🌏 Useful gear for Southeast Asia travel
What you should bring on your next Asia trip
Hi friend,
Welcome back to another edition of Itchy Feet, a Travel-Inspired Newsletter. In case you missed it, this publication had its first birthday last week. 🎂
Thanks for reading and supporting this tiny dose of weekly travel bites. Welcome to Season 2 of my newsletter.
An extra thanks to Lezette, Laura, and Gayla for recently becoming paid subscribers.
There are now 223 incredible people who subscribe to this newsletter.
I’m deeply grateful and humbled.
Ok, let’s get to it. 🛫
But before we do…this post may sound like a repeat…because it is!
I wrote this post back in 2019.
I was fresh off a trip through parts of Asia with my good buddy Jack. It still offers value to anyone interested in visiting this part of the world.
This week, my wife and I are celebrating our honeymoon so I am taking a small writing break.
Thank you for understanding. Next week I’ve got a brand new post coming your way.
Southeast Asia.
It’s a pretty nifty part of our planet that deserves at least one visit in our lifetime.
The nearest Southeast Asian airport from my house is in Manila, Philippines. This city is roughly fourteen hours away by plane.
Due to its not-so-close distance, appropriate planning is necessary before embarking on any vacation there.
Before booking a flight and leaving, some important questions must be answered.
You must assess the who, what, where, when, and why before the journey.
Based on previous experience, figuring out the “what” can be the steepest hill to climb.
What exactly should you bring?
More specifically, what sort of gear is most useful while wandering in countries like Cambodia or Vietnam?
My good friend Jack and I recently (in 2019) returned from a long backpacking trip in Southeast Asia.
Based on our experiences we’ve discovered which items are imperative for your packing list!
This isn’t a complete grocery list of every nook and cranny of what we stowed in our backpacks, but it’s a nice start for anyone needing inspiration.
Money belt:
A money belt is a small pouch with an elastic band that you wear under your shirt while out and about.
I must admit that they take some getting used to, but after a while, you start to feel naked without one.
They are suitable for carrying passports, extra cash, or credit cards. I have a goldfish memory so I’d often put hostel room keys or bus tickets stashed away in mine as well.
Thwarting a pickpocket or memory lapse goes a long way.
Try this: Raytix travel money belt
Bonus 2024 tip: In addition, a belt with a plastic buckle is a game-changer. You don’t ever need to take it off to get through security at an airport.
Dry bag:
Besides entering temples or taking a bite of some random meat on a stick at a market, you’ll probably frolic around water. Southeast Asia is full of rivers and beaches so a dry bag is necessary.
Also, the weather can abruptly go from sunny to drizzly.
I exclusively used a dry bag in countries like Vietnam just to play it safe.
Having your phone and personal items dry even when the world around you is sopping wet is a tiny joy that mustn’t be overlooked.
Try: Earth Pak Dry Bag
Bonus 2024 tip: A small water bag that fits a phone, cash, or watch can come in handy on the beach. Yesi and I used one on our honeymoon.
Portable charger:
Even with a local SIM card, your phone’s battery will drain faster than rigatoni in a strainer.
Well, maybe not yours but mine certainly did!
The desire to take lots of cool pictures or videos was a probable culprit. In Southeast Asia odds are high that you’ll be outside for long periods of time and without access to outlets.
The solution to this dilemma is to invest in a proper wireless portable charger. With this, you can charge phones or any other devices using a USB cord.
This is an essential item to have on your trip.
Portable speaker:
What can make an afternoon of relaxing on some desolate beach in Krabi slightly more enjoyable?
How can a pre-night-out beer in your Airbnb or hostel become a pinch more energetic? Music, duh!
When you’re out and about or at home, music a primary ingredient. A Bluetooth portable speaker tops putting your phone in a coffee mug or bowl to amplify its sound.
Try: All-Terrain Sound Bluetooth speaker
Microfiber towel:
My friend and I discovered during our trip to Asia that every host (hostels, hotels, and Airbnb’s) provided us with towels.
During the trip preparations, I didn’t expect towels to be so readily available so I invested in two microfiber towels.
I expected to use them more, but in the end not so much.
Still, they were handy for going to the beach because of their compact size, so I think at least one is ideal for a Southeast Asia trip.
Try: Wise Owl Outfitters microfiber towel
Throwaway clothes:
In Southeast Asia you’re going to sweat, you’re going to get dirty, and you’re going to face the elements head-on.
You’re going to forget a pair of flip-flops on a long-tail boat or get Pad Thai stains on your shirt.
I recommend stocking up on second-hand clothes or bringing clothing you’re ok with recycling at some point during or immediately after the trip.
For example, my swim trunks were from Goodwill and had a burn mark. Did they work? Yep! Were they easy to replace later? Oh yeah!
If anything, you can buy clothes while on the road often at a strikingly good deal at a night market or random vintage store.
Jack and I bought sun hats within a few days of arriving then donated them to the travel gods once we left.
2024 bonus tip:
Speaking of clothes, you’ll need a hat, sunglasses, and a light rain jacket. Don’t worry if you forget! Each of these items is easy to find when you’re on the road.
A journal:
What was that random tuk-tuk driver’s name?
What was the address of that quirky little corner bar?
These are trivial details that perhaps you won’t bother to look up right after the journey, but fifteen years later you’ll love to have a scribble about them.
The treasures from my experiences abroad have been the Moleskine notebooks that I carried during each trip. I highly recommend you take small breaks throughout the day to write about what’s happening. Your future self will be really thankful.
2024 bonus tip: Jack and I still read our travel journals to this they. They are certified travel GOLD you should not miss out on.
And the most important…
This is kind of a wild card but it’s worth mentioning. Besides carrying all the fancy and not-so-fancy gear mentioned above, it’s very important to go to Southeast Asia with an open mind.
You’re going to be surrounded by cultures, traditions, and faiths that will seem odd or possibly incorrect to you.
Unless you’ve been brushing up on the local language, you’re not going to understand what most locals try to say.
Yes, many people do speak English in Southeast Asia, but many won’t.
Just take a deep breath, accept that you don’t have a clue and just smile it off.
You came here to be out of your comfort zone, right?
I learned that a smile can go a long way and that many menus in these countries will have pictures. If you see other customers eating something delicious, just point at that, too.
All around you will be sounds and aromas that are foreign and previously unknown, so relax and embrace the experience!
Ok, my friend. Let’s dock at port for the week. I really hope you liked reading this post from my travel writing archives. Check out my travel blog for related content.
Thanks again for being here, your support, and your time!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
See you next week!
Love,
-Daniel
Instagram / X / YouTube / Trip Coaching
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P.S.S. This year, Itchy Feet has a fun travel chat for all readers to join. Hop on in!
Always a step ahead in preparations, Daniel!!
This one's on our list, thanks for the practical suggestions. ¡Feliz Navidad!