2 much or 2 little?

beachchik4ever · Oct 18th, 2003, 20:59

Every other day, I'm either adding something to this suitcase or taking away. (mostly adding) I like choices but I do not want to take too much. For a 2 1/2 week stay I have 3 pr. jeans, 1 pr. capris, 1 pr shorts, 3 long dresses, 3 sundresses, one dressy-dress, 10 short-sleeve tops, 2 long-sleeve, 2 sweaters, and I don't know if I should bring a sweatshirt--needed in November? Any tips?

oldhippie · Oct 18th, 2003, 21:09

You might want to consider carrying a backpack instead of a suitcase. Packs are a lot more convenient.

Bill

steven_ber · Oct 18th, 2003, 21:14

I take 2 pairs of bottoms, 1 pair of 'sandals' 4 underpants, and 4 t-shirts, every day I wash (or get the Dhobi wallah to wash) half of it, anything gets lost or damaged and I replace it in India.

You probably think by this that I'm a 'backpacker', I'm not, it's just a hot country and I don't go on holiday to carry heavy bags.

Everybody you ask will tell you that they took too much to India.

It can be highly amusing watching 'backpackers' in the Rajasthan mid-day sun carrying a very large backpack, with an attachment on the top of it and another heavy bag in their hand, whilst complaining that India is 'hard work'

beachchik4ever · Oct 18th, 2003, 21:15

laughing......this a HUGE suitcase, I can't imagine getting this stuff into a backpack plus what I didn't list. I will take some out for the carryon bag in case they lose my luggage. Do you mean those big duffel bag types? I think my sister has one, I should check it out and see what fits the most. Thanks !

beachchik4ever · Oct 18th, 2003, 21:25

Steven my goodness you do pack lite !!! I think you are right, the thing that concerns me is that every couple of days I am travelling somewhere else so getting laundry done--I don't know? I am going to try and trim this down more. I would also like to buy some clothes there if I see some good deals.

Tomi · Oct 18th, 2003, 21:28

Hey beach, on the suitcase vs backpack:
A suitcase can be easier to store (like in a bus or train) and easier to take things out of, and it makes you less conspicuous, but...
a good argument in favor of a backpack is that the ground is often uneven and filthy in India, so if you think you will be able to roll your suitcase everywhere, think again.

vistet · Oct 18th, 2003, 22:59

Quote:

Originally posted by beachchik4ever
I can't imagine getting this stuff into a backpack ...

I manage fine with a 65 litre backpack ... where most of the space is occupied by three items : the sleeping bag , a kerosene storm stove and the tent. Without the trekking gear I might make it with just the carry on.

Packing lists (like bookshelves) have a sneaky way of silently explode and take over your life. I am trying to learn myself that whenever something new comes in , something old has to go.

wonderwomanusa · Oct 19th, 2003, 00:12

Quote:

For a 2 1/2 week stay I have 3 pr. jeans, 1 pr. capris, 1 pr shorts, 3 long dresses, 3 sundresses, one dressy-dress, 10 short-sleeve tops, 2 long-sleeve, 2 sweaters, and I don't know if I should bring a sweatshirt--needed in November? Any tips?

Dhobi (laundry) service is overnight in most places, and as my clothing wears out, I'll have more made.

Jeans are too h ot and too tight for India -- the minute you approach a squat toilet, you'll see what's wrong with them.

Where will you be going that you'll need "dressy" dresses and "sun" dresses.

In most cases, "sundress" leaves 'way too much body exposed for India, same with shorts. Unless, of course, you welcome harassment.

I'm going for 3 months, and am taking undies for 5 days, two sets of long shirts and baggy pants, and long underwear for when I'm
in the mountains. Everything else in my bag is toys (books, playing cards, etc) or "tools" (medical stuff & meds, tweezer, my own tin cup, glue sticks, my journal, pens...)

I take pre-printed labels for any postcards I want to send, because I'll be there over Christmas and want some folks to hear from me.

beachchik4ever · Oct 19th, 2003, 01:48

Thanks WW. Okay I think one pair of jeans than, I didn't realize it would be too hot for them, sundresses and a good dress are for some parties I am going to----- I know to wear long things out and about on the streets and markets and sightseeing---shorts in my room for comfort, and I do want to get some of those indian pants with the long shirts, I think that would be good for sightseeing, thanks for the labels ideal !! I just threw some in my suitcase !

wonderwomanusa · Oct 19th, 2003, 12:18

Oh, okay, so you have specific "events" to attend -- wonderful! That should be a lot of fun! And even more fun with an empty suitcase that you can fill up before you go home!

bijapuri · Oct 19th, 2003, 15:28

suitcase or backpack- there are some companies that make a backpack with rollers. I have one. it works well in India

suginami · Oct 19th, 2003, 15:39

The hard part is the first three days when suddenly everything seems dirty or wrinkled and nothing you brought seems to suit the weather. My answer is to go out for a bit of a shop get some new things. What with sweating and travelling clothes look like crap quickly. I can get through 3 t shirts in one day and underwear. It always takes a few days for me to find the right combination.

butterball · Oct 19th, 2003, 15:49

That's a hell of a lot of stuff !

One pair of loose jeans for the flight & emergencies ( first time I went to Delhi I took only T-shirts and it was the coldest winter for 60 years and I walked around with a blanket over my shoulders the whole time ! I froze )

Couple of long sleeved loose shirts that you can roll up the sleeves.

Forget anything too pretty or girly staright away.

Loose light long trousers.

A weeks underwear is always good ! ( again, in case of emergencies ! )

Maybe one light dress and trainers/comfy shoes and maybe some sandals ( but watch where you tread - if you cut your feet in the middle of downtown Kolcutta you're in TROUBLE. ) Plastic sandles are good for showering in ( no, Im not a pervert ! ) Most Indian electrical wiring is so poor that the plumbing is a conductor ! It happened to me in Agra - went to turn the shower off and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!!

No more than that really... and I now usually go to the South so I need even less ! I take one synthetic Khaki suit ( nicer than it sounds - although the locals occasionally think I'm a policeman ! ) which rinses and dries in half an hour - I wash it every evenning.... ( Yes, stuff WILL get that dirty )

Go light - you can stock up out there and DON'T take precious clothes - one visit to the local laundry will answer that one !

picklepak · Nov 5th, 2003, 13:35

too much!

Ten short-sleeve tops for a 2 1/2 week trip? Are you serious? Laundry is cheap and easy to find everywhere.

angelika · Nov 5th, 2003, 15:42

I totally agree with picklepak

This is much too much!
I didn't took ten short-sleeve tops for a 2-month-trip with me.

Always remember you have to carry everything by your own.

Oct 18th, 2003, 20:59	#1
beachchik4ever Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: east coast Posts: 93	2 much or 2 little? Every other day, I'm either adding something to this suitcase or taking away. (mostly adding) I like choices but I do not want to take too much. For a 2 1/2 week stay I have 3 pr. jeans, 1 pr. capris, 1 pr shorts, 3 long dresses, 3 sundresses, one dressy-dress, 10 short-sleeve tops, 2 long-sleeve, 2 sweaters, and I don't know if I should bring a sweatshirt--needed in November? Any tips?

Oct 18th, 2003, 21:09	#2
oldhippie Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 412	You might want to consider carrying a backpack instead of a suitcase. Packs are a lot more convenient. Bill __________________ Too Many Gandus, Too Few Bullets.

Oct 18th, 2003, 21:14	#3
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,572	I take 2 pairs of bottoms, 1 pair of 'sandals' 4 underpants, and 4 t-shirts, every day I wash (or get the Dhobi wallah to wash) half of it, anything gets lost or damaged and I replace it in India. You probably think by this that I'm a 'backpacker', I'm not, it's just a hot country and I don't go on holiday to carry heavy bags. Everybody you ask will tell you that they took too much to India. It can be highly amusing watching 'backpackers' in the Rajasthan mid-day sun carrying a very large backpack, with an attachment on the top of it and another heavy bag in their hand, whilst complaining that India is 'hard work' __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Oct 18th, 2003, 21:28	#6
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	backpacks vs suitcases Hey beach, on the suitcase vs backpack: A suitcase can be easier to store (like in a bus or train) and easier to take things out of, and it makes you less conspicuous, but... a good argument in favor of a backpack is that the ground is often uneven and filthy in India, so if you think you will be able to roll your suitcase everywhere, think again.

Oct 19th, 2003, 12:18	#10
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,567	Oh, okay, so you have specific "events" to attend -- wonderful! That should be a lot of fun! And even more fun with an empty suitcase that you can fill up before you go home! __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Oct 18th, 2003, 21:15	#4
beachchik4ever Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: east coast Posts: 93	laughing......this a HUGE suitcase, I can't imagine getting this stuff into a backpack plus what I didn't list. I will take some out for the carryon bag in case they lose my luggage. Do you mean those big duffel bag types? I think my sister has one, I should check it out and see what fits the most. Thanks !

Oct 18th, 2003, 21:25	#5
beachchik4ever Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: east coast Posts: 93	Steven my goodness you do pack lite !!! I think you are right, the thing that concerns me is that every couple of days I am travelling somewhere else so getting laundry done--I don't know? I am going to try and trim this down more. I would also like to buy some clothes there if I see some good deals.

Oct 19th, 2003, 01:48	#9
beachchik4ever Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: east coast Posts: 93	Thanks WW. Okay I think one pair of jeans than, I didn't realize it would be too hot for them, sundresses and a good dress are for some parties I am going to----- I know to wear long things out and about on the streets and markets and sightseeing---shorts in my room for comfort, and I do want to get some of those indian pants with the long shirts, I think that would be good for sightseeing, thanks for the labels ideal !! I just threw some in my suitcase !

Oct 19th, 2003, 15:28	#11
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	suitcase or backpack- there are some companies that make a backpack with rollers. I have one. it works well in India __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Oct 19th, 2003, 15:39	#12
suginami Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 42	The hard part is the first three days when suddenly everything seems dirty or wrinkled and nothing you brought seems to suit the weather. My answer is to go out for a bit of a shop get some new things. What with sweating and travelling clothes look like crap quickly. I can get through 3 t shirts in one day and underwear. It always takes a few days for me to find the right combination.

Oct 19th, 2003, 15:49	#13
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 686	Wow That's a hell of a lot of stuff ! One pair of loose jeans for the flight & emergencies ( first time I went to Delhi I took only T-shirts and it was the coldest winter for 60 years and I walked around with a blanket over my shoulders the whole time ! I froze ) Couple of long sleeved loose shirts that you can roll up the sleeves. Forget anything too pretty or girly staright away. Loose light long trousers. A weeks underwear is always good ! ( again, in case of emergencies ! ) Maybe one light dress and trainers/comfy shoes and maybe some sandals ( but watch where you tread - if you cut your feet in the middle of downtown Kolcutta you're in TROUBLE. ) Plastic sandles are good for showering in ( no, Im not a pervert ! ) Most Indian electrical wiring is so poor that the plumbing is a conductor ! It happened to me in Agra - went to turn the shower off and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!! No more than that really... and I now usually go to the South so I need even less ! I take one synthetic Khaki suit ( nicer than it sounds - although the locals occasionally think I'm a policeman ! ) which rinses and dries in half an hour - I wash it every evenning.... ( Yes, stuff WILL get that dirty ) Go light - you can stock up out there and DON'T take precious clothes - one visit to the local laundry will answer that one !

Nov 5th, 2003, 13:35	#14
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	too much! Ten short-sleeve tops for a 2 1/2 week trip? Are you serious? Laundry is cheap and easy to find everywhere.

Nov 5th, 2003, 15:42	#15
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	I totally agree with picklepak This is much too much! I didn't took ten short-sleeve tops for a 2-month-trip with me. Always remember you have to carry everything by your own.

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