\0xFFFD Pilgrimage Packing List

Pilgrimage Packing List

First of all I will say that there will be an opportunity to leave your heavier clothing or even to bring extra clothing items for the Tibetans, monks and nuns that we will meet or who are in retreat in Dehra Dun at Jangchubling Monastery. They appreciate anything you may want to bring for them, especially good quality warm clothing or shoes, toiletries, new personal hygiene items. This is an option, but there is by no means any requirement that you bring extra items.

This is the list for pilgrims:

Travelers checks

You will be able to find a few places to cash travelers checks, like in the Delhi Airport possibly , Bodhgaya and Varanasi, but it is not easy and you may not be able to find a place even in an emergency situation. We recommend taking mostly cash and of course you will have to pay for the pilgrimage in Cash US Dollars because there will be no place to cash travelers checks at the beginning of the tour. We should all make copies of our Passport, Travel insurance and other crucial information such as credit cards and other ID ect. in case of loss or theft. Once these items are photocopied they should be secured away in a money belt, and another can be stored in a hidden luggage pocket. We should also make copies of plane tickets and local phone numbers and contacts for embassies ect. keep them in a safe place. No matter where you are, these copies may save your trip.

Hygenic Concerns

There are also the hygienic concerns, of course. We must al be careful about consuming only boiled, purified or reliable bottled water or juices. Even for brushing our teeth we will have to use bottled water. You will want to bring a toothbrush and paste, antiseptic mouthwash, razor, deodorant, soap and shampoos (though some can be purchased there) bandaids, antiseptics and antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrhea, anti-foot fungus, anti-insect, anti-malarial and anti-biotics to fill an emergency kit.

Immodium MUST be a part of this kit. More than one traveler has sworn by this anticramping/antidiareal medicine. Besides the toiletries you use every day, you should consider bringing the following:

Prescription Medication:

Luggage

A lot of luggage could make travel difficult. You may want to find something you can fit on the plane, then add a shoulder pack, but one durable check in luggage is not a problem. Of course we will have to bring luggage which is in accordance with the airlines weight and size restrictions and wherever we go we will have to carry it by hand or hire someone to carry it on some roads where taxis cannot go. However we understand that you may be bringing donation items so we will find a way to carry it.

We recommend that you pack for seven days. Better yet, pack for five days, and for three reasons. First, anything you normally wear for five days at home, you can wear for 10 days on the road. Second there is always a place to wash clothes, either by your self or through a laundry service for an incredibly cheap price. People throughout the world know how to wash clothes and they charge less than you normally spend on electricity and detergent at home. Third, shopping. No matter, where you are, there will always be some article of clothing you will want to buy. For me, it's a t-shirt or a shawl. I always pack knowing I will be buying at least one t-shirt and shawl or scarf from some favorite shop. Here are some recommendations for packing clothing:

In the North where the temperature may be in the 50's, but could be in the 70's in mid day we will need to have one pair of long underwear (pants), thin gloves, a thicker fleece or jacket, and light hat. If you can layer up your other clothes to be warmer that would be best. Also, if you want to bring some warmer items, you can always leave them behind with the monk and nuns. A sturdy backpack/luggage and good shoes are indispensable. Good shoes are a must. Walking shoes and comfortable sandals. It can be a pain to haul around two pairs of shoes, but it is worth it.

Shammy microfiber towels at a sporting goods store are a good idea. Light-weight, quick-dry travel pants are also good, they squish down to nearly nothing and offer pocket options galore. Plus, the legs zip off so you don't need to pack additional shorts. Many have inside button flaps that let you roll them up into capri pants.

Buy What You Need

You can buy most of what you need along the way be it shampoo, travel tissue, aspirin, cold medicine, hats, gloves, coats, a swim suit, umbrellas and Q tips. There are some items you cannot find: tampons, condoms, allergy medicine, and contact solution.

A head lamp, for reading and a deck of cards and alarm clock, or a watch with one so you can plan your time well might be good things to bring. At that time of year you will probably not need a mosquito net, but you could bring a small one just in case you wanted to make sure, there will be a few, especially in Bodh Gaya.

Here are two more example packing lists that we found, one for a girl and the other for a boy. So we hope that between all of these lists you can come up with your own. The group can also help each other I am sure should someone run out, but i would not depend on that from the get go.

Kelly

Quang

Electronics:

First Aid Kit:
Neosporin, assortment of Band-aids, gauze pads, first aid tape, alcohol wipes, latex gloves, hydrocortisone cream, itch-stick, aloe vera gel, Visine, thermometer, Tylenol, Advil, Theraflu thin strips, Chloraseptic thin strips, chewable Pepto Bismol, Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer, Advil Cold & Sinus, Imodium, laxatives, motion-sickness pills, cough drops

Other:

Photocopies of passports, marriage certificate, Quang's naturalization papers, Kelly's birth certificate, travel health insurance plan and ID cards, vaccinations, prescriptions for glasses.