By Lauren Juliff
Student Travel Expert, about.com
If you're planning on heading to Southeast Asia for the first time, it can be hard to know what to pack. Unfortunately, the thousands of packing lists available online don't make it any easier and often offer conflicting advice -- should you take jeans or not? Do you need a laptop? What about a first aid kit? Should you bring a backpack or a suitcase? Do you need hiking boots?
Whether you're planning on lounging on the beaches of Southern Thailand, searching for orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, exploring the temples of Angkor or partying on a cruise around Halong Bay, we have the perfect recommendations for you.
[post_ads_2]
Choosing a Backpack
First
things first, suitcases are incredibly impractical for Southeast Asia
and you shouldn't even consider taking one. The streets are frequently
unpaved, full of potholes and many of the islands don't even have roads.
You'll
need to bring a backpack, and the smaller the better. You should aim
for a size between 40 and 60 liters and definitely no larger.
While it may seem that bigger is better,
remember that you'll need to carry it on your back, sometimes for an
hour or more, in an extremely hot and humid climate.
A small
backpack will therefore remove the temptation to overpack. There's no
need to worry about forgetting something important either -- Southeast
Asia is incredibly cheap so anything that you do forget can be easily
replaced at a fraction of the cost.
As for which type of backpack you need? A front-loading backpack
will save on packing time and is easier to keep organized, a lockable
backpack will help deter thieves, and it would be great if you could
find one that's waterproof -- especially if you're going to be
travelling in the rainy season.
Clothing
Not
many places in Southeast Asia ever get cold so you'll want the majority
of your backpack to contain light clothes, preferably made of cotton.
Try to choose neutral colors so that you can mix and match and maximize
your number of outfits. You don't need jeans (they're heavy, bulky and
take hours to dry) but pack some lightweight pants for any chilly
evenings or temple visits. If you're female, you'll need to pack a shawl to cover your shoulders as well.
[post_ads]For footwear, you can get by with just flip-flops or sandals most of the time but pack some light hiking shoes if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
Consider getting a microfiber towel as these can be huge space savers and are very quick to dry. A silk sleeping bag liner
won't be used much as guesthouses in Southeast Asia are typically clean
and free of bed bugs. However, it's still a good idea to carry one in
case you end up staying somewhere that's a little dirty.
Again,
clothes can be bought and replaced for a couple of dollars in Southeast
Asia so don't feel like you need to pack your entire closet for every
possible occasion.
Medicine
Most
medicines can be bought over the counter in Southeast Asia - including
antibiotics and birth control pills, so you don't need to worry about
bringing an enormous first aid kit. Pack some Tylenol, Imodium and
Dramamine (and a general purpose antibiotic if your doctor will give you
one) to start with and replace them as they run out. You can pick up
anything you need from any pharmacy you pass as you travel
Make
sure to pick up some anti-malarial tablets before you leave, as you'll
often need to start taking these before you arrive. You should also pack
some insect repellent and sunscreen for your first few days.
Technology
Laptop: Internet cafes
in Southeast Asia are in rapid decline so if you plan on keeping in
touch with friends and family, you'll need to bring a laptop. Look for
one that's as small and light as you can get away with, especially if
you'll only be using it for email, Facebook and to watch movies. Try to
get a laptop that has good battery life as well as an SD card slot for
uploading photos. We recommend choosing either the MacBook Air or the Acer Aspire One.
Camera: Consider using a Micro 4/3 camera, such as the Olympus PEN E-PL5, which gives you SLR quality photos from a camera the size of a compact.
[post_ads_2]
E-reader: If you're planning on doing a lot of reading on the road then a Kindle Keyboard 3G
is a worthwhile investment. The e-ink screen eliminates glare, so
you'll easily be able to read a book while sunbathing on the beaches in
Cambodia. If you get the Keyboard 3G version, you'll be able to get
online for free almost anywhere in the world!
Phone: If you're going to be travelling in Southeast Asia, we'd suggest getting an unlocked phone and picking up local prepaid SIM cards as you travel. These SIM cards
are the cheapest option for calls, texts and cellular data and are
available in most grocery stores. If you don't have an unlocked phone,
then opt for making phone calls using Skype over Wi-Fi.
