A Diva's Guide to Backpacking

Move over calculus, hello Cosmo! This is what happens when you read too many magazines! Some of you may be wondering how I have so much time on my hands to write these blogs. Well usually when I'm relaxing I write in my journal and this post came from thinking about all those times that people told me I was too high maintenance to backpack! So this is for those girls (and those guys that are in touch with their feminine sides...) that have ever been faced with the stereotype that they are too diva to backpack! As we graduate I know a lot of people are thinking of backpacking and although it can be a bit intimidating, backpacking is COMPLETELY POSSIBLE no matter who you are as long as you have a few key essentials as below!!

1. A Great Backpack! First and foremost, a great quality backpack is key! Spend a little bit more, start a "Backpack Fund" if you will, and get one that is comfortable and has a lifetime warranty. Don't be fooled by cheaper backpacks--they will not be comfortable when you are trekking in the heat through the jungle from one side of an island to another...trust me I speak from experience (Parentians). Remember-- women's bodies are different than men's so you need one specifically built for your body type. When you do find your dream bag make it yours uniquely! Make sure it expresses your individuality with buttons and patches, especially the Canadian flag! This is imperative! you get treated so well and everyone recognizes you as a fun loving and peace keeping person! Yayy!

2. Good Facial Cleansing Wipes! For night trains, non air-conditioned buses, and flights as you are jetsetting across the world! Also good for the morning after partying when you wake up with your makeup still on!

3. Hand Sanitizers and Kleenex Wipes! Most bathrooms (especially the squatting ones) don't have soap and there are stray animals everywhere! Sanitizing your hands is essential. Plus, when you've just had a monkey crawling on your arm that likely has fleas and rabies, sanitizer does something to calm your soul. A roll of toilet paper is also a good idea to carry around!

4. A Colored Head Scarf! My most important backpacking essential! A must for curly hair! Humidity + non regular hair washings + cute boys = the need for a quick fix! Throw on your headscarf and wrap like a gypsy for a suave, sophisticate, world-traveller look. Also looks great with oversize dark sunnies and a journal while sitting in a cafe. Adds a mysterious appeal to your everyday look...and doesnt everyone love looking and feeling a little more intriguing whilst travelling?

5. A Little Mirror! You're not really carrying around makeup when backpacking, and most girls lose the need for a compact when they have a healthy tanned glow! So a small mirror is key to check your teeth or the status of your frizz.

6. Bargaining Skills! Brush up on your bargaining skills as this is the most important thing when in another country--going from bazaar to bazaar, market to market. It is also a good idea to learn key numbers in the language of your destination! See also: The Walk Away Method and the Money In Hand Technique. Memorize the line that gets them all: "You give me good price, I bring friend, We buy more".

7. Tiger Balm! This fixes anything and everything! Cuts, burns, misquito bites, back pains from heavy back packs, neck pains from sleeping on a not-to-comfortable bed, general muscle aches that can't be fixed with a Thai massage! Obtain from your grandmother or your local Thai/Indian store!

8. Space Saver Bags! An absolute must--buy from your local backpacking store. Reduce your clothes by 1/3, that gives you 33% more room for more clothes. Think of it this way: If you have a 70 L bag, you can reduce it down to 46.7 L, leaving you with 23.3L more capacity. If you can fit approximately 2 shirts in a 1 L empty carton of milk, a free 23.3 L in your backpack will give you the room for approximately 46 more (small) articles of clothing! A shopaholic's dream!

9. Needle and Thread! Sounds so horrendously feminine I know but of all the things my mother taught me this has to be the most important one. If you are really a lush, bring hot pink thread as it matches with everything! Can be used for threading unruly eyebrows or face (brown girls, holla--u all know whats up!) and sewing patches on backpacks. Can also be used to mend a strap thats fallen off of a cheap 3 dollar shirt you just bought or use the needle to screw in your broken sunglasses or fix a busted earing. Absolutely essential!

10. A Woman's Power to say NO! Never underestimate the power of a good, firm, strong, "NO". Be it to the dirty man trying to pick you up, the street hwawkers trying to sell you food, the old ladies trying to braid your hair or give you a massage, the constant tuk tuk hassling (TUK TUK?? TUK TUK??), the Muay Thai guys trying to get you to come to the show, the trinkets along the beach you dont want, the sarongs in the shops you dont need! Dont get me wrong, you can start off with a pleasent "No Thank You" but when they start grabbing your arm and insisting that you buy what they are selling, a strong firm NO does wonders! I suggest practicing in front of the mirror hahaha. No i'm just joking. But a smoldering glare can also work wonders after the "No".

So thats about it. Well...not EXACTLY it...i would like to add another to the list but i dont know if it makes the top 1o. A really good french manicure combo of nailpolish has made my toes super pretty through this whole trip but im probably the only girl that would ever bring nail polish backpacking. But seriously, its been great to me, its the size of a pen and one side has white and the other side a shimmering pink. Fantabulous toes in any part of the world!!!

hmm so thats it! So i have a couple of girls in my head that i wrote this for and I hope you enjoyed it!! Sometimes i really think I do these things more just to amuse myself but this is what happens when you have too much time on your hands!!!