Putting the Pack in Backpack

I packed my bag yesterday and decided to share with everyone what I've decided to bring, since this is ultimately a huge question. I hope this will help me in future trips, things I should have brought, things i wish i didn't bring so I spent a couple week narrowing down the list of things to bring. I actually decided I was not bringing ANYTHING unnecessary. Being a girl its hard to pack because there's all these things you want to bring, all these things you don't need to bring, and all these things that are just impractical. Not to mention the limited space. But for 3 months, I'd say I've done well.
My backpack is a 40 litre Osprey Stratos.
Ive taken it to Mexico and Costa Rica, both shorter trips but it has done well so far.

I also have a 4L hydra pack that sits nicely in the mesh liner against my back.
First aid is important. A lot of things you wont use, but they are important to have, just in case.

In my first aide kit (and its mostly for two people);
4 months of birth control
Asst. Band aids
Tiger Balm
Tums
Antacids
Tweezers
Excedrin for migraine relief
Tylenol
2 packs neocitran
Motrin
Gravol
Cold pills nighttime relief
1 tube of superglue (for gluing together skin as opposed to sewing)
IBUProfen
Benadryl itch relief
Bug spray containing 30 DEET
Sunscreen
Dental floss
Visine
Q-tips
Hand sanitizer
Sewing needle and thread
Malaria pills (prescription included)
Travellers diarrhea pills (Prescription included)
Nail clippers
Green tea
and about 30 tampons.
I heard they are hard to find being in Catholic countries.
Most of it fit in a small Ziploc bag.

The next thing was toiletries. Being a girl I wanted to pack my Dior bronzer and lip gloss, bring expensive mascara. But I decided to only bring 2 tubes of mascara, one waterproof, one not. I figured my expensive makeup would just get ruined anyways. A little bronzer cant be too expensive.

The bare essentials for 3 months. I am bringing;
10 plastic disposable razors
shaving cream
baby powder (keeps your clothes smelling fresh)
shampoo
conditioner
face wash
body wash
deodorant
15 skin care towelettes
10 pantyliners
tissues
mosquito repellent (more of it, in a travel size bottle)
toothbrush
toothpaste
hairbrush
aloe vera gel
chap stick
hair elastics and bobby pins
mascara (2 tubes, 1 waterproof)

It all ended up fitting in my Dakine toiletries kit.

Clothing was the hardest thing for me to pack. I kept narrowing it down over a few days to things I really needed and what was truly comfortable. Nothing too big that I might wear and nothing just cause it would look cute. I was surprised how little I ended up deciding on.

One pair of long linen pants
One thin long sleeve with hood
2 bathing suits
1 pair of boardshorts
5 pairs of shorts
1 yoga capri
4 t-shirts
5 tanks
1 romper
1 dress
7 pairs undies
3 sports bras
1 regular bra
2 pairs of socks
runners

4 garbage bags (for various reasons, ponchos, backpack covers, dirty launder separator)
4 Ziplocs
umbrella
headlamp
bandanas
sun hat
pillowcase
sarong
sleeping mask
watch
flashlight
batteries
binoculars
universal sink plug
rope
laundry detergent
camera
camera case
removable hard drive
battery charger
USB cord
extra memory sticks

Sanuks
flip flops (for dodgy showers, and of course, the beach)
sunglasses
snorkel (its expensive to always rent)
luggage locks
carry on bag
change purse
ear plugs
Central America guide
Spanish pocket phrasebook
money belt
pen
journal
mosquito coils
photocopies of virtually everything in a document folder
visa
drivers license
passport
vaccine certificate
flight itinerary
greyhound tickets
insurance
cash
debit
Our flight friends itinerary

Well tomorrow its off to Kamloops until Wednesday when we bus from Merrit to Seattle and fly out at midnight on Wednesday. Next post should be in paradise!!

why Central America?

Central America is the little tiny waist line that connects North and South America. It consists of Panama (which we are skipping this time), Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize. We chose Central America to backpack mainly because it's cheap, hot and beautiful and I love Spanish countries. In this trip, we will learn to dive on Utila, in the Bay Islands of Honduras, learn spanish for a week or two in San Pedro La Laguna on Lago de Atitlan in Guatemala, and dive the famous Blue Hole of Belize.

Everytime I decide to go anywhere, people always want to tell you not to go. They always want to believe that they know more about somewhere they've never been than you do. "It's not safe", "You'll get robbed", "Watch out for __________(insert a million different embellished scenarios here)" I know my friends and family worry about me but the truth is, I don't want fear of the unknown to ever hold me back. Too many people live this way, deciding to believe something is too scary, or too difficult, or too much pressure, than to actually just DO IT. Too many people come up with excuses, and say they will but never get around to it.

The route we have planned is only a guideline to the places I would like to see. Since Greg doesnt care what we do, as long as it involves fun, and Priya just joined us because Australia is flooding, none of us really have any expectations. Just to meet the people in our destiny, and to go. Just go. "YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN?" No, we dont. "You don't have anywhere to stay?" No, we dont. We learned when we backpacked Mexico last January to "trust in good fortune". So that is what we are gonna do.