| EQUIPMENT |
| As you saw from my first Gap Year page I took a lot of equipment with me. Heres what happened to it all and how useful it was. |
| PAPERWORK Passport ---------------------- Visas Immunisation record All tickets Insurance Credit card ------------------- All emergency numbers Passport photos (2) Glasses prescriptions ------- Photocopies of documents Student identity card -------- Guide books (2) ------------- Books (3) Phrasebooks (2) ------------ Address book --------------- Family photos -------------- |
| HARDWARE Sleeping Sheet --------------- Diary ------------------------- Sewing Kit ------------------- Pens -------------------------- Mosquito net and treatment- Watch ------------------------ Padlock ---------------------- Chain -------------------------Torch ------------------------- Batteries ---------------------- Candles ----------------------- Lighters ---------------------- Matches ---------------------- Penknife ---------------------- Personal alarm --------------- CD player and CDs ---------- Camera + films -------------- Adapter plug ----------------- Spare glasses ---------------- Glasses fixing kit ------------ Day bag ---------------------- Arm wallet ------------------- Cup and Spoon -------------- Para cord -------------------- Gaffa tape -------------------- Cards ------------------------- Water Filter ------------------ Water Bottle ----------------- |
| TOILETRIES ----- Again get out there, cheaper. Contraception ---------- Tissues ----------------- Sun cream ------------- Shampoo bar ---------- Insect repellent -------- Safety pins ------------- Sponge ----------------- . Comb ------------------- Sanitary protection ---- Deodorant -------------- Toothbrush ------------- Toothpaste Shaving stuff ----------- Wet wipes -------------- Moisturiser ------------- Lip balm ---------------- Travel wash ------------ Nail clippers ------------ |
Obviously I wore these, went down a lot in numbers though. Socks were all dumped cos I wore flip flops most of the time. All my original trousers were left at Bukit Rengit. Bought more but they also got minging. Had one pair by the end. Didnt wear, but used as pjamas. They were nicked by cleaners in Thailand (as were James pjamas- very strange) All went mingy, got nice new ones out there. Dont take anything youd like to keep cos you wont have it by the end. Original bikini went mingy, but got new one. Great for wearing on the beach. In P.Perhentian I think I wore mine for 3 weeks. Didnt use so dumped. Should have kept it for Mt. Kinabalu though. Useful but got eaten by monkeys in Langkawi, but I was going to dump them anyway because flip flops are much better in that climate. Dumped originals but bought a great new pair out there- my beloved flip flops. Would have died without it on Mt. Kinabalu and Hong Kong but left it after that because it was so bulky and it was so hot out there it just wasnt needed. Fantastic bit of kit! Used for everything from clothing to towel. I hate hats but it was good when fishing so my head didnt burn. Also got a balaclava for Mt. K, saved my life. Used on Mt K to stop wind chill, when it rain I just got wet (and loved it may I add) |
| MEDICAL STUFF-- Didnt use much of this but take it all just in case Sterile kit Malarials Ibuprofen Antiseptic cream -------------- Savlon! I love that stuff! Anti-diarrhoea medicine Anti-allergy tabs and cream Rehydrating things Bandages and pins Dressings Anti-fungal foot cream Tweezers and scissors |
| Basically, out of all the stuff I took I had less than half of it when I got back. It just wasnt useful. |
| Always useful when travelling My life saver on a number of occasions I needed this cos I trashed my glasses many times, but they always tested my eyes anyway Used it a few times, usually forgot to take it out with me. No use whatever. Dont bother with guidebooks. Theyre just expensive (apart from ripped off ones bought in Vietnam- heehee!) and full of inacurate info. It much better to use local leaflets or to ask around other travellers or locals. Useful to start you off learning a lauguage, better to pick it up from locals though Great for sending shitloads of postcards to everyone you know Nice to remind you of what everyone looks like and for if you get homesick. |
| Useful in disgusting hostels where the beds look (and smell) like someone died in them. Mine got left in P.Perhentian as it was the end of my trip. Great for writing down things that happened- Id forget everything if I hadnt written it down, so many memories. Usefull for fixing holes in trousers and crappy ripped off bags. Useful but get them out there as theyre much cheaper. Didnt use at all (naughty!) and left behind after my placement. Broke. Not surprising really due to what it was subjected to. Got a new one out there very cheap. Didnt use Didnt use Useful in dark places Useful in torches and stuff Didnt use, got dumped somewhere Didnt use, got dumped somewhere Didnt use, got dumped somewhere Great for cutting things and stuff though not as much fun as the parang I bought out there. Didnt use, then it broke. Got dumped somewhere. Was using but then it broke. So I got a VCD player and used that instead to play music and watch pirate movies. Dumped first camera in HK after getting new one (Minolta 150) Used loads of film and the pic are fantastic! I cant recoment taking lots of pics more highly Very useful in Thailand Were useful but also broke (I went through 4 pairs of glasses out there!) Very usefull due to the number of times I broke my glasses. Useful for day trips and extra luggage- which I had a lot of by the end of the trip. Vaugely used for holding my cards, money and receipts but never really took it out. I kept my money in my pocket, and I never got robbed so that was ok. Personally I think having one of these things makes you look like a tourist and a sitting duck! Spoon went AWOL, cup was used a bit but not much, but I kept it cos it was a gift. Good for washing lines and stuff. Fantastic stuff, wish I took more. Used for fixing sinks and stuff. Didnt use, mainly cos me and James did know any games. Didnt use, gave to Siti to use in the jungle. Used a bit. |
| CLOTHES ------ Basically, buy them out there, its so much cheaper. Underwear ---------------- Trousers X2 -------------- Shorts X1 ---------------- T Shirts X5 -------------- Swimming things -------- Long sleeved things X1-- Shoes --------------------- Sandals ------------------- Fleece -------------------- Sarong ------------------- Hat ----------------------- Jacket ------------------- |
| Didnt use, but then I sure some of you naughier people will. Nope Used a shitload, Banana Boat is great. Went slushy, switch to Pantene. Very useful, but can get out there. Coils especially are loads cheaper. Good for fixing bags and stuff Dumped, it went minging. Lost, got a new hairbrush in Oz. Obviously. Extremely useful in hot weather. I like good oral higiene Nice for silky smooth legs, though I got them waxed in Bangkok. OW!!!! Didnt use, got dumped somewhere Great for staving off pealing skin. Good cos the weather really wreaks havoc on my skin. Useful for washing pants and things. Great but mine were confiscated at HK airport, I might have been about to hijack the plane with them or something! |