Thanks basingstoke for the info about the laundry sheets, I will look into it.

Lavandula

Years ago blister Band-Aids used to be branded "Compeed" and were only available in stores like REI and Eastern Mountain Sports. Whoever owns the Band-Aid brand name bought them a couple years ago and now they are available at the grocery store and all drug stores.

I bought a couple inflatable hangers for one trip (thinking of hand-washing clothes and drying them in a hotel room). Those were real duds! A couple plastic hangers work much better and take up hardly any more room.

Thanks for the band-aid for blisters tip, spcfa! I'll look for them.
I'm also going to look for the laundry sheets, basingstoke. This site is SO helpful for all kinds of things.

Last week I wished I would have brought my silk underwear. Darn it was cold. They take up no room and add so much.

My FIL was happy once when I did bring 1 imodium. He couldn't believe I packed it but I always pack 1 or 2 of over the counter meds. If you need them, you might be too sick to figure out how to say it in the country you are in. If I use it, I replace it when I'm feeling better.

I always throw a couple of good plastic forks in my suitcase.

A pen or pencil with tape on it. Duct, medical and scotch.

sewing kit

Light on clothes, you can wash them.

Good socks- always.

Good shoes - without a doubt.

moleskins.

At last minute, I threw in a small ball of string (cord) and ended up using it many times.

A few years ago we went with some friends to Vienna and one said she could really use a dulculax (stool softener)_ which most likely explained her bad mood of the previous few days. We went to the pharmacy that was open that Sunday and the pharmacist who was a real pharmacist, not a clerk and who spoke perfect English had no idea what we were talking about- said there wasn't any such thing - finally selling us a laxative that was "used in all the nursing homes" and turned out to be a mini atomic bomb, small enough to swallow.

If this is your issue, take a bunch of metamucil pills with you. They are much more expensive than the regular powdered stuff but much more space conserving for travel. Or, just take a long a baggie of the regular stuff and take as needed.

It wasn't my issue. In any case, dulcolax are very small and cheap. My point was that even common over the counter pills may be unheard of or unrecognizable in another country, so as you say, if you think you may need some OTC drug, don't count on being able to find it far from home.

OTOH--We've found some marvelous things in pharmacies abroad that we can't buy at home. In Spain I got some great cream for an itchy, allergic skin rash. When I got home I took it to my local pharmacy and asked what the equivalent is becasue I wanted to buy some. The pharmacist told me here it was the equivalent of 2 different prescription creams.

Replace the battery in your travel alarm clock right before you leave. My parents alarm clock died a few days into the trip and the battery in mine died on the second to last day of the trip. Grrr.

I take a couple of clothes pins. I used them to pin curtains together so light doesnt' come in. Of course I use them to dry clothes, shut bags of snacks etc.

Funny, forgot I had posted this. In the interim, I bought a silk sleeping bag liner. Foundin beyond useful on cold bus rides and in dodgy hostels. Found standard meds Advil, tums, etc. to be invaluable and helpful to other travels....which made them happy to translate for me.

Will be regrouping back in the USA before the second leg of my journey, and think I will be snagging some duct tape for the rest of the journey!

Btw....I also purchased a small lock on the road....aka not a standard locker lock. Have used both that AND the standard sized lock more than once. Never would have expected that.

Thanks for the tips,

Oh, and thursdaysd, I am blogging. From an iPad, which has actually been pretty great thus far. Blog is www.abroadabroad.us.
Am now reading your blog for further tips!

Cool blog - but who was "we" at the beginning of the trip? Great that you got your luggage back, but that was one big bag!

Happy New Year in SA.

This is not really on point, but I wanted to share it with someone because it is so funny and this seemed like the closest thread to it. We went on a trip from the West Coast to the East Coast of the US for the holidays and I forgot my entire luggage! We got to the airport and looked around and realized that I left my entire suitcase at home. I literally had the clothes on my back and a purse with some basic toiletries.

Of course, it was a different situation because we were not trekking for weeks to foreign countries but it was still terrifying. lo and behold, the week is over and I am home now and it went fine. I did a side trip on day 3 of the trip to stock up on undies and other basics. It was kind of liberating to travel sans luggage .

Tentek---Really, did you forget your luggage!! I am laughing, but truly wondering how could that happen.

You have a great story to share with the world. Maybe others may want to follow this idea intentionally.

Happy new year and happy travels too.

Take your insurance certificate. Although you never want to use it, if you need a medical treatment in another country this can cost you a fortune! Don't forget a padlock as it's always useful in hostels for keeping your belongings safe. A warm hat, a gloves and a swimwear too.

ileen, cross my heart, it truly happened. I might start a new thread about it.

I always take the basic OTC meds as well~Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Immodium, hydrocortisone cream, Neosporin~because even if they are available in the country you're visiting, I invariably need them at 3 am.........

I always have a writing utensil with me as well. I'm always amazed at the number of people on the plane who have to mooch a pen to fill out customs paperwork.