Quick Guidelines for Asia Trip Pre-trip Comments: These notes have been compiled with the help of notes by Michael Doran, Lynn & Marty Marvet, and others, plus about 15 books on trekking in Nepal, India, and Tibet. What follows is overkill. You probably don't need to bring every item listed, but you would do well to consider each item in terms of your own needs and comfort. Post-Trip Comments:After my trip, I have gone over the following list and commented on the items that are (1) Worthwhile and (2) Essential. I have added other comments, as needed. Please keep in mind that we went in late summer and early autumn, so it was not too cold. Also, don't trust my comments on medicine, since I only marked the things we ended up using. Most essential items are marked with an arrow, "." -- Michael Erlewine Water Water purification of some kind is needed. This can be: Water purifier (don't really need). Water-sterilization tablets (Essential as backup) Water Bottle - 1 or 2 1-litre plastic water bottles that do not leak. Try to find one that does not taste like plastic. Nalgene bottles are good, with their Lexan version being one that does not taste like plastic.(did not use much) Water container/thermos (They are everywhere there) Money You will need to have some place to carry your passport, traveler's checks, cash, etc. You cannot leave them in your room, luggage, or even the day pack. They must be on your person and hidden. This means any of the following, or two is preferable so that all your money is not in one place. Post-trip: Although I had every kind of money pouch, I ended up using a solid cargo vest from TravelSmith that had many pockets, including two sealed inside pockets and two zippered outside pockets. I never took my vest off and it worked very well. I found all of the pouches a hassle. Money belt (goes around waist on the inside) Money pouch (hangs from neck, inside shirt) Money loop - Belt passes through loops; hangs inside pants Cargo Vest - I kept my money in the inside pockets of this. (Worthwhile) Shoulder bag (not for money, but to carry whatever - instead of day pack. Food A number of writers claim the best food they got in Tibet was the granola, nuts, etc. that they thought to bring with them, so consider well. I agree. Take some of your favorite energy snack foods with you. Believe me, you wont' regret it. Power Bars (Essential) Granola mix Dried fruit for emergencies (Essential) Important Items Adaptors (for electrical appliances) Camera (extra camera battery) (Worthwhile) Camera film (20 rolls +) Alarm clock (battery powered) (Worthwhile) Compass (did not use) Cords (bungee or cord) -- for drying clothes. Earplugs (streets can be very noisy) (did not use) Eating utensils (you may prefer to use your own) (did not use) Flashlights (small) & Batteries/bulbs (Essential) Customs officials often steal or take the batteries, replacing them with worthless ones, so hide the batteries elsewhere in your kit. Garbage bags (did not use) ZipLoc Bags (all sizes) (Essential) Gluestick Insect repellent (did not use) Kleenex packets (can't bring enough) (Essential) Knife -- Swiss Army knife (Worthwhile) Laundry detergent Lock -- One good strong U.S. padlock for each traveler and 3 keys (Worthwhile) Lock - Tiny locks for zippers (Essential) Cable Lock -- (if needed to string luggage together) (did not use) Maps (Worthwhile) Matches -- Waterproof matches Mosquito netting (may prefer, but should not be too bad) (did not use) Notebooks (Worthwhile) Pen (extra pen refills) (Essential) -- bring both roller-ballpoint and permanent marker Offering - Envelopes (Worthwhile) Offering -- Katas (buy in Lhasa or KTM) Rubber bands Safety pins (Worthwhile) Scissors (Essential) Sewing kit Sunblock (Essential) Tape (duct tape) - for plugging holes in screens, etc (Worthwhile) Umbrella (can buy in Katmandu) (never used) Whistle (alarm) Sleeping Sleeping bag (Essential) You will need a quality sleeping bag that is good to 20-degrees F., is light, and packs small. If you can't sleep on a hard surface, you might consider bringing a foam mat for underneath, like a Therm-A-Rest. You don't need a mat, unless you are camping. Pillowcase Ground cloth - For under sleeping bag, in particular in bad hotels where there may be lice. (Worthwhile) Personal Hygiene See the first-aid section for related items. Teeth Toothbrush (tight waterproof case) (Essential) Bring several toothbrushes in case you drop one on the floor or stick it under running water by mistake. Toothpaste (Essential) Mouthwash (use for brushing teeth) Dental floss Eyes Sunglasses (Essential) You don't need glacier-style sunglasses (with side flaps), but you do need ones with complete UV protection. Eyeglasses in hard-shell case plus extra pair (Worthwhile) Contact lenses and solution Eyeglass repair kit Clean-up Comb & brush Mirror (break resistant) Shampoo Flip Flops (for showering, where you don't want to step) Deodorant (not always available overseas in your flavor) Soap (cold-water) (Worthwhile) Razor & blades (or battery-powered shaver) (Worthwhile) Shaving cream (Worthwhile) Sink plug (Squash ball) (Worthwhile) Washcloth (Worthwhile) Ziplock bag to carry wet things in (Worthwhile) Towel (superabsorbent, quick drying) (Essential) Nail clippers (Essential) Tweezers (Essential) Toilet paper (2 rolls) (Worthwhile) Tampons (Essential) Condoms/birth control (Essential) Clothes Related Layered clothing (Worthwhile) Layered clothing is best, such as a waterproof outer shell (Nylon jacket with hood) and some kind of fleece vest or sweater underneath. You will be putting on and taking off clothing as the weather changes. Bandanas/face mask (for dust, when traveling) (Worthwhile) Long pants - Shorts on women or men are frowned upon. (Worthwhile) Long-sleeved shirt (Worthwhile) Socks -- Heavy warm socks (also good to give Tibetans as gifts) (Essential) Note: Spend your money and buy good quality ($10 a pair) All synthetic hiking socks. Do NOT take cotton socks. Hiking Boots - If you are only doing a few hiking trips, you can get by with some inexpensive shoes. It is helpful to have angle support, but not absolutely necessary. What is necessary is to have shoes or boots that you are comfortable in and that will not immediately blister. Most of the time, I wore my Tevas (sandals) everywhere. Spend you money on good socks. That is the weak link for most. I can't say about winter footwear. Sometimes I wore two pair of socks for warmth with my sandals. Wide Sun Hat (with neck strap, for sudden updrafts) (Worthwhile) Sweater (Worthwhile) T-shirt Underwear Pajamas Long underwear for Tibet nights (did not use) Clothespins & Cord for drying Poncho (or waterproof shell mentioned above) Woolite (cold water soap) for hand laundering Plastic bag for wet things, heavy zip-lock, large sizes Documentation Passport/Visas - Bring at least 4 extra, Passport photos (Essential) Photocopies -- Xerox of your passport, visa, credit cards, ID, etc. is important. Keep separate from originals. (Worthwhile) Tickets - Airline tickets (Essential) Vaccination certificate (copy of won't hurt) (did not use) Printed Stuff Business Cards (Worthwhile) Stationary & Envelopes Phrasebook (Worthwhile) Address book (Worthwhile) Reading material (did not need) Luggage Pack (Worthwhile) You should not bring a suitcase, since you may have to carry whatever you bring for some distance, if there is a breakdown. Full hiking packs are good. Margaret and I have opted for a compromise, which is a duffel-like back that you can carry with a handle (or shoulder strap), that also has a built-in harness for backpacking the thing. This harness is hidden behind a zipper. In addition, this luggage has a small daypack (with harness) that zips to the larger one. You could use a standard duffel, but hauling it soon becomes very tiring. Day pack (with harness) for day trips (could be part of above). (Essential) Cautions Water - Drink only bottled water (with complete seal) or boiled water. When showering, don't let water get in your mouth. Also use bottled water or boiled water or mouthwash to brush teeth. Food - The only raw food you should eat is fruit that you peel yourself. Salads are dangerous, because of the water. No dairy foods, creamy sauces. The cardinal rule is if is not boiled, high-heat cooked, or peeled, then DON'T EAT IT. First-aid Kit A personal first aid kit should contain many of these items: Antibiotic ointment Antibiotics of some kind (if have) Antihistamine (Benadryl) Anti-itch - for insect bites Iodine Antiseptic agent (Betadine lotion or swabs) Hydrogen peroxide as antiseptic (can get gel) Athletes Foot Cream Bandages Cottonballs & Q-tips Band-aids or gauze bandage with adhesive tape. Hot water bottle Chapstick (lip salve) Lips crack in Tibet within days of arrival. Tucks pads Preparation H & Suppositories (didn't need, but was in demand) Quilted baby fresh aloe wipes Laxatives (Worthwhile) Diarrhoea medicine (Lomotil, Imodium) (Worthwhile) Flagyl (for giardia) Dramamine/Bonine (motion sickness - 12 tabs for every 200 miles travel) (Worthwhile) Drioxal (cold/sinus medicine) Papaya enzyme & Acidophilus (upset stomach & diarrhea) (Worthwhile) Pepto-bismal (lots of chewable ones) Tylenol/Aspirin/Ibuprofen (your preferred brand) (Worthwhile) Sudafed/cold medicines Paracetamol (Panadol) Lip balm (lips crack in Tibet) (Worthwhile) Lotion Multi-vitamins Alcohol swabs (for cleaning utensils) Witch Hazel towelettes/handwipes (bring a LOT) (did not use) Rehydration mixture Thermometer (Essential) Throat lozenges, gum, candy (Worthwhile) Doctor-related Medicines Here is the recommended list, but many of the items are prescription only, so who knows what we are supposed to do about that. Diarrhoea & Vomiting Norfloxacin Tinidazole Imodium or Lomotil Rehydration salts Metoclopramide Promethazine suppositories Colds Throat lozenges Actifed Codeine Phosphate Amoxicillin Erythromycin Blisters & Skin Infection Antiseptic (Betadine) Cephalexin Erythromycin Rashes & Insect Bites Diphenhydramine Miconazole Cream Hydrocortisone 1% cream Altitude Acetazolamide Dexamethasone Nifedipine Gastritus/ Antacids Constipation - Ducolax Pills Urinary Tract - Norfloxacin Vaginitus - Mycostatin vaginal tabs Conjunctivitus - Sodium Sulamyd Eye Drops Internal Ear Infection - amoxicillin, cephalexin, erythromycin, azithromycin ...back to the opening page go on to the next story...