’t be stuck.
For ease in travelling, I always suggest a shoulder bag rather than a suitcase.

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in August, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Anju Lavina is a Master of Social Work, specializing in Community Organisation. She has worked with various NGO projects across India. She has also worked with children and youth from vulnerable backgrounds and has volunteered in an International Community in France that houses a retreat for youth from conflict areas across the world including Bosnia, Chechnya, Africa, The Middle East etc. She studied to be a journalist in her Bachelors level and has experience in documentary production, editing, and writing articles for the print media. She also has 4 years experience in communications in the NGO sector, including report and proposal writing and calls to action. She occasionally writes fictional pieces. She is currently based in Bangalore.

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