Pack Attack

I work in travel, and I am always being asked what to pack, how to pack, what to pack it in... you get the point. I also get asked this by my friends when I travel with them, and they marvel at my "light traveller" skills.

Well I've just packed my backpack (I go to India TOMORROW, eeee!) and I thought I'd share my packing tale, because in doing so I can postpone having to start on my hand luggage I'm nice like that. I don't like packing, but I do have it down to a fine art.

For long trips where I'll be moving around, I always use my trusty backpack. If I'm staying in one location for the whole trip then my holdall on wheels does the job, but I do love my backpack - his name is Maguire, we've been together since 2002 and he is covered in patches from places I've been.

Maguire is a "top loader" backpack, because he's old. This basically means you can't open it up like a suitcase to neatly arrange your things, which can be a pain in the arse annoying. So, to get around this, I use plastic bags (sturdy ones, not supermarket jobbies) to keep my clothes folded neatly, and pack them horizontally, one on top of another. I have one bag for tops, one bag for bottoms. Down the sides of the plastic bags squeeze some other essentials (see picture for more details!), my bath bag goes on top of these, then I use my beach bag to put in all my underwear, my bikini and sarong, and beach towel. This goes on top of everything. Shoes in the bottom, and the side pockets are free for any last minute additions or more importantly, souvenirs as I go along!

All lined up on the bed and ready to pack...

Above you'll see my beach bag and my tops and bottoms carriers! There's also my travel towel (space saving, quick drying genius), my bath bag, make-up bag (only a few bits, for nights out - I prefer natural in the day!), first-aid kit, plug adapter bag, sanitary towels (I take my preferred brand as it isn't always easy to pick them up when away), tissues, a canvas bag for storing laundry, and shoes (espadrilles, nice sandals, day sandals, plastic beach/shower shoes - I'll wear my heaviest, comfy walking shoes on the plane)

I'm not going to go into minute detail about what's in my bath bag, or how many t-shirts I've taken, but I will list my few essential items...

Floaty trousers for keeping cool and covering up when visiting temples etc
A scarf to cover my head at religious sites/when it's too hot!
High concentration deet bug spray
Factor 50 sun cream (not easy to pick up overseas)
Re-hydration sachets

You'll notice that I haven't packed a hairdryer, or straighteners. I did used to be one of those people, but I learned it's much easier just to wash, plait and go! But hey, I'm not judging... if you want to take them, squeeze 'em in! I also don't pack any jewelery - I'll wear stud earrings and a "wear with anything" necklace on the plane, and then pick up irresistible local pieces as I go along.

All packed up and ready to go!

On a final note, don't shoot me for the plastic bags. I too have been woken at 5am by "bag rustlers" in hostel dorms, rustling their bags for what seems like hours. I do NOT do this - any rustling is done before lights out, and the sturdy nature of the bags means they're quieter. Oh, and I did try canvas bags, but they don't slide down into the backpack as nicely. Sue me ;)

Short trips rule, ok

So I'm off to India on Thursday, yay! I'm very excited and now that the packing, printing off reservation confirmations, getting waxed to within an inch of my life and all that has started, it feels much more real.

I'm going for 10 days. We're packing in Delhi, Agra and 2 locations in Goa and it's going to be awesome, I'm sure. Buuuut... man, is it annoying when people ask how long I'm going for and then go, "oh, is that all?" when I say ten days. I'm not stupid, I know ten days isn't a long time, and it would be fab if I could go for longer. However, I have a full time job, and a boyfriend, and rent to pay. So it's ten days or no days, and I know which one I'd prefer!

Short trips are great. Because you know you're only going to be away for a limited time, you make the most of everything and pack in as much as you can. Yeah it's tiring, but it's fun! I did a 3 month trip to Australia at 18, and because those 3 months stretched ahead of me and felt like ages, I spent quite a few days bumming around, not really getting as much out of the trip as I could have. Don't get me wrong, I loved that trip, but had it been a shorter stay I think the feeling of urgency would have meant I'd have made sure I did all of the things I wanted to. There's no, "I can do that another time" when you've got a flight to catch in a week!

If people have longer to spare for their trips then good for them. I love travel and if I could afford the time and money then I would do more. This way works for me right now though, and I don't like people passing judgement on me for it. Staying away long term doesn't make you a better traveller, it just makes you a different one. Difference makes the world go round.

So, I can't wait for my ten day tour of India! Every single day is going to be fantastic, and I am determined to make the most of it and bring back lots of great stories and photos to share. Whistle-stop rules!

My short trip to Rome in July was fab. Throw a penny in the Trevi Fountain and it means you''ll return. So a short stay was fine this first time!

Budapest and the Sziget Festival

In August I went to my first overseas music festival. I did 5 years of the V festival in Stafford from 2007 to 2011 and decided that was enough for me, and I would not come out of festival "retirement" for love nor money. However, the lure of Sziget in Budapest, Hungary was too much - the combination of a line up including one of my favourite bands Skunk Anansie with the option to hostel rather than camp, in a new country - was too much.

I went to Sziget with my friends Gemma and Dawn. We chose to stay at the Sziget Hostel as it was advertised as being 10 minutes walk from the hostel site and seemed that it would be full of people going to the festival, so we were hoping for a good atmosphere and more comfort that we'd have got in a tent!

Sziget Hostel was fine, but it was a shock! It's only used for festival accommodation for 1 week of the year and the rest of the time it's used as cheap student accommodation. There was a garden but otherwise no real communal areas, and although there was a kitchen there were no pots and pans, plates or cutlery etc and obviously we hadn't brought our own! The lack of air con was horrible in the 40 degree plus heat, and with no option to hire a fan we were permanently sweaty! Communal bathrooms with only 3 out of the 10 showers on our floor having curtains made washing an interesting experience (I didn't anticipate seeing any naked men - or women - that week, but thanks to the showers I certainly did!) and it was definitely the most basic place I've ever stayed... and I've stayed in some basic places in my time!

Despite the shock of the accommodation we were determined to have a great time and as we arrived the day before the festival started we dumped our bags and headed straight into the centre of Budapest for a few welcome drinks. The city was around 15 minutes in a taxi or 40 minutes of walking and getting the train, but as prices are much lower in Hungary we were happy to pay for the journey as well as several beers and a meal!

The next morning we headed over to Sziget island for day 1 of the 5 day festival. It was actually a 20 minute walk so a couple of days out of the five we took a hungover taxi ride instead! Once there, the festival was amazing. As well as the main stage there were several tented arenas, smaller stages and "ruin" bars to dance the night away in. We were there until around 5am most nights, and it was a really fun, laid back, inclusive vibe with all sorts of different people from all over Europe and the world. I was ruined, but it was worth it!

As well as pickling our livers we were determined to see some of Budapest too. We spend several amazing chilled out hours at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths and Spa which was much needed after the excesses of Sziget! We also took an open top bus tour of the city (I LOVE a good open top bus tour!) as we had a festival-free day at the end of our stay. Budapest is a great, beautiful city and I'd definitely go back. I'd go back to Sziget too for sure, but I have the festival bug back and want to do more new ones before that! Next up, Glastonbury (tickets go on sale next Saturday - fingers crossed!)

 Budapest (above) and Sziget (below) highlights!