What to pack? top 5 things we Bring While Travelling in South Korea & Asia

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We travel regularly during our work breaks around Asia or South Korea.  Our bags are never complete without these essential travel items for Asia. These are things we've always found to be extremely useful while travelling in Asia. 

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is great diluted with water and used as a hair rinse and skin toner to balance out the skin.  But our more recent discovery is apple cider vinegar as a stomach tonic. It's invaluable for travelling in Asia, especially Southeast Asia where you may not be used to the food or water.

A couple of years ago we went to Bali and our son Seb got a bad case of food poisoning.   He was sick for days and couldn't keep down water.  The only thing that helped him drink was apple cider vinegar mixed with water.   We were amazed and perplexed; drinking vinegar seems counter-intuitive to helping calm down an unsettled stomach, but it worked so well we had to believe it.

Ever since, we travel with a small 150ml bottle of a mix of 3/4 water and 1/4 apple cider vinegar in case of an unsettled stomach. If you are travelling super light, or don’t like the taste of ACV, carrying a dozen apple cider gummies would be the most lightweight and are pretty yum (and still effective).

Some ACV before or after a meal helps keep your stomach settled even if you unknowingly eat something a little iffy. This mix is also good for dandruff if you scalp has become imbalanced from using different water or shampoo. 

2. Minimal Luggage

My favourite of all- don't take too many things, only what you will definitely use during your vacation.   You can wash things along the way, or even buy an item, so no need for many outfits.   We're usually going from winter to summer, so layer with summer clothes while going to the airport - looks a bit strange, we may not be able to walk the airport fashion runway, but we're warm enough.

My usual outfit is leggings with a light pair of pants and on top layer a singlet top, t-shirt, long sleeve top, 2 cotton cardigans and a raincoat, a light sarong as a scarf and a buff around my head. Another way to decrease your bag size is to role up clothes makes them smaller and stops them from creasing.

My first time living overseas was when I was 22 and we moved to balmy Taiwan. I’d never done much travelling before, so I had no idea what to pack. We brought 2 huge suitcases and packed the most ridiculous things ever, including a feather quilt!

Now I travel with a small carry on suitcase and side bag and it’s enough, even when travelling for over a month. Travelling in the Philippines was much easier with less baggage, it was easy enough to wade into the water with my bag and hop on the small boats to get to some of the smaller islands like Malapascua and Bantayan Island.

In South Korea, we’ve found that there are so many stairs and escalators everywhere in the subway and train stations, it can be tricky with heavy bags. Even when you find a lift, old people will usually push in front of you to use it, so you’re often left waiting for a long time! Travelling light is definitely easier, and then you can just use the stairs.

3. Buff or Headband

Buffs or a similar headband are great as a neck scarf, head cover, eye cover for sleeping, headband or sweatband.  Surprisingly simple and effective, I made this discovery when my regular eye covers broke.   A material headband or buff is great for pulling back your hair or as a hairband, using as a sweatband and also doubles as excellent eye covers.  

The band is more comfortable as there's no thin elastic digging into my head or behind my ears.  The thick band evens out the pressure, and is quite relaxing.  These eye-covers work great for overnight flights and hotel rooms with thin curtains. In South Korean hotels there always seems to be so many little lights on - the internet, TV, and all sorts of other gadgets, so an eye cover is great. They’re much more comfortable than normal eye masks, plus you can use it as a hair tie or headband.

4. Sarong

Sarongs are incredibly handy for whatever occasion- whether it’s on a boat to keep the sun and salt off your hair or on a budget airline that doesn’t supply free blankets. I’ve used my sarong in so many different scenarios- as a towel at the beach, a picnic blanket, meditation mat or worn as a skirt when my other clothes were wet.  They're also useful if you're visiting a temple or a place that requires more formal wear - wind your nice sarong around your shoulders and/or over your hair and your singlet top is transformed into a stylish and appropriate outfit.

Sarongs are so handy I often bring  2 – one thin cotton and one synthetic. I choose thin cotton and synthetic as they're both quick drying and easy to wash while traveling.  In South Korea I find the cheaper accommodation, and even the pricier ones, don't change their sheets for every customer.  Also many minbak don't have sheets, and use a thin blanket in summer which is too hot for me.  So in this scenario the sarongs come in handy as sheets. I also used my sarong as a warm scarf when the air-conditioner is turned up too high or the weather turns cold!

5. Lavender Essential Oil

This is one of the only essential oils you can put on “neat” or straight, without diluting with a carrier oil is lavender oil.  This is amazing stuff as an antiseptic but is so gentle it barely stings on open cuts and scratches.   This stuff is the absolute best for mosquito bites, especially if you’re travelling in Korea in summer - it stops the itch almost instantly. Plus mosquitoes aren’t crazy about the smell so they won’t double bite you ;)

We use this for any wounds cuts, grazes or torn nails and don’t need any other antiseptic.   A couple of drops can also be mixed with aloe-vera gel or papaw cream if you need a good quality healing cream for grazes.  And it's great used as a perfume, particularly on a long haul flight!

If you have any amazing travel items you always take with you please share in our South Korea Slow Travel Facebook Group. :)