Packing light

I recently had a road trip to Singapore with my cousin and her beau. It was a quick and fun trip to the small country and I have had a lot of fun, especially after I haven't been spending time like this with my cousin for very long long time. Syaza and I had been doing crazy stuff since even before high school ended. So I was young (and wild for adventure), I commuted to KL (from Seremban, at that time that was the coolest thing to do) with my backpack and we'd do crazy stuff like ride o LRT from one end to another, or on RapidKL bus from end to another, amongst other stuff.

As I was packing for Singapore, as always, I would arrange everything neatly on the bed to see what I have got to bring. Being asian me, I took a picture with my phone to Instagram it. And my dad who happened to walk pass my room, saw me and asked, "Nak buat apa tu?" (What are you trying to do?")

For Singapore/Johor Bahru trip last weekend

"Err... Erm... Err... Travellog."

That's it. I've got an idea for a blogpost. Being me, procrastination is inevitable so here I am 3 days late since the idea bulbed out.

I have been quite nomadic since 2009. I started a life in London out of a suitcase and my stuff grows like it never before. I started venturing on travelling, risking it out choosing the outermost hospital placements, visited friends on the weekend, I moved out of my comfort zone, packed all my stuff away and sent them home (Malaysia home), and started living on just a few things. Every time I move, my bag is getting lighter and lighter, and I am more nomadic than ever.

Here are the keys:

1. Toiletries. Remove all that you don't use everyday. Toothbrush, toothpaste, facial wash, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner (all in refillable bottles). Luckily I am not fussed about the other stuff, so these are all I need. Occasionally a small tub of body butter. 
2. Luckily, I dont use much of make up. Everyday I use only BB cream that my friend gave from Korea (which is enough as moisturiser and foundation for me), super hydrating Burt Bee's lip balm which also give a tint of pink and a flick of eyeliner. That's it. Occasionally depends on the season, I need an intensely hydrating moisturiser. 
3. Shirts and tops. Nowadays, I find it is easy to travel with lightweight shirts in neutral colours. Or stripes cotton shirt which are wrinkle free. They are easy to roll and stripes are versatile. It can go casual or parisian chic, depends on how it is mixed and matched. 
4. If my shirts are bright coloured, my pants/jeans will be plain and natural. I used to savour coloured pants wayyy too much and found that they are hard to mix&match. So, I gave them away, now opt for washout jeans or black skinnies. 
5. When I first started wearing hijab, I thought it was kinda hard to be a light traveller and wearing hijab. I used to packed wayyy too many scarfs for a short trip and complicate things with wrinkly scarf that need ironing. Then I learn about the existence of cheap semi cotton scarf. I bought tons of them in neutral colours (dark blue, brown, black), they are easy to roll and wrinkle free, I dont have to worry about bringing iron with me (well, it's not that I care that much about wrinkles on my scarf anyway). Even stretchable material is good for shawl lover bcz as you stretch it around your face, it smoothen out the wrinkles. Chiffon scarf doesn't wrinkle that much even after packing. 
6. Travelling in winter is easier I think. Forget whatever it is inside, opt for warm, more than 50% wool and versatile coat. Whatever that you wear inside the coat doesn't matter cause it is too much of a hassle to take off that coat for picture sake, all that will be seen during your winter trip photos are your nice coat. Don't forget all the other accessories - gloves, winter socks (also for sleeping), muffler, warm legging and warm inner (my favourite is Heatech from Uniqlo)
7. For sleeping, I normally take a  T-shirt and nice PJ bottom. If it is in the cold season, I'd bring a hoodie just in case and use the extra pair of socks for sleeping. It is important that you feel comfortable sleeping on your trip because you need to wake up feeling fresh for more adventure the next day. If I had planned to buy a souvenir shirt, I'd use that as my sleeping T-shirt. 
8. Shoes! Get ONE comfortable walking shoe. Avoid buying shoes before the trip because it'd not mould into your feet shape yet and it might 'bite' when you were using it the first time. I am in love with my gray converse, they are so casual and easy to walk on. I have had it for too long that it needed replacing. So now, my new favourite is a pair of white sneakers. Light and easy to match in any clothes. In the winter, I have my favourite wooly boots. Maybe you might want to bring a pair of flip-flop just in case, that also can be shared. 
9. Other things: not to forget, prayer mat and prayer clothes. If it's a group trip, we'd tend to borrow each others telekung. Go and get the light telekung, they don't take up much space and can be stuffed in the handbag to take around. Sometimes, we did use extra hotel's towel/blanket as prayer mat. 
10. When the trip is long and my bag is small, I'd plan to to wash my clothes or bring extra pairs of pants/jeans. Jeans are thicker and they dry a tad bit slower. I remembered washing my shirts in Morocco though it was winter, so it was dry but cold. My shirts dried out anyway but felt super cold. That still can do. 

I think that is enough. I babbled wayyy too much. The key is, plan ahead. Think of what the place might be, how the weather is like, how the hotel/hostel is like, can you get them over there or could you swap around with friends. If all your stuff fits in a bag, that's it. You're good. If not, you might be carrying too much. I am no hijabista, so that make my life even easier. Well, I do love travelling in style but given that I am not a celebrity traveller, I can ditch the glitz and glam. I am slowly breaking up with my trolley bag and I am happier backpacking.