As you can read from my profile page, I am in a choir. This year, we (the choir) had quite a number of performances and functions to sing at. Some of us also went to the 3rd Young Singers Choral Festival which lasted for 6 days and 5 nights. For each of our performances, we had rehearsals and stuff. Since most of them were at this town called Alor Star, we had to stay over at that town many times. The fest was in Kuala Lumpur, though.
Anyway, I am straying from my point here. The thing is that we had to travel a lot and thus, do a lot of packing. Just a few days back, I was packing for a holiday with my family and realized that I can pack better and more efficiently now after all that packing I did for choir. Having that in mind, I was compelled to write a review on how to pack.
What To Pack
When you are traveling, wear jeans. Its much more convenient to run if you are late to the bus stop or airport or something. Jeans are heavy so easier to carry them on yourself. Girls, consider packing a skirt in that suitcase instead of another pair of jeans for your holidaying or whatever. A skirt is lighter and so much less bulkier.
Always find out beforehand what you are going to do there so that you won’t miss anything out. Like, if you are going to a relatives place for a few days, find out if they have planned anything or have to go anywhere fancy like a wedding or something. Then, you know to pack the outfit and the heels. Coz I don’t think sneakers/beaten up traveling shoes look too good with a dress. You get what I mean. If you are going on some purpose apart form holidaying like a business trip or a performance, don’t forget to pack your outfit. I once forgot to bring along my red scarf (its part of our choir outfit) and I had to get someone from home to drive up and give it to me.
Oh yes, never, never forget to take lipbalm, especially if the place your going to is a hot place.
If you are on medication or something, don’t forget to take that along too.
If you are carrying a camera, be careful with it and don’t forget to bring batteries. In fact, never let your camera leave your hands. On one of my trips, I brought along my camera. The dangerously-absent-minded-freak in me kicked in. That night (after our 1st rehearsals) at the place we were staying in, I suddenly realized my camera wasn’t with me. Devastated, I thought I had lost it. Thankfully, the next morning I discovered it to be on the bus we went on yesterday. Luckily we used the same bus to go for our 2nd rehearsals. Since than, I never ever left my beloved camera anywhere out of my sight when we were traveling. Oh yeah, don’t forget to bring batteries. There is nothing worse than to have to lug a battery-less, useless camera long for half the journey after the batteries die during your trip. I know the feeling of passing a beautiful scenery and not being able to capture it on film because the camera ran out of battery an hour ago.
Rollin’
Nope, I am not a Limp Bizkit fan. I mean, roll your clothes. You just won’t believe how much space this saves. Instead of doing the conventional thing and folding your clothes, roll them up neatly. Rolled clothes will not unroll in your bag if you place them neatly wedged between other rolled clothes.
iT’s crumpled
You so don’t want to take out a top from your bag just before dinner and say “It’s crumpled!”. A handy tip is to immediately hang up your clothes as soon as you reach your hotel room or whatever. Rolling also reduces fold lines, have I mentioned?
Just need to shake it out and hang it up and poof! its not so crumpled anymore.
No more than necessary
Take only what you need. We tend to carry too much of stuff, sometimes. For example, you don’t need a whole bottle of 200 ml moisturizer for two days. Find a smaller case or bottle and take just a little bit. The same goes with shower gels, shampoos and cleansers. Don’t take towels. Unless you are traveling in a caravan a la Mohan in Swades, you don’t need them. Hotels provide towels, and if you are bunking with a friend, I am sure he or she will have one or two extras. Always take a packet (the 12 piece) of tissues. They will be more than appreciated if you happen to spill something over yourself like drinks or whatever.
work that genius in you
Learn to pack smartly. Stuff socks into shoes, don’t roll scarves but spread them evenly over the base of your bag, put that sandals into one another to save space and other such weird but wonderfully convenient ways of packing.
Before you pack, make a list. Then after you have packed, recheck your list to make sure every single tiny weenie miniscule thing is packed. That way, you won’t miss out anything.
I have told you all of all I know, I think. Happy packing!
Before you go, travel over to the comments section and tell me how you find my review.
ps. don’t forget to pack your toothbrush!!! Thanks, Jai!!