What I Packed for my First Philippines Trip
I want to take this time to give you, my readers, a list of everything I took on my first trip to the Philippines. As I've mentioned before, I went alone with only carry-on bags. I left Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on July 14th, 2009. I got back to Pittsburgh late at night on August 29th, 2009. I hope to use this list of proof that you can go on an extended trip to a tropical area far away from home without needing to drag huge, hulking bags around as you travel from place to place.
You may notice that there is no mention of jeans in this list, and that is for a reason. As you can see from all the pics I have uploaded thus far from that trip, I didn't bother to take jeans with me. The only long pants I took was a single pair of Columbia convertible pants, and they served me well on the occasions in which I actually felt like or needed to wear long pants.
I discovered that I could certainly do a 6+ week trip in the Philippines without ever needing the warmth of a long sleeve fleece, but I'll take a good one with me every time. Like they taught us in Boy Scouts decades ago, be prepared. And I quickly learned that it's always good to have something to offer a chilly Filipino friend on a night that feels warm to you but cool to him or her.
I think I thought of just about everything while making up this itemized list tonight, and any time I think of something that had at first slipped my mind I will add it to the list. Please check it out and let me know what you think of it. I welcome and wholeheartedly appreciate all comments and questions.
* High Sierra AT305 Carry-On Wheeled Backpack with Removable Day Pack, 1
* REI Duck's Back 80 Rain Cover, 1
* Red Ledge Rain Jacket, 1
* Sunglasses with Hinged Temples, 1 Pair
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Tube Cubes, 2
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Half Tube Cube, 1
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Drop Box, 1
* Crocs Footwear, 1 Pair
* Merrell Moab Ventilator Cross-Training Shoes, 1 Pair
* Low-Cut Cushioned Hiking/Running Socks, 6 Pairs
* Compressible/Packable Rain Jacket with Zipper Pockets, 1
* Hat with Brim and Chin Strap, 1
* Black Crater Cord-Lock Light for my Hat's Chin Strap, 1
* Kiwi Heavy-Duty Water Repellant Spray, 1 Large Can
* Kuhl Z Cargo Shorts, 1
* Columbia Cargo Swim Shorts with Zipper Pocket, 1
* Convertible Pants with Zip-Off Legs, 1
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Tee Shirts, 6
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Short-Sleeve Button-Up Shirts, 3
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Long -Sleeve Button-Up Shirt with Roll-Up Sleeves, 1
* Under Armour Long-Sleeve Shirt, 1
* Ultralight Fleece Long-Sleeve Shirt, 1
* Cotton Boxer-Briefs, 7
* Brown Leather Belt, 1
* Eagle Creek Travel Towel (Medium), 1
* Luminox 3001 Watch, 1
* Blackberry 9000 Bold Mobile Phone, 1
* Lux Rubberize Textured Yellow Case for Mobile Phone, 1
* Earbuds for Mobile Phone, 1
* 16GB Micro-SD Card for Mobile Phone, 1
* Amstron PP33 External Battery, 1
* Olympus Tough 8000 Waterproof Digital Camera, 1
* 2GB XD Card for Camera, 1
* Spare LI-50B Battery for Camera, 1
* Zing Design Contour Compact Digital Camera Case, 1
* USB XD Card Reader, 1
* Asus 1000HE Netbook, 1
* Bluetooth or other Wireless Mouse, 1
* Princeton Tec Quad LED Headlamp, 1
* Energizer LED Headlamp, 1
* Black Diamond Orbit LED Lantern, 1
* Photon Micro Light LED Keychain Light, 1
* Sea-to-Summit Kitchen Sink (20 Litres), 1
* SealLine Waterproof Pouch with Neck Lanyard, 1
* Citronella Campsuds Soap, 4oz.
* Regular Campsuds Soap, 4oz.
* No-Rinse Body Bath, 2oz.
* Charmin Freshmates To-Go Adult Flushable Wipes, Resealable Package of 10
* Germ-X Pocket Hand Sanitizer, 1 Small Bottle
* Universal Worldwide Adapter Plug Set, 1
* Grounded 1-to-3 AC Outlet Extender, 1
* Mosquito Nets for Head and Bed Coverage, 1 of Each
* Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight-7 First-Aid Kit
* Small Generic Mesh Bags, Set of 3
* Gear Repair Tape, Small Package
* Hart EZ Towels, Package of 50 Compact Disposable Towels
* Badger SPF-30 Sunscreen, 3oz.
* Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF-55
* Mitchum Unscented Antiperspirant-Deodorant, 1 Stick
* Toothbrush & Small Tube of Toothpaste, 1 of Each
* Clif Bar Energy Bars, 12 Bars
* Sharkies Fruit Chews, 6 Small Bags
* Equate Nighttime Sleep Aid, Tiny Bottle of 100 Caplets
* Triple-Antibiotic Ointment, 2oz.
* Anti-Itch Cream, 2oz.
* Aloe Vera/Vitamin E Chapstick, 1
* Travel Clotheslines, 3 Different Kinds
* Set of Elastic Straps, 3 with Velcro and 3 with Buckles
* Camelbak Water Bottle, 750ML
* Carabiners, 3
* Small Magnifying Glass with Attached Tweezers, 1
* Credit Card Sized Plastic Magnifying Glass, 1
* Cheap Velcro Wallets, 2
* Debit Card, 1
* Credit Card, 1
* Health Insurance Card, 1
* Pennsylvan State Photo ID, 1
* USA Passport, 1
* USA Passport Card, 1
* Northwest Airlines Roundtrip E-Ticket, 1
* $80 Cash
* Pack of Smokes, 1
* Cigarette Lighter, 1
* Positive Attitude
* Eagerness to Adopt & Adapt
You may notice that there is no mention of jeans in this list, and that is for a reason. As you can see from all the pics I have uploaded thus far from that trip, I didn't bother to take jeans with me. The only long pants I took was a single pair of Columbia convertible pants, and they served me well on the occasions in which I actually felt like or needed to wear long pants.
I discovered that I could certainly do a 6+ week trip in the Philippines without ever needing the warmth of a long sleeve fleece, but I'll take a good one with me every time. Like they taught us in Boy Scouts decades ago, be prepared. And I quickly learned that it's always good to have something to offer a chilly Filipino friend on a night that feels warm to you but cool to him or her.
I think I thought of just about everything while making up this itemized list tonight, and any time I think of something that had at first slipped my mind I will add it to the list. Please check it out and let me know what you think of it. I welcome and wholeheartedly appreciate all comments and questions.
* High Sierra AT305 Carry-On Wheeled Backpack with Removable Day Pack, 1
* REI Duck's Back 80 Rain Cover, 1
* Red Ledge Rain Jacket, 1
* Sunglasses with Hinged Temples, 1 Pair
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Tube Cubes, 2
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Half Tube Cube, 1
* Eagle Creek Pack-It Drop Box, 1
* Crocs Footwear, 1 Pair
* Merrell Moab Ventilator Cross-Training Shoes, 1 Pair
* Low-Cut Cushioned Hiking/Running Socks, 6 Pairs
* Compressible/Packable Rain Jacket with Zipper Pockets, 1
* Hat with Brim and Chin Strap, 1
* Black Crater Cord-Lock Light for my Hat's Chin Strap, 1
* Kiwi Heavy-Duty Water Repellant Spray, 1 Large Can
* Kuhl Z Cargo Shorts, 1
* Columbia Cargo Swim Shorts with Zipper Pocket, 1
* Convertible Pants with Zip-Off Legs, 1
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Tee Shirts, 6
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Short-Sleeve Button-Up Shirts, 3
* Wrinkle/Stain/Sun-Resistant Long -Sleeve Button-Up Shirt with Roll-Up Sleeves, 1
* Under Armour Long-Sleeve Shirt, 1
* Ultralight Fleece Long-Sleeve Shirt, 1
* Cotton Boxer-Briefs, 7
* Brown Leather Belt, 1
* Eagle Creek Travel Towel (Medium), 1
* Luminox 3001 Watch, 1
* Blackberry 9000 Bold Mobile Phone, 1
* Lux Rubberize Textured Yellow Case for Mobile Phone, 1
* Earbuds for Mobile Phone, 1
* 16GB Micro-SD Card for Mobile Phone, 1
* Amstron PP33 External Battery, 1
* Olympus Tough 8000 Waterproof Digital Camera, 1
* 2GB XD Card for Camera, 1
* Spare LI-50B Battery for Camera, 1
* Zing Design Contour Compact Digital Camera Case, 1
* USB XD Card Reader, 1
* Asus 1000HE Netbook, 1
* Bluetooth or other Wireless Mouse, 1
* Princeton Tec Quad LED Headlamp, 1
* Energizer LED Headlamp, 1
* Black Diamond Orbit LED Lantern, 1
* Photon Micro Light LED Keychain Light, 1
* Sea-to-Summit Kitchen Sink (20 Litres), 1
* SealLine Waterproof Pouch with Neck Lanyard, 1
* Citronella Campsuds Soap, 4oz.
* Regular Campsuds Soap, 4oz.
* No-Rinse Body Bath, 2oz.
* Charmin Freshmates To-Go Adult Flushable Wipes, Resealable Package of 10
* Germ-X Pocket Hand Sanitizer, 1 Small Bottle
* Universal Worldwide Adapter Plug Set, 1
* Grounded 1-to-3 AC Outlet Extender, 1
* Mosquito Nets for Head and Bed Coverage, 1 of Each
* Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight-7 First-Aid Kit
* Small Generic Mesh Bags, Set of 3
* Gear Repair Tape, Small Package
* Hart EZ Towels, Package of 50 Compact Disposable Towels
* Badger SPF-30 Sunscreen, 3oz.
* Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF-55
* Mitchum Unscented Antiperspirant-Deodorant, 1 Stick
* Toothbrush & Small Tube of Toothpaste, 1 of Each
* Clif Bar Energy Bars, 12 Bars
* Sharkies Fruit Chews, 6 Small Bags
* Equate Nighttime Sleep Aid, Tiny Bottle of 100 Caplets
* Triple-Antibiotic Ointment, 2oz.
* Anti-Itch Cream, 2oz.
* Aloe Vera/Vitamin E Chapstick, 1
* Travel Clotheslines, 3 Different Kinds
* Set of Elastic Straps, 3 with Velcro and 3 with Buckles
* Camelbak Water Bottle, 750ML
* Carabiners, 3
* Small Magnifying Glass with Attached Tweezers, 1
* Credit Card Sized Plastic Magnifying Glass, 1
* Cheap Velcro Wallets, 2
* Debit Card, 1
* Credit Card, 1
* Health Insurance Card, 1
* Pennsylvan State Photo ID, 1
* USA Passport, 1
* USA Passport Card, 1
* Northwest Airlines Roundtrip E-Ticket, 1
* $80 Cash
* Pack of Smokes, 1
* Cigarette Lighter, 1
* Positive Attitude
* Eagerness to Adopt & Adapt
