Tips: Don't Leave Home Without...

10 things I'm so glad I have in my pack!

Because everybody loves a list...

Anti-bacterial hand wipes in pocket packs – Wet Ones are just bliss when there's no water to spare to wash up before a picnic in the jungle. Kills 99% of evil tropical greebies.

Flip-flops, or thongs to those of us from downunder – Mum gave me hers before I left and they've traversed beach, jungle and pavement in 5 different countries so far. They're showing no signs of slowing down. It takes a fraction of a second to get them on and off at the door and you can't beat them for comfort. Get some thick-soled ones with wide canvas straps – they won't wear down, break or rub.

Nail scissors – you wouldn't believe the number of uses I can find for them. They are sharp, small and they'll cut surprisingly tough things.

A notebook – you shouldn't go anywhere, let alone backpacking in foreign countries, without one of these babies and a stash of ink and graphite, even if you do travel with a laptop.

Plastic soap container – because there are so many guest houses where you really don't want to put your soap in the shower dish (if you are lucky enough to have a luxury like a bathroom soap dish).

Gastro kit – I remember thinking 70 bucks was pretty steep for this when we bought it at home but I'm so glad we got it. So far we've used the antibiotics to clear up several nasty, prolonged stomach bugs, the Buscopan to ease cramps, the Stemetil to stop me vomiting so hard it was coming out through my tear ducts (I swear) and the Gastrolite for some desperately needed re-hydration. Everyone hopes they won't get sick before they leave but if it happens this kit is a life-saver.

A proper passport holder – something you keep nothing in but your passport and photocopies of important documents that you can wear around your neck so you won't lose it. I would forget my own head if it wasn't screwed on and I've lost 3 passports in 3 different countries in less than 5 years. I only wish I'd had one of these on my last few trips...

Voice recorder – I didn't remember to take one of these but we picked up a beauty in Penang. It's a little Olympus job that records up to 11 hours of voice and fits in the palm of my hand – the size of a very small remote. You can record jungle noises, tour guides, read in interesting museum notes – it's a journal you don't have to write in and can keep in a very small pocket. If you take photos, take sounds too.

A pack towel – E had one of these and we left it in a hostel in Thailand by accident. It was a stupid mistake because we've missed it ever since. They soak up heaps of water, dry in minutes under a fan and rolled up they take up the same amount of space as a shirt. A lot of guest houses give you these plastic towels that do nothing but move water around and others provide no towels at all. They are also perfect for trekking and camping.

Special mentions: Hydration packs that let you sip water while you hike, Stop Itch talcum powder for staying fresh and healing rashes/itchy bites, photocopies of EVERYTHING (travel insurance docs, credit and bank cards, identity documents etc) – if we hadn't had those when E lost his wallet we'd have been screwed.

And now, because pack space is more precious than a pirate cache when you are traveling, a few things we really should have left at home:

Any clothes beyond 2 bottoms, 3 tops. Stoopid clothes – you always think you need more than you do. Pick very carefully, take flexible favourites and leave anything bulky at home in favour of layers unless you are going to the Antarctic.

Fancy walking shoes – I'm not talking about hiking shoes/boots, you need those for serious trekking. I'm talking about the kind of thing I foolishly purchased for vast sums and then sent home at the first opportunity, outdoor-store overpriced walking sandals with breathing soles and 10,000 other sell-points that are totally unnecessary and don't end up contributing to comfort or longevity. See above and take some flip-flops.

Excessive toiletries – I'm a girl so I fell for this one, but not as bad as other travelers I've noticed. Keep the Chap Stick & deodorant, ditch everything else that isn't absolutely necessary for hygiene. I saw not one, but several girls jogging to the lookout point on Ko Phi Phi with mascara running down their faces. They looked utterly ridiculous. You don't need perfume, you don't need body butter, you don't need hair accessories or foundation. You just don't.

That's all for packing tips – take care and happy travels my lovelies ;)