Ultra Light Travel [Tips]

Tomorrow morning I will be flying to Nicaragua. I still don't have a return flight, but considering how things are at home with my family right now, I can't be gone too long. So instead of going and letting this begin my 2-3 years traveling/volunteering around the world, and instead of it being a straight 2 1/2 month trip, it's been boiled down to a basic, "normal" 8-14 day vacation. It's a weird concept for a backpacker, and it's made me question and wonder if we're really capable of "taking a vacation." But honestly, I'm so ready to vacate every single thing inside of me, I don't even care what it's called or how long it is! It's time off/away, and I'm going to be doing yoga on the beach with my best friend in due time! Wins all around! But anyways...

Since this trip has manifested and changed so many times leading up to my departure, my ideas about what to take have, too. With each alteration to the length of the trip, my packing list has also gotten shorter and shorter. Before, when I thought I was going to be going from now till the time my yoga course ends in April, I was going to travel with my backpacking backpack, and have my sleeping bag, hammock, climbing gear and yoga mat (+ clothes/basic travel stuff). But when I decided I was going to be gone for two weeks max, I also decided I was only going to use my day pack and utility belt, and travel extra, extra light. Meaning, that for the next 9-14 days, I will be traveling with about 5-7 pounds of stuff, including:

• One pair of leggings

• One pair of loose-fitting "hippie pants"

• One long skirt (that I can tie up to make it shorter, or even wear as a strapless dress)

• One sun dress

• A pair of shorts

• Three tops (I sprung for another one this morning when I eliminated some other things)

• A denim vestyish-top

• A destroyed denim long-sleeved button-up

• A l/s ski shirt (it's cold in SF and on planes/in airports)

• Two bikinis

• Four pairs of underwear

• A halter top/bra-thing

• A sarong/wrap (to be used as a towel, blanket, wrap, scarf, and whatever else it needs to be in the moment)

• Tennis shoes and a pair of socks

• A long pair of socks to wear on the plane (I always take my shoes off when I fly)

As well as:

• My Bible

• A daily devotional book

• My journal, multiple pens & a highlighter (& sharpies, of course;)

• A book

• Toothbrush + toothpaste

• Mascara

• 2 bobby pins

• Flower clip for my hair

• Cap

• Facial sunscreen

• Tigers Balm

My pack all packed up! All my remaining clothes are on the side, with my bikinis in the outside pocket. The black bundle has my shoes in it, which also have my socks, underwear and little halter top thing inside. I'll put the case for my noise cancelling headphones right on top, and there's still plenty of room for more things if I wanted it!

Pro tip: pack your socks into your shoes! It helps them maintain their shape, then you have the socks and the shoes together already for easier access. Plus, socks can be, surprisingly, heavier objects you're packing, but they're great at filling up small spaces. Waste not!

Luckily for me and my packing, I don't wear makeup (other than mascara), deoderant, or care much about showering, so I don't need a lot of things others might. I mean, luckily for me, perhaps not so lucky for those that sit next to me on public transport. Hehe. Although I am going to use some of my sister's deoderant today. I get pretty ripe while I'm traveling, and I'd rather not start the trip with everything stinking. :)

Oddly enough, especially after my last post (linked in "sharpies"), I'm not traveling with tea tree oil, because I was so prepared, and forgot to order more before a couple nights ago. So it hasn't come in yet, and I'm hitting the road without one of my most precious travel items. Oh well!

Nor am I sure if my yoga mat is going with me. That will be decided when I am getting dropped off at BART in a couple hours.

This is the great thing about packing for somewhere that has lows in the 70's and highs in the high 80's, low 90's. I had my rain shell and a couple other things packed, but when I checked the weather this morning, decided against them. And nearly half of the things on my packing list I'm already wearing for the traveling part of the trip..

Like I said, it's cold in the city, on planes, and in airports in general. So while I won't need leggings or a l/s ski layer while I'm in Nica and Costa Rica, I will definitely want it on the travel days. Especially since I'm not taking a sweatshirt or jacket/coat. This means I'll be wearing/traveling in as many layers as possible...

My cap (so it doesn't get bent up in my bag, though I think it will easily fit), one of my tops + the l/s ski layer over it + the open-backed denim vestyish button-up top over that, and finally the destroyed denim l/s shirt (lovely elbow hole featured here:) as my "top layer." All that plus my saraong as a scarf/wrap and leggings under my long skirt. I'll also be wearing my sandals and utility belt. Check!

There's me with everything I need and more for the next two weeks of my life! You see, you can make it with so little in life :)

Pro tip: Travel with a utility belt (the maroon-ish thing you can see around my waist in the picture)!! It's such an epic way to have the things you're going to need along the trip (ie. passport/ID, money, phone, chapstick, whatever fits) right on your waist! And let's face it, it's more stylish than a lot of fanny packs or travel safeguard pouches, not to mention better for organizing because they tend to have far more compartments. If you get a good one, it's probably going to have some zipper pockets on the side that's touching your body, so no one will even know they're there, and if they try to get in there, you will definitely notice. At least I hope so. (Remember I can never be held responsible for things that "go wrong" on your trips. You cannot sue me. Plus, I don't have much to sue for, so it'd just be a waste of your time.)

So with all of that, I leave you. Quite literally.

I'm going to be in San Francisco for the day/night, then catch BART to the airport in the morning. I haven't even left yet, and I already have a sweet story to share with you guys! Maybe I'll be able to get it up in the next few days, we'll see. I'm notoriously bad at posting whilst traveling. Something about living in the moment? ;)

Sending super stoked blessings, love, light & wonder to you alllllll!! Love you Earth Fam! Catch you on the flip side! xxxxxx

Allie-Sun <3