Packing

( Jenn )

Well, mostly. We are all packed up as evidenced by this photo:

(everything that was laid out on the futon the other day in 2 backpacks, 2 small daypacks and Anica's daypack)

It was tough though. We'd already done a run through but it still seems like so much stuff. We've chopped at our list, read through dozens of similar ones, listened to advice on what we can and can't get over there (so much of it conflicting). Finally we've decided that the packs will just have to go as they are and once we're overseas, we can assess the situation and see if there are things we can jettison or send home. Ideally we'd like to travel even lighter but, as we keep reminding ourselves, we are 3 people traveling with 2 carrying the majority of the weight and with a kidlet, there's a lot of things you carry because you can't chance being without them (pediatric versions of meds, etc).

We're very excited. Our airport limo (oooh, sounds so much more thrilling than it is when it's simply a flat rate Lincoln Town Car) comes at 5 am and I know I'm going to have a tough time sleeping tonight but I'm going to try because I'm terrible at sleeping on planes.

First stop is Vancouver, British Columbia to visit Rob's sister Jean and her family (husband Bruce, son William and daughter Lauren). Anica can hardly wait to see her cousins (it's been over a year) and we're looking forward to just spending some quiet time with them all and having them show us around Vancouver (Anica and I have been before but Rob hasn't) before we head to Singapore.

( Jenn )

Here are two pictures of us all from when we were in Ottawa last week. I'm not terribly fond of the picture of me but then again, I hate having my picture taken and avoid it whenever I can :P

And of course, the obligatory all-our-stuff-laid-out picture to be followed by the all-our-stuff-packed-up one tomorrow

(Jenn)

I know I've spent a lot of time looking at packing lists so here's ours for those interested.

Packs

Jenn: Asolo Navigator 60 Elle - front loading with attached daypack - packed, weighs approx 27 lbs

Rob: North Face Backtrack 70 - front loading with attached daypack - packed, weighs roughly 35 lbs

Anica: MEC 20L Teeny Genie - top loading - packed, weighs 5-6 lbs (no more than 10% of her body weight and although meant for older kids, because of her height, this fits her wonderfully) - hers is blue though

• ************** JENN'S PACKING LIST ***************

CLOTHES
4 pants (2 capris and 2 zip-offs - all Columbia)
2 skirts (1 just below knee and 1 ankle-length - light cotton)
1 pair of pajamas (Old Navy - spaghetti strap tank and light cotton pajama pants)
5 t-shirts
1 white cotton long-sleeve shirt
1 patterned long-sleeve shirt
1 black mid-weight zippered fleece (Columbia)
1 light rain jacket
4 bras (1 sport; 3 regular)
7 pairs of underwear
3 pairs of short light cotton socks
1 water/trekking shoes (Salomon)
1 sandals (Teva)
1 cheapie flip flops (for showers etc)
1 swimsuit (tankini)
1 coverup (long sleeve light cotton chocolate brown - good as extra shirt to throw over t-shirts in evening)
1 sun hat
1 scarf (for covering head where appropriate)

PURSE
Metro100 by Pacsafe (I /love/ this purse - so comfortable, lots of room for such a small bag and safe)

wallet (small coin purse type)
camera, flash drive, cellphone, portable hard drive (see Electronics)
Epi-pen
lip balm, lipstick
sunscreen stick
antibacterial hand gel

• ************** ROB'S PACKING LIST ***************

CLOTHES
2 pants - both zip-offs (Columbia and Wind River)
1 short-sleeve microfibre shirt (Columbia)
1 long-sleeve microfibre shirt (Columbia)
2 microfibre t-shirts (Columbia)
2 regular t-shirts
1 pajama bottoms
1 pair microfibre swim trunks (Salomon)
2 pairs socks
3 pairs travel underwear
4 pairs regular underwear
1 water/trekking shoes (Salomon)
1 sandals (Tevas)
1 cheapie flip flops (for showers etc)
1 sun hat
1 lightweight fleece (Columbia)

• ************** ANICA'S PACKING LIST ***************

CLOTHES
2 pairs long pants (convert to capris)
2 pair capris
3 pair shorts
2 dresses
1 short sleeve top
2 long sleeve tops
3 t-shirts
1 tank
1 pajamas (short-sleeve T and shorts set)
1 swimming suit
1 midweight fleece (MEC)
1 rain jacket
4 socks
7 underwear
1 sandals (Columbia)
1 running shoes (very lightweight Adidas)
1 cheapie flip flops (for showers etc)
sun hat

GEAR
journal
small pencil case with pencil crayons
foldable frisbee
foldable kite
inflatable ball
card set
magnetic Chinese checkers
"Baby" (stuffed doll)
pealess whistle with lanyard

• ************** EVERYONE'S PACKING LIST ***************

GEAR
- 3 sleep sheets - silk and lightweight - for use in hostels and in any questionable budget hotels
- small mini-LED flashlight
- cable locks for Jenn and Rob's packs
- combo locks for compartments
- 2 large microfibre travel towels for Jenn & Rob
- 1 medium microfibre travel towel for Anica
- 3 sunglasses
- 2 ultralight travel umbrellas
- 3 Eagle Creek 2-sided pack-it cubes
- Swiss Army knife
- small pair scissors
- small roll of patching tape
- small sewing kit
- universal drain plug
- woollite packets
- clothesline
- neck money purse (which Rob will carry)
- 2 light tote bags with drawstring necks (good for laundry)
- collapsible cup
- virtually indestructible spork
- virtually indestructible pill box
- TIDE sticks (2)
- ziploc baggies
- compass
- mosquito coils
- mosquito coil holder (very light, can hold pieces and can be hung up)
- 1 twin size mosquito net (very light - for Anica)
- Steri-pen (water purifier) + extra batteries
- 3 nalgene water bottles

MAPS & BOOKS, ETC
- cut down guidebooks (Eyewitness and Rough Guide)
- full India Rough Guide
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (to read nightly to Anica)
- 3 books - 1 each - to be exchanged/replaced along the way
- Rough Guide waterproof & tearproof maps
- notebook - Jenn
- pen
- solar calculator

TOILETRIES
- lipstick, eyeliner for Jenn
- special extra-sensitive sunscreen for face - Jenn
- tampons (obviously for Jenn)
- razor for Jenn
- razor and shaving gel for Rob
- deoderants for Jenn & Rob
- toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss
- tweezers, nail file, brush, pumice stone, clippers
- earplugs
- shampoo (1 small nalgene bottle for everyone)
- conditioner (1 small nalgene bottle for everyone)
- liquid soap (1 small nalgene bottle for everyone)
- exfoliating scrub (1 small nalgene bottle for everyone)
- 1 scrubbie
- small hairbrush

MEDICATIONS
- Cipro, Zithromycin, Lariam, Fluconazole (the last just in case)
- Children's Advil, Migraine Advil, etc
- Imodium, Senokot
- Rob's asthma and allergy medications
- Jenn's epi-pens
- waterproof band-aids, blister bandaids, blister sticks, neosporin
- sunscreen, insect repellent, after bite stick
- anti-fungal rash cream
- small First Aid Kit (to be replenished as needed)
- ORT packets (rehydration salts - 3 for emergency use)
- earplanes for Rob and Anica

ELECTRONICS
- iPod + charger (has music, games, short films, movies and downloaded rough guides)
- Canon 600 digital camera (small) + 1 - 2 G and 1 - 1 G memory cards + charger
- portable hard drive by SimpleTech
- Toshiba Libretto laptop (decided to leave dvd drive (docking station) at home - have virtual one I used to load all the discs we want with us) + cables + extra dongles

- 4 GB USB flash drive
- Nintendo DS Lite + case with game cartridges and headphones
- plug adapter with surge protection
- extra batteries for camera, laptop and Nintendo DS lite
- cellphone + charger

PAPERS
- passports
- visas (China, India, Egypt, Vietnam - will get others as travel)
- extra passport photos
- tickets (copies of e-tickets)
- copies of passports and all other important papers
- international drivers licenses
- vaccination records
- health cards
- credit cards
- cash
- travellers cheques
- CAA membership
- hostel memberships
- pouch for Peugeot rental in Europe
- proof of insurance (World Nomads)