Don’t keep your daily allowance in the belt, as you will be in and out of the belt all of the time and therefore advertising to all and sundry that you have large amounts of money on you. Make sure that the belt is secure, this is one item you don’t want dropping off in a busy area.

You can get waterproof document and money holders as well which come in very handy indeed when you are off swimming or canoeing.

A First aid kit is another must on the packing list and you can buy ready made first aid kits from many companies and travel clinics, and they contain everything you will need for most eventualities encountered on the road. You can make your own kit up, and although can easily be done, make sure you don’t leave anything out and that it’s contained in a secure, waterproof, and durable container. See through boxes or pouches are recommended as immigration officials might want to have a look and will save the hassle of opening everything out and searching through it.

These items can’t strictly be labelled as essential, but will make your trip a lot more comfortable:

• Alarm Clock
• Batteries – Spares for all of your Electronic items.
• Glasses/Lenses – If you have prescription glasses or contact lenses, bring it along with you. If you can bring spares as well as the correct cleansing gear. Sunglasses will also be useful, with all that glorious sunshine.
• Padlocks – You can never have enough of these, and bring a chain as well. Security is important after all.
• Pocket Knife – Beware of the rules of carrying knives onboard public transport like planes. If in doubt ask the airline! After the 9/11 tragedy airlines have become a lot more stringent.
• Torch – To make life easier when negotiating the dangers of a dark dorm room.
• Towels and Toiletries – Though most toiletries are available, take your favourites and any other specialty products with you from home. Towels can get smelly very quickly so a quick drying travel towel should be considered. These are light weight, compact and dry a hell of a lot quicker than the normal heavier variety.
• Books – This helps wile away the time when travelling on trains or waiting for a flight. Any travel books or background books on the region will be a welcome accompaniment.
•  Earplugs – Some dorms and guest houses can be very noisy.
• Playing cards – Helps to pass the time, and meet fellow travellers.
• Pillow – An inflatable pillow can make a good night sleep easier to come by.
• Radio/Personal stereo – Some people don’t like to take these as they feel you will miss out on the ambiance of the region, but how much ambiance can a noisy hostel room have when you are trying to sleep. Try not to take anything too expensive.

• Plug – Needed for the baths and sinks, as they are not often provided.
• House wife kit – A sewing kit, washing line and pegs.
• Sleeping bag – This is only really if you are camping a lot, in most cases a Bed sheet is better if you are staying in hostels.
• Water bottle
• Pens, Pencils and a travel journal
• Camping Equipment – Tent and roll mat, if you are planning to camp. Only take this if you plan to do this a lot. It’s heavy and bulky to carry and if you are just taking the odd camping trip there are some places in the major cities you can hire the equipment.

What type of clothing and footwear you take with you, is obviously down to preferences, but make sure you still look into the different products out there.

There are some very good companies out there dealing in specialist travel clothing. These are lightweight and airy options and although they do cost that little bit more, can again make life a lot more comfortable.

While light colours will obviously keep you cooler they will get grubby very quickly. Long sleeved shirts may seem out of place for a trip to a tropical region, but they do keep those pesky mosquitoes away from the skin.

Synthetic clothing is a good quick drying option, but does not breathe well and therefore fungal and yeast infections are more likely.

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