What Deana packed (incl. her portable pharmacy)

Countless Amazon orders and one panicked trip to Target later, I completed my 'first pass' at filling my backpack and daypack. In an excruciating multi-round process of item elimination, I slimmed down my necessities to what you see above. I'm happy with where I ended up, though I certainly could have slimmed down further to avoid back aches on long walks between stops.

While this checklist covers our 2.5 month stint in Southeast Asia and the majority of our 2 month travels in Eastern Europe, I'll come clean now and admit that I have a small "colder weather" bag of clothing to trade in for my shorts that our friend Abby will bring me when we meet up in Prague in mid-April. 50 degree weather is winter to me and I will need fleece!

Southeast Asia & Eastern Europe ~4.5 Month Packing List

Osprey Porter 46L - my main pack [and carry-on to boot!]

The perfect companion for a long weekend or multi-month trip, this versatile suitcase-meets-duffel-meets-backpack gets an A in my book. Featuring a built-in laptop sleeve, several functional storage compartments, and padded straps that tuck seamlessly into the back making for a converted duffel for those times you can't bear to carry this on your back, or want to avoid a baggage claim strap catastrophe. Compression straps come in handy when you've overpacked and are frantically eyeing the airline's carry-on suitcase dimension limits. It's rotund, lovable, yet compact.

Osprey Tempest 20L - my personal carry-on & hiking day pack

I cannot recommend this pack enough!! While I planned on bringing my Tempest 9L [my day hiking staple] I quickly realized I was going to need more space for my electronics and go-to travel items, which I wanted to keep within arms reach of me at all times while in transit [planes, trains, buses, minivans]. So, the night before we flew out of NYC, I made my way to REI and snagged this puppy. Featuring an invaluable hipbelt, hip, strap, side, front and top pockets, this pack is an organizer's dream.

Baggu Fanny Pack - my day purse

Many of you know that I am a Baggu fanatic, and this pack takes the cake for ultra functionality and [IMO] understated style. It is also the MARY POPPINS of fanny packs. Strap it on across or over your shoulder, or around your waist when you want hands-free. At any given time, I've got my phone, camera, sunscreen, bug spray, wipes, sunglasses, wallet, and snack tucked away for safe keeping.

Clothing

• 1 x [5-piece] set of packing cubes [inc. laundry bag]

• 1 x Chacos sandals

• 1 x Salomon trail running shoes

• 1 x Verbena espadrilles [closed-toe for cooler weather, semi-fashionable]

• 1 x raincoat

• 1 x windbreaker

• 1 x down sweater jacket

• 2 x yoga pants [1 full-length, 1 capri]

• 1 x hiking pants

• 2 x athletic shorts

• 1 x jean shorts

• 1 x maxi linen dress [acceptable at temples with shoulder covering]

• 1 x short linen dress

• 1 x tech tee-shirt

• 2 x tech tank

• 1 x tech long sleeve

• 2 x tee shirts [can be worn for sleeping]

• 1 x tube top

• 1 x denim button down

• 1 x long sleeve blouse

• 2 x sports bra

• 1 x bra

• 8 x underwear

• 4 x socks [1 ankle, 3 tall for hiking]

• 1 x Knee brace

• 1 x cap

• 1 x sunglasses [Parafina brand]

• 1 x glasses & contact lenses

• 2 headbands, hair ties and clips, bobby pins

Gear [electronics, accessories, consumables]

• Headlamp

• Drybag

• Rain cover for both Ospreys

• compression sack for laundry/large clothing items that take up space

• Microfiber towel set [for beach and accommodations that don't provide towels]

• Travel adapter

• Lacie external hard drive

• Portable mini-printer with extra photo paper

• Laptop [13'' Macbook Air]

• Camera [Panasonic Lumix LX100]

• Headphones

• Earplugs

• Bucky 40 Blinks Sleep Mask [highly recommend to anyone who has trouble sleeping with even the smallest source of light]

• Neck pillow [thanks to this purchase, I slept for 12 hours straight on our NYC - Taipei flight]

• Moleskine Water color journal & watercolor paint set

• Paint brushes, pencils, white gel pen, kneadable eraser

• 2 boxes of Quest bars [clutch for travel days]

• Titanium water bottle [must purchase bottled water daily as water in SEA is not safe to drink. I probably could have done out with this.]

Toiletries & Medicine

• Shampoo bar

• Soap bar

• Facial cleansing bar [as you've noticed, I made a concerted effort to avoid liquids on this trip due to liquid carry-on restrictions]

• 4 face masks [a little glimmer of home]

• night serum [I will NOT leave this behind!] & moisturizer [face and body]

• makeup essentials [tinted moisturizer, concealer, bronzer, eyeliner, mascara, lip balm]

• toothpaste

• deodorant

• hand sanitizer

• 10 sets of baby wipes [I read that toilet paper is hard to come across in SEA - so far I have found that to be false and regret the bulk purchase]*

• 1 pack of gum [who are we kidding]

• 3 bottles of probiotics [for digestion]

• 1 bottle colostrum [for digestion]

• 2 bottles indigestion tablets [Bali Belly you will NOT conquer me!]*

• Immodium tablets*

• Motion sickness tablets*

• Melatonin tablets

• Zinc tablets [I SWEAR by these for fighting off colds!]

• Tide to go pen

• Lysol disinfectant pen

• Sunscreen*

*I could have easily bought these things if/when I needed them, likely at a fraction of the price purchased in the States. There is a 7/11 or Family Mart on nearly every corner that will have any medication you might need for a typical malady.

That's a wrap, folks!