The "Remember To" List

Before taking off on long term travel, it's important to tie up any loose ends you might have.  This is my "Remember To" List I kept going in my iphone during the last few weeks of my trip. 

*forward mail

*make copies of EVERYTHING (leave them with someone you trust)

*change address on student loans

*register with the state department

*back up computer(s)

*set up a blog

*address book

*Moo Cards (I love business cards, so this is a fun way to keep that going.  You can upload your own pictures so the card is suddenly a conversation piece.  I'm loving them!)

*taxes

*pay lawyer

*ebay

*renew NZ visa

*pick one person to go through your mail/notify you of anything going on – leave a few checks, etc.

*make a detailed list of your stops, etc. for parents or others

*update ipod

*update nook

*pack earplugs and an eyemask for the plane

*remember to pack a scarf and chap stick!

*extra passport photos

*research the weather

*medical insurance

*visa requirements

*consign clothes

*donate clothes

*vaccinations 

(Vaccination Resources: The Adventure Doc’s vaccination page, CDC’s Malaria Map, CDC Traveler’s Heath recommendations, World Health Organization’s Country-specific Reports).

Keeping this list on hand no matter what I was doing was really helpful.  Your brain goes a million miles a minute when you're preparing to leave, so it's important that you have a pen and pencil handy when the thoughts come.  By the grace of the dear lord I managed to get all of this done and am now footloose and fancy free over here in Turkey!  I can't wait to share my thoughts with you on Istanbul, but I think I need to let the city soak in a few more days to have a more accurate perspective.  First impressions though, what an interesting layer cake.  It's ancient but modern, conservative but progressive...the city in itself is an oxymoron.  Today's explorations include a ferry across The Bosphorus to the Asian side as well as The Blue Mosque, The Grand Bazaar, and the Basilica Cistern!

Here are a few shots taken yesterday that will inspire you to plan that big trip!  Enjoy :)

What's In My Bag? A Packing List For Your Extended Travels

Trying to get organized enough to pack life up and head out for an extended period of time is a challenge.  When I look at this word, challenge, I sort of think soul crushing is a better term to describe what the process feels like.  I arrived back in the US from New Zealand on December 7, 2012, and I head out on this trip to Turkey, Jordan, France, Italy, and Greece on February 25^th.  Preparing for this adventure has taken every single bit of the time in between December and February, and I’m so glad that I had the time off to get myself in order. Of course, I had a few hiccups (That Time I Got a Misdemeanor While Traveling) in between now and then, but I have somehow escaped the lasso that almost kept me from going on this particular round of traipsing. 

There are a number of blogs and websites that have been invaluable in this preparation.

Legal Nomads, Answering Oliver, Yallah Bye, REI, and finally, Sierra Trading Post.  I probably read 100 travel blog entries on trip preparation, but they were so incredibly different based on trip length, location, purpose, etc. that my head sometimes started to spin.  After much thought, I finally have my list pinned down.

Casey's Packing List

Packing Aids

Osprey Farpoint 70 pack with detachable daypack (my second Osprey pack - and so far my absolute favorite.  This pack is AMAZING.  It is both a pack and a travel bag and has a zip up for all the straps in case I need to check it.  Since I need to hike and check into airports with this baby, it's absolutely perfect for me.  The front compartment is actually a zip off backpack as well.  Osprey thinks of everything.)

Outdoor Research Ultralight Compression Sack – 25L (pictured)

Outdoor Research Ultralight Compression Sack - 8L (pictured)

Eagle Creek Packing Cube (pictured)

Large Hefty plastic zipper bags

Electronics
15" Macbook laptop and charger

Laptop case

Headphones

Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive with USB cable

Canon Rebel T2i  battery charger

Memory Cards (2) (not pictured)

Nook and Nook charger (thanks mom!!)

Ipod

Iphone 4s and charger

Meds and Such

Ciprofloxacin (for diarrhea)

Benadryl

Benadryl Anti-Itch Cream

Dramamine (motion sickness)

Ortho tri cyclen

Neutrogena Suncreen 60+

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen 30

Band-aids

Bug spray with 100% DEET

Moleskin

Kleenex

Multivitamin

Folic Acid

Tide

Toiletries

Shampoo

Conditioner

Dove Bar Soap

Face lotion with sunscreen

Anti-Acne Treatment

Hairspray

Comb

Headbands (2)

Bobby pins

Hair ties

Makeup

Mini loofah

Wet wipes

Body lotion

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Vaseline

Diva Cup (Courtesy of Nadine and Anna)

Face scrub

Tweezers

Deodorant

Razor

Cotton Balls

Bun Ring (LOVE this thing)

Misc.

Ducks Unlimited Hat

Moo Cards

Kavu Crossbody Day Bag

Raincover (for pack)

Large Ziplocks

Petzl Headlamp

Mini flashlight

Swiss Army Knife

Ear Warmers

Quick Dry Towel

Clothing

In an 8L Outdoor Research Compression Sack:

ExOfficio underwear (1)

Panties (4)

Sports bras (2)

Regular bra (2)

SmartWool Socks (3 pairs)

Bikinis (2)

Work Gloves

Winter Gloves

Sleep shorts

Nike running shorts

In a 25 L Outdoor Research Compression Sack:

Royal Robbins Hiking Pants

Lululemon Groove pants

Skargorn Jeans, Madewell

Alice and Olivia Olive Shorts

Wet Seal Pink Scalloped Shorts

Old Navy Convertible Maxi Dress

Old Navy Fold Over Jersey Skirt

Floral Summer Dress (Ended up taking this out)

Lululemon Blue and White Striped Tank

Lululemon Hot Pink Tank

Banana Republic Black Button Up Silk Blouse

St. Croix Striped Blouse

Black cami

Cotton On Striped Long Sleeve

Glassons Merino Long Sleeve

Merrell Ophelia Shirt

Cotton On Chambray Long Sleeve

Cashmere Cardigan

Blazer

Marmot Raincoat

Northface Denali

Northface Vest (Ended up taking this out of my bag for size)

Running shoes

Merrell Hiking Boots

Havaianas Flip Flops

Black Cap Toe Flats

And of course, gotta have a tiny bit of bling for the road.

Documents

Extra passport photos

Jordan Dinars

US Dollars

Passport

Credit/Debit Card

Print Outs / Reservations and Itineraries

Total weight of pack - 11.2 kg = 24.69 pounds

*Update

I've just arrived in Istanbul, and let me tell you - 25 pounds doesn't feel so light after you have to take public transportation standing up for 45 minutes post 24 hours of travel.  My pack has a feature where you can zip a small backpack off of the main pack.  In this pack are all of my electronics - weight that is not calculated above in my main bag.  I also have a small sleeping bag with me for the desert in Jordan.  

What are your packing strategies?  Can you think of anything I missed?  Alex is carrying my adapter and a few meds, but aside from that I think it's golden!!