Packing for a round the world trip

A lot of people have asked us how we intend to pack for our round the world trip. The only thing we can say is "carefully". The first thing we're doing is getting all of our "technology" in order. You can see it here spread out on our bed. This includes, starting in the bottom middle and moving clockwise:

1.   iPhone and extra battery

2.   Ultraportable Asus netbook

3.   Two iPads

4.   Panasonic DV camcorder

5.   Olympus Pen EPL camera and three lenses

6.   Small adjustable tripod

7.   Monopod

8.   Nikon D90 SLR and two lenses

9.   Nikon Cooplpix point and shoot camera

10. Multiple bags containing chargers, cables and plug adaptors

...and down the middle from top to bottom:

11. Lens cleaning kit

12. Card holder for SD cards

13. Camera connection kit for iPads

14. Two pairs of Bose noise cancelling headphones

Let's not forget my Blackberry which I used to take this picture. Could we use less? Well certainly. Do we really need four cameras? Nobody except a a professional photogpraher needs four cameras. But we each have our own ideas of what to shoot and how to shoot it. So having your own camera is great if you're willing to tote it. This helps us end up with a variety of shots and perspectives for each scene. And then there's video. While the still cameras will shoot video it's not quite the same as a fully functioning camcorder (although even we are not quite in agreement on this one). The Coolpix point and shoot gives us more flexibility when we can't or don't want to carry the larger camera. What about the phones? Do we need one much less two? Frankly the phones are more for their smartphone capabilities than anything else, although having phones for an emergency is a big plus and these two will work almost anywhere in the world. The iPhone is on an AT&T unlimited international data plan (no longer available) so it provides internet connectivity anywhere in the world when wifi is not available and either phone works great when there is wifi. I shouldn't say this but they also both have great cameras. Is that 5, no 6 cameras we're talking about? Plus they're so small - I know, how many times can you get away with that argument! 

Two iPads and a netbook? This is probably the biggest luxury and offers the best chance to lighten the load by leaving one of the iPads home. iPads are great but simply don't have the functionality of a small computer. This blog is a good example. There is a world of difference between posting using an iPad and posting using a computer.While it's possible to use the iPad to blog it just doesn't let you do what a laptop can do. Then there's the internet. The iPad famously lacks flash which, despite what Steve Jobs says, is a huge problem when you surf the web. Flash seems to be much more popular on websites when you travel outside the US and that means that the website you're trying to view may just show as a big blank page. Not good when you're trying to view the menu for that restaurant you've heard so much about, or locate the nearest subway stop when you're lost. While we could share an iPad the iPad is also our library, allowing us the luxury of access to thousands of books without having to carry a single one. Just try to share an iPad in bed for a late night read.

So that's our tech stuff. All of it will go into one carry on bag.

Next, a surprisingly difficult challenge. All those lotions, potions and pills that make up our toiletry bag!