Hi list,
First, if I mistakenly placed this in the wrong part of the forum please tell me why and how to relocate it ;-) Since this is the first 'thread' I start on here.
Second, John Fenna: I truly am s-orry for this late reply (fully answering your reply on my intro about stuff to bring to Thailand). If it is too late you can always add your comments to the why's or why not's. ;-)
During my 2,5 year backpacking stint I obviously learned somethings. So the advice I will be giving here is based on what I have learned, to be comfortable and safe with. You can only judge that for yourself! (plus I can not and do not want to decide about the contents of your wallet ;-) ) Hope I am still making sence here.
Stuff to bring to Thailand for a month long trip.
NOT talking passport, credit card, camera etc. here! In that light I do not mention a cigarette lighter either.... mmmm
Still writing a large page about some complete equipment list on my website with many of the what, why why not, when etc.
Some stuff I would bring, some stuff I would buy there and some stuff I would leave there, depending on location, new friends, etc.
Doing a bit of bushwalking, city sightseeing, tourist activities stuff and not mentioning the nightlife here.
Bring along = BA (IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT!)
Buy locally = BL
Primary Backpack (prob max 40 liters or less!) BA
Miscellaneous
1 or 2 locks (1 for your backpack during flight etc, 1 for hostel doors) BA
Personnaly I would use numerical locks (you can loose keys....)
1 or 2 LED light BA or BL (photon type)
1 Toothbrush BA
Nailclipper BA/BL
Pen, Pencil & Notepad BA
If no previous knowledge or not sure about yourself a Lonely Planet type of guide will get you thru (almost) anything in Thailand. BA/BL
1 pack of disposable handkerchiefs (emergency TP/firestarter) BA
Throwaway razor, Toothpaste, soap (wash, shave etc.), sunstuff, mozzie stuff: BL
Clothing
Hat (depending on your personal pref!) BA/BL (baseball caps on markets are plentiful!
2 long sleeved shirts BA (1 you wear, 1 spare/washing/drying)
2 long pants BA
or buy 1 long silk pair of pants on the Bangkok Floating Market (jungle night wear)
2 or 3 pair of socks (depends on location, 1 you wear, 1 you wash and dry overnight) BA
2 or 3 pair of briefs/shorts (swim, underwear, shorts) BA/BL (BL: silk boxers!!!!)
1 thermal underwear shirt: AIRCONDITIONING IN BUSES (+ jungle sleeping atire) BA
1 pair of 'sneaker' BA
1 pair of flipflops BL
1 'sarong' BL: towel, 'male skirt', blanket etc.....BL
Shelter
Tarp & Hammock (Personally my Hennessy Hammock, incl mozzie net) BA
Otherwise experiment with cheap, good, local hammocks (mind your size!)
I have NOT found decent Tarps (weightwise!!!) there, might be me ;-)
Silk sleeping bag liner (for hostels and in your hammock) BA , luxury item I know
IF going to colder locations (Chang Mai Hills) you might want to consider a poncho liner type of blanket/sleeping bag), I used the ones my hosts offered me so no BA/BL ;-)
Cooking
Alu pots BL (btw, Zebra billies etc come from THAILAND <eg>)
Spoon BL
Waterbottles, just use an empty soda bottle, BL
FAK
relatively small, healthcare in Thailand is pretty good (first hand experience)
my FAK I only have available in Dutch (so far)
Pics at:
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewImage.asp?AID=2622879&IID=85096193&INUM=8&ICT=28&IPP=60
Probably all you want/need for your FAK you can buy in almost all but the smallest towns.
PSK
Personal Survival Kit. Really depends on what skills you have, with what comfort level you can stay in a jungle, hence *personal*.
Tools like a Parang, SAK can be useful if you already have them. Machete type of tools are locally available if (WHEN) necessary. Leatherman type of knives/tools are found in abundance on markets.
Of course feel free to comment, things I typed are not complete (FAK, PSK), but I think most of it is pictured (for the time being on:
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewAlbum.asp?AID=2622879
for more stuff about that RTW stint, look at
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewAlbum.asp?AID=1808546
that is to comply a bit with "Too much kit to carry"'s reply on my intro from March somewhere about uploading pics.
I know, its quite long but hey... fire away ;-)
Grtz Johan
First, if I mistakenly placed this in the wrong part of the forum please tell me why and how to relocate it ;-) Since this is the first 'thread' I start on here.
Second, John Fenna: I truly am s-orry for this late reply (fully answering your reply on my intro about stuff to bring to Thailand). If it is too late you can always add your comments to the why's or why not's. ;-)
During my 2,5 year backpacking stint I obviously learned somethings. So the advice I will be giving here is based on what I have learned, to be comfortable and safe with. You can only judge that for yourself! (plus I can not and do not want to decide about the contents of your wallet ;-) ) Hope I am still making sence here.
Stuff to bring to Thailand for a month long trip.
NOT talking passport, credit card, camera etc. here! In that light I do not mention a cigarette lighter either.... mmmm
Still writing a large page about some complete equipment list on my website with many of the what, why why not, when etc.
Some stuff I would bring, some stuff I would buy there and some stuff I would leave there, depending on location, new friends, etc.
Doing a bit of bushwalking, city sightseeing, tourist activities stuff and not mentioning the nightlife here.
Bring along = BA (IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT!)
Buy locally = BL
Primary Backpack (prob max 40 liters or less!) BA
Miscellaneous
1 or 2 locks (1 for your backpack during flight etc, 1 for hostel doors) BA
Personnaly I would use numerical locks (you can loose keys....)
1 or 2 LED light BA or BL (photon type)
1 Toothbrush BA
Nailclipper BA/BL
Pen, Pencil & Notepad BA
If no previous knowledge or not sure about yourself a Lonely Planet type of guide will get you thru (almost) anything in Thailand. BA/BL
1 pack of disposable handkerchiefs (emergency TP/firestarter) BA
Throwaway razor, Toothpaste, soap (wash, shave etc.), sunstuff, mozzie stuff: BL
Clothing
Hat (depending on your personal pref!) BA/BL (baseball caps on markets are plentiful!
2 long sleeved shirts BA (1 you wear, 1 spare/washing/drying)
2 long pants BA
or buy 1 long silk pair of pants on the Bangkok Floating Market (jungle night wear)
2 or 3 pair of socks (depends on location, 1 you wear, 1 you wash and dry overnight) BA
2 or 3 pair of briefs/shorts (swim, underwear, shorts) BA/BL (BL: silk boxers!!!!)
1 thermal underwear shirt: AIRCONDITIONING IN BUSES (+ jungle sleeping atire) BA
1 pair of 'sneaker' BA
1 pair of flipflops BL
1 'sarong' BL: towel, 'male skirt', blanket etc.....BL
Shelter
Tarp & Hammock (Personally my Hennessy Hammock, incl mozzie net) BA
Otherwise experiment with cheap, good, local hammocks (mind your size!)
I have NOT found decent Tarps (weightwise!!!) there, might be me ;-)
Silk sleeping bag liner (for hostels and in your hammock) BA , luxury item I know
IF going to colder locations (Chang Mai Hills) you might want to consider a poncho liner type of blanket/sleeping bag), I used the ones my hosts offered me so no BA/BL ;-)
Cooking
Alu pots BL (btw, Zebra billies etc come from THAILAND <eg>)
Spoon BL
Waterbottles, just use an empty soda bottle, BL
FAK
relatively small, healthcare in Thailand is pretty good (first hand experience)
my FAK I only have available in Dutch (so far)
Pics at:
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewImage.asp?AID=2622879&IID=85096193&INUM=8&ICT=28&IPP=60
Probably all you want/need for your FAK you can buy in almost all but the smallest towns.
PSK
Personal Survival Kit. Really depends on what skills you have, with what comfort level you can stay in a jungle, hence *personal*.
Tools like a Parang, SAK can be useful if you already have them. Machete type of tools are locally available if (WHEN) necessary. Leatherman type of knives/tools are found in abundance on markets.
Of course feel free to comment, things I typed are not complete (FAK, PSK), but I think most of it is pictured (for the time being on:
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewAlbum.asp?AID=2622879
for more stuff about that RTW stint, look at
http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestViewAlbum.asp?AID=1808546
that is to comply a bit with "Too much kit to carry"'s reply on my intro from March somewhere about uploading pics.
I know, its quite long but hey... fire away ;-)
Grtz Johan
