With my recent escapades to nearby countries like Philippines and Jakarta in just 2 months, I’ve learnt how easy it is to flash-pack. Flash-packing is the new backpacking, only with some flair. It’s still about travelling light, but gone are the days where people lug a ratty-tatty backpack and rough it out in a hole in the wall room. The new aged flash packer is young, feisty, got some spare cash to burn and is plain ole up for a good time.
With budget flights available at the click of a mouse button to this new generation of world travelers, a country a month over the weekend is not that difficult to achieve. Flash packing requires no check-in luggage. Just lug a couple of important things in your hand carry and say hello to a new culture a month. Because you’re just going for a short weekend away, you dont need that many things. So here are my travel tips for packing light:
• Go back to basics
In life, you’ll never go wrong with your basics – whether fashion, grammar, beauty or health etc, travel is exactly the same. Pack your basic tank tops in various colours with different embellishments, 2 pairs of your trusty jeans, flirty skirts and maybe 2 cute dresses for nights out on the town. Mixing and matching your tops and bottoms gives you several outfits options.
Accessories, such as scarves, I find always make a whole lot of difference. You’ll even be able to use them as hair accessories! When it comes to jewellery, pack statement pieces that you’ll be able to use with most of your outfits.
Shoes dont make for light travel packing. Honestly, you dont need that many pairs of shoes, just unless one for the road and a really dressy pair. Or maybe just one more cute one.. Just for an alternative. But remember, we’re trying to think about how to travel light. 2 pairs of shoes should do the trick for a 4 day trip, unless of course you’re packing for a photoshoot. Even then, on my recent trip to Jakarta, I packed a whole bunch of dresses and still managed to fly sans check-in with 4 pairs of shoes: 2 heels, a pair sneakers and sandals.
• Use what’s provided for you
Whether you’re staying in a hostel, hotel or couch surfing in somebody’s apartment, always check what’s being provided for you. If you’re staying just for the weekend, it’s okay to rough it out and go without your regular conditioner. Use whatever is available so you dont have to carry an extra bottle. Skincare, however, is something I never compromise on. I always bring my own basic skin care regime overseas.
• Vaseline is your best friend
This little jar of petroleum jelly was once your best friend when you were a baby and now in your jetsetter days, it returns to be your best companion on board and abroad. There are an infinite things you can do with Vaseline but I particularly love it for tackling the moisture and hair frizziness problems you get when travelling!
• Wear as much as you can
No no, dont get me wrong, I dont mean cover up. When you have a 10kg hand-carry travel luggage limit, instead of packing all the bulky items in your luggage and weighing the scale down, flaunt that jacket and be the clothes rack for just a bit. Those pretty heels weigh more than your slippers, totter about in them until you get on the plane and then you can change out of them. Layer up if you have to because they dont weigh you!
• Sharing is caring
It’s fun to travel alone, but sometimes twice is as nice. When you have a travel buddy, it can be double the fun. At the same time, it also means a load halved. You can either arrange to share toiletries or your gadgets or even just dump your stuff in your buddy’s luggage which has more space! Hahaha. We share stuff with the people we love!
