My bags are packed - I'm ready to go

How is it that no matter how well organised I think I am the day before jetting away is always a mad scramble?!

This morning involved moving out of our temporary home back to a friends place dragging mounds of laundry with us. Thankfully though we travel so light that there was very little that needed to be cleaned before I could start to pack.

I have included photos for those cynics who believe traveling with anything less than a whole wardrobe and 6 pairs of shoes can't be done.

The biggest challenge to the carry-on-luggage-only rule this trip is the camera gear. After much soul searching I have whittled it down to only those things I can't live without (see photo above).

We have made it a "policy" to only take carry-on with us when we travel for a whole bunch of reasons: no queuing up to get what's left of your luggage after the baggage handlers have tossed it onto the carousels, no unexpected surprises when you go through customs (a la Ms Corby) and most of all, no crossing fingers that it will meet you in your destination. Normally we have no accommodation booked when we get somewhere and I can be a bit fussy about my bed (Dave would say too fussy but hey - I like to sleep comfortably) and a lighter bag means less to carry as we tramp all over town playing "Goldilocks, this bed is too hard, this bed is too soft..."

After much internet research before our last adventure I found lots of handy hints for traveling light:

Only take clothes you will actually wear. I used to take 4 prs of jeans and 10 tops but would go home with only my favourites actually worn.

If you aren't sure that you will need it, you probably won't so don't pack it.

There are shops in most places in the world that will sell toothpaste and razors, no need to pack a years supply. Same with big bottles of shampoo etc.

Most places also have some sort of laundry service available, you don't need enough clothes for a fresh set every day.

If you're backpacking as an adult (or flashpacking as they call it now for those that have money to spare) no one really cares that you haven't straightened your hair!

These are just a few that I can think of straight up.

The only down side can be shopping. It can be a lot harder to shop when you only have a small bag but we just factor in postage when we buy things and then send them home (think 5 foot carving of elephants from Thailand).

Well, hopefully my next transmission will be from Buenos Aires where currently the weather is almost the same as here in Brisvegas - hot, wet and muggy, so... catch you on the flip side.