One month in

On Monday, I will have been travelling for a month. Long-term travelling aside, this is the longest I've spent on one trip, and it's been amazing but educational. I've learnt a lot about myself since I hit the road this time, but I've also learnt a lot about travelling in general. 

Clothes

Packing-wise I actually did okay. Other than losing my trainers and having to wear a very uncomfortable pair of heels, I've pretty much had everything that I've needed clothing-wise. The plan was to travel halfway round the world on the clothes that I already own and then hit Primark when I'm in England to buy clothes to wear in Paris and Germany. Aside from my tote bag breaking, I haven't had to replace anything and I ended up picking up a sewing kit and fixing it along with a pair of pants. So far I've been pretty set. 

Technology

Whenever I've travelled before, be it through Central Europe or the US, I've always been able to use my phone in other countries. It's been expensive, but possible, and I haven't had to do anything before I leave. This time, I was not so lucky.

It doesn't help that my phone is a piece of shit. I don't believe in paying for phones on long-term contracts, but that doesn't mean I should have spent less than the price of a gram of cocaine on a phone from the post office. It's hanging on for now, barely, but I should have made the effort to make sure my phone was fully functioning and that it would work on my trip before I left. As it turns out, I didn't, and I've had to rely fully on WiFi for the vast majority of my trip. Strangely, it's been working in Montreal, and I've been able to add international calling to my phone plan. Hopefully this means I'll be able to use it in the UK and Central Europe, but as a last resort, someone I know should have a spare phone knocking around that I can get unlocked and use for the rest of my trip. 

My laptop has been amazing. Its small size means I can carry it around with me, but the screen is big enough that my friends and I were able to watch TV shows together when we were in Niagara. I've been able to write, apply for jobs and keep track of all my travel information, and it's been even better since my phone has started working and I've been able to connect to my phone's Wifi hotspot. The charging cable is quite bulky and obviously has an Australian plug socket, but that's not something I can control. 

My adaptor plug is obnoxiously big and can die in a fire, but it's doing the job for now. 

Luggage 

For the first time since I started travelling, I invested in some decent luggage before I came on this trip. I got given a $100 tip for carrying a tray of tequila shots over to a table, and I clubbed my wages together and bought a bag that I knew would fit into the overhead cabin and be able to carry everything I'd need for the two months I was away. 

Suitability aside, there are a couple of things I'd change if I bought another one. 

First of all, I'd buy a fabric case. When I  boarded my first plane, I wanted to keep my luggage in the cabin with me, but it was too heavy, and plastic cases are automatically heavier than fabric ones. It also has the issue of having two compartments, with one automatically becoming smaller once you fill the other. It fits my stuff and is easier to carry around, so it's perfect for what I need, but I'd make a few changes if I could. 

Shopping

I never, and I mean never, buy souvenirs when I travel. My eyes give me enough memories, and in a pinch, I'll take a photo. I'll sometimes pick up presents for my mum, but the most I've ever bought myself was a ring from Portugal, and even that took about an hour of consideration. This trip has been a little different, though.

There is one bookshop in Darwin City and one in the local shopping centre. The former is only marginally bigger than my apartment and mostly stocks Australian authors, and the other is mostly popular books and fun gift sets. Add to that the fact that Amazon charges an absurd amount to get anything to me, and my bookshopping options are very limited. Although Thriftbooks has been a lifesaver. 

This meant that when I got to Sydney and was actually able to enter a bookstore, I got a little bit excited, and so far I've bought 11 books. I've been good at donating the ones I've finished, and I've downloaded a few onto my phone so I don't take up too much space, but finding books I've been struggling to get hold of has been far too tempting. I even found a copy of Survivor, a book that I haven't seen since before I started uni. I limited myself to four during my 90-minute trip to Barnes and Noble on 5th Avenue, and my plan is to box the books I don't want to donate up and send them to myself from Basildon to arrive when I get home. The whole venture has been quite expensive, but given that I used to be addicted to cocaine, I feel I could be spending my money on a lot worse. 

Stay safe on the road

J