Ok, so maybe that title is a little misleading. There are the obvious things that will be useful, like clothing and a good backpack, but there are some things we brought that surprised us in their usefulness. We were skeptical about every item on this list and considered them “extras” that we might toss after a few weeks are the road. Now, we can’t imagine traveling without them. These are those happy surprises.
- Steripen – Is it safe to drink the water out of the tap? In many countries we passed through the answer is “maybe” and in a few it’s been “definitely not (don’t even brush your teeth with it).” Our Steripen wasn’t cheap, but we use it daily to purify water out of the tap. Bottled water is pretty cheap, but think about all the plastic bottles and all the money spent over six months. Totally worth it.
- Duffle – We really debated bringing this, a bag for bags!? But since we were flying three times in the first month we thought we would give it a try. Wow! It fits both our big bags inside and has a lock. We use it every time we fly (getting us down to only one bag) or ride a bus. It has prolonged the life of our backpacks since it takes the brunt of the wear and tear of travel. In hostels or hotels where security might be an issue, we put our valuables in it and lock it. It won’t deter a serious thief, but it will prevent opportunity crime.
- Sleep Sheets – These tiny (about the size of a can of soda) silk travel liners have been a life saver. They add warmth in places like Bolivia, and a layer of protection against questionably clean sheets. We don’t use them everywhere, but often enough.
- Headlamps – We have not been camping on this trip except for the Machu Picchu trek, but we have used our headlamps more times than we thought we would. We carry one in our day pack which has helped us hike through lava tubes on Easter Island and caves in Taiwan, as well as help us dig through our bags in the dark.
- Wide Brim Hats – We purchased these last minute. Pat had a hat he planned on bringing, but it was heavy canvas. We saw them at EMS days before leaving Albany. They have been perfect. Through South America, we were at incredibly high elevation and the sun was harsh. Now we are in tropical climates and protection from the sun is a must. They are also useful in the rain. But best of all, they make us stand out as tourists. We have NO chance of blending in while wearing these, but who are we kidding? We couldn’t blend in in South America or Asia no matter what!
Taiwan – Sun Moon Lake – 5 months and still alive!
Bolivia – Salar de Uyuni – Perspective shot
Peru – Cusco – View of Plaza de Armas Celebration preparation
New Zealand – Franz Josef Glacier – Pat conquering the glacier
Argentina – Iguazu Falls _ Butterflies!
Peru – Trek from Choquequiroa to Machu Picchu – Lindsey, Herlin, Phil, and Davis
Peru – Trek from Choquequiroa to Machu Picchu
Peru – Cabanaconde – Our guide, Benjilina
Colorado – Glenwood Springs – Hiking to Doc Holiday’s grave
Nomadic Cadence 