What I Packed: Silk Road

Here is my packing list for Central Asia/The Silk Road...

Days: Fourteen
Weather: Winter weather, in general around 30-40* F
Conditions: lots of walking in a city, some light hiking, a spa day, and a couple fancy dinners
Pieces of luggage: One backpack, one purse and one small wheely suitcase (Carry on size, used as checked)

The items listed are including what I wore on my person during the flight to the destination. I had plenty of room for souvenirs, and my bags were very underweight.



Any traveler would tell you that the key to organized packing is a variety of smaller bags within your luggage. Here is how I split everything up among my two main pieces of luggage and purse.

Purse:

• Camera and spare battery
• 2 pens
• earplugs
• passport
• boarding passes
• the usuals (phone, wallet, keys)

Carry-On Backpack:

Exterior backpack bungees:

• Waterproof winter coat
• Earmuff/headband
• gloves
• armwarmers

Electronic bag:

• camera charger
• phone charger
• tablet charger
• mini tripod (Gorilla pod)
• International adapter/converter plugs
• earbuds
• extra memory cards for camera
• over-ear headphones (combined with foam earplugs they become noise-cancelling)
• mini flashlight (so helpful on those night walks through old cities)

Jewelry and makeup bag (I'm young...I don't need daily makeup! This is only for the special nights out):

• eyebrow crayon
• tinted lip balm
• eye shadow
• mascara
• barrettes/hair clips/bobbi pins
• 2 necklaces
• 2 pairs dressy/dangly earrings
• 2 pairs stud earrings
• 1 simple brooch (for hijab, if necessary)

Toiletry Bag:

• the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc)
• medication, including traveler's diarrhea meds (luckily never needed these!)
• compact travel towel
• eye mask
• cough drops

Backpack side compartment/Ziploc food bag:

• gum
• healthy snacks: tea bags, walnuts, carrots, raisins, and a couple chocolate bars because you sometimes just need chocolate.
• empty reusable water bottle (to fill once I get through security)

Backpack main compartment:

• 1 pashmina scarf (can use as a pillow or blanket on flight)
• 1 empty drawstring bag (to transfer carry-on essentials from large backpack to stow under seat)
• 1 bandana (multi-purpose)

Backpack back flat pocket:

• Tablet computer
• 1 book, 2 magazines (my book of choice was "The Rules of Attraction" by Bret Easton Ellis and my magazines were the two latest issues of Bust)
• 1 notebook (for some low-tech blogging)

Poly file envelope (it doesn't rip even after heavy use)

• 3 photocopies of passport (one kept in checked luggage)
• 1 photocopy front/back of each: driver's license, debit cards, credit cards, health insurance card
•  flight itinerary
• 4 extra envelopes (for receipts, cash, etc. These always come in handy!)
• United Club passes
• 2 extra passport photos (you never know when you may need them)
• International vaccine yellow book (get it from your doctor)
• Written prescriptions for all medications (only necessary for international travel, I think)
• Visa paperwork
• contact info for guides and hotels
• Russian language cheat sheet (something I made with the Cyrillic alphabet and some basic greetings)
• maps (I put them in this folder as I accumulate them)
• Point It book (great for international travel)

Checked Wheely Luggage:

Drawstring undergarment bag:

• 14 pairs socks (one of which is thick wool)
• 15 pairs underwear
• 1 pair thermal tights (to wear under either jeans or pants when necessary, or to wear with a dress)
• 1 sports bra (can be used as swimsuit in a pinch)

Exterior Pocket:

• 3 Ziploc sandwich bags (they always come in handy)
• 3 plastic grocery bags (for dirty laundry, wet pool clothes, etc)

Interior mesh pocket:

• First Aid Kit (Bandaids, moleskin for shoes, Sudafed, Advil, Benadryl, etc)
• 1 deck of cards (great for group trips, or for making friends when traveling solo)
• 1 bandana (multi-purpose)
• 4 mini Kleenex packs
• pads/tampons
• facial cleansing towelettes/baby wipes
• cable ties (for luggage without locks...but be weary about scissor situation)
• pocket knife or Leatherman multitool
• Ziploc sandwich bag with additional toiletries (keep only necessities on carry on...put hair products, shave cream and razor in this plastic bag in checked luggage)
• refresher spray (lavender oil and vodka in spray bottle, for refreshing clothes or hair or body)
• small gifts for the new friends you meet (in my case I brought WLUW pins and stickers)

Main Compartment/Clothes:

• 1 pair Timberlands (good for snow, rain, and walking)
• 1 pair chelsea boots (dressy shoes, but good for walking)
• 1 pair flip flops (good for wearing in the hotel room or shower if it's icky)
• 1 camisole (good for layering)
• 1 long sleeve thermal shirt
• 1 dressy button-up long sleeve shirt
• 1 casual button-up long sleeve shirt
• 1 short sleeve thermal shirt
• 3 short sleeve shirts, two casual and one dressy
• 1 pair of nice pants
• 1 pair of dark jeans (can be dressy and casual)
• 1 chrysalis cardi (Cardigan, scarf and dress all in one)
• 1 pair thermal leggings (to wear under either jeans or pants when necessary)
• 1 set of pajamas
• 1 strapless bra
• 2 regular bras
• 1 swimsuit