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[lmh1984]

Hi There!

I am a new traveller/ tourist and am leaving next week for 6 weeks or so in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before heading to New Zealand. I'm really excited and want to enjoy my time and think that I have got most things covered (probably too prepared!!) I had all my jabs, malaria meds etc but theres a few things that I am now wondering about, like for example:
1) during the day, when i dont want to be carrying around my pack, what sort of bag is safest and practical?
2) What sort of clothes are best for a girl?
3) what sort of footwear is best?
4) how easy is it get "girly things" at THAT time of the month etc etc etc???!!!??
- they are mostly silly little things but i'm completely new to this so any help will be greatfully recieved!!!

I'm sure that I will think of more stupid questions in the meantime but any tips that anyone can offer would be great!

Many thanks in advance!

L x

[wakingdream]

hey! You must be getting pretty excited!

1) during the day, when i dont want to be carrying around my pack, what sort of bag is safest and practical?

You're fine with anything you can keep close to your body. No need to be paranoid. You'll see alot of women carrying around those big sack-like bags with a wide strap that hang pretty low. ( you can buy them there really cheap but I think they tear easily) personally I carried a MEC bag. I could fit my necessities and jam a camera in too. It had a few compartments to keep organized, a few 'secret' spots, and I could adjust the strap to have it loose or tight up against me depending on where I was. Still have it after all these years. Cheap and durable. It doesn't have to be this bag ofcourse. Another handy thing; I can jam it in my pack for hands-free traveling anytime, fulll or rolled up empty. A very small knapsack does the trick too.

2) What sort of clothes are best for a girl?

Loose fitting and cool. You'll hear this from everyone and trust it's SO true; pack a few of your favorite clothes from home and buy your stuff there. There is HUGE variety and it's quite cheap. The only way I wouldn't do this is if I had clothes at home and didn't want to spend extra money buying on my trip. This culture is one of modesty. Women still swim in their clothing. You get the point. You don't have to dress like a nun though....shorts are acceptable, t-shirts, skirts etc. I only wore tank tops around the beach areas but that was my personal choice. Pretty much all women do in all places though.

how easy is it get "girly things" at THAT time of the month etc etc etc???!!!??

You can get those mostly everywhere but since you're only going for six weeks, if you use tampons, just stick a supplies worth into a ziploc and take them along. They're light and small. I didn't find too many tampons about....maybe now they're more widely available.....

what sort of footwear is best?

If you like them you'll probably live in flip flops. If you have a pair you like, take them, if you don't buy them there. You'll find them literally everywhere for dirt cheap. Also, take one pair of sturdy shoes for any treks, hikes etc. Sometimes i take runners but confess I hardly wear them.They do come in quite handy sometimes. Other than that, a sturdy pair of sport sandals or something similar. Hiking or caving in flip flops sucks.

they are mostly silly little things but i'm completely new to this so any help will be greatfully recieved!!!

Definitely not. These are great questions. At least you're using common sense. You can, honestly, find just about everything you need over there so don't worry too much. Packing on the light side is the best bet. You may feel weird about it but trust me, you'll be fine.

Have an awesome time and ask whatever you need to know! There are lots of member who have traveled through the area.

[lmh1984]

Thank ever so much that reply was great!

I am packing very light and it feels SO weird (i'm a bit neurotic about packing - i like to know that I have something to cover every eventuality!) but this is a new adventure and im willing to role with it, so since everybody is saying that I should buy stuff over there I will, because the bills are pilling up for the few things Ive gotten over here already!

I am very very excited now, especially as it is my last day at work and it's all getting very real!

Im sure I'll come up with more questions soon but thanks for your help so far!

Take care

L x

[suzanne27]

Wow you really are excited but that's natural. I myself get too excited when I know that I'll be traveling to a place I have never been before. But anyways, here are my suggestions.

1. for a bag, i can suggest a small pretty body bag will do. a bag that can fit an extra shirt (in case you get all wet or perspire), your passport, your wallet, a bottled water, your make-up kit, and a camera.

2 & 3. what to wear, it actually depends on where your destination is. but if you're just visiting places like tourist spots, it is best to wear a jeans and a shirt then wear a really, really comfortable shoes. there's going to be a lot of walking.

4. of course, always keep tampons or napkins and an extra underwear in your bag, just in case you didn't expect to have your period early. always be ready.

[charlamae]

how easy is it get "girly things" at THAT time of the month etc etc etc???!!!??

If it were me, I would take birth control pills every day (never taking the placebo pills) meaning that you won't have a period at all. Or get one of those 3 month patches so that you don't have to remember to take your pill. There have been loads of studies to show that it is safe to miss periods. Check with your doctor.

If you're opposed to the above option, I'd definitely take your favourite brand of tampon/pad with you. Other countries don't have the selection we have, and that's not the time that you want to be testing new products. Ditto on the ziploc bag.