On a RTW trip, you eliminate so much of your wardrobe as options for packing. You have to make the assumption that you aren’t going to hit the nightclubs, visit nice places, dress well or have wardrobe options. For those of you that have been with us since the beginning of our blog, you know I didn’t bring much on our trip. As James called my clothes, outfit 1 and outfit 1A! You can also reread my post about that first attempt at packing here or James’ packing list here.

So I put off packing for awhile as I just wasn’t sure where to start. How do I approach packing for 3 months that will cover different climates, temperatures and different wardrobe needs? Dresses, shoes, boots, jackets, yoga, rock climbing, pants, long sleeved shirts, shirts! Yikes. Seeing as how much I have been enjoying having lots of clothes to pick from each day since we have been home, I couldn’t see myself going back to 2 or 3 options again.

Finally, I started pulling out different bits of clothes and laying them on my brother’s bed as he was out of town (unfortunately!) Piece by piece, I pulled items from my closet that had more than one option for wear, ie dresses that could be paired with leggings, layering shirts, you get the idea. After all, this had to fit into one suitcase so I was trying to maximize and be efficient.

You can see from the photos below that I somehow squeezed it all into that pretty empty looking suitcase on the floor! And dare I say, I am enjoying my clothes options in Barcelona. Definitely packed well and more importantly will look cute during our time here

On a scale of one to ten I would personally rate myself a six or a seven for being a people person. I do enjoy meeting new people, talking with randoms on the street, and sharing the company of others. But my up bringing as an only child has certainly tainted my life’s outlook. I also enjoy my privacy, my alone time, my personal bubble, people listening to me. This can create a bit of an interesting experience while traveling to places where the adjective “personal” is as foreign as my skin tone and only child is means the time in between baby one and baby two.

The people of Vietnam are supremely kind and hospitable people, especially considering their past. As I prepared for my trip I got a few odd looks from people who remember Walter Cronkite reporting from the ‘Nam when I mentioned I was traveling here on holiday. When my parents were my age the country that I love was bombing these people “back into the stone age” and here I am today eating, drinking, laughing, and living life with these vibrant people. They seem to live in the now and have forgiven the past. I am thankful that they are such understanding people and now are such good hosts. Western hoteliers should really be recruiting from Vietnam as they go out of their way to make strangers feel at home.

Yet despite Vietnam’s gracious hospitality and supposed Communistical-ness I have felt the need to keep a keen eye for hidden motives.

I love friendly people and I love meeting people as I said. But many of the people I have meet in Vietnam have all seemed to want something from me. Mind you I have a target the size of Siberia painted on me as a white male traveling alone. Nevertheless most friendly people have wanted something from me besides friendship. Whether it be striking a conversation to get me to go on a motorbike ride, looking at their shop, or in a few cases poking around to see if I’m marryable.

I can understand the reasons for attempting to befriend me, trying to make a living in all. But it is in a way said. Because, as a solo traveler, I have to keep my protective barrier up and try insulate myself from any no bueno situations. Not that I’ve shied away from meeting people, I’m just leery of everyone until their true intentions come out into the open. I just wish I didn’t always have to have my guard up.

Nevertheless I’m not going to let this obfuscate my adventuring. I’ll continue to make friends where I may end up.

You can read more from Andrew at www.yankeesojourn.com.

Everyone, no matter where they live, takes pride in their space.

People will live anywhere.

I (Johanna) have a small bladder.

I get cranky when I am hungry. Worse when I am hot and hungry.

A smile goes a long way and costs nothing.

You just have to believe, to have hope.

People never cease to amaze.

People can be happy anywhere, doing anything.

Holland has an “awesome” mortgage system.

It’s all relative.

Assume the best of people but never stop watching their eyes.

I sleep a couple hours less than James each day.

James likes coffee in the am when he first wakes up, while I would prefer it in the afternoon, if at all.

Never trust the baggage handlers.

There are very defined gender roles around the world.

No matter where you are on this planet, people will stare if you look different. The more homogeneous their society, the more they stare at what’s different.

Transiting from one place to another is physically and emotionally tiring and generally is less than ideal.

I have a need to know the time, especially when I am sleeping.