Packing Light - Updated

Packing 1 bag (under 22 pounds) for a 9-month trip around-the-world is a challenge I enjoy:)  I've used the past several weeks to figure out what is essential and what can be purchased when I get to my destinations. The list of essentials is surprisingly long and includes:

• Currency for first 2 stops (Japan and South Korea)
• Passport and copies
• Drivers license
• Itinerary and associated papers
• Headlamp (or a flashlight)
• Vitamins, medicine/1st aid, and water purification tablets
• Insect repellent and sunscreen (very expensive in SE Asia)
• Phone, charger, and ear buds
• Collapsable water bottle
• Sunglasses, eye glasses and case
• Small notebook and pencil
• Neck pillow
• Lock
• Towel
• Colorado gifts for people I meet
• Travel alarm
• Concentrated liquid soap for showers, laundry, etc.
• Flash drive (contains my passport photos should I need to replace)
• Spork
• Deodorant
• Razor and blades
• Toothbrush/paste, floss
• Nail clipper
• Ear plugs

You might think some of these items are non-essential but it depends on one's itinerary. For example, I normally wouldn't take a travel alarm; using my phone instead. However, temples and meditation centers (where I'll be staying) typically take your phone when you enter to prohibit outside communication; the alarm is necessary to wake up at 3 or 4 (depends on the temple) to begin daily practice. Also, these places are typically pretty spartan and tell visitors to bring a flashlight, mirror, towel, and all toiletries. Also, while one can purchase some of this stuff overseas, going to the trouble of finding it in a destination one is unfamiliar with and where one doesn't speak the language is often not worth the weight savings:)

My non-wearable items; weight = 6 pounds (does not include phone).

Here is the 6 pounds of "essentials" stuffed in my day pack; note the scale I use to weigh everything to ensure I don't exceed 22lbs/10kg. See photo below for 1.1lbs I forgot to include:)

1.1lbs of toiletries I forgot to add in the above bag/photo.