My Travel Essentials (Light Edition)

I went for a short trip for 3 days and 2 nights last week for an entrepreneurial launching programme.  It was my first time traveling without having ANYONE familiar with me.  So, it was like my little "adventure", as I like to call it.

I will blog about the newly launched programme (1MET: 1Malaysia EnTrepreneur) in a separate post. *Read here!*  Be sure to check that out later because I feel like this programme is a very helpful and beneficial initiative by the Ministry of Finance, Malaysia.

So, I decided to pack light for this short trip.  My plan was to pack just enough items without having to check in any luggage to the cargo.

To Do  What I Do
Prepare a To-Bring List
I'm usually not a big fan of making lists but for the sake of my own comfort and well-being while being away from home, I make it a necessity to write down the things that I need to pack for my travel.  Currently, I'm using a golden notebook that is easy to carry around.

My "golden notebook"

Roll Clothing Items in Groups
I like to be organised in packing my things because it doesn't only help to ensure that all necessary items are included, but it also helps in space-optimisation.  For clothing items, in particular, I prefer to roll them instead of folding them.  And I roll them in groups - tops with tops, bottoms with bottoms, dresses with dresses, pajamas with pajamas, etc.  Apart from reducing the total luggage space used, this will also help to ease the trouble of having to dig up the luggage when searching for a particular clothing item later on.

Mostly rolled, not folded

Check In and Print Boarding Pass
Thanks to the wide usage of technology and the internet these days, checking in for flights is so much more convenient and flexible.  It is always wise to check in the day before and print the important boarding pass(es) at the convenience of own home.  If printing boarding pass(es) is not possible at a certain point of time, just checking in is enough.  However, it is important to remember to choose the options of receiving a copy of the boarding pass(es) through e-mail or/ and receiving a barcode of the boarding pass(es) through mobile phone.  For the barcode, it will be sent to the keyed-in mobile phone number right away and by flashing the barcode at a mobile kiosk at the airport before departure, the boarding pass(es) can be printed through that mobile kiosk.  Apart from web check in and mobile check in, checking in through another kiosk at the airport is also possible.  Like I said, it's very convenient and flexible these days.

[To those who are not very familiar with the whole check in thingy yet, kindly bear in mind that checking in (via web or mobile or airport kiosk) is not the last step that needs to be taken before entering the boarding gate at the airport.  Checking in is one thing, printing boarding pass(es) is another thing, and there is one more important thing - identity verification via airport counter.  Once checking in has been done and boarding pass has been printed out, be sure to go to the relevant counter to verify your document (identification card/ passport/ birth certificate).  At the same time, cargo luggage check in (also known as baggage check in) is also done at the counter.  This is only for luggage that you intend to put in the cargo, in other words, luggage that you don't want to carry along into the airplane's cabin.  Of course, remember to go through security scanning for the cargo luggage before going to the counter.]

Pack All Items
Before leaving home, making sure that all items are securely packed is a must.  Nothing more to say about that.

Since I was traveling light, I only brought a backpack and a sling bag.

To Bring What I Bring
I personally categorise the things that I plan to pack along for my travel.  Especially when packing light is the aim, proper planning is important. Some items may belong to more than one category but putting them in just one of the relevant categories is enough.  Apart from the items in specific categories, the estimated number of each item should also be included.

So far, the common categories that I include are: -
- Toiletries
- Face & Hair Products
- Electronics
- Documents
- Entertainment
- Stationeries
- Healthcare
- Footwear
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Miscellaneous

These are among the items that I have in my "Miscellaneous" category. ^^

Bringing along a passport holder is useful to keep your IC, passport, boarding passes (and handy plasters for me -.-) organised and accessible to yourself.

Having a portable (and charged) power bank is also very useful for traveling.

Well, that's it for my Light Edition of Travel Essentials!

Cheers~