Traveling light by Adrian Cahill
Mon 24 Jun 2013
Hi Im Adrian,
I’ve travelled around a lot of the world. However I’ve been blessed with 2 legs and a good passport. Even if I had a ‘bad’ passport, I would never let that stop me from Travelling.
Travel broadens the mind. It increases your perspective so much. Not many of my friends travelled much. I had my first overseas trip at 24yrs age.
I stayed with some distant relatives places and in hotels. It was good. Not as good as I thought it would be though. Later I found this network called Couchsurfing.org then it all changed.
I started having backpackers stay at my house. I would meet them ever Wednesday night at a regular meeting place. This backpacking and Couchsurfing is so much fun. You get to meet so many cool, friendly, amazing, trustworthy, open people. Its really inspiring.
Soon after I had enough money saved. I actually invested my money after the 2008 Global Crisis started, so when the Market was recovering, I had enough money to travel long term. I have now entered a total of over 70 countries. 4-5years Travel outside Australia. Learnt basics in a few languages. I’ve met thousands of amazing people around the world. Its astonishing to me, the way that by simlpy being open, warm and welcoming to people, that they return the same qualitities and can become memorable friends.
My Backpack:
Type: Tactical 5.11 (Military Issue although you can find online)
Weight: 12-16kg (although I always manage to carry it onboard the plane)
Contents:
2 x Jeans, (wearing one, one in bag)
2 x casual shirts,
2 x Semi-formal, good enough to wear to presentations/speeches)
1 x Thermal Pants and Top
1 x Singlet
4x underwear, socks (easy to buy abroad, if I don’t get to wash, I will buy more)
1 x Running shorts, (I enjoy running in new places)
1 x Runners, suitable for almost everything.
1 x Lightweight towel.
Occasionally, I may pack or buy $30 Formal shoes if doing a lot of formal event.
Changes in Season:
If in summer, I would swap 1x Jeans for 2x Shorts.
Winter, Extra thermals which I change regularly and a Jacket that I rarely change.
Sleeping Gear
1 x Lightweight Blanket, (I have a special African Blanket)
(I tend to stay in Hostels/CouchSurfing & they normaly have extra blankets)
If in Iceland or really cold weather, than a larger appropriate sleeping bag.
Toiletries:
Absaloute Minimal. Every few days I find some shampoo/conditioner/shavingcream.
2 x Toothbrush. I carry 1 in my Jacket Pocket in winter/snow as I often sleep unexpectedly at different houses while my bag is left elsewhere or in a locker.
Earbuds, Must have!!
1 x spoon, (no knives, no need for fork, spoon does it all,
Ukon (gold packet) a special japanese medicine for preventing hangovers
1-3 x hotel soap, most places have soap, just in case.
1 x small sunscreen (sometimes mosquito repellant)
1 x Multi Vitamens. (often I’ll just put the required amount in a little plastic bag instead of the bottle)
1 x Smallest cologne you can find. (Its nice to smell good sometimes)
1 x Mach 3 Razor
1 x LipBalm, (sometimes carry)
Electrical Gear,
Asus 12Inch, (I have used smaller, although smaller is too hard to work)
Philips PicoPix PPX2330 (For doing Presentations or watching movies)
GoPro2 (Best video camera available I feel, still photos are great too, not so good at night)
Smart Phone, Android.
1-2 smallest travel adapters possible, bought from local markets.
1 x Mili Power Crystal. 2000MAh (It can charge my Smart Phone, Go-Pro and Projector)
Various SD/USB Memory devices.
Other:
2 x Notebooks, 1 small for phone no’s etc, the larger for learning languages, drawings, journals etc.
1 x Copy of Passport, Medical Insurance, my families contact details.
Spare cash cards. Very easy in some countries to start a local bank account. Using their cards and having money on it is a great back up and Fees are cheaper than using my Australian card.
Sim Cards, I always buy a local Sim Card on arriving in a new country, it makes it so much easier to contact locals. Then I post on Facebook, Weibo, etc, my new phone number. Sometimes I use an Australian Skype Dial in number, and then divert it to what ever SIM I am using.
I also put these little notes inside my camera, laptop, camera cases. Generally people want to return items to their owner, you just have to make it easy for them.
| Story by: Adrian Cahill Profile Expert traveler, Adrian has been in over 70 countries, stayed in mud huts and was once caught smuggling Vegemite in his trousers. Now he is on the speaking circuit and writes about his adventures. |
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