Backpacking Tip: Make. Some. Room.

I’d heard this tip before I left. Leave a little room in your backpack for the things you buy out there.

But I figured that meant those gorgeous beaded cushion covers in Laos, the Buddha ornament in Thailand and that tacky kangaroo emblazoned tea towel I picked up in Brisbane for my nan.

But what I didn’t realise, is that I would buy clothes.

Sure, you buy the odd thing on your travels – like this crochet waistcoat I picked up on Khao San Road in Bangkok which became a staple of my travelling wardrobe throughout Southeast Asia. I fully embraced the hippie chic cliche. But more on that later.

Then there’s the obligatory t-shirts. Half Moon Party. Full Moon Party. Tubing in Vang Vieng. Beerlao. Chang. Good Morning Vietnam. Angkor. Saigon. Sienna Miller giving the finger. Oh and that Bali one that you see everywhere, I forget what it’s called. That’s just some of them. You think you won’t buy any of them, but you will. I guarantee once you’ve experienced the drunken debauchery that is tubing in the Vang Vieng, you will need to buy the vest. Just for the memories.

Below is the mental collection of t-shirts I came back from Southeast Asia with. And they’re only the ones that made it home and I didn’t completely ruin on my travels.

And that’s just Asia. I did a round the world trip and had to buy more luggage… but I’ll get to that as well. So even though I’m probably going to be going on about all the things you should be taking travelling on this blog, bare in mind you will need some give for those essential add-ons.

-Kara