More on my trip of a lifetime

Blankets were provided when we stayed in a hostel in the Bolivian altaplano (sp?) but no sheets, and to be honest, i didn't want them close to my body. I was very happy to have my own sleeping gear. I had the same packing problem as wm, in that I was travelling on the same temperature changing route (Galapagos, Easter Island, Chile and then the Mountainous Bolivia), roughly at the tsame time of year. There were days at the highest levels that I was wearing literally every piece of clothing I owned, topped off with my nylon windbreaker. Thankfully i had packed gloves and a hat... which seemed rather foolish when the temperature was over 30,,, but oh so wonderful when it was so cold and windy. here's a photo

Edited by: canayjun

Edited by: canayjun

picture of me bundled up
i am wearing two t shirts, a cotton turtleneck, a fleecy, covered by a nylon anorak. Tights under the pants, hiking books and heavy socks, a hat, and on my face, my 'Darth Vadar' asthma mask! behind me are the sulphurous fumes of the hot springs.

Edited by: canayjun

#19
My own invention for trekking in Peru and Bolivia on high altitudes - ski thermals (shirt + longjohns). If you're from Oz you're might be not familiar with it. It's made of very thin material and takes no space in your luggage.

I'm sure you'll admit later that it's not worth to carry your own sleeping bag all the way for 5 month, when you'll need it only for one or two nights.

Canayjun I loved the picture. Fieldgate I am sure you are right about the sleeping bag and when I travel next you can tell me more about this kit you take. Sounds very interesting. But for now well I am lugging my stuff.like Canayjun for many climates. Lets see how things progress. Have to go as I expect to leave for Banos for a few days this morning to loll in the pools. The heavy lugage is staying in Quito til I return. Then I will probably fly to Cuenca with it.

ROFL at #21 - are you sure you weren't an extra in Star Wars?

I carried a light-weight sleeping bag on a year-long RTW and was darn glad I had it with me, along with a light-weight mosquito net which I used just about everywhere. I needed the bag in several countries, especially in villages (in the tropics) when the night temperature dropped to 21-22C (I don't do cold kindly). I often take a bicycle blanket with me when I go to Solomons for the stopover in Fiji on the way back. It takes me a night or two to re-acclimatize to the "cold" in Fiji when I've been in Solomons for several weeks, and they don't have spare blankets where I stay. Have used it in Sols as well in places where they do not even have blankets, only sheets, and during a month-long rainy spell those aren't enough to keep out the chill. Not for this reptile anyway.

Several years ago, a grab thief in Lima made off with my digital camera and I lost all of my Bolivia/Peru photos. Then two yeas ago, another digital camera packed in on me while I was in Egypt. Given the importance which photography plays in my travels, I now routinely carry a pocket digital camera to supplement my D-SLR. Its´ extra weight is not an issue.

So WM, I can sympathize with your loss! When you are back home, feel free therefor to download any of my Rapa Nui photos, which are current, as you know. My photo site is at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarley49 and go into the ´Collection´ for Rapa Nui.

If you are going to Banos, I can recommend the Hostal La Chimenea. I don't know if it's in the guidebook -- it's on Martinez, right near the public spa. It's clean, there is a restaurant on the roof terrace where you can get breakfast, the owners are very friendly and it was quiet at night, free internet, and it costs $7.50/person.

i can certainly understand carrying extra cameras or other devices if your hobby or business demands different types.....but as a back up it's rather silly to not just take precautions and avoid the extra worry and inconvenience...if you've had things stolen in the past learn from your mistakes.

..i travel for years on end in all climates and all altitudes...if something extreme comes up i buy or rent as needed...ease of mobility with hands free to jump on and off moving transport makes for more opportunities.

...there's lots of synthetics out there that are lightweight, dry fast and can be layered for all climates...

..i realize i'm sort of out there on this to the point of being fanatical as i weight myself and luggage as often as possible...junk accumulates...and freedom in all its forms is at the top of my needs list

Hope the rest of your trip goes well WM. Remember to look up Roberto in Banos. Lor will know where he is if you have not already made contact.

What to pack and what to leave is always the question. I went real light in SEA last year and froze to death. Ended up buying a wool shawl to wrap around and still froze at night in Laos. Same thing happened in Costa Rica - guest house was no help at all with warm blankets as it "never gets this cold here" and they had nothing to offer but a sheet and a tablecloth. Truly. We had everything we carried on and tablecloths arranged over us like a patchwork quilt.

Same thing happened in Africa. Who gets cold in Africa? On the equator? WE did.

Oh well. For some it must be really comforting to know all the answers, the rest of us just muddle along through life dragging too much weight behind us OR freezing to death :)

Hi Waltzingmatilda
Great reading! I sure hope you're feeling better. Too bad about the camera, I, too carry 2 cameras especially on trips where we are going to see the wildlife. On our walking trips I only carry the small digital which fits into a pocket. Have fun