Gear and Prep for South America
While I could have done much more planning for a 2.5 month trip to South America, I find a slight thrill in 'playing it by ear' (Sorry, C. It is what it is!). More important than planning, in my opinion, is being prepared for where ever the adventure leads. Below are some gear, thoughts, and services I have found most useful in planning my trip....
SPOT GPS Messenger
This is a cool little device that, with the push of one button, let's me update my current location at a map, sent a text/e-mail to up to 10 friends letting them know that I'm okay or I need help, or contact global emergency services to coordinate a rescue. If I crash while cycling the World's Deadliest Road in Bolivia, I'll hope to not break my arms so I can reach that button.
UV Water Purifier
Not sure if I'm going to end up using this, but I think it's a cool device for the outdoors-person regardless. It is a submersible wand that will, in 90 seconds, kill any living organisms in up to 32 ounces of water. Worse than maybe not using it on this trip, it requires those stupid photo-size batteries that are expensive and hard to find. In the end, if I need some clean water and can't find it, this thing will be my best friend.
Comfortable Pack
This is key. If you're going to be spending more than a week with a backpack, it had better be comfortable. They can be expensive, but the way I see it, this is my home. If I'm going to be living out of it and packing it around for weeks at a time, it's worth the extra money to get one that is a) quality construction, b) comfortable, and c) lightweight. I went with the Gregory Z65.
Equally Comfortable Shoes
Same story as the pack. Keen makes some really durable shoes that are equally comfortable.
Google Voice
This solution is less than ideal since Google does not yet allow forwarding to international numbers, but it's the best I could come up with. You want to talk to me? Call my regular cell phone (same number I've had for years) and it is forwarded to Google Voice. Same with sending me text messages. I can then login to Google Voice account from an internet café to listen to and read your messages.
Skype
You called me and I want to call you back? I'll use Skype. I just need to find an internet café, and it will cost me less than $0.03 to call you in the States. Almost any internet café will have Skype installed on their computers, and if they have WiFi I can just launch the app from my iPhone.
Short-term Health Plan + Assist America
When I resigned from work I knew I'd be losing medical, dental, and vision coverage, and COBRA is simply too expensive. And, until that Obama guy that people keep talking about helps provide a better option, this is the best I could come up with. My friend Scott in Corvallis set me up with PacificSource for a measly $315 for 6 months of coverage. As expected, the deductibles are higher than my PPO and I don't have vision or dental coverage (my eyes are fine and I just had a routine dental cleaning). I can renew the plan for another 6 months when it expires, and after that Scott can help me move to another provider.
Pocket Knife + Leatherman
If some punk comes to you on the street and says, "Give me all of your money!", what do you do? Judgement call. Likely, I'll give him whatever spending money I had for the day and let them go feed their family. Or, I could pull a slick spring-loaded knife and put 'em down! ... Or, more likely, just use the knife to peel some fruit in a market. A Leatherman multi-tool is always useful to have around as well. I am just one the first day of my trip, and I have already used it.
Ultrathon Bug Repellant
This stuff made my 3M lasts for 12 hours per application and contains 34% DEET (about as high of a concentration you want on your body). It has a convenient sponge applicator so you don't need to smear it on your hands before applying. Most repellants only last 2-4 hours before needing to be reapplied.
Crappy Cell Phone
Nothing screams, "Hey, look at me! I'm American! Rob me!" like pulling out an iPhone in a crowded market. My SIM card is installed in the crappy cell phone and the phone is turned off most of the time (forwarding to Google Voice), but if it gets stolen I can easily replace it. And it has a calculator, too! So I can conveniently calculate exchange rates and such.
Non-Branded Lightweight Clothing
I think this is key. When I walk down the street, I don't want to have swooshes and TNF waterfalls all over me. For clothing to wear while I'm adventuring I have several long sleeved button-up shirts made of synthetic materials. They have vents to keep me cool, and allow for the sleeves to be rolled up and snapped into place. For pants they are either lightweight cotton or synthetic fiber, and zip-off legs are often a plus. I have short sleeves and shorts, but to keep sun and bugs away I prefer the long stuff.
Medications and Aid
- Doxycycline (anti-malaria)
- Ciprofloxacin (traveler's diarrhea)
- Acetazolamide (altitude sickness)
- Pepto Bismol
- Advil
- First Aid kit
Sleep Sack (Sleeping-bag Liner)
Hostels don't always have a clean sheet for you to use. Sometimes they even require you bring you own. This is a very very lightweight sleeping bag, but works perfectly to ensure you're not trading pubes with a stranger.
Non-Cotton Trousers, Socks, and Clothing
Laundry is a luxury. I'll have to wear the same pairs of things for a couple days in a row and synthetic fibers do not get as wet quickly, they dry fast, and don't smell as much. Well, I'm not sure about that last one, but I'm gonna go with it anyway.
LED Headlamp
Better than any flashlight you could buy. I like Petzel as a manufacturer, and have the Myo EXP and the Tikka Plus 2. 8x lithium batteries only.
Lithium Batteries: 8x Energizer
These are a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. The weigh less than traditional alkaline and last a lot longer in high-tech devices. I'm bringing a few extra just in case I or a friend need them.
Lonely Planet's "South America on a Shoestring" Book
I was told that this is the book to have. So, I went to Amazon and bought a used copy... already highlighted and dog-eared for my browsing convenience. It has everything from where to stay, things to see, place not to go, and how to get where you want to go. It's a little thick to be packing around, but when I get to a new town and I'm all alone without a common language I think it will come in handy.
Earplugs and Headphones
Sometimes you just want to yell, "SHUT THE @#$% UP!" Well, now I don't have to. People snore and talk in their sleep at hostels and airplanes and busses are noisy, so I packed some ear plugs to deaden the noise, and my headphones are the rubber type that squeeze into the ear to block out other sounds.
Cheap Digital Watch
Easier to look at and much less attention-catching than pulling a cell phone out of the pocket. Mine has a Nike swoosh on it, but i think I'll use a black market and have it removed. Doubles as an alarm clock, too!
Copies of ALL Travel-related Documents
Passport, health insurance card, drivers license, tentative itinerary, hostel and airline reservations, emergency contact info (local, and at home), contact info for US Embassies... if it is important and may be used, I think it's worth having copies of. Keep a copies of some things in all of your bags, and other times leave the original at home in case you get robbed.
Cash
I've heard different things about this. I'm bringing a wad of US Dollars (mostly small bills) and have stowed it away in various locations.
That's all I've got for now, but if other items come to mind I'll update this post to include them.
