Here's My Packing List. . . help me cut it down please!

tacita

when you say "combat", you don't mean camouflage, do you?

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Nick-H

The main thing about clothes is that you need to wash them more here. Even a quick trip to the shop can leave your clothes sweat-soaked.

If you do not have sufficient changes you can end up very uncomfortable.

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PeakXV

That's a great point and especially so if you're from a colder-climated country. In India, some of us can sweat when we brush our teeth in the morning.


Packing the duct tape, with those particularly mouthy touts in mind, is a good thing.

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Nick-H

That's terrible!

What an awful waste of good duct tape!

I did tape up my absent downstairs neighbour's front door during a flood two years ago. The water took one look at it ...and went round the back!

But at least I tried...

freenote

The op is only going for three weeks and every night of that time will be spent in a hotel where you can do some washing and shower (if you want ) and you'll have reasonably fresh gear for the morning .
Janice Quote:
Originally Posted by Aran
1 x combat shorts
1 x combat trousers

when you say "combat", you don't mean camouflage, do you .

I don't think that the op is going to be bumping into any fashion police and camoflage gear can be hard wearing and easy to clean .. He will be packing the most important thing "a tiny wallet containing bank cards " Have done this , and it is good fun .Travel light it works !

Rama

Wearing camouflage or anything resembling military uniform is a bad idea in just about any country. The last thing you want is to be arrested (or worse) because of the clothes you wear. It also makes one very unappealing. You will already look strange to locals, do not make it worse by wearing military-like clothing and looking like a guerrilla fighter.

Nick-H

I've heard too many excuses as to why my laundry didn't come back that morning. I like to have clothes for three or four days. Sometimes a couple of nights in different hotels doesn't give the chance to get the laundry done.

dzibead

I agree with taking enough clothing to avoid constant washing. I once traveled with two friends who didn't take enough clothing because they were obsessed about their bags being too heavy (they were a couple of weaklings, I might add). They were constantly washing out their own stuff and looking for places to drape it to dry and fretting about whether it would dry by the time we had to leave (we weren't in Rajasthan in the hot months!) After a while I was ready to strangle both of them. I think I would have cheerfully carried a few bits of extra clothing for them (since apparently it would have been "too heavy" for them to have another two pairs of light cotton slacks and shirts) just to avoid having to listen to them yap about it all the time. Eventually one of them did buy an extra salwar kameez, thank god, because she was the worst offender.

dcamrass1

First time to India took a backpack with 18 Kilos, as result my back went so now take Max 6-7 kilos in a hold all.
If taking 2 pairs of trousers why not take to light ones and then if cold put the 2 on the same with T shirts. also the lighter they are the quicker the dry, make do with with the bare minimum and wash every evening the day clothes, have my own list and make sure that dont get sidetracked in taking more (bearing in mind that also might be carrying wife holdall 4-5 K.!)and as said in many of the letters just buy and then give away when not needed any more
See you around, we are of again in October.

Nick-H

What's the thing with backpacks?

Unless you really are going trecking, and planning to take all your stuff with you, what's wrong with a good big case on wheels?

And what's wrong with getting it to the bus/train/plane by car or auto?

Trekking is one thing, but otherwise, why do people turn travelling into some sort of military exercise?

Be assured: you can travel India without ever picking up and carrying anything!

ALPHABAR

completely agree with nick...

a rucksack that weighs 3.5 kg?? er...the whole "gear" thing has got out of hand.

take as little as possible - you can buy what you need in india and support the local economy.

clothing ? consider wearing lunghis....80rs max...you'll sweat less....easy to wash and dry...and you get a better rate from the rickshaw drivers !

i've taken hand luggage only on my last few 180 day trips to india.

Aran

No just plain green trousers and blue shorts. Just great with all the pockets...

dhans

And it will only cost you a handfull of rupees .

Hans

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machadinha

Going around there sometimes in green army pants like you mention never earned me more than interested if somewhat puzzled queries about my (non-existent) military career.

If advisable is another matter, but I wouldn't expect too much trouble over it (but leave the full camouflage pack as well as the torn-up jeans at home, by all means!) You might want to opt for something more inconspicuous though, it would be my advice to myself today.

As for carrying your own stuff around, I guess that's just how some of us like to get around. So many ways, right!

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Nick-H

Alphabar, I'm afraid my reason for that wheely case is so that I can cram as much into it as possible! . It's a big wheely case. Always at, or just over, the airline limits!

And if I let Mrs N always have her way, I'd never get any exercise: 'they'll take it out to the car...'; 'let the driver do it...'; and so on.

But, even if you do want to do all your own work: get the weight onto the wheels and off the shoulders!