<![CDATA[ALUSOARE - Packing tips]]>Sat, 28 Dec 2024 07:46:46 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[What cosmetics you actually need with you?]]>Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/what-cosmetics-you-actually-need-with-you
            
It is always hard to leave your favorite cosmetics at home, but before putting them in the 1L plastic bag, ask yourself: do I really need that night cream?
I slowly managed to reduce cosmetics so I am now perfectly fine with what I travel. I can of course travel with less, but today I want to list the ones that I prefer to have a long 
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ok brands are irrelevant and once all my samples finish I actually have goToob for shower gel and shampoo to refill (this until I finish the bottles I currently have as I am switching to soap for less plastic). As an enumeration on what I take a long:
  • Deodorant, tooth paste, shampoo, sun cream, face cleaner, hand/body cream, face cream, lip balm. 
  • For girls: intimate gel, foundation, mini cuticle oil (only if your holiday is longer that 1 week).
  • Optional: perfume, conditioner  
I know, I know why do you need foundation on holiday but hey, it's good to be prepared. So in order to avoid getting all the heavy glass foundation bottle I thought it reduces a bit of weight if getting the foundation into something smaller and non spill-able. 
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Now lets see how all fit in 1L plastic bag. 
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packing tips, cosmetics
some other things I get along which are not cosmetics but are part of the extended cosmetics category. 
  • mini travel tooth brush 
  • mini razor 
  • mini container for tampons  
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and all this get into a small make-up pouch as I hate plastic bags :)
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now you know! :)
this is not a commercial and not paid for by any of the mentioned companies who own the products, the mentioned products are just products I discovered and turned out to be extremely useful during my trips â€‹
]]><![CDATA[Think of the Environment when you travel]]>Tue, 25 Jun 2019 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/think-of-the-environment-when-you-travel
The topic about waste, plastic and the harms they do to the nature we depend on, are one of the most current discussion topics.  I put below some things I am trying to do while I travel but not only. I may not be perfect, far from that, but I am giving it a try and so if each of us try it, the results will grow bigger and bigger. Together we can make a difference. Hopefully some or all of the things i thought about are also for you. 
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Here some things to consider that could make you part of helping out the environment. 

1. Take your garbage with you 

You would think that we live in a world where you would think people got educated by now, well, unfortunately they didn't!
​I am still shocked every time I see garbage on the side of the road, on the beach or anywhere we go. Remember to use the garbage bins provided to throw away your litter, if there are non, take it with you and dispose it once you found a garbage bin. Try to separate your garbage even when not at home. Several cities now, provide separate garbage bins for plastic/paper/glass so when possible make sure to separate.

2. Use a reusable water bottle 

Is it the water bottle or basically anything, make sure you have at home enough containers to reduce unnecessary use of one time use plastic. 
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3. Bee-Wax can help 

This is something super cool I recently found out about. There are this bee-wax covered cotton cloths that can be used instead of aluminum foil or plastic foil. You can wrap almost anything in them (I think meat and fish can not). They get flexible at the touch of your hand. 
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4. Say no to your plastic cup, straw, shopping bag

Get yourself a fold-able & heat-resistant cup, metal or bamboo straw and cotton shopping bags which you can use over and over again. This way you can avoid all the use of singe use plastic.  
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French Press vs Capsules 

How do you like your coffee? Is it in one of this capsules or just filter coffee? Well when you chose your coffee try to also think of the environment. I know some companies are providing some bags and you can actually recycle the capsules, but are you doing it? Have you thought of French Press of Filter coffee instead? This is just a simple way of reducing some waste especially if you drink a lot of coffee every day :). There are French Presses that keep your coffee warm for a long time so perfect for the road. 

5. Resealable plastic bags 

Being them IKEA or any other brand, you tend to throw this fast away after use. But what if you wash them and re-use them? This way you will save money for buying new bags and help the nature consuming less plastic. 
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6. Recycle & Reuse  

You want to buy new things as the season changed, the trend changed etc? Why not re-purpose what you already have. Pink is not in this years decoration trend? Why not use spray paint/acrylic paint to change it to gold? And what if from your IKEA Lack tables that got a bit used you build a shelf or some storage? Thought about not buying a cat tree for your cat but instead arrange your furniture in such a way that your cat can climb and see the world from the top? You need a table for your TV in your rented apartment? But did you think that maybe that unused chair in the corner of your house can be perfectly used as a TV stand. You  want new clothes but your wardrobe is full? Why not sell/donate your old clothes and for each item you find a new house/new use you can buy a new one instead. The idea is to buy less, and I am not the one encouraging you to get to minimalism, this seems almost impossible to me, but before throwing away something (anything) think if it can be re-used in any way that can solve another need you have. 

7. Separate your garbage 

I know i mentioned it a bit at the beginning of the post, but will highlight here again.
If you are from one of the countries that this is not being done, then lets say you might have an excuse, but in Europe at least, more and more countries get into a well defined and more efficient sorting system. Make sure you familiarize yourself with it and try to sort as much as possible. 

8. Rethink the way you travel every day & on holiday 

Use the bike/walk if you live in small cities, get public transport if you live in big cities or travelling from one city to another, consider the train when possible. Make sure that on top of the time and money you also consider the environment on your next trip. This of course can't not be possible for everyone, but when you have the option go for the most environment friendly option that works for you.  
]]><![CDATA[Packing Iceland in June]]>Tue, 14 May 2019 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/packing-iceland-in-june

All seasons in one day

Iceland is magical and is striking to see how fast the landscapes changes from one stop to the other. consequently the weather changes accordingly so make sure to pack from sun-cream to rain-pants. 

1. Rainwear

Not only if it rains outside, but also for visiting any of the waterfalls, rain proof jacket and pants would be more than super useful. If possible I also strongly advise on waterproof shoes.
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2. Layers

as anywhere you go with so many changes in the weather, layers are important so make sure you can take off till T-shirt level at all times. 

3. Swimming suite  

Iceland offers a lot of bathing opportunities so don't leave at home your swimming suite 
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4. Flip Flops 

for some reason so many people forget to take their flip flops along in trips, well, that's why I specifically add them to the list, pack them as you will need them

5. Suncream

believe it or not, it's better to have it than to get burned :P ... just the small hand carry one should be enough

6. Big enough Memory Card 

you will take picture, and you will actually take a lot of picture. I guess if you could you would take constant pictures that's how pretty everything is. So make sure you have at least 32GB with you to be able to take pictures of everything you like. . 

7. Extra charging ports

it of course depends a lot where you stay but it happened to us in a lot of places not to have more than 2 power sockets, so maybe get a plug that has 2 USBs ports or a travel extension cords 

8. Extra battery 

if you are a phone addict, don't forget to pack an extra battery with you, you will most probably use it at some point 

9. Sleeping Mask? 

I read a lot that it is highly recommended to get an eye mask with you as there is never night, I had one but did not use it, it seems that you do have that awesome invention called curtains everywhere in Iceland :)

10. Get a fleece or something warm along, you'll need it (or buy locally)

as I was saying weather can get quite chilly and the weird part is when you car is showing outside temperature of 10 degrees and then you go out and you feel like -2 :)

11. Leggings

I felt the best in leggings in the trip, I have a pair from H&M that did a brilliant job, so I do encourage you to pack at least one pair of leggings. 
]]><![CDATA[What shoes do I travel with?]]>Tue, 11 Dec 2018 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/what-shoes-do-i-travel-with
            
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Hard to decide which pare to leave at home? Just click on read more to see what are my favorite shoes to travel and when I need to use them. 

TO HIKE

I own a pair of Columbia Conspiracy III Outdry sneakers. I absolutely love them. Very comfortable to wear for long time. They offer a lot of balance because of their design and they are waterproof (tested!) I bought them last year and used them on several trips were hiking was involved. 

An alternative from what I tried were the Nike trail shoes. I have one of the early models which are not waterproof but still very comfortable on long hikes. as a plus point for these ones would be the way the sole is made it helps not to slide when going down on roads with small stones. 
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To WALK

in most of the cases I will have my TOMS sneakers along. Except for winter they perfect for any trip and they are sooooo colorful. Not waterproof so good to consider that depending on the destination.  Here an idea on how to waterproof them (I still need to try it out)
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To BEACH ;)

well...and not only for the beach...I don't go anywhere without my Havaianas. 
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TO PARTY

I'll go for flat sandals (no brand, bought them in one of the boutique shops 4 years ago in Amsterdam but also saw them in Madrid, you can see that they are used as they are so comfortable), most of the year and with wedges from TOMS during the rest of the year. 
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your feet deserve the best when travelling so make sure you take good care of them ;)
as all my posts (except the ones under Guest posts), this is not a commercial and not paid for by any of the mentioned companies who produce the products, the mentioned products are just products I discovered and turned out to be extreme useful during my trips
]]><![CDATA[Downsizing: Mini versions do a good work as well]]>Mon, 11 Jul 2016 12:58:05 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/downsizing-mini-versions-do-a-good-work-as-well
We are small, but we have the Power!
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This is a serious post. Before you start start putting things in your luggage think twice do I really need that with me? How many times did you carry things along that you did not even touch in your trip? Anyway, assuming that you can't leave you gadgets at home did you think about downsizing?

Here all the electronics I potentially carry along depending on the destination. (+ my camera, there's no downsizing there I already have a Hybrid one so good smaller not possible)

Hairdryer 

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 In most of the cases I don't get it along, but for instance now for my next trip to Iceland I will as Icelandic people don't seem to use it. 
I have Braun Satin Hair 3 HD 350 Style&Go as at the moment I bought it, it was the strongest one available on the market. 

Details: 
1600 Watt
431 g (vs my regular one 1 kg)
Price: Amazon de

Hair Straightener 

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I only need one if I know that we go out partying, for sure not for hiking :). 
I chose Diva Minis after investigating a bit the market. 

Details: 
210°C
381 g (vs. my regular one 721 g)
Price: Amazon de

Tablet/Laptop 

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It's rare that I need something bigger than my phone to travel. Most of the things are available from it but when I do I get my mini tablet (mini iPad) along. Would you need more just an ultralight laptop will do. 

Details:
308g
22x15x10 cm

Loudspeakers 

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this little guy is very powerful for his size and the batter lasts a lot.  I would not carry one of the big Bluetooth speakers just to listen to some music when on a empty island in Panama, if you know what I mean.

Details: 
​9,2 x 8 x 8 cm ;
100 g
​Price: Amazon de

MP3 player

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one of the smallest and most effective ones I guess it's the mini iPod. but anything at this size would do.
​Details:
3 x 3,5 x 0,8 cm ;
14 g
Do you have any products that you want to get along but too big? you don't manage to find a good enough mini version? Send me a message, I'll gladly assist with google research.

I am not paid for promoting any of the above mentioned products they are all chosen based on personal experience and own market research.  
]]><![CDATA[Packing list for Cuba]]>Thu, 16 Jun 2016 06:55:21 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/packing-list-for-cuba
We traveled in Cuba in March so the weather was basically ideal with some small exceptions when it was too hot. Considering this, travelling light is easier than in colder destinations. 
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I travel with a up to 10kg backpack in most of my trips so that I can get it as a carry on. This saves you a lot of time both at the check in and once you arrive at your destination and also avoids, especially when having connecting flights, to have your luggage sent somewhere else. And then again, why would you need more than 10kg of luggage anyway? 
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If you did not already know it, I travel with the Osprey Fairpoint 55L (S) Backpack. The backpack consist out of 2 parts. One 15L daypack which you can carry attached with a zipper to the main backpack or in front and the main Backpack with is 37-40L (depending if S or M size). In the picture I have the small backpack inside the big one. 

What do I take with me

Below you can find a list per category on what I get along. 
All together was somewhere under 10kg. I packed clothes in eBags, cosmetics I carry along in an IKEA pouch while electronics I try the best to keep in a waterproof bag. btw I used my scarf as a beach towel as well. 
If I missed anything and have a question about packing don't hesitate to write me. 
]]><![CDATA[18 MUST HAVE travel gear & gadgets]]>Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:38:29 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/18-must-have-travel-gear-gadgetsDuring my trips I realized that there some gadgets without which  you should never leave home. I am not a brand fan but I have strong reasons why I added the brand itself to some of the items, they do make a difference (I tried others before).

1. Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Pack

It does not have an official carry on size, but if not overloaded you can pas with it at airlines that have hand-luggage + accessory. I had no issues on Iberia and Brussels Airlines. I have the S size. The way the back pack is made is very convenient (opening as a normal luggage) and the small backpack can be used on any trip as a perfect day-pack.  

2. eBags / Eagle Creek Pack it

It saves so much space in your luggage and on top of it you can keep things organized. I have the slim eBags and they are amazing. I take them on any backpacking trip along. You have a lot of sizes and shapes so I am sure you will find the perfect match 

3. GoToob ​

I was searching for a while for some refillable bottles for my trips, but I always had the issue that you could not actually get all the content  out from the rigid ones. the GooToob are simply amazing, easy to refill and squeezable till the last drop. They are not cheap but I like them a lot so they are worth every penny. 
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4. Beats Headphones 

Main reason why I like them is they never get messed up, just put them wherever & however you want and they will never get coiled, that's awesome. there are some other reasons why I like them but this is for sure the most important one when it come to this type of headphones 
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5. Mp3 Player

The 10h flight passes so much faster when you have music with you. The smaller the better. It fits anywhere ;)
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​6. Ikea resealable bags

The 1L ones are perfect for hand-luggage cosmetics, I use the bigger one sometimes for more flexibility but it depends a bit on the airport, UK is very strict with the size based on previous experience.  Anyway, also good for keeping your documents dry or camera etc. I prefer them to the dry sac if travelling in non constant rainy destinations 

7. Contigo Refillable Water Bottle 

Water bottles are amazing. First you stay hydrated and this is a big thing and second you get free water in a lot of airports. The contigo ones are super easy to use, they don't spill and the water is kept fresh. I love them!
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8. Compeed Blister Stick 

Even with the perfect shoes after walking a lot of km sometimes in the worst moment you get a blister. You for sure don't want to get that during a trail or a hike. Compeed stick saved me in several occasions so I always take it with me.. Now I also got the plasters, but I hope I won't actually need them ;)
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9. Extra battery 

I always get an extra battery to charge my devices along. I have actually 2 at home one that charges also from the sun and a normal one. I only carry one along depending on the destination :) 

10. Ear plugs

Here I don't really have a favorite one, but I usually get mine at HEMA (NL shop, Dutch people will understand :) ) as they are cheap and very good 
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11. mini speakers

get the music everywhere you go, it will always be a lot of fun: in the evenings, on the beach or during lunch....and they almost don't take away any space from you. 
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12. Photo gear

oh well, ok so now it is up to what you prefer and how good you are at it, but although they say that a lot of experiences will be kept in your memory and no camera will manage to give back the intensity that you felt when you saw or lived a particular thing, still photos are a a wonderful trip through your travels so never leave your photo gear at home. I travel with my Sony Alpha 5100 and my Sony Xperia Z1 compact at the moment. Whenever needed I borrow a GO PRO from a friend 

13. Columbia Conspiracy™ III Outdry

I had some Nike trail shoes, not bad, was very nice especially for down hill hiking as you would not slip on the small stones, but I wanted something waterproof and I found the Columbia ones, I think these are the most comfortable sneakers I had and your feet really stay dry. 

14. Breathable ultralight RainJacket

Any will do, as long as it keeps you dry and you don't die of heat, don't leave it at home, you never know when you will need it.
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15. Sunglasses

Any season you need to have the sunglasses with you, so make sure next time you pack your things to take them along 
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16. Power adapter 

get one that has multiple USBs, you have a lot of things to charge but there are never enough fuses in a room ;)
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17. Playing Cards

if you travel with a group, cards will be always an easy to carry along game for the evenings. 
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18. Havaianas

don't judge, regular flip-flops are also fine, but I do have a special bond with my Havaianas :)
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Plus some extras I never leave home no matter the destination

My swimming suit, sun cream, a cap & a neck pillow. Consider them next time you pack :)

Happy packing & travelling
Please note that the post is my personal opinion and I was not asked to write about any of the products listed. 
#ILoveToTravel
]]><![CDATA[2 weeks packing list -- Central America]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:51:48 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/2-weeks-packing-list-central-americaIn case you did not read my post about what to pack for Peru & Bolivia, before the list you should know that I am travelling with an Osprey Fairpoint 55 S, keeping it at under 10kg. When not overloaded you will be able to travel with it as hand-luggage (Iberia, BrusselsAirlines, Copa - check)
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Btw...I will be travelling in November. might be an important note as it is still in the rainyseason 


1. SHOES:
  • waterproof trekking sneakers  
  • trekking sandels 
  • flip flops 
2. UPPERS:
  • I took a ultrlight Fleece-jacket but only becasue I was travelling from Belgium
  • Rain & Wind Jacket
  • T-shirts: 3
  • Tanks: 3-4
3. BOTTOMS
  • (blue) Jeans (as travelling from Belgium)
  • trekking pants 
  • capris leggings 1 pair
  • short pants 1 pair
4. UNDERWEAR
  • 8-10 pairs of underwear 
  • 8-10 pairs of socks
  • 1 bra
  • 1 pajama (short pants, tank top)
  • 2 bathing suits 
5. COSMETICS
  • tooth paste & brush
  • shampoo & conditioner 
  • sun cream & lip balm (Vaseline)
  • shower gel
  • face cream (opt body cream)
  • deodorant 
  • face cleaner
  • foundation + mascara (optional)
  • razor 
  • anti-bacterial wash gel 
  • manicuire set
  • hair brush
6. MEDICINE
  • ibuprofen/paracetamol (+aspirin)
  • antibiotics
  • imodium
  • mosquitos repellent 
  • band aid (anti blisters)
7. ELECTRONICS
  • smartphone + charger 
  • extra battery (solar)
  • head lantern (optional, though advisable)
  • mp3 player + charger
  • gopro 
8. MISCELLANEOUS
  • passport + copy 
  • backpack rain cover 
  • water bottle
  • luggage lock 
  • sun glasses
  • ear plugs  
  • scarf 
  • ultralight towel 
  • sun cap 
  • eBags (for organization)
  • Notebook + pen 
  • sleeping liner
  • dry sacks
It is ultra important to take into account that the weather is very wet, so you might need some extra bags to keep you things dry if you will be walking under rain


Organization Tips:
Clothes: eBags or Eagle Creek bags will help
Toiletries: Eagle Creek or Humangear have very nice containers 


​
]]><![CDATA[2 weeks packing list -- Peru & Bolivia]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2015 14:53:05 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/packing-tips/2-weeks-packing-list-peru-boliviaI did quite some research on what you would need to pack for a 2 weeks trip in a country with such different weather conditions like Peru and Bolivia and after reading several blogs and travel guides, this is what I ended up with taking with me. 
​
Choosing the BACKPACK:
As I did not have a backpack I started researching what to buy. Most of the backpackers recommend the front opening backpacks as it is more convenient to search what you need in the backpack without taking everything out (versus the open top ones).There are a lot of reviews you can find on Google about the different types with advantages and disadvantages for different types, I won't list any links here on that as it depends more on everybody's priorities. 
I decided for Osprey Farpoint 55 simply because it is a 2 in 1 backpack. It's a 55L backpack having actually two parts. A 40L (37L for S version) + 15L Daypack. I did manage to get it as hand luggage on Iberia, but it is a fine line, make sure you don't over load it and that you wear it as 2 separate pieces. No guarantees though especially if flight is full. 

I bought mine from Amazon.de for aprox 153 Euro (February 2015)
​
​What to Pack:
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1. SHOES:
  • trekking sneakers (I had a Nike pair)
  • some Converse style of shoes for lighter walking days
  • flip flops (I had a pair of Havaianas)
2. UPPERS:
  • Fleece-jacket
  • Rain & Wind Jacket
  • 2 dry fit hyperwarm hoodies (if possible turtleneck style)
  • T-shirts: 4-5
  • Tanks: 3
3. BOTTOMS
  • (blue) Jeans
  • trekking pants 
  • leggings 2 pairs
  • short pants
4. UNDERWEAR
  • 8-10 pairs of underwear 
  • 8-10 pairs of socks
  • 1 bra
  • 1 sports bra
  • 1 pajama (short sleeves + evtl a long sleeve shirt you can use to sleep)
5. COSMETICS
  • tooth paste & brush
  • shampoo & conditioner 
  • sun cream & lip balm (Vaseline)
  • shower gel
  • face cream (opt body cream)
  • deodorant 
  • face cleaner
  • foundation + mascara (optional)
  • razor 
  • anti-bacterial wash gel 
  • manicuire set
  • hair brush
6. MEDICINE
  • anti-headache pills 
  • ibuprofen/paracetamol (+aspirin)
  • antibiotics
  • imodium
  • mosquitos repellent 
  • band aid (anti blisters)
7. ELECTRONICS
  • smartphone + charger 
  • extra battery 
  • head lantern (optional, though advisable)
  • photo camera (DSLR type)
  • hair dryer + straightener
  • mp3 player + charger
8. MISCELLANEOUS
  • passport + copy 
  • backpack rain cover 
  • water bottle
  • luggage lock 
  • sun glasses
  • ear plugs 
  • gloves 
  • scarf 
  • ultralight towel 
  • sun cap 
  • eBags (for organization)
  • Notebook + pen 
  • sleeping bag
  • dry sacks


Organization: tips & tricks 
Yes there are and LOADS.
apparently the most popular ones are the Slim eBags Packing Cubes. I got them from Amazon UK. You also have the ones from Eagel Creek Pack It Cubes. I guess it depends a lot on the preferences. :)


Going Further, you have a lot of other things to get you luggage small:
  • compression sacs also from Eagle Creek for example
  • light and ultra light cloths, towels, seeping bags, basically everything can have less weight
  • dry sacks are also cool (got mine from Karrimor - size S = 10L for 7 Euro), keeps your things dry (in case you are caught in a strong rain or you could use them to keep your wet things in not to get the rest of your things wet).

​
Overall weight is very important during such trips, thus investing into the low weight sector will save you quite some back problems for long travels. for my first packing I am quite happy with my 11 kg (all together) 
​
Here also a link to an Infographics for a easier overview and possible use as a checklist.

After trip comments 
  • The BackPack - I could take it on board on the return flight, both LIM-MAD & MAD - BRU. In Madrid they said next time to load it less. Main part was under 10kg (before duty free load) and the daypack only had my wallet, water bottle and some other documents. 
  • Did not use: head lantern although would have been useful a couple of times (Canon trekking, walking back Isla del Sol), ear plugs to tired to care of the noise 
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