Hey guys, so I just finished up the grape harvest gig in France and now I’m gearing up for some serious travel adventure in Southeast Asia, kicking off in Vietnam. I’m looking to spend a good chunk of time there, probably around three months or even more, and then I might hop over to Australia to check out some seasonal or manual work opportunities. But here’s the thing – I’ve never done a trip this extensive before and I’m totally clueless about how to pack my backpack for such a long haul.
I’m thinking of snagging a 50-liter backpack, but honestly, I have no clue if that’s the right size. Will it be too big, too small, or just plain uncomfortable? I need to pack light clothes, a couple of pants, shoes, toiletries, basic meds, important documents, gadgets, and maybe a few items that could come in handy if I end up working down under. However, I don’t want to lug around three months’ worth of clothing. I figure I can do laundry on the go and snag anything crucial en route.
The tricky part is that I’ll be coming straight from the harvest, so initially, I’ll have work gear and shoes that I won’t need after the job ends. Should I stick with one big backpack and ditch the work stuff once the gig wraps, or is it smarter to bring a separate small pack just for the harvest gear? To all you seasoned Southeast Asia travelers who’ve done three months or more, what did you actually pack? What were your go-to essentials and what ended up being totally useless? Is a 50-liter backpack the way to go, or should I opt for something more compact? And for those who later headed to Australia for work, what items were you glad to have with you from the get-go?
I’m all ears for any practical tips because I’m starting from scratch and need some serious help figuring out this transition from harvest work to long-term travel. Hit me up with your advice, folks – I’m all ears and ready to learn!