What I brought.

Thursday.

I took a 6k bike into the nearest town of Cabano to sort out some bank details this morning and am contemplating whether or not I’m going to surf this afternoon. It is really, really hot here. Every day. I somewhat have to limit my activities due to the extreme heat and proximity to the equator, which means I get to spend plenty of time in the cabin.

This afternoon is no exception and the topic on mind is what I brought, why, and how it worked out. As I write I’m racking my mind to think of what I wish I had brought and didn’t, so hopefully the next person won’t be without. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with what I brought and some things turned out to really exceed expectations.

First, I will go over the items I bought for this trip and future travels. The first purchase was a High Sierra 3 in 1 Railpass travelers backpack. I liked this bag because it appeared to be rugged and versatile. Also, everything zips up and tucks away neatly, and there is a removable day pack. The most appealing thing about the bag is that it folds open like a suitcase, so there is no stuffing things in or routing around. It has been serviceable, but I found it to be too cumbersome and heavy to wear as a backpack for long periods and wound up unzipping the day pack and using it more like a duffle bag. It’s fine for this and even has a removable shoulder strap. The only problem I’ve had is that a zipper tab on the day pack broke… at the airport. There is a warranty and I will be sending it in when I go back to the states.

Second, I bought a small Nikon Coolpix for a song at a Costco. I have a Nikon D50 SLR, which is large and I am always careful to bring out. I figured the Coolpix would serve as a nice backup and bring along camera. After three weeks, I can safely say this was a great idea. I’ve taken twenty times more pictures with the little camera and have been very surprised by the overall quality. I’m some circumstances, it actually takes better pictures. Part of that is that I don’t really know how to use my SLR.

The third, and possibly most important purchase was a pair of Merrell hiking boots. I had heard good things over the years about Merrell’s and wanted something ventilated, comfortable, fast-drying, and durable. Time will tell on durable, but so far these shoes have been the perfect call. I’ve worn them rafting, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and, well, pretty much all the time. I’ve gotten them completely soaked and they dry very quickly. Even when not dry, they don’t hold a lot of water and don’t feel heavy or soggy. The reason why I heard all of these great things about Merrell is because they are great shoes. I’m completely sold.


In addition to the new purchases I filled my giant backpack with ten shirts, one synthetic fleece, four pair of shorts, a pair of slacks, and the appropriate underwear, socks, and toiletries. I brought my Jackson Hole, Wyoming adventure cap, which has now been worn in ten different countries. It was part of a care package from an old friend when I first moved to Korea in 2005, and I’ve been using it every time I’ve traveled since. I brought another fashionable cap, which has not been worn once on this trip. I also brought a pair of slacks, just in case. There has been no case.

Knowing that I would be here for at least three weeks, with the possibility of staying longer, I brought my laptop. This is the first time I’ve brought it on vacation and it’s been good and bad. It’s great in that most places have wi fi and it’s nice to be able to be in touch. The only bad thing about bringing it is that I brought four books and have only read one of them because my down time is usually spent on the internet. This will be the last time I load up on books for a trip… next time I’m getting a reader.

Rounding out my arsenal is a pair of binoculars, a flashlight, sunscreen, Off, a small towel, and a canteen. The sunscreen and flashlight are absolutely essential. I highly recommend buying these items before leaving. You’ll pay more for less selection here. Insects have not been a huge issue, so I haven’t used the Off much. I didn’t use it once in the Cloud Forest and didn’t get eaten. I also brought my phone, which is a 50 dollar a month alarm clock here, and my ipod, which goes everywhere with me.

Of all the things I brought, the only items not used at all have been the slacks, two books, and a hat. Not that I packed very efficiently, but more due to the fact that I’ve been here for a while. Here’s what I wish I would have done differently. First, I would have brought sturdier sandals or a pair of aqua shoes. I had a pair of Crocs that were a last minute scratch because they are bulky and I didn’t want to look like a tool. That being said, they would have been quite useful. I wish I’d had packed my belt, which I simply forgot. It wasn’t an issue at first, but since walking up and down this massive hill daily and surfing the last couple of weeks, the shorts are starting to fall off. A rainjacket could have been useful in the Cloud Forest, but it wasn’t necessary this time and the synthetic fleece served me very well there.

Speaking of synthetic, the biggest thing I’d change would be bringing light, breathable, fast drying shirts and shorts. Most of my clothes are cotton, and I drench at least one outfit a day in this climate. Cotton gets drenched and heavy, and it takes a long time to dry; so I would advise synthetics.

Other things that would have been useful are an umbrella, which would have been useful on other trips as well, a can opener, a swiss army knife, and sunglasses. Sunglasses are obvious and you might wonder how I could forget something like that. Well, I didn’t. I’m still punishing myself for losing my last pair (picture from Vietnam trip, when I bought them) and have learned to live without.

Now that everyone knows what’s in the bag and what to bring, the next entry will be the actual start of the trip and we'll travel to Arenal.