Backpacker Kit
The serious side of the trip (but with colorful pens)
myworldaround
Okay, yes… I’m also a fan of going with the flow, letting the journey surprise you and trusting that “things will work out”. Buuut let’s be real: there are certain things you need to sort out before setting off, or you’ll end up at the airport looking like a confused emoji because you forgot a crucial vaccine or missed a visa deadline. That’s why I created my very own Backpacker Kit.
Planning a trip like this isn’t just about picking a destination — it’s about surviving the famous list of “things you have to do before boarding a plane”… and living to tell the tale.
This section was born from my own experience (I’m not an expert, nor pretending to be one), but from someone who has spent hours —and a few sleepless nights— digging through info, opening too many tabs, spiraling between lists and question myself:
“Was all this really necessary, or am I just making life harder for myself (again)?”
• Getting Started with the Planning •
(1st of novice nomad)
When I decided that in 2025 I’m leaving for good, I started to organize myself like a good new digital nomad: taking notes on my phone, downloading apps to get organized, even making mental lists that, honestly, lasted less than a hot coffee on my desk.
Until I realized that as Millennial as I am, I’m old school: notebook, pen and colored highlighters. So I set up my own system and started to divide it by topics, in the purest documentary detective style:
- VACCINATIONS: And the ordeal of finding an appointment to get them.
- VISAS: Paperwork, confusing websites and the art of filling out forms without losing patience.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Because, even if I trust in my good luck, it is better not to tempt fate.
- PROVISIONAL ITINERARY: Because I am not going to do Kuala Lumpur - Beijing in a straight line, here it is necessary to think of more or less logical routes.
- BUDGET: It's not that much is needed, but doing some math before I go helps (spoiler: giving up nights out in Madrid and a few random subscriptions = enough for a couple of flights).
• Coming soon in My Backpacker Kit •
(With en-route updating)
I will update each section in real time as I go along. For example, in the vaccines section, I’ll tell you all about the pantomime to get the appointment (which, by the way, is coming up very soon) and once they’ve turned me into a human colander, I’ll add what they recommended, the prices, and —most importantly— which one hurt the most (because yes, there will definitely be a winner)
- MY BACKPACK IKI: And everything inside it. It’s super cliché, I know, but I’m honestly proud that I finally left out most of the “just in case” items.
- LIFESAVER APPS: The ones that help me not get (too) lost and get through the occasional WTF moment.
- RANDOM TIPS: I know I’ll be learning loads on the road, so all the little useful tricks, I’ll be sharing them right here.
♣ IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ANY OF THESE TOPICS, JUST CLICK ON WHAT YOU NEED. ♣
The best part? You can totally adapt this info to your own way of traveling —because there’s no one right way to do it. But if anything you find here helps you out, then I’m more than happy. And if it makes you smile, even better. ♥
TRAVEL DOESN’T START WHEN YOU BOARD A PLANE, BUT WHEN YOU DECIDE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE JOURNEY FROM THE INSIDE (THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CHAOTIC), YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM. ♣[@BLOG_MYWORLDAROUND]♣
⇒ Note: All images in this blog have been generated with AI (for now), mostly to add my personal touch… But don’t worry, once I step out of anonymity, I’ll swap AI for real-life snapshots (and I promise, no extreme filters—keep it real).