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Planepack interview with Rebecca Blackburn September 2017

Slobodanka: Hello Planepack readers. Welcome to another episode of Planepack. I'm sitting here with Rebecca. We're in the lovely Equinox Café in Deacon. And, Rebecca, tell me you said, you mentioned that you've been travelling light for almost ten years now. How did that all come about?

Rebecca: It probably all started when I moved to the U.K. and became, and started travelling regularly. So, off on the weekend, I'd go for a couple of days. And, it was just convenient.

Slobodanka: So about travelling light, do you mean with carry on only? or

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: So, no hold luggage/

Rebecca: No, no. Just one wheelie and one, one cross body .

Slobodanka: Handbag, yes. So, how do you plan for a trip like that? Let's say you were going to fly off tomorrow, how would you plan for your ? What would you take with you?

Rebecca: So, it depends on the season. But, there's a few set, set standard items that I take. I, let's start with the sustainability aspects. I would take my Klean Kanteen, which is a thermos, a drink bottle. You can put your tea or coffee in it. And it saves [00:01:23] and it's your cup as well, so, that's number one. And I also take a folding purse, a little handbag. So, for any shopping, for a beach bag, your bag, it's useful.

Slobodanka: Multipurpose.

Rebecca: Multipurpose, yes. Clothes wise, I take layers. So, a lightweight , like a Japara, or trench that's waterproof and wind proof. So that's your layer. And underneath I have one or two wool layers. Possible. I just discovered the ultra light weight puffer .

1 Slobodanka: Alright. It's tiny

Rebecca: I know, packing it, can't stand to ten centimetre is tiny and it also doubles as a pillow. So it's super warm and wind proof as well, so, that's another warm layer. And, then, other essentials are a pair of cause I always wear those. Their, you can wear them for sleeping. Your warm layer under , if it's really cold. And, also, and if it's ultra cold, I wear a tight pair of thick wool knee high . And then a pair of jeans. So, yeah.

Slobodanka: Good. An essential wardrobe. What do you, how do you it up if you have to go out? So, let's say you go to the theatre or you go to a smart restaurant for dinner, if you do those sorts of things. Is there, is there something else you would take with you to dress up?

Rebecca: Yes. So I take a Ponte , a stretch blazer, looks smart and it's comfortable. I would take , scarves are gold. They add colour and can be worn in multiple ways. You can wear them as a . You can them to keep you warm. You can wear them to just add colour. And you might [00:03:27] too is quite useful. I also take, for going out, one, one dressy top.

Slobodanka: Wow

Rebecca: Lipstick and some flashy .

Slobodanka: Absolutely and looks quite stunning those.

Rebecca: With that

Slobodanka: Yes, you can go anywhere.

Rebecca: Yes, and, and I also take one pair of dark coloured or jeans.

Slobodanka: Yes

Rebecca: So, it doesn't really matter that you might be walking on the bottom. But, because people don't really know, it's just what they notice you. They notice your face. They notice whether, you know, you're wearing a bit of makeup, whether you've got earrings on, whether you, you've got a bit of colour. That's what they notice.

Slobodanka: Absolutely. That's the message I like to get across to people as well. Because shoes are heavy.

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: So, what shoes do you take with you?

Rebecca: Yes. I take a pair of smart walking shoes. And, if it's summer, I would have some, either Birkenstocks or I actually quite like, Echo is a brand.

2 Slobodanka: For walking shoes?

Rebecca: For and walking

Slobodanka: For sandals and walking shoes

Rebecca: So, I have, for sandals, I have a pair of black patent Echo sandals. So, the them up but they have a cushion sole. Because if you're walking for ten hours a day, you do not want a flat pair of sandals.

Slobodanka: That's right. You need comforts, don't you?

Rebecca: Yes. And so with shoes, Echo also do leather lace ups. Some of them are daggy. You do have to sort through them and fins some of them are a bit more fashionable.

Slobodanka: Yes.

Rebecca: But, there's lots of other brands too.

Slobodanka: Yes. I like that idea of being able to combine day shoes with your evening gear as well. So you don't have to take an extra pair of shoes for dressing up. And as you said earlier, no one ever notices what you've got on your feet. In fact, nobody ever notices what you're wearing when you're travelling.

Rebecca: Absolutely. I mean the main import is to be comfortable, to feel that you're protected from the elements, and there, there the most important things. It is nice to not look too touristy.

Slobodanka: That's right.

Rebecca: That's had, that's what I

Slobodanka: Yes, that's the criterion. What about the bag that you use? Because you'll be travelling with a carry on bag. What is your carry on bag?

Rebecca: Actually, I can't remember the brand, but it's just a hard case wheelie bag. But it fits, I checked before I bought it, that it

Slobodanka: Yes.

Rebecca: Fits the airlines about, I think it technically doesn't fit Ryan, Ryanair, which is the cheapest

Slobodanka: The cheapest, yes.

Rebecca: Airline in Europe. And I have an extra small size. But they never, ever questioned it, I might add. But, yet. I like that it is a hard case because it's robust and it has wheels, and I can lock it.

3 Slobodanka: Yes. And the carry on allowance is seven kilos. Have you ever turned back from your line and told oh, your weight is too heavy, you've got yo put it in the hold? Or do they generally accept it?

Rebecca: No, I haven't been turned back. You do have to be careful because even with a bag that size you can go over weight. Don't take books. So, I, yeah, take a tablet, an ereader.

Slobodanka: Yes.

Rebecca: Don't take books.

Slobodanka: Yes. And what about cosmetics or toiletries, because they weigh quite a lot. So, how do you manage those?

Rebecca: I did take a miniature set with makeup. It's just lipstick, foundation, mascara and eyeliner. Really, really basic. Oh, and I have a lip gloss as well. Yeah

Slobodanka: Easy. So, what's the longest period that you've managed to travel with this constrained wardrobe?

Rebecca: Three months.

Slobodanka: Three months?

Rebecca: Yep.

Slobodanka: That's brilliant.

Rebecca: I travelled all over Europe and it was four seasons. So, I started in Portugal and then went to Morocco in September, which is really hot. And, so, I had swimmers and summer dress. But then, by the time I finished, it was December and it was in Paris and it was crazy. Literally close to zero degrees.

Slobodanka: And you managed with the wardrobe?

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka:There's a lot of people ask me that question, the very same question, how to manage travelling through seasons.

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: And you did it with your layered wardrobe. So you just added layers as it got colder?

Rebecca: Yes. So, so your bottom layer is like tshirts and your cotton leggings. And a summer dress. And then you add, fine wool is fantastic cause it's warm.

4 Slobodanka: Merino, it's nice.

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: [00:08:15]

Rebecca: Yes, yes. It's fantastic.

Slobodanka: It's fabulous.

Rebecca: Yes, and then, and then, and then, if it's really cold, the puffer. And then, and then, and then your Japara or that you wear over the top. You do need , gloves,

Slobodanka: For the cold, for the cold

Rebecca: Yeah. And, as I said before, on your legs, you wear jeans or

Slobodanka: Leggings under the jeans if it is cold.

Rebecca: Yes. Plus knee high socks, which I discovered in London where the fantastic knee high wool socks really make a difference because they just because your jacket will often come down to your knees. But it really, so then you need something from your shoes up.

Slobodanka: Shoes, yes. So if you're wearing a coat like the one you mentioned. Not the puffer jacket. Would you take that with you on the aeroplane, so that's it's not packed into your carry on bag? Or is it part of your carry on pack?

Rebecca: Yeah, often, often I would carry that, just carry it on the plane.

Slobodanka: Yes.

Rebecca: Yeah.

Slobodanka: Yeah. So we've covered wardrobe, we've covered toiletries. We've covered the duration. What would you say are the benefits of travelling light?

Rebecca: I would never, ever go back. So, when I was eighteen, I went overseas, well, maybe I was nineteen. I went overseas for the first time on my own and I took a pack. A big bush walking pack. And it, when I remember when I returned it was like 18 kilos. And I'm petite, I could, I'm about five foot tall, I could barely carry the thing. It was utterly insane. I cannot understand why I'd do that. And, now, now I've discovered travel light, I would never, ever go back again. Because it's easy, once or twice we've had to run through airports

Slobodanka: Airports.

Rebecca: Airports, and you can. And you don't have to, and, and, in fact my last trip to China exactly that happened. We, I didn't put to carry, into the hold. We had to make three really tight change overs. And I was able to do it because I had carry ons.

5 Slobodanka: You can be flexible and nimble. That's what I discovered.

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: And what the benefits of when you're actually in the cities negotiating trains, buses, boats, cobblestones, lifts?

Rebecca: Exactly. It's so much easier because the can be quite awkward. I will say wheelie are not great on cobblestones.

Slobodanka: You can pick it up and carry it.

Rebecca: You can pick it up and carry it, yes. And there is, some, I also have a carry on .

Slobodanka: I was going to ask you if you had a backpack.

Rebecca: Yeah, with a zipperable frame. So, yeah, so it all just zips into one neat little parcel. So I use that for kinda like [00:11:13]

Slobodanka: Oh, right.

Rebecca: More adventure travel because it's easier to shove into small spaces.

Slobodanka: Right. You got small car or escort. I don't think you would come close to [00:11:24] you'd sort of travel independently.

Rebecca: Yeah.

Slobodanka: Well that's fantastic. So, if you had any advice from someone who wants to change from carrying the 20, 23 kilos in the hold to travelling light, what word of advice would you give them?

Rebecca: The best step is planning. So, lie out all your clothes. Do this at least a week before you go. So, and, and, and, everything you take's got to go with everything else and it's got to be multipurpose. If you got something that's a single use, it's a complete waste of space, is basically what I would say. It, you want things you can layer on top of each other. Don't have, dress up, dress down.

Slobodanka: So, planning is essential?

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: Know where you're going and what you'll need to take on the trip to enjoy it.

Rebecca: And, honestly, if the worst comes to the worst, what, what, what, could, if you miss something, you can usually buy it. In fact, some people and I'm starting to think this way too, with an , why bother. There's not point in bringing an umbrella because

6 usually when it rains, especially if you're a tourist, the instant it rains, suddenly out of nowhere, these people appear and they'll be selling you an umbrella.

Slobodanka: Umbrella vendors, that's right.

Rebecca: And you know.

Slobodanka: Don't bother to travel.

Rebecca: I really don't think it's necessary.

Slobodanka: Yes.

Rebecca: And, also, yes, the coat or jacket, yes, but the umbrella, no.

Slobodanka: Yes. No. So, the hat, gloves for the cold but hold for the rest you can manage.

Rebecca: Yes.

Slobodanka: It's been fantastic talking to you Rebecca. Thank you so much for your time. I'm sure the Play and Pack readers are really going to enjoy getting your feedback and comments. Thanks again.

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