10 must-bring assets if you are visiting Southeast Asian cities

Taken from my newly created Substack. Click here to check it out!

Most people hate packing for a trip…I’m weird though–and I actually LIKE it.?

I enjoy it because I get to think through and plan part of my trip before I leave; I get to research, learn about my destination, and dive into the next few places that I’m going to spend a few days–or more. I get to learn the lay of the land, and if I need something, I might get to buy something new...not as much now though :)

If you're going on an important trip, spend the money and prepare right. The last thing you want is your backpack strap or zipper to break on you in the airport as you struggle to pick it up or close it tight (I've done both).

If you're going to South or Southeast Asia for the first time, this is a quick list of 10 assets I'd be sure to bring.

Assets = lower liabilities + traveler’s equity (or experience, I guess?) The better assets you have, the less risk you take, and the more experience (and ownership) you can gain of your overall trip.

(I can’t be the first person that came up with this!)?

Note: I didn't include medicine in here. If you are bringing any kind of medicine, be sure to check whether it is allowed into your destination country and whether or not you need a prescription or a letter from your destination country's embassy/consulate.

1. Your passport (electronic + hard copies), and other required docs.

Take five minutes and look up at the entry requirements for the country you are going to visit. You'll need your passport to get through the gate.

On top of that, make sure you know the requirements to get in for the particular purpose of your trip. Do you need to show immigration a medical certificate, Have to take a COVID test (Turkmenistan!) or have to bring a formal letter from the business/university that's sponsoring you? If you don’t meet them, immigration might delay you, detain you, or send you home.

2. A multi-currency stored value money card.

Your good looks might get you an ice cream from your mom every once in a while, or $8.15 from granny once a year on your birthday, but they’re likely not coming with you. I’m sure they could outdance me in a club. I’ll say from personal experience that it REALLY sucks running around Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo broke and having to beg locals for money to get a subway ticket to venture across town—all because an ATM in Bali ate your debit card.?

Losing your card isn’t the WORST thing that can happen though…what if you are travelling, and have your main bank card skimmed? Months later, you start getting a bunch of random transactions on your card from that country, and you’ve got to call your bank and deal with the fallout and deal with the hassle of getting refunded as well as setting up a new account (yes, this has happened to me too).

My go-to is to get a multi currency travel card from a bank or a financial company. A travel card can store the money you need so you don’t wake up to an empty bank account or a bunch of messages that your account has been frozen.?

Another option is to carry a bunch of cash. If it’s all in one currency (USD/EUR/GBP, you’ve gotta exchange money everywhere you go if you'll visit multiple countries, and you might even get to be the Siam Commercial Bank's customer of the millisecond 'til someone opens up an account with a LOT more money than you exchanged.?I would choose the card over this.

I also bring $100-$150 emergency money as well. Make sure it’s in USD. This is your lifeline to get yourself to an airport, train station, your country’s embassy, or a hospital when sh*t goes south. Break it up into smaller denominations $100 ; and if you need more…two $20’s, one $5 and five $1. The $1 and $5 can be used to get food and/or water; and the other bills are for bigger problems.??

3. Hand Sanitizer and Wipes.

Poor food, water, or hygiene, = unforgettable trip. It will suck.?

If you are going to a developing country, do some research to see whether you can get bottled water easily. In most countries in Asia you can easily get clean, bottled water in cities. In rural areas, it’s REALLY hit or miss.?

Just because locals are drinking water and eating food–and just because water or food is bottled or packaged–doesn’t mean it's going to be safe. Your stomach will have to adjust the pH level, the microbes, and the different bacteria (and spices) in local food and water. The best thing you can do is pack hand sanitizer and wipes, especially if you will be in South or Southeast Asia. You will likely eat with your hands, and you may not have BOTH soap and clean water to wash them before.

4. A 15-26L Daypack/Rucksack that can fit under your seat. This is your 'go bag' where you keep your essentials + don't let out of your sight.

You need a travel buddy that’s gonna be by your side every step of the way. This travel buddy should be:

• Durable; it’s not gonna die on the travelator at the airport.
• Waterproof or water resistant. It’s gonna keep your computer and items inside from getting a bath.?
• Easy to pack. No more or unneeded headaches.?
• Simple and easy to organize and open. Do you really want to go 5 pockets deep to find some electrolytes when you’ve got food poisoning?
• Hold everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Like an extra pair of hands, but better.?

5. Adaptable shoes that are as adventurous as you.

Your shoes should be able to adapt to your environment as you are going to do. They shouldn’t stand out, they shouldn’t limit your ability to discover more, and shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg (and plasma). Look for a shoe that has a good, grippy tread that will work on pavement, dirt, and asphalt. And also, something that will NOT get ruined if they get soaked in a monsoon.

6. A high quality wall charger that won't short out when you need it most.

Pay the money; get something that won't crap out on you...so you can pay your credit card bill on time (nope), call mom (nope), save that hottie's # from the bar (yes).

Lots of people wait and pick up a charger in the country they’re visiting. That’s an option, but if you need to charge your phone as soon as you land–and you need to pull up your electronic customs/immigration form, you might be shit out of luck.?

I bought a high quality 110-220 wall charger with a universal adapter and leave it, along with a USB cable for packed and ready to go. It doesn't leave my bag. This way I don't have to worry about leave it the wall at home and pay yet another $12 for the Hudson News Airport special.

7. Electrolytes.

You’re going to get dehydrated on the road. Dehydration sucks and it can cause you to perform worse on a hike, and slow your thinking. Water is helpful, but you are going to need electrolytes to help your body fully recover in your new environment, especially if you get food poisoning. A lack of salts in your body can also weaken your immune system, increasing your chances of getting sick.?

When I was in Kazakhstan in 2021, I took a bus trip with a bunch of Russian tourists around Almaty Oblast. Kazakhstan gets ridiculously hot during the summer; and our guide, a local Kazakh kid, got heat exhaustion after we walked around Charyn Canyon for an hour or two. I passed him a couple of electrolyte packets and they made a HUGE difference to his physical condition, and likely saved part of the trip. If nothing else, bring a small box of them for others. Someone you meet will be unprepared and do the right thing + help them out far from home. AND...you'll get to make a friend :)

At the VERY LEAST, before you leave, get a couple of small boxes of electrolyte packets. Use them on your longer flights to keep hydrated. Your skin the next day will thank you. (and so will future you when you get those first photos from your destination, especially if it’s a wedding or some other big event).?

8. A travel wallet and pen.

You don’t need your big ass Big Skinny. You need something that is going to reliably do its job and hold your stuff. I use a small, compartmented wallet that can hold a pen + receipts on one side, and cash and a few cards on the other.

This way, I've got something handy to write down phone numbers, schedules, or practice drawing smiley faces...or stick people.

9. Sunscreen and sunblock.

I’m gonna start a petition for Mr. Golden sun. I believe he is largely overworked and needs to tone it down just a hair, or threaten to at the very least (and all of the real nerds are gonna start telling me that if he takes a day off then we’re literally dead meat).?

Make sure you bring sunscreen and sunblock in your bag, especially if you roast like a shrimp like I do. Depending on where you go, you may/may not be able to get sunscreen. And if you can, it will be VERY expensive compared to in your home country (unless you’re visiting HEB!).?

10. A secondary communications device (phone and or Chromebook)

You should also bring some sort of reliable (literally bust out old trusty) communications device on your trip. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro, or a folding Galaxy phone, cool! You’ve got enough money to buy a cheaper phone for your trip. If you plan to use a cellular network from another country, you will be sending data back and forth between your country and the country you are in (and potentially third countries as well!) Some countries like the UAE, Korea, China, and Indonesia, required travelers to use a location tracking app at the height of COVID; I’ve never read the full terms and conditions for all of them, but these apps may require you to authorize the app to access private information on your phone.?

If you have important work information on your computer or phone, many countries will authorize their customs services to conduct spot checks; if the customs officers see something they don’t like when you are entering a country, they can stop / detain you or your device. In my opinion, it’s not worth the risk of losing very sensitive or critical documentation that isn’t necessary to your trip. Bring only what you need, and leave what you don't. Locals in the other country have figured out how to make things work and you will too :)

Other tips:

• Download a phrasebook on your phone and TRY to learn the local language.

We as Americans often overlook the fact that guy picking us up at the airport, the guy cooking our food, the guy fixing the hot water in the hotel room, and the woman making our bed each morning do not speak English. ?Represent yourself, your country, and your organization to the best of your ability and try to learn a bit of the language before you go. Chances are you'll be rewarded and you will make someone's day.

• Pack twice

Pack your bag up 2-3 days before you leave, and LIVE out of that bag before you go. You will see stuff in there that you don’t actually need for your trip, and will take it out, making your load lighter ??

• Packing list.?

Make a packing list of the stuff you are bringing. If your bag gets lost or stolen (and you have insurance–which you should do), you’ve got? a record of what was gone. Take a photo too of the bag as well :)?

If you’re gonna bring the kitchen sink, good on you for hauling it around. I’ll see you at the airport, Mr./Ms. Beastly Shoulders :))

Most importantly--Don't forget to call home and enjoy your trip :)

If you've got questions about East or SE Asia, the languages, or need a hand planning, shoot me a message!