If you haven’t heard, I enjoy packing. Some might even say, I get a little obsessive about it. But that doesn’t mean I’m perfect. If there’s one mistake I’m repeatedly guilty of making while packing, it’s over-doing it.
Is this a girl thing? I don’t know. But it’s definitely a problem when the need for comfort and convenience are taken over by fickle whims to prance around in a foreign land wearing the “perfect” outfit.
I’m honestly not a got-an-ensemble-for-every-occasion type of girl but hey, sometimes you’ve got a cute outfit or two that you think might improve your travel experience in someway. When you’re riding on the back of a Vespa in Pondicherry or spending the afternoon bathing elephants at an orphanage in Sri Lanka and a photo op comes along, it would be nice if you didn’t look too tragic, you know? I hope you do.
The problem is, that excitement lasts only till I get on the plane. Once I’m on unknown territory aka at my travel destination, I couldn’t care less about what I wear. All I want to do is run out and let the place swallow me into its undiscovered depths.
Last year, when travel buddy (who suffers from the same condition) and I visited Hampi, we planned days in advance about what we were going to wear. For some reason, we thought it would be a good idea to stroll around the beautiful temples and ruins in long flowy skirts.
Skirt, shmirt. Those things never saw daylight during our three days in Hampi.
My inessential choice of attire was a little more successful when we went to Pondicherry. Remember that Vespa I mentioned earlier. Well travel buddy rode that red Vespa and I sat behind her alright. And I did it wearing a dress. A dress that I adamantly packed despite knowing there was no need for it.
Every time I had to get on or off the bike, I would tuck my dress between my legs with my hands to spare the people of Pondicherry a view of my intimates. I wasn’t very successful at it.
Half way through the day, I was back in a staple pair of shorts and my underwear was out of sight, like it should be.
It gets worse when I travel in the winter. As I pack, all I can think about is how I don’t want to be seen in the same jacket every day. In my defense, I do wear all the three/four jackets that I carry. But could I have done without them and spared myself all that inconvenient extra baggage? Totally.
The unfortunate truth is I’m an indecisive human being. I can never make up my mind about what I want to pack. When I do, I can’t help but think if it’s enough. Sometimes, I’ve clearly got more outfits than necessary and I love them all equally, and want to wear each one as much as the next. Ideally, I should be a Sophie and choose. But we all know how painful that is.
If you can relate, I’d love to know you’re out there. If you’ve never packed an unnecessary thing in your life, tell me how you do it, wise one.
Later Alligator 
I remember when I left for my adventure to South East Asia with a massive backpack, another one just hanging above my belly. I wish. It was completely covering it.
As months went by I kept getting rid of my stuff. After 5months I got a smaller backpack and got into a wash & go routine 🙂
I would simply wash my clothes every single day in a sink, which helped me to keep it to minimum 🙂 nothing like being able run while you’re with your backpack. Happy travels!! 🙂
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Hahah… wow! That’s one way to learn. I fully agree on need to be able to “run with a backpack.” Thank you for sharing, and thank you for reading 🙂
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This what to wear dilemma haunts us, even when we aren’t traveling. Good thing you were at least wearing underwear.
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Hahahah! So true. Just that travelling means you have to take that dilemma with you everywhere. Thank you for reading and commenting. And thank you for putting a smile on a face in the morning 🙂
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