When Alexandra and I took our first business trip together - to Brazil - I learned something important for life. We stood together with our hand luggage at the entry and tortured ourselves through a miserably long queue. It was an observation we made in many countries.
There are certain times at the world's airports when a large number of planes arrive in quick succession and passenger numbers peak accordingly. One might think that the airport management prepares itself professionally for this and, in order to relieve the overtired and impatient travelers - who represent a considerable economic factor - at least accelerates the entry process in terms of time by providing appropriate capacities.
The opposite seems to be the case. The more planes dump their cargo into the airport and the more people desire entry, the more immigration personnel are taking a break. On good days, every second desk is manned on average. We don't know what has to happen for the entire capacity to be exhausted by staffing all the desks. We have never experienced this.
So also on this very early morning in Sao Paulo. So we stood in the queue in a moderate mood - Alexandra not, she was as always in the best mood - and I gave the hint that we could assume at this pace that then at least the luggage would have to be at the Belt and we would not have to wait for it too.
Alexandra beamed at me and explained that she didn't have to go there anyway. After all, she had everything at hand and pointed to her small cabintrolley with a superior smile. I could not believe it. We were supposed to travel for a week and she only had a small cabintrolley with her...? Where had she stored all the pumps, makeup utensils and little dresses.
In view of my monstrous wardrobe-like suitcase, with which I went on trips and each time risked another herniated disc, I asked her if she was now planning to walk around the whole week in the same clothes with which she had just gotten off the plane.
I should let myself be surprised. Of course, beaming and in the best of moods. And how I was surprised.
Lightweight luggage
We travel with two 80 liter trolley backpacks from Deuter, two daypacks, a laptop bag and two shoulder bags.
I learned this week that we can drastically reduce our luggage when traveling. I adopted my wife's approach and have since become a lightweight luggage expert myself. Thailand makes this approach extremely easy.
The questions that lead one to the packing list are simple and few. What do I need for what and how much of it and what can I get and do locally?
Shoes, an important topic. Pumps in Thailand - rather not. Sports shoes yes, one pair is enough. Otherwise, slippers and flip-flops, at least one pair waterproof. In Southeast Asia, you are appropriately dressed and stylish in any situation with slippers.
After the slippers from Merrell, we have now also discovered Birkenstocks again. They have models with outdoor soles and thus left the home slipper image behind. In addition, there are pure plastic models from Birkenstock, ultra-light and very comfortable and available in different colors. They are really cool
The one pair of shoes is actually only used on arrival so that we don't run the risk of freezing our feet off in Europe. Depending on the date of return, we wear them again. Otherwise we don't wear them the whole time. They don't have to be able to do anything and can therefore be extremely light.
Long pants - one is enough. And even that we have chosen as a zip off. With it we get on the plane in Germany and upon arrival in the warmth it becomes directly the Shorty. Otherwise, we only have shorts with us. Alexandra prefers to wear skorts, those sexy looking sports skirts with a tightly connected shorty underneath. Looks very cool and makes her feel very comfortable in any situation, for example on the scooter. For each half a dozen is enough for us easily for six months.
Alexandra comes with four T-shirts and six tops over the entire time, I have ten T-shirts with me. In addition, we have a very light jacket (Arcteryx) for the time in the plane and a mini down jacket (K-Way) in the luggage for the transfer in Europe just in case. Why do we get by with it for half a year?
Firstly, because we're not in a beauty contest, but are focused on maximum convenience, and secondly, because we take laundry to the Laundry every few days. They're on every corner here and it works great. The fact that the T-shirts are not ironed, but only laid is completely OK for us.
That's it... Long Term Travel with several destinations is much easier with light luggage.
For more tips on luggage and useful stuff, see the separate blog post „Packliste“.