Here are the things that I will always pack in any future journey:
1) First, it starts with a good backpack. I started my trip with a great bag that I spent about $300 on at REI (Osprey wheeled 25" convertible backpack which I dubbed my "princess bag"). I thought I would need wheels because of a recurring back problem that I've had over the years, and wondered what would happen if my back acted up and I couldn't put my pack on. Good idea on paper, and bad idea in practice. The bag weighed seven pounds before I put a single item in it. Not a good plan. It got sent home from India, where I bought bag #2 - a traditional backpacker's backpack that you enter from the top. The problem was that to get at anything I had to pull everything out, and then put everything back in. Inconvenient.
I ended my trip with bag #3 that I bought in Vietnam. A "North Farce" backpack with a zipper around the perimeter and a separate detachable daypack. This ended up being a great bag for traveling and I'll definitely be using it again.
And, my back behaved and only once did I pause my trip for treatment. (Read about the awkward ayurvedic massage in this post.)
2) First aid kit: I can not tell you how important this was. I found myself in one situation (post here) in Nepal where the first aid kit proved VERY important. But there were countless other times when an ankle brace, band aid, moleskin, antibiotics, alcohol swab, tweezers, etc. were critical. Here's a few of the must pack items:
-Band aids, all sizes. These are not hard to find in other countries, but I found all the ones I found to not stick properly or to stick like duct tape.
-Ankle brace and/or ace bandage. There are a million opportunities a day to twist an ankle or a knee.
-Antibiotics. Go to a travel medicine doctor before your trip, and in addition to making recommendations for immunizations he can prescribe antibiotics that can be used in cases of gastrointestinal issues or colds. If you tend to get yeast infections from antibiotics, pack meds for that, too.
-Supplements. I packed multi vitamins for the first few months. I was able to purchase more along the road. Especially in countries where the diets are much different than your own with not a great deal of fruits and vegetables, multivitamins are important.
-I also packed a magic drop called TriGuard Plus that you mix with water and take anytime you eat something questionable or start to feel a little queasy.
-I also packed Acidophilous Pearls that I took almost every morning to keep my healthy flora happy.
-Gauze pads and tape
-Oral rehydration salts (for post-diarrhea hydration)
-Moleskin
-Alcohol swabs (I used these a lot!)
-Tylenol PM. Sleeping was difficult in many locations for many reasons (noise, high altitude, uncomfortable bed) and this helped me many nights.
3) Steri Pen. This was a fantastic tool that allowed me to purify my own water instead of always relying on plastic. It uses UV light to purify water. I was also able to reuse bottles that I did have to buy. Plastic is a huge problem around the globe that you will inevitably encounter on your journey. (Side note: Here's a great short video on plastic water bottles that just came out showing why I didn't want to buy water!)
4) Good shoes. You will be walking a lot. Walking in heat. Walking on uneven surfaces. Walking in the rain. Walking for long distances. You will want to make sure that your shoes are comfortable and versatile. I packed a pair of Merrill trail runners and Chaco sandals. My hiking boots were sent home after Nepal because they were just too heavy and bulky to carry. My Merrill's were used for future hiking adventures. You will be able to buy cute sandals or other shoes on the road, but you really don't want to carry more than three pairs of shoes, but I'd recommend two.
5) Technology. I packed rechargeable batteries and a battery recharger, camera cord, memory card, thumb drive, memory card reader. Also, in Nepal I bought a cell phone for $25 and in each country I was able to buy a SIM card for $5 or less. Having a phone gave me great peace of mind and allowed me to communicate with other friends I met traveling quite easily.
I did not pack a computer and do not recommend it. It would become a target of theft, and it's heavy, subject to rough conditions,etc. Besides, there are internet cafes EVERYWHERE and access is really inexpensive.
6) Light jacket. I brought a Marmot jacket that isn't rain proof, but it's wind resistant, light weight and water resistant. It was warm, light and packed small. It was worn, loved and appreciated in every country.
7) Sarong. Ladies, pack a sarong. It can be used as a bed sheet, beach towel, skirt, dress, scarf, etc. And best it's light and packs small. You will not regret it. Guys, you wouldn't regret it either!
8) Comfort essentials. If your journey is anything like mine, you'll spend a great deal of time in transit on planes, trains and automobiles. An inflatable neck pillow, eye cover and ear plugs will get plenty of use!
9) Travel sheet and towel. I had no idea how much I would use a travel sheet! I packed the silk variety and it was light and comfortable. The places I stayed were usually inexpensive and often wouldn't have sheets or I wasn't sure how clean the sheets were. The travel towel is small and dries quickly. Invaluable!
10) Something cute to wear. A simple black dress or skirt can be dressed up and worn out to dinner with a shirt or scarf you buy on the road.
Hope this was helpful! Don't hesitate to drop me a line or leave a comment if you have any specific questions. I'd be happy to help!
Happy traveling!
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