My Packing List

6/9/2015

My Packing List

1) Eddie Bower Rain Jacket

2) Camera with 2 extra batteries, 2 memory cards and a mini tripod

3) Tampons

4) Electric converter

5) Socks, underwear and swim suit

6) Facial wipes

7) Antibacterial wipes

8) Makeup, deodorant, contacts, toothbrush, toothpaste, compact mirror

9) Tops

10) Bottoms

11) Copies of important documents (passport, maps, hotel reservations)

12) Sanuks and Chacos

13) Sneakers

14) Insect repellant wipes

15) Liquids (shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, tinted face moisturizer, contact solution)

16) Journal, two books, notebook with notes on what I want to see and how to see it as well as emergency contact information, tucked inside pictures of family

17) Handbag (pen, sharpie, tide to go, lip balm, sunglasses, wallet, small flashlight, earplugs, eye mask, travel hairbrush, phone sized wet sack, pack of wet ones, headphones, passport, iPhone and charger)

18) Medical Kit (see previous blog entry)

Not pictured: trash bags, zip lock bags, rain cover for pack, cheap digital watch, necklace, rings, travel towel

What to wear?

6/9/2015

What to wear?

Cambodian women dress conservatively. From my research it is my understanding that most of the time their knees and shoulders are covered. However, Southeast Asia is very hot.  I expect the temperatures while I’m there to run from 75°F to 100°F, so covering up will be difficult. I decided to pack mostly separates in a neutral color palette. With these 13 pieces I can make 31 outfits!

Clothes

1 maxi skirt

1 pair dress shorts

1 pair athletic capris

1 pair linen pants

2 knee length skirts

1 knee length sleeveless dress/swim cover up (not pictured)

4 cotton short sleeve tees

1 athletic moisture wicking tee

2 tank tops

Shoes

1 pair sneakers

1 pair Chacos

1 pair sanuks

Other (not pictured)

1 bathing suit

7 pairs underwear

1 sports bra

2 regular bras

1 rain jacket
3 pairs socks

Update: In Cambodia they did require us to cover our shoulders and knees at work.  You had to cover shoulders and knees in temples in both Cambodia and Thailand.  However, the restrictions were lifted during free time. I didn't need to pack so many bottoms.  I ended up buying cotton shorts and pants at the market that were cooler and more comfortable than the pants I brought.  The underwear from REI were the easiest to wash in the sink and wear again.  If I were spending more time there I would definitely bring a few more pairs of those.  I wish I would have packed one more bra.  I have never been one to sweat in the chest area, but in Asia I sweat everywhere! I wore the Chacos almost everywhere.  I never wore my sneakers or socks. The green skirt from Gap pictured was my coolest most versatile piece.  It has big pockets that worked well for carrying my phone and wallet around town.

My Medical Kit

6/8/2015
My Medical Kit

I am excited to try new foods in Cambodia, but I have a weak stomach. I would consider myself an amateur foodie, but here in the US I know what I can’t eat; Or rather what I may choose to eat knowing I will regret it later.  (Sorry if this is TMI but I promised honesty.)  So one of my biggest concerns going to Cambodia is illness. Even people I have talked to who have strong stomachs admit that they had problems when traveling in Asia. In researching, I discovered that counterfeit drugs are big business in Asia. http://sea-globe.com/the-drugs-dont-work/ For this reason I am packing more medications than I normally would on a trip abroad. Below is a list of everything in my medical kit, although many of the ones I packed are the Target versions.

Medical Kit

Tums

Pepto-Bismol Tablets

Benadryl Tablets

Advil

Dramamine

Imodium A-D

Prescription Antibiotic (Cypro)

Nuun Electrolyte Drink Tablets

Neosporin + Pain Relief

Band-Aids of various sizes

Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes

Sunscreen

Bug repellant wipes

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin D3
2 personal prescriptions

Update: I used the pepto tablets for my stomach, gave away some Benadryl, used Advil for aches and pains, used the Neosporin on my coral injury, and took the anti diarrheal a few times. Gratefully, I never took the antibiotic.  I used two packs of antibacterial wipes.  The Nunn tablets were yummy and helped a lot when I felt dehydrated.