Planepack

I originally published this post some time ago - and decided to update it due to my recent long haul trip. Since those early trips, I’ve changed my handbag to an Airpocket, which I reviewed for Planepack.

On this trip, I carried these things in my Airpocket:

• passport

• wallet

• pen

• a small pouch containing lipstick, pocket mirror and hand cream

• a cord roll containing iPhone charger and Apple earphones - as a backup for my Bose travel headphones

• sun glasses

• reading glasses

• iPhone

• face mask

I’ve managed to cut back from my previous packing tips. This is what I had to say about two years ago - still valid, but I’m travelling even lighter now:

Yes, you do. Even if you're travelling light with your single carry on bag, you are permitted by most airlines to take on board one additional personal item. I find it handy to have my documents, money, iPhone, headphones, sweets easily accessible when I'm on board. I don't want to have to haul things in and out of the overhead locker - so travelling with a small handbag makes sense. But remember, this is usually included in the overall weight limit of 7 kgs. So pack carefully - and if in doubt, check my list of permitted carry on luggage. And listen to the podcast of this blog post at iTunes - for the auditory experience!

For the past four or five trips, I’ve flown with the same handbag (see the photo). I sling my handbag over my shoulder and it contains all my documents and other essentials. My current handbag is plain soft leather in a neutral colour. The bag doesn’t have any adornments: no extra zips, pockets or buckles. The bag came with a longer strap to wear across my body, but I find if the bag is full, it’s not comfortable to carry that way.

My soft leather handbag

My bag is multipurpose: I use it on the plane, or on the beach and on the trip if I need to carry a few more things than would fit into my smaller bag. I’m not too fussed if something spills on my bag, which usually happens in the plane. And I’m equally happy having it at my feet, pushed under the seat in front of me.

My bag opens with a single zip across the top and I usually sling  the bag over my shoulder with the zip opening at front: no danger that someone will unzip my bag behind me.

I travel with an additional across-the-body bag, which I carry inside my handbag on the plane. I also take a rolled shopping bag with me, which can double up as a beach bag, a grocery bag or a shopping bag - as it fits neatly into my across-the-body bag. Mr PetMan grumbles that this small bag might get stolen, but who would think that something that small contains anything of real value? And using an across-the-body bag leaves my hands free to take photos, buy things, eat - but still have quick and easy access to the contents of the bag.

I confess that I'm an Apple fan: I have an iPhone, an iPad Pro, a MacBook Pro and a Mac Mini. I’m a fairly recent convert to Apple products; I used to swear by PCs, but I was won over in 2010 when I got my first iPad, followed a year later by my MacBook Pro and earlier this year by my Mac Mini - and I’m now onto my fourth iPhone. I enjoy the design, ease of use, and particularly the interoperability between these Apple products.

When I first got an iPad, I took it with me on my travels, but since getting an iPhone 7, I take only my iPhone - and leave everything else at home. As the iPhone has a large screen, it’s replaced my iPad for most things as I can

• Watch movies and videos

• Capture travel memories with photos or videos

• Read and listen to books

• Communicate with the world - there’s free wi-fi at most cafes and hotels all over the world: no need anymore to buy phone plans, or mobiles (with all the inconvenience of changing numbers and punching in codes).

• Use utility apps like the compass, language translators, currency converters, banking - and everything else I need to make my trip easy and comfortable.

What do I take with me? This is my essential handbag packing list:

I love my handbag organiser: everything is in its place so I can grab it when I need it.

• handbag organiser - I use a bag within a bag to make finding content easy. It also makes changing handbags easy: I lift out the organiser - with all its contents - and put it into any other bag. The organiser has neat little side pockets where I slip in my passport, wallet, reading glasses and sunglasses: a place for everything so that I can grab one or the other thing when I need it. This isn't essential for travel, but as my larger bag is just a shell, I found the organiser keeps everything organised!

• Passport

• Wallet with card charged with local cash. I also take my normal credit card - and leave all the other shopping cards at home. I don't want to add any unnecessary weight.

• Reading glasses

• Sun glasses

• Business cards - these are useful for exchanging contact details overseas

• Headphones - preferably over ear (I find in-ear headphones uncomfortable and Apple earbuds fall out of my ears). I have a nice fold-up pair that packs easily.

• Smartphone - Before I travel, I load my iPhone with with books, audiobooks, videos and movies so that I don't use up expensive download facilities overseas

• Phone charger - I'm always on the lookout at airports to charge my iPhone

• Headphone charger - I use wireless headphones and a charge powers a long haul trip

• Pen that doesn’t leak - I learnt this the painful way when I discovered blue ink all over the inside of my bag. You always need a pen on board to fill out arrivals forms.

• Face mask - I recently wrote about wearing a face mask and how it cocoons me from the trials of travel.

• Moisturiser - I like to apply this every time I wash my face during the long trips

• Lipstick or lip gloss - as the atmosphere on board is so dry, I like to moisturise my lips

• Sucking sweets

• Light reading - magazine or book as a change from my iPhone books or videos

• I don’t need toothpaste/toothbrush or socks or eye patch as I get these on the plane

• I don't any longer take a change of clothes in my hand bag as I'm travelling with carry on luggage that contains all my clothes. Step on and off the plane like a celebrity!

• roll up grocery or utility bag - I could pack this in my cabin bag, but generally it lives in my organiser

• cross body small handbag (fits my purse, my iPhone, my sunglasses, lipstick, tissues - and perhaps a small purchase) for my day use. Sometimes I use this at airports as its easer to access my essential documents from the small handbag - rather than open my larger handbag. But I pack this away before check in.

While this sounds like a long list, there's no one item there that weighs too much - so you should be able to get away with your 7 kgs combining these contents with your suitcase. I've only once had an airline weigh in both my handbag and my carry on bag - mostly they are accommodating. The worst that will happen is that you have to send your carry on bag into the hold, which annoys me as it defeats one of the major purposes of travelling light - you don't want to waste your time at the baggage carousel waiting for your carry on luggage. But in the last seven years of travelling light, this has only happened to me once. So good luck with the light packing!

I'm Slobodanka Graham, publisher and Planepacker.

No need to worry what to pack.

Get my FREE checklist for your clothes and toiletries. Complete the form below:

Download your free checklist.

I appreciate your getting in touch; thank you.

Slobodanka

Over the years, I’ve shed the tech as I travel light and lighter. I no longer take my laptop, video or SLR camera (nor any of those cables and chargers), nor do I take my iPad. Instead, I travel with only my iPhone.

I’m sharing with you how I use my mobile for all my travel needs: these are my preferred apps and tips.

Like most people, I enjoy photographing my trip and posting my photos and brief comments on Facebook. I keep this to a minimum, usually curating one or two good shots to depict the best of the day. If you enjoy writing a digest of your day, like my friend Debbie does, posting this on Facebook is a nice way of sharing the fun of your travels.

I like using Messenger for the more personal messages - there’s no need to tell the whole world every detail of your dinner!

If you run a small business, or if you need to stay in touch with your clients, email is the best way of doing that. Coupled with my calendar, I manage essential business needs (although I try to avoid doing that) when I’m overseas.

I use Instagram to promote my business. I publish a select few images - curated and edited with ColorStory - while I’m travelling. If you prefer to schedule your Instagram feed while you’re away, Planoly will help you do that.

Even though I research and plan my trip prior to departure, inevitably I’ll need to find out more while I’m away. Whether I need to Google or search specifically, I use the inbuilt Safari browser - just like at home - to find anything, anywhere. Remember that using these apps is predicated on your having internet access. If you need to do any hardcore internet searching, use the hotel’s wifi to do so.

Remember the days when you had to buy and exchange travellers cheques? No? You’re too young! Believe me, it was onerous. These days I load my travel card with cash in the preferred currency to pay bills or draw money while overseas. Occasionally I check my banking app, which is useful if I want to top up my allowance.

I need a taxi! This is when having a phone is really helpful. Other than that, I avoid using my phone overseas as the charges are so high. Occasionally I use the message service, but check your provider’s charges as even SMS can be quite expensive.

Before I leave home, I research my destinations using Google Maps. Knowing I may not have internet access while walking the streets of the cities, I photograph the maps (screen capture) and keep them in my photos app for in situ reference. This is handy if you need to plot your path while walking or driving through a city.

It’s great to wake up in the mornings to a nice tune. I set my alarm for a range of wake up call times. If I’m having a nap during the day, I choose a relevant time, an hour or two after I’ve closed my eyes.

My iPhone light is an invaluable help. I use it at night in strange hotels to find my way from my bed to the bathroom. I use it in dark rooms and theatres to find my seat. I use it at restaurants to read the menu (those gloomy cafes). I use it to assist in DIY projects. I’ve even used it to help see a splinter so we can remove it. Just don’t shine it in someone’s eyes as it’s pretty bright.

When we arrived in Tokyo at Shinjuku station, I used my compass inside the railway building to find north (our exit) as we had no idea which direction we were facing. I’ve also used the compass when walking to check we’re going in the right direction. This is helpful if you don’t speak the local language.

I read almost exclusively on Kindle - and that’s at home as well as on holiday. I say ‘almost’ because I do like to have a magazine with me for those few occasions when I can’t use my mobile, like in the bright sunlight. I sometimes load documents in iBooks, particularly work reference publications.

I’m a bit of a video addict so I load up a few series from iTunes and watch them on my iPhone TV app. Remember to delete videos after you’ve watched them to minimise your mobile storage. If there’s good wifi available, I catch up on Netflix videos.

Like videos, I stock up on Audible books before I travel. I prefer to listen to a book on the plane rather than read one. It’s more relaxing on my eyes and sometimes I even drift off and sleep, which is great.

I’m a digital sketcher so I use Procreate for my travel sketches. I use a Bamboo stylus for more detail than with my finger. If you’re just starting out as a digital sketcher, I recommend Paper, which is simple and easy to use.

At the moment I play a couple of games with friends. For a word strategy game, I recommend LetterPress. If you’re a Scrabble player, you might like Words2. As these are cloud based, you will only be able to play online. But there are many other games you can solo play.

• Facebook

• Messenger

• Calendar

• Email

• Instagram

• Planoly

• ColorStory

• Commbank

• Google Maps

• Compass

• Kindle

• iBooks

• iTunes

• Netflix

• Audible

• LetterPress

• Words 2

• Tumblr

• Audio recorders

My most used app is my camera. I take lots of photos and video as well. I like to capture travel experiences in short videos, which I edit into longer travelogues when I’m back home. Capturing images for reference is handy too: you don’t have to write down any long descriptions; just snap the exhibition text.

I use Notes to capture my thoughts, ideas, points of interest. I’m not an on the spot blogger, although I have blogged using Tumblr. I prefer to write about my trip after the event.

During our trip to Japan, I decided to audio record our experiences using Audio Capture. This was good fun as I also captured various sounds, like running water and bells. Capturing audio is less intrusive than video.

We recorded our daily events and experiences. Even though it’s a bit amateurish, I published the recordings as a podcast, which you can listen to via this link or at Planepack Radio at iTunes.

I’m sure there are many more possible apps that make your trip better. What do you use? I’d love to hear from you.

I’m Slobodanka Graham, light traveller, content entrepreneur and iPhone fan. As you can tell, I use my iPhone for most things. I’m not sponsored by Apple, I just like their products a lot!

Last week I sat down for coffee with Adam Moore. He’s a nice man, married, with a toddler son, living and working in Canberra. But what’s exceptional about him is that he is a fashion icon. And he has an Instagram following of nearly 12,000 people. Wow. I had to know more.

Adam Moore: fashion icon and top Aussie bloke wearing his favourite blue suit - with accessories.

We chatted about clothes, toiletries - and light travel. You can listen to the full interview at Planepack Radio (or via the link below). Hear Adam talk about iconic Australian men’s style. Or if you prefer reading, download and read the full interview transcript.

I asked Adam what are his travel essentials - the basic building blocks of his travel wardrobe:

“I do have a packing list that I tend to go through, and I guess I'll start with the basics, which is obviously underwear and socks. Always have probably an extra one or two pairs of those, which I do take. I always normally travel with a pair of chinos and a pair of jeans, and I find having one of each of those are really versatile.”

But what about dressing up a little? What do you do to look a bit more formal?

“And then depending on the time of year and what I'm doing, I'll normally have some type of navy blue blazer with me, or a suit jacket that can double between, a more casual look but, you know, if I want to go out for drinks or dinner, I can throw that on and look nice. Or if it is a work trip, that can serve as a suit jacket, something a bit more formal, bit more business-like.”

Adam was born and raised in Wagga Wagga, central New South Wales. He always liked to dress well, but it was only after visiting London in 2015 that Adam recognised the value of quality clothes, fit and style. He observed men on the London tube, going about their everyday business, wearing fitted suits in timeless fabrics. This natural ease and style resonated with Adam: he recognised that you can be a top bloke and dress well.

Back home, he posted photos of his own favourite shoes or clothing items to Instagram. Followers responded positively. I’ve followed his feed for about two years as I enjoy an insight into his life: Adam’s photos mirror his easygoing manner, underpinned by his love of good quality Australian clothing.

Adam’s favourite whiskey in his leather weekend bag

Adam has added more items to his portfolio. He now works with fashion designers and providers of top class products, endorsing select items at Instagram. One of the aspects of the modern-day Adam I like is that men’s toiletries and skin care are now part of the packing list:

“I'm always really careful to pack toiletries as well. My wife's a really big believer in natural skincare, so I always carry some natural skincare products, some moisturiser, some night cream, some eye cream, just to really ... If you are travelling, especially if you're staying in hotels, you want your skin to feel good. You don't want to feel like it's dried out. So I always try to pack some skincare, just some moisturiser with some SPF 30 sunscreen in or SPF 15 sunscreen in it, just so you can look after yourself, and you don't come home and feel like you haven't ... yeah, you've got the dry skin, you know you can get ready for the week again.”

It’s interesting that Adam didn’t set out to be an influencer with a massive following. What he wanted to do was to look good, wear nice clothes and support iconic and interesting Australian businesses. He mentioned that he likes to research anything before launching into it - and that shows in his choice of clothes, He supports and buys garments in quality fabrics that have enduring style. When I asked him what would be his advice to a young man wanting to build up his own wardrobe, this is how Adam responded:

“I think my key piece of advice for everyone, and this is whether they're a young person, they don't have the budget to spend on clothes, or if they are ... they do have the money, for me, it's be confident in what you're wearing, and the key to that, for me, is fit.”

And travelling light? What’s Adam’s take on that?

“I think travelling light and travelling with carry-on only, I haven't gone outside of my comfort zone yet. It's probably something I need to look into a bit more, but it's definitely something I want to get into that space, and I want to do more trips, just carry-on only. Especially if it's more than a weekend away, I want to get into that, and I guess that's why I look at Planepack and follow the website to get those hints and ideas, but I think that will be my next adventure. When I do travel away for more than just a weekend, it'll be that carry-on only.”

Good on you, Adam! We look forward to even more Instagram posts where you explore men’s fashions and products with just your carry on.

I’m Slobodanka Graham, content entrepreneur, follower of fashion and extreme light traveller. This week I pay tribute to my late father who passed away 28 years ago.

Branko (1913-1990) was always a stylish dresser and I’m sure if asked, he would have been a light traveller too.

‘How do I travel with medicines - and still travel light?’

My home medical box weighs in at 1.5 kgs - this is not what I travel with!

I get asked that question a lot - so I researched what the airlines and other authorities advise. This is what I found out.

The Australian Prescriber provides an excellent overview of travellers’ medical obligations and expectations, particularly for contraception, diabetes, travellers’ diarrhoea, taking medical kits and purchasing (or not) medicines overseas. In addition to these, the Prescriber provides essential tips when travelling with medicines:

• take prescribed drugs in their original containers

• carry medicines in your hand luggage for easy access

• be aware that airlines will not provide refrigeration for any medicines

• you will need a doctor’s letter of proof stating that you are under treatment

• in general, a six-month supply of medicines is not questioned

I sourced Qantas medical clearance guidelines to read what Australia’s national carrier advises. If you are concerned whether you’d be able to travel, these comprehensive guidelines cover the following conditions - and the clearance required:

• cardiovascular

• respiratory

• neurological

• gastro-intestinal

• ear, nose and throat

• eye

• pregnancy and newborn

• orthopaedics

• contagious and infectious

Qantas does not provide any advice about carrying extra weight (for medicines) as part of your carry on luggage. Their assumption is that you will always travel with hold luggage.

I emailed Qantas to ask whether passengers could take their medications in a separate small bag as part of their carry on (and whether the weight of that bag would be taken into consideration). This is what their representative said:

“The 7kg limit is per carry on item and carry on item is based on Cabin and tier level.

“The passenger could be directed to the link on QF.com re cabin luggage.

“The information on QF.com states that a second bag eg small handbag, laptop bag etc can also be taken onboard therefore so long as the medication conforms to that principle a second item can be taken onboard.” https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/carry-on-baggage/global/en#carry-on-baggage-allowances

The Qantas representative confirmed my understanding that passengers could take their medications as part of their carry on luggage in an extra small bag in lieu of a handbag (or any of those other items mentioned). This is good news as long as you can manage to fit all of your medications into that small bag.

Most major airlines provide medical clearance information. For example, British Airways provides advice for medical conditions and pregnancy. In addition to this, British Airways also provides information for carrying additional medical equipment:

“If you need to take any essential medical supplies with you on your journey that will exceed your hold baggage allowance, up to two extra bags (of 23kg each) can be authorised at the airport when you check your bags in. Please ensure that you provide an official medical letter signed and dated by your personal doctor/medical practitioner stating the following:
a) Your name and flight information including booking reference details.
b) List of medical supplies/medication to be carried and what their purpose is.
c) Approximate weight/number of the items to be carried.
d) Name and contact phone number/email of your physician or medical practitioner.” https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/medical-conditions-and-pregnancy

I could not find any advice for carrying medicines as part of travellers’ carry on luggage. As always, I advise you to get in touch with the airlines to establish their specific guidelines.

If you are unsure whether your medicines are legal in all countries, it might be useful to read the International Narcotics Board advice in their Guidelines for national regulations concerning travellers under treatment with internationally controlled drugs. Travelling and clearing customs can be stressful and it’s helpful to know that you are not contravening any laws.

While Planepack cannot provide any medical advice, it does seem to me that travellers may travel with medications - providing they have clearance - as part of their carry on luggage. The advice from Qantas - and hopefully other airlines - is that travellers may take their approved medications in a separate small personal bag in lieu of one of the following:

“In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods (where permitted).” https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-baggage.html

I’m Slobodanka Graham, content entrepreneur and extreme light traveller.

If you like to listen to Planepack radio, you can hear this article - and more - via the audio link below:

Since 2010, I've been flying and travelling with carry on luggage only. For novice travellers, this might seem strange: why don't I take up the airline's offer to carry 20+ kilograms in the hold on my behalf? It's simple: I don't want to burden myself with all that weight.

When I travel, I like to be footloose and fancy free. I like to make quick decisions and move fast. If I'm dragging a dead weight behind me, I can't travel easily. Worrying about all those bags makes me extremely tired!

I know there's an argument for filling your bag with holiday purchases. But honestly, in this digital age, when everything is available online, why do you need to shop on holiday? I don't know about you, but I'm reducing the amount of 'things' I have. I'd rather fill my head with holiday experiences than my wardrobes with clothes. 

The ultimate light travel

Travellers often ask me: 'How will you manage with washing?' 'What about toiletries?' I've honed my wardrobe to travel with the bare essentials - and still look attractive on a night out.

The starting point for travelling light is using the right bag. I've found the perfect carry on suitcase - the most important attribute being it's lightness. But there are other benefits of travelling with a small carry on bag. These are things that I've learnt along my journey.

By travelling with a light bag, you don’t have to put your luggage into the airplane hold. This means you always have your bag with you: you have more flexibility and less likelihood of loss.

In some countries, hotel rooms and other places of accommodation may be small. The room may not have enough space to fit large suitcases as well as one or two people comfortably. Small suitcases, on the other hand, can fit inside or at the top of wardrobe nooks.

Disembarking at Ile des Pins with my carry on bag. I test drove the Pakt on this trip.

If you're taking a small group tour, the organisers may specify one small bag only per person. This could be because the bus or small plane may only have enough packing space for the tour's limited number of passengers. You don’t want to miss the bus!

Most trains have overhead luggage racks that are perfect for small bags. There's not much choice for large bags: no more luggage compartments. If you’re boarding in a hurry, it can be challenging to maneouvre a large bag through narrow train corridors, not to mention sitting uncomfortably with your large bag at your feet for a few hours.

Put your feet up during long layovers or when waiting for flights, trains and any other transport. Flying from Australia to Europe, I've often stretched out at Dubai airport with my legs on my carry on case.

Small, light bags are easy to lift in and out of planes, trains, cars, buses and boats. They are light enough to pick up and run with if necessary. Small soft bags are easy to lift up stairs, over cobblestones, and carry over obstacles.

My curated travel wardrobe. My undies and t-shirts were in a drawer. I never felt deprived of anything to wear.

With considered planning and preparation, one small bag provides enough clothes and toiletries for a comfortable holiday, business or family trip. Never worry about what to wear: your curated wardrobe is pre-planned.

Your bag is always with you. By not putting your bag in the airplane hold, you don’t risk the airline rerouting your bag. Avoid the unnecessary time and anxiety of getting your bag back. Losing my bags for six weeks was the catalyst for my travelling with carry on only.

As your bag is always with you, it’s easy to change travel plans on a whim or through necessity. If you’ve checked in your luggage, it’s impossible to change your flight. But with carry on luggage only, you can choose another flight time, or even another destination.

Avoid the airport baggage carousels. No need to stand and wait anxiously as the carousel goes round and round, waiting for luggage that may never come. Walk through passport control and exit customs within minutes of landing. There’s no better feeling when you’ve arrived after a longhaul flight!

If you’d like to listen to this article, tune into Planepack Radio via the link below - for this and more interesting stories, tips and advice about light travel.

Lifting my light bag

I'm Slobodanka Graham, content entrepreneur and extreme light traveller.

It took me about 30 years to learn how to be a light traveller. I hope with my tips and advice, you'll learn the ropes faster.

I'd like to know what are your top travel tips, particularly which bag you like to use. Send me an email or comment to this post.

On 1 July 2018, powders join the likes of liquids, aerosols and gels as restricted carry onboard luggage.

Australia restricts the quantity of liquids, aerosols, gels and certain powders that you can carry onboard international flights. These restrictions do not apply to your checked-in luggage.

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, they are:

• Liquid—a substance that is liquid when at room temperature.

• Aerosol—a substance kept in a container under pressure.

• Gel—a jelly-like substance.

• Powder—fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing, or disintegration of a solid substance (for example, flour, sugar, ground coffee, spices, powdered milk, baby formula or cosmetics). Powders may also be presented in clumpy, grain, or compressed material forms.

• Note: Inorganic powder is a powder not consisting of, or derived from, living matter.

The Department of Home Affairs provides this handy list:

• There is no limit on organic powders, such as food and powdered baby formula.

• There are quantity restrictions on the amount of inorganic powder that can be carried, such as salt, talcum powder and sand.

• Inorganic powders must be in containers of 350 millilitres (volume), 350 grams (weight) or less.

• The total volume of inorganic powders must not exceed 350 millilitres, 350 grams per person.

• Passengers cannot tip powders out to fall under the 350ml threshold as the restriction is calculated on total container volume.

• There are no restrictions on the number of containers of inorganic powders per person, provided the total volume of all the containers of inorganic powder is 350 millilitres (11 ounces) or less.

• At the screening point all powders in your carry-on baggage must be separately presented for screening. Unlike liquids, they do not need to be put in a re-sealable plastic bag.

This last point is particularly valid: don’t make the mistake of putting 350 grams into a container that can take 500 grams; the security personnel will throw it away.

If you’re puzzling over what exactly are inorganic powders versus organic powders, these lists should help:

• Salt

• Salt scrub

• Sand

• Some talcum powders

• Some powdered deodorant

• Certain food powders

• Powdered detergent and cleaning products

• Powdered baby formula

• Powdered food

• Coffee

• Protein powder

• Flour, spices, sugar

• Most cosmetics

• Epsom salt

As light travellers, you are already vigilant about carrying the smallest quantities onboard. Your liquids, aerosols and gel items must be in containers of 100 millilitres (volume), 100 grams (weight) or less.

As most cosmetics are considered organic powders, and therefore not restricted, this new regulation should not much affect what you are already packing in your toiletries bag.

Where there might be some issues is if you require talcum powder for special needs. One example is the need to carry and use powder to relieve the chafing of body braces. Seek special medical dispensation for that: a letter from your doctor should be adequate proof of need.

Another possible category is powdered detergent and cleaning products as these are stock items for light travellers. You might have to substitute laundry paper soap for powdered soap.

If in doubt about anything related to onboarding of powders, refer to the Home Affairs guides.

I’m Slobodanka Graham, content entrepreneur and extreme light traveller.

If you’d like to listen to this article at Planepack Radio, tune into this story and more via the audio link below:

At the start of any travel adventure, it is important to plan your trip. The four essential considerations are: Where will you be going? How long you will stay away? What are the essential things you have to take with you? What will you be doing while away?

Once you’ve answered these questions, it will be easy to pack accordingly.

Write or sketch a packing list. This is helpful to plan what you need to take with you, but also for what you can leave behind.

Think of three different facets or aspects to your packing: your clothing; your toiletries, and your hand or shoulder bag.

Remember, even if you’re travelling with one small carry on bag only, most airlines permit you to take a small handbag as well - but all your luggage has to fit into the 7 kgs limit.

There are many, many good reasons for travelling with one small carry on bag only.

One of the most valuable reasons for travelling with a carry on bag only is that you do not have to wait at a baggage carousel for your luggage to arrive. This saves you time and lessens anxiety, particularly when you are fatigued after a longhaul flight.

It might be tempting to throw in an item of clothing that you haven’t worn before. A top has been languishing in your wardrobe and you image you will wear it on holiday. Resist that temptation. There are a few reasons why you haven’t worn that item before: it doesn’t fit you; it doesn’t match your wardrobe; the colour doesn’t suit you. None of these things is going to improve when on holiday or travelling for business. Leave that item of clothing behind.

Toiletries and cosmetics are surprisingly heavy. Weigh and consider every tube and jar before you take it with you. Do you need a moisturiser and a separate sunscreen? Can you combine these as one lotion?

Remember to consult your packing list and don’t be tempted to throw in yet another ‘nice to have’.

Limit your wardrobe to one basic colour with a couple of different coloured tops for variety. Ensure that every piece of clothing works with all your other clothing. For example, can you wear your tops with your skirt, your shorts and your pants?

A constrained wardrobe makes choosing your clothes every morning easy. You spend less time managing, washing and packing clothes.

Your shoes are your best friend. It’s essential to fly, walk and travel in comfortable shoes. Find and choose shoes that can double up for more occasions. Just like your clothes, your shoes have to fit with your shorts, your skirt, your pants - and occasionally in the evening. No one notices your shoes when you travel, especially if they are an inconspicuous colour.

It’s tempting to buy souvenirs and other mementos when you travel. But experiences always trump objects - so consider doing something that you’ll remember for a long time and that has more meaning than another piece of clothing. Go paragliding, kayaking, hiking - whatever takes your fancy. And take home a digital photo as a souvenir.

It is liberating carrying your own small bag over cobblestones, in and out of transport, up and down stairs and through airports. Knowing that you can lift your bag and run to catch a train, boat or plane is essential when travelling overseas, in foreign countries - or even in domestic airports.

The biggest bonus of travelling light is that you have fun! No more wrangling with oversized suitcases. No more concerns about lost luggage. Less time spent getting ready in the mornings.

Bounce out of your hotel room, ready to face all those new and exciting experiences!

Did you know you can listen to this post via the link below? Or tune into Planepack Radio for more episodes about light travel.

You can freely download this 6-page guide. Just submit your name and email address in the form below to receive your free guide - and enjoy the Planepack tips, case study and general advice.

Thank you! for downloading the Planepack Small tour group brochure. I hope you like the tips and advice!

Small Group Tour Brochure

Adventure, danger, exploration and excitement - who hasn't at some stage wanted a thrilling lifestyle? I recently chatted to Kieran Lawton, Antarctic explorer, who's experienced what the rest of us only dream about:

Listen to our interview at Planepack Radio or read the transcript below:

Kieran working in the Antarctic

Slobodanka: Hello Planepack readers and listeners. I'm sitting here on a beautiful summer's morning at the Manhattan Café and I'm joined by Kieran. Welcome, Kieran.

Kieran: Hi.

Slobodanka: Okay, Shackleton, Scott, and Ross are famous Antarctic explorers,s which brings to my mind daring, bravery, and romance of polar expedition. And for some time you were an Antarctic explorer. Can you tell me, is it really like that?

Kieran: Wow. Well, I guess those guys are from a certain era where they really were exploring new ground. And well, to be honest, that's still possible. So, you know, I've done a lot of work in the Antarctic and the Antarctic is a big place. So, you know, think of some place one-and-a- half times the size of Australia but gets 30,000 visitors a year and they're nearly all tourists and they all go to one sort of area, generally. So there's a lot of ground to explore.

So, yeah. Yeah, there is a lot of opportunity for daring, yes.

Slobodanka: Now, at different times, and I'm taking this from information that I read about you online, you were an expedition leader, a mountain guide, a field training officer, and a biologist.

Kieran: Yeah.

Slobodanka: So which of these was the most challenging for you? Can you talk to us a little bit about them?

Kieran: Okay, so I think you know I started working in polar regions as a biologist. And well they're all different I suppose. As a biologist one of my earlier experiences was over winter in working on Emperor Penguins.

Slobodanka: On what? On penguins?

Kieran: On Emperor Penguins.

Slobodanka: Emperor Penguins.

Kieran: They're the only species that are in the Antarctic. The only animal that's in the Antarctic in winter. You know and the story they breed on the sea ice in the middle of winter and the male holds, you know, broods the egg while the female goes to sea which can be 100s of kilometres across the sea ice. And you know, it's minus 30 every day and dark and windy and all that kind of thing.

So you know that being a biologist down there is very interesting but also they are very long term gigs. So you know we at that time were out on the ice for seven months living in a shipping container and you know, so life's kind of slow and you work away at it whereas the other jobs, being an expedition leader or some of the more logistical jobs that I've done down there are full of excitement and movement - happen in summer. Lots of people around, lots of activity. So quite different.

Slobodanka: So when you went to Antarctica how did you get there?

Kieran: So ... I've been doing it for 20 years. And uh, most of my trips have been by boat, by ship, or by yacht. So if you come, if you go from Australia, you're at least a week at sea, longer. Generally ten days.

The shortest route is from South America across the Great Passage. And you can do that in three days. If you're on a ship, a week. If you're on a yacht ... so you know that's part of the adventure, I suppose.

I have flown in in more recent years. So there's an airstrip on the Antarctic peninsula and the Australians have got an airstrip on this side now and there's one at McMurdo's south of New Zealand. So people do fly in a bit now. That's a different sort of experience because when you sail you get there gradual and it's a real journey. And you know the wildlife emerge as [inaudible 00:04:00] coldness happens over a period of time. You kind of get immersed in it.

When you fly in it's a bit more like you go and look so. I'm a bit of a fan of sailing.

Slobodanka: Work your way into it?

Kieran: Yeah.

Slobodanka: Right. So you've arrived in Antarctica. Where did you stay? What sort of camps while you were there?

Kieran: Well I had a variety of trips. Most people will stay on a vessel. So few - 95% of people when they go as tourist or even as a scientist will go on a ship and stay on the ship - and not stay ashore.

But a lot of the Antarctic coastline is either surrounded by sea ice or in the case of the Antarctic peninsula, which is south of South America, has massive fjords so there's a lot of calm water and you can get right up close to the land. So you feel lik you're a part of it.

Obviously I've camped out a lot and stayed in field huts and static stations as well so there's the whole variety. But I think you know, most people will be staying on a boat close to shore in calm waters. That kind of thing.

Slobodanka: So just take it to [inaudible 00:05:07]. That kind of thing?

Kieran: Yeah, yeah.

Slobodanka: So can you describe for me or for the listeners, what's a typical day living in Antarctica? How would you spend your day in Antarctica?

Kieran: Well, if you're a visitor like if you're going down as a tourist on a, on a ship -

Slobodanka: Not as a tourist, probably as a scientist as you may have done.

Kieran: As a scientist. Yeah, as a scientist. Well science is pretty repetitive.

So say for example when we we're working on penguins or albatrosses I did a lot of work about understanding where those animals, how they use their environment, what they feed on, where they go to feed. The sort of resources around how humans use those resources as well. Cause some of those species are in decline.

Emperor Penguin chicks on the foot in spring. Photo: Kieran Lawton

Cause you know albatrosses for example get caught behind fishing boats. When I was working on Empire Penguins there was, they feed on a mixture of things but a lot on krill and there was a krill fishery, a Russian krill fishery at the time. So there kind of, you know looking at those impacts.

So basically [inaudible 00:06:12] was trying to understand you know how those animals use their environment. Sort of baseline stuff when you don't really know that stuff.

And we do that by tracking the animals. So I worked at a time when satellite tracking was just being developed and we had basic devices for animals that lived at sea called Time Depth Recorders. And if you pulled an animal and glued these stuff on its back you could figure out where it was going, what it was feeding on, how deep it was diving, how it was using its environment.

So we basically camped out with the species we were studying. We'd catch say an Empire Penguin, put on these devices, let it go to sea. Do it's foraging trip and when it came back get the data and see what it had been doing.

So there'd be lots of camping out, getting up in the morning, finding an animal. Deploying a device, letting it go, and then perhaps waiting for several hours for animals coming in from the sea to see if one of your animals was there. And then you know catching that animal, taking the device back off.

You know, so lots of time outside all day. Yeah.

Slobodanka: How long was the day? How many hours? Was there a lot of sunshine or . . .?

Kieran: Depends on the season. So in winter obviously we're just working at night by headlamp. Well working by day but it's dark. By headlamp. And we would still work sort of a normal day so-

Slobodanka: [inaudible 00:07:37]

Kieran: Nine hours. Thereabouts. And in summer of course it's 24 hours sunlight. So you tend to be more active and working longer than say - yeah long days. Long days.

Slobodanka: How do you catch a penguin?

Kieran: Haha. If it's a small penguin they're kind of easy. You can just go up and grab them. With your hands.

But Emperors are, you know they're big. They can be 25 to 30 kilos. And they're very mobile. Because the sea ice. They travel 100's of kilometres across the sea ice. So they're good at it. Better than we are. So we had quite an elaborate technique for those.

We had a massive well, we had a very long shepherd's crook. And we would identify the penguin we wanted to catch. And run after it and it would do this thing instead of walking. It would flop onto its belly and tobogan. So it would be on its belly and push with its feet. Which is really fast. It's about as fast as you can run. And so when it started doing that we'd run behind it and put this 12 foot long shepherd's crook around it's shoulders and just pull it up. And then, and then move up on to it. And sort of hold it down. Get it on it's back. So yeah, a bit of a technique.

Slobodanka: Astonishing! You have to be pretty fit to do that I would think as well.

Kieran: Yep, you need to be fit.

Slobodanka: So I think you were a keen photographer, is that correct when you were there?

Kieran: I was, yeah yeah.

Slobodanka: So what sort of things did you like to photograph, what were your favourite subjects?

Kieran: God, there's so much to photograph there. So, wildlife, and ice and the light on the ice and the ocean. All those things that change from hour to hour so ... And the light is beautiful as well. So landscapes, really. Wildlife and landscapes. Yeah.

Female Emperor Penguins,  returning from the ocean towards the end of winter. Photo: Kieran Lawton

Slobodanka: Beautiful. What have you done with those photographs? 

Kieran: I used to be really keen and I got a lot published in calendars and magazines and that kind of thing. And I used to write stories and that sort of thing. I worked on some doing some shoots for film companies as well. That, you know, so a bit of everything.

Slobodanka: Lovely. Well let's talk about packing.

Kieran: Okay.

Slobodanka: So what did you pack when you'd travel to the Antarctic?

Kieran: Well, I'm going to guess for me, I'm thinking about the trip and what I'll need. But I did you know in preparation for this I kind of thought well if I was packing light how would I go about, how would I go about that? And I think there's some specifics that.

So one thing to go to a cold place I don't think you need a lot of clothes. You need just the right amount of clothes. So I think and that's one thing I try and do because, you know, space and weight is always at a premium. So I try and do some research about where I'm going and what the sort of minimum temperatures are going to be. And how wet it's going to be or dry because the Antarctic being a big place, you know ... some of it is maritime and quite warm so even in summer, say on the Antarctic peninsula it will be wet-ish and kind of hovering above zero, minus two degrees. So that's kind of, you need certain clothes for that.

Which is quite different from if you're going on land and it might be minus 20. It's quite dry. So you don't need waterproofs at all. But you need, you know, an extra layer of down or something like that. So ...

Slobodanka: Are you describing what you would take from leaving Australia say-

Kieran: No.

Slobodanka: For a few months stay in Antarctica.

Kieran: Yeah, so what I would do is research where I was going. Make sure I understood what the climate was like specifically and pack one or, one, really one set of clothes to cope with the coldest temperatures. And that would not be one big jacket or anything. That would be layers. So that then you're really adaptable. So if you've got several layers.

Slobodanka: Yeah, can you describe what those clothes are?

Kieran: Yeah, yeah. So they're um. So I would layer up so if I was going to the Antarctic peninsula and expected a minimum temperature of like minus ten degrees in a maritime climate I would have like a thermal layer against the skin. You know, a wool thermal layer. And then a couple of layers of pile over that. And then-

Slobodanka: What's pile?

Kieran: So like polyfleece.

Slobodanka: Oh right.

Kieran: Polyfleece. And then a down layer. And then a waterproof, wind proof layer over that. So with that that means I can be comfortable at the coldest temperatures. But I'm also, I got all the clothes I need for when it gets warmer as well. So you can just peel off some - wouldn't be taking a big heavy jacket that filled up my suitcase. I would just be taking those layers.

And not many duplicates. You know, even if you're going away for a while you always end up wearing the same clothes, right? So the only duplicates you need are underclothes and a spare pair of gloves and socks if something goes wrong and you get wet.

So you don't actually need that much.

Slobodanka: No.

Kieran: That much more.

Slobodanka: No.

Kieran: Yeah.

Slobodanka: And what about footwear?

Kieran: So I think you can get away with one pair of shoes if you select wisely. And you know, if you especially, if you're trying to pack light. Footwear is massive and heavy and so yeah, I would be taking a pair of hiking boots that can, that I can walk on snow and ice and put a light set of crampons on. But also that I can wear in the plane and get around the ship on and that kind of thing. So, yeah.

Slobodanka: And if you were going on say a short expedition, let's visualise you're in Antarctica and you got to go onto the ice for a week or so. What, how would you carry your gear with you? Would you go use some transport for that or would you be walking, hiking? And how would you carry your food, for example?

Kieran: I guess it depends on the trip. And uh, of course you need to know that before you go. Plenty of times though it's been in a rucksack.

Slobodanka: In a rucksack? On your back?

Kieran: On your back. And you might, say you might be on skis and you have your stuff in your rucksack. So that's the way I always pack. With a just a rucksack, minimum amount of clothes, and room to add those things like food or whatever, whatever I need. Yeah.

Slobodanka: Yeah so, I understand.

Kieran: Never been a suitcase person.

Slobodanka: No, no, no. I imagine you'd have to carry everything on your back.

Kieran: Yeah, yeah.

Slobodanka: Everything that you could travel with you have to carry on your back.

Kieran: Yeah, you need to be able to truck stop in boats and dingies and um ... you know, have it on rough services, yeah. So I've never been a wheels person.

Slobodanka: No, no. I think wheels wouldn't work [crosstalk 00:14:39] wheel somehow down the ice and in the snow.

So if someone were thinking of making a career for themselves by doing something similar how would they go about doing that?

Kieran: That's interesting. So there's a number of ways to get into that field of work. Obviously there's the way I did it. Which I think is the classic way, it's the way people's mind go, there's lots of scientists that work in the Antarctic so, you know, you could embark on a scientific career.

But there's also a lot of other avenues. And one of the ones, you know, there's essentially more people doing trades than there are scientists by about you know five to one.

Slobodanka: What do you mean by trades?

Kieran: So diesel mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, um all those people who are there to keep things working and keep stuff happening.

Slobodanka: So the communities that are living in Antarctica.

Kieran: Yeah, that's probably one of the, you know, that's one of the ways -

Slobodanka: A cook I'm sure. A chef would be well sought after -

Kieran: Doctor. Yeah. All those sort of -

Slobodanka: All those.

Kieran: Those people that deliver an essential service.

Slobodanka: Yes.

Kieran: So if you, you know, to go onto a base for you know a government sponsored Antarctic programme. Those people headed under the scientist's [inaudible 00:16:03] tend to work there.

Slobodanka: Interesting.

Kieran: Yeah, yeah.

Slobodanka: So do ever go back to the Antarctic? Since you've stopped doing this as a kind of profession.

Kieran: Yeah, yeah. I'm still um, so I am potentially going back in February of this year. So but I just pick and choose the trips now. And, you know, my role now has become I guess a bit of a local knowledge person. So people get me into running trips when I know an area really well and they need someone who knows the area really well to make the trip amazing. So I'll go and do that and I love going down there. But I guess I think I ... Out of 20 years I spent seven-and-a-half years in the Antarctic. All wow. 25 trips and um, you know so I needed to do something else -

Kieran in Canberra, taking time off from visiting the Antarctic

Slobodanka: Different.

Kieran: For a while.

Slobodanka: Yes, that's right.

Kieran: I invested so much time. So, you know, so I definitely, I don't want to close it off.

Slobodanka: No.

Kieran: But, yeah, but I need to just do the right amount.

Slobodanka: Yes. So if you can describe just one absolutely fabulous highlight of all those many many years that you spent working in the Antarctic what would that be? Or there's so many that it's hard to nominate one?

Kieran: Well it's very varied. And I spent such a long a long time there. I'm going to think the highlight really in those places is, I mean they're beautiful places to be. And the rhythm of life is much more dictated by nature and the environment which is really lovely. But I think you're always there with people. And the relationships that you develop with people ... much stronger, for me anyway, they much, they seem to evolve much more quickly and be much more stronger. Much stronger and quite long lasting. When you're in that kind of environment that when you're together all the time. So I guess the friendships are the things that you know. Are really meaningful to me. And all the wonderful photos and -

Slobodanka: Science, experiments.

Kieran: Yeah, yeah.

Slobodanka: Well it's been amazing talking to you, Kieran. Thank you very much for this brief insight into the Antarctic. I'm sure we could spend a lot of time talking about many more things but it's just been wonderful to get that little taste so ... I'm sure the readers will appreciate it. So thanks, again. Thank you very much.

Kieran: Thanks, Bobby. It's been a pleasure.

I'm sure Kieran would love it if you shared his story. To help you, I've created this easy 'How to share' guide so that you can spread the Antarctic experience.

Fill out the form below to download my FREE guide.

How to share this post.

Thanks for downloading this guide! I appreciate your getting in touch.

Slobodanka

I'm Slobodanka Graham, extreme light traveller, digital publisher, content entrepreneur and adventurer - of a different kind. I like things that take me up high, like a microlight.

Royalty + rock = glamour for all seasons! I chatted to Vicky Kidd-Gallichan, Rockstars and Royalty designer about her unique clothes.  Listen to the Planepack radio interview or read this transcript to discover exceptional couture in Canberra.

Vicky of Rockstars and Royalty

Slobodanka: Good morning listeners and readers, I'm sitting here on a beautiful Canberra morning in the house and studio of Vicky, who is the owner of Rockstars and Royalty, so welcome Vicky.

Vicky: Hi. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this.

Slobodanka: It's wonderful. You've got an online clothing business called Rockstars and Royalty.

Vicky: I do.

Slobodanka: It's a great name.

Vicky: Thank you.

Slobodanka: Can you tell us a little bit more about the business?

Vicky: I've been a designer for twenty years now, nearly, and during that time I've been designing one off couture gowns for my clients. That's where my name comes from, because I do very elaborate dresses, so the royalty part is my big tulle gowns, my big princess royalty gowns, and the rockstar part is my more sort of out there. I've done a lot of black wedding dresses and red wedding dresses and really over the top stuff. I love embellishments and crystals.

I've reached the point where I've decided to take the brand online, and I'm bringing a little bit of the couture experience to online shopping. Within each design on the website, you can go and you can choose different elements within it, so you can choose different lengths and colours  and fabrics and embellishments within each dress or skirt or corset, and the sort of couture fit part is that you can mix and match sizing at the bust, waist, and hip.

From all my years making one off gowns for clients, I know that there's so many women out there who do not fit into standard sizing, so this is a way to get a better fit for people who aren't a standard size. If you're a size fourteen bust and twelve waist, you can order a dress that's going to fit you.

My long time goals are to really grow the brand, to add more designs, and my dream is to do away with sizing altogether. Everyone will order just your size, it doesn't matter what size you are, what height you are, what body type you are, and my dream is to link body scanning and pattern making, so you'll be able to design a dress and order it exactly to all of your measurements. I don't believe in splitting things into plus size or anything like that, I think everyone's fabulous, should be able to wear what they want to wear, so my dream is for you to be able to go onto the Rockstars and Royalty website, design the dress of your dreams, and order it in your size.

Slobodanka: It sounds like a dream, that's wonderful. That's really really good.

Vicky: This is step one. There's a long way to go, but I'm getting there.

Slobodanka: You'll get there. I'm sure you will.

Vicky: Exciting times.

Slobodanka: It's beautiful. I love the mix of technology and design, but I also like the fairytale princess aspect of your clothes.

Vicky: Thank you.

Slobodanka: What does that do for the buyer of your clothes?

Vicky: It makes my customers feel fabulous. Again, working with couture clients for a long time, I've had a lot of girls come in who feel like they're not good enough to wear a dress. They feel like they're the wrong shape, because we're being fed these ridiculous standards by the fashion industry and the media all the time. They come in and go "Oh, I'm too big to wear that, I'm too short to do that."

And then you make them this dress, and you put it on, and you see them, and they stand up tall, and they just go "I feel amazing." And that confidence then lasts long after they've taken the dress off, and they realise that they are beautiful. And everyone is beautiful. Everyone ... I believe everyone is fabulous, and should be able to wear what they want to wear.

And just putting someone in something that's made for them that fits them properly in a shape and a colour that they love, that they've had input into, it's just a huge confidence building moment for everyone, and I could see it change in their stance, in their eyes, and in their smile as well. And that's what makes it worth it for me.

Slobodanka: You can see it in the photos that I've seen of people wearing your wedding dresses. It certainly shows, that confidence and that sense of self comes through. You mentioned your background and how you grew out of that kind of traditional business, but what was it that really inspired you to design this particular kind of fashion?

Vicky: It's my love of anything over the top. You can't see me, but there's going to be pictures, isn't there? I've got a hot pink mohawk at the moment, I'm covered in tattoos, I learnt to sew because I didn't want to wear what everyone else is wearing, I've always, right from when I was pre-teen, maybe eleven, twelve years old, I wanted to wear what I wanted to wear. My mom taught me to sew so I could make things. Used to op shop back then and upcycle things to make it my own. I know there's a lot of people that ring their friends and go "What are you wearing?" So they make sure they all wear the same things. I ring my friends and go "What are you wearing?" So I can make sure I don't wear the same thing.

I'm not afraid to experiment, and my designs are very much a reflection of my style, and they want you to encourage other people to have the confidence to be themselves. A lot of the time people are dressing like everyone else, because they don't have the confidence to stand out, even though they'd really love to give it a go. I'm hoping to inspire people with the confidence to wear what they want to wear, not what they're being told to wear by trends, and by the big fast fashion brands. I want people to find their own style, find themselves, and it's a big turning point to your confidence when you do find yourself.

Slobodanka: It certainly is.

Vicky: When you find your size, you put on something that you really love that makes you feel fabulous. You're like "I can take on the world today!"

Slobodanka: I love it. When I met you recently at the Canberra Wise Women event, you had some charming little bags on display. Can you tell us a little bit more about those?

Vicky: Yes. I've just launched a range of bags and purses, so for me, the environmental impact of the fashion industry, the negative effect that a lot of fashion brands are having on the planet is just heartbreaking, and the fashion industry - depending on what source you ... it was either the second or the third, biggest polluting industry in the world, after oil. Oil's the first. The waste we're producing, it's unsustainable to keep making fashion like we're making it. To keep buying fast fashion. We've gone into this cycle of buying something and only wearing it once because it's cheap, or it's out of trend, and then it ends up in the op shops are inundated with more clothes than they can deal with, or that they can sell.

For me, I believe we need to really start shopping differently. So I think some of the responsibility lies with the consumer, and their purchasing choices, so they've got to decide to buy things that are coming from a more ethical background. And some of it lies with the manufacturer. So for me, I'm already manufacturing on demand, so I don't have a lot of stock lying around waiting to be sold, hoping that someone wants the green in a size ten.

So the bags, a new collection I've launched to use up my scrap fabric. So I've got bags of sequin and satin I've got sat around the studio, which I didn't want to throw away, because I can't just put a bag in the bin and send it to landfill. So this is my way to use up the scraps that are too small to use. Of course the panels are scrap panels, and I'm making pretty little embellished bags.

Slobodanka: They're absolutely delightful looking. I recommend them.

Rockstars and Royalty bags

Vicky: I'm also making denim as well, so I'm using jeans that are too worn or too stained or damaged to be sold through an op shop, I'm turning them into denim bags as well, so I've incorporated denim into the collection.

Slobodanka: I wanted to ask you about that as well, because I'm sure our listeners are wondering what does sort of fairytale fashion have to do with light travel, but it's really, I'm interested in just between more your philosophy of reusing and repurposing materials and fabric and content in order to help us preserve the environment.

Vicky: For me, one of the important things that ... one of my important messages about shipping more sustainably and having a more sustainable wardrobe is to look at what you already own. So so many times you go out and you buy something when you've got something similar already in your wardrobe at home, so I try to encourage people to go back to their wardrobe, look at what they've got, and think about wearing things in different ways. This is where it really links in with your message of packing lightly.

I think we get into the habit of making a uniform of our clothes, so we always wear that top with that skirt, or that blouse with those jeans. And we can mix and match those and have a whole new look. And I think especially when you're travelling, and in every day life as well, we need to look at what we already own, and think about different ways to put it. We can take one belt and put it around a dress and make that dress look different, but we can wear that belt with the jeans, or with the trousers. It's really important to build a capsule wardrobe that you can mix and match and re-wear.

My other key message is to buy just a few really good quality pieces. Those pieces that you love that are your style that you will wear over and over again. They're going to be more expensive ...

Slobodanka: Buy well.

Vicky: Buy well and buy less. And if you know you're going to wear that beautiful coat for years to come, or that corset, it's going to go under or over everything, spend more money on it. By the time you've bought so much of this cheap fast fashion, it's soon adds up, and you might as well have bought one good piece.

Slobodanka: I definitely believe in that.

Vicky: That will then help you in your packing, if you know that "Oh, I can take this one blouse, but it will go with these jeans, this skirt, I can add a scarf, I can add a jacket and rewear this blouse in five, six different ways while I'm away."

Slobodanka: Totally. I know that you actually are going away. And are you travelling light?

Vicky: I am going to see my family in France for Christmas, so I will be travelling light in terms of clothes, but not in terms of all the presents I'm taking with me. So I think three quarters of my case is filled up with gifts that I'm taking over, but that means that I am having to really think about the clothing that I'm taking. And I'm heading from an Australian summer to a French winter, and then we're stopping over in Hong Kong on the way back as well, so I've got, I'm trying to pick outfits that I can layer for winter, and then wear them unlayered the other way. Unlayered clothes.

Slobodanka: In the warmer clothes.

Vicky: The gifts, they're making me think very carefully about what I can take, and what I can carry on. I will be taking checked in luggage, because there is ...

Slobodanka: Gifts? So many gifts to take.

Vicky: Yes. But yeah, beyond that, I'm having to really think about dresses I can put long sleeved t-shirts under that I can then wear without the t-shirts when we're in Hong Kong. Dresses that I can put leggings or tights underneath and wear with boots while we're in France, and then I can take ...

Slobodanka: The boots and the tights off, and just with the dress.

Vicky: Yeah. And take a pair of ballet flats and no tights under it for Hong Kong as well.

Slobodanka: Perfect. One can do it.

Vicky: I've been op shopping for a couple of nice big cardigans to take. I've got a couple of nice chunky knits to put over things as well. Again, just that layering.

Slobodanka: I wanted to ask you about if you were to travel with one of your skirts or dresses, which are quite ornate, how would one pack that?

Vicky: I've made a lot of dresses over the years for clients who got married overseas, so they have had to pack wedding dresses. So I make sure my clients tell me this upfront when we start the design process. We choose fabrics that aren't going to crumple, so sort of silk organza that's going to come out looking like a screwed up tissue paper at the other end. So we take that into account during the design process.

And then some airlines are really helpful, and will let you hang a gown cover on the plane. Some are not so helpful.

Slobodanka: Is a gown cover like a suit bag?

Vicky: Like a suit bag, yeah. But a bit bigger, normally. I do try to encourage people to take it in hand luggage. You don't need the stress of worrying about whether it's going to come out the other end when you arrive at your destination. It's amazing some of the things we've managed to get into a piece of hand luggage. I've got a client who just got married in Las Vegas, and we managed to fit, she had a huge hooped dress, and we managed to get the hoop, the skirt, the overskirt, the corset all into hand luggage. And it arrived there, and she got married, and they actually went travelling around America for a few weeks after for their honeymoon, and she posted it back. So she managed to get it squeezed back into a little box and then post it back.

Slobodanka: I would've loved to have seen that.

Vicky: Fantastic. I've done a lot of dresses for girls who have taken them all over the world for weddings, and it's definitely something ... with my online collection, the sequin fabric pack is heavy, but it does pack up really well, because it doesn't crease. At the other end, the sequin dresses are really good to transport.

Slobodanka: To continue with the travelling, what do you take in your carry-on bag, or things that you actually take with you on the plane? That's not much to do with Rockstars and Royalty, but in terms of practicalities.

Vicky: I take my electronics. I always take my camera and my laptop on with me, because I don't like to put them in the hold, just because I worry about losing them. Plus, I can't sleep on planes, so I take my laptop so I can work on something. So for this trip, I've been filming YouTube videos, and then I'm going to do some editing on the plane.

Slobodanka: Nice thing to do.

Vicky: So I'll have my laptop, my headphones, my camera, and my Kindle so I can read as well. A bit of makeup, and some skin products, just to refresh during that there ...

Slobodanka: To refresh, keep you hydrated. Yes.

Vicky: Toothbrush, toothpaste. Just the basic hygiene things to keep me refreshed over a flight.

Slobodanka: Fourteen hours across the distance.

Vicky: And the rest. When we leave here, we're on the coach at five am from Canberra, fly out from Sydney at midday. Then we get to France at 5:30 am Christmas Eve.

Slobodanka: Christmas Eve. How lovely to be there.

Vicky: Then we have to pick up a car and drive. So it's a really long journey. And snacks as well. This is the first time I've travelled since I've been vegan, so I'm a little dubious about what food I might get on the aeroplane.

Slobodanka:  I don't think that you're going to get much that you're going to be able to eat. You'd have to take your own supply.

Vicky: I will be packing a lot of snacks to keep me going for this whole journey.

Slobodanka: What sorts of snacks will you take with you?

Vicky: Lots of nuts and nut bars, and fruit. I guess going out of Australia, that's okay. Coming back in it's not. But leaving is fine.

Slobodanka: You'll have eaten it all on the way there, and you'll have to bring in something French on the way back.

Vicky: Yeah, definitely. And we're stopping in ... I think we have five hours in Shanghai airport.

Slobodanka: That'll be interesting. Pick up some things there.

Vicky:  Might be able to get something nice on the way over as well. We'll have a little break there. I think it's nice to have that sort of length of break to really give you a chance to get up and walk around and refresh and have some food and feel relaxed before getting on the next flight.

Slobodanka: Human again.

Vicky: I've been on a flight going to Europe before, we've had an hour, hour and a half layover, and it's just manic. There's the worry that if you're late, you're going to miss your next flight, so ...

Slobodanka: Your baggage gets left behind somewhere.

Vicky: This way takes the stress out of it. I think five hours is a good time. It's not too long, not too short.

Slobodanka: No. You can do things, you can go and change somewhere.

Vicky: Exactly.

Slobodanka: Just getting back to your business, what for you has been the most challenging aspect of running your own business?

Vicky: Just trying to do everything myself. I'm a single person doing everything at the moment, and so time management is really important, so I'm really careful with how I spend my time and how I divide up my time to make sure I get the most out of it, but I still work very very long hours. It can be very tiring. I know reaching the end of the year now, it's got the end today. 15th of December, I am exhausted. I've reached that point where I'm really ready for a break, so just that ...

Slobodanka: Managing the time.

Vicky: Managing the time, and being responsible for everything is, I find that really hard at times. I sometimes wish I had a business partner to bounce ideas off, or just to take some of the responsibility. But at the same time, I love doing all of mine, because it gives me control.

Slobodanka: That's right. It gives you pleasure to do it yourself, doesn't it?

Vicky: Definitely.

Slobodanka: You can take charge and be responsible for your own successes, and your failures. Hopefully there aren't too many of those.

Vicky: Exactly. And I know that when I'm working, I'm working for something for me. It makes it a lot easier when you're there till midnight for the fourth night in a row sewing.

Slobodanka: You're not doing it for someone else, no.

Vicky: Exactly.

Slobodanka: Finally, what advice do you have for women who are keen to enter the fashion business?

Vicky: You need to be passionate. It needs to be something that is in your blood, that is your life force, because it's a horribly hard industry. It needs to be something that you are really passionate about. You need to be strong, you need to fight for what you want. And enter it with morals. It's hard to keep those morals intact, because when you need to make money, sometimes you think "Oh, maybe it would be easier just to buy some cheap stuff from China and sell it and make some money." But keep your morals and your ethics intact as you do it, and it will take you better in the long run.

Slobodanka: Vicky, it's been lovely talking to you. I'm looking forward to going to your studio now to have a look at some of your clothes.

Vicky: Fantastic, thank you.

Slobodanka: Thank you very much for your time, bon voyage. I hope you enjoy France.

Vicky: Merci.

Slobodanka: Thanks again.

Vicky: Thank you.

I'm sure Vicky would love it if you shared her story. To help you, I've created this easy 'How to share' guide so that you can spread the Rockstars and Royalty experience.

Fill out the form below to download my FREE guide.

Download your 'How to share' guide

I appreciate your getting in touch; thank you.

Slobodanka

Slobodanka showing some Planepack poise

I'm Slobodanka Graham, extreme light traveller, content entrepreneur, and fashionista who loves a bit of glamour.

Showing some poise back in the day, pictured at Camps Bay Beach, 1970.

This week I interview Maria Filardo, Canberra Architect, Interior Designer and light traveller.

Listen at Planepack radio as we chat about architecture, design and style.

Slobodanka: Hello, Planepack listeners and readers. Welcome to another episode. I'm sitting here on quite a cool, Canberra summer's morning, in the lovely Orange Patisserie in Manuka and I'm joined by Maria Filardo. Welcome!

Maria: Good morning. Thank you.

Slobodanka: So, you are an architect and an interior designer. Please tell us what that means, and can you describe for the listeners the difference in these disciplines.

Maria: Ah. Okay. So, being qualified in both architecture and an interior design, I think the simplest way to explain it would be ... Interiors do, obviously, just the internal parts of the building. So, if we're looking at this building here for example, I would do things like: shop fitouts, bathrooms, kitchens, look at things like the layout of things of space, lighting of course would be another consideration. All the things that you sort of feel, look and touch is what you would do for interiors in addition to the layout for it.

A Filardo house interior

For architecture, you look at the shell of a building, how sits on site. Also, how it looks within a block, within a city. So, sometimes you can extend beyond and then go into event planning as well, of architecture. So, the architecture is like a mass of everything, whereas interior is more about the space internally. And, the two can blend together. And so, what it means for my work is that I can do a complete building. I don't need to have anyone else look at the internals for me. I can do that. Yes, part of the package, which is I think is a more holistic way of dealing with a project and delivering for a client. And, I think it makes it a lot easier for them, rather than having to engage in different professions along the way.

Slobodanka: Perfect. So, I read a recent article in Homes Canberra, which stated you provided services from start to finish. And, they listed them as: concept sketches, design, documentation, council approvals, and interior designs. Which for you, is the most challenging?

Maria: I think each stage has its own challenges, but dealing with councils, like, had to be the most challenging. Simply because you're trying to deliver for a client, a particular vision with their work and for the design, but then also you have a whole sets of rules that you need to comply with. And so, sometimes you need to break those rules, and it's a question of how you can try and massage your way, shall we say, through that to get a positive outcome for the client, but still then complies to a degree to council regulations. So, that can be a challenging component behind it. Yeah.

Slobodanka: That's your dependency on other people then as well, I guess.

Maria: Yes. Yes. Yeah, and tryna get that across the line.

Slobodanka: Now, your portfolio ranges from residential architecture through hospitality, and even into retail design. And, I was drawn to your hospitality designs particularly Rye Café and Western Basement. What was your brief for those?

Maria: Oh, okay. So with Rye that was ... The clients wants Scandinavian. So, they wanted to put a Scandinavian feel. And, that was the basic brief for it. So, we just kept it very clean, very pure. A lot of sort of - white timbers was the approach. And, just also it was nice that it was a completely different approach to a lot your cafés, which are going for the industrial look. Yeah, That was the premise for that café there, which is basic Scandinavian, which was unique to Canberra, which was lovely. So, that was a great project.

Slobodanka: Yeah.

Rye Café - Filardo design

Maria: And then, Western Basement the ... It was a while ago now. So, the brief for that ... that was ... Because it was a basement, they wanted it to feel sort of dark and dingy and it's a thing that you sort of really ... The entry points ... There's a structure. As you enter to that really compressing people that go down and enter the space. So, it's about really hardening that feeling. So, that was the main emphasis for that, and then just extending in terms of all the materials inside of that. A great deal of that was recycled. So, a lot of the furniture for example was recycled. The use of materials throughout were basically repurposed, which was really nice. It was very few that was just shiny and brand new in the space.

Western Basement - Filardo design

Slobodanka: Wonderful. Wonderful. And, I just love that you're doing retail design, revamping the corner grocery store and the butcher.

Maria: Yes.

Slobodanka: So, can you tell us a bit about CBD Butcher, Tom Superfruits and Fruitylicious, because they all look absolutely amazing, I have to tell you from the photos I saw.

Maria: Aw, thank you. So, with all three project, kinda always come to the same, "We want a point of difference," and, "How do you achieve that?" And, I think in retail there's a great shift in terms of the daggy feel. It just doesn't cut the mustard anymore. People think these days. Are a little fussier. So you really need to have an edge to things.

CBD Butchery - Filardo design

So with the butcher, we took the approach of: let's treat this like a little jewellery box. It's something precious. Really, like I mean, these animals have sacrificed their lives for us. Let's just honour that in a beautiful little fit out, which is really what that was. So, that's how that was our approach for that one there, for the butchery.

And then, for Fruitylicious, that was something that's a little bit more artistic and more fun. Have quite a colourful logo with that. Again, it was about displaying the fruit like they're works of art themselves, as well. Then hence, the displays and being suspended in mid-air.

Tom Superfruits - Filardo design

And then, there was Tom Superfruits. And again, that was a fairly modest approach to it. Just revamping it without taking away the essence of this supermarket, because again it belongs in the market. So, they wanted it to be authentic and true about. So, it was just like polishing the edge of it, to make it shiny enough for people to enter to want to be in this space, but then not yet attract from what the body of that business was, and what clients know and love when they enter.

Slobodanka: I was struck by the lights in the one. I forget which one it was, but there was sort of they looked very 2001 space odd-ish. That was what I thought.

Maria: Ah. That was at Fruitylicious.

Fruitylicious - Filardo design

Slobodanka: Yes.

Maria: So, that's the one where the fruit was suspended that we're celebrating each piece of fruit.

Slobodanka: Yeah, it's just beautiful. It's really those lovely touches that make it worthwhile employing an architect, I would say. So our listeners might be wondering, "What does architecture and design have to do with travelling light?" Well, in my mind they're both about style and caring for the Earth. So, let's talk about the style aspect first. Where does your sense of style originate?

Maria: I think, honestly, it's a combination of things. It's developed over time. It stems from: my education, what I've been exposed to, different art movements, different exhibitions that I've seen. It's all developed from there. Things that have really resonated with me. Just things that I've seen that look very beautiful. Beautiful detail. Or, the colour of something.

I think for me when I was a young student, the movement that really captured me was De Stijl, which is a piece of art by Piet Mondrian, and the thing that really stuck out was the simplicity of the lines, but also the bold colours. So, and then you just look further into the work of how they actually come together and it was all these mathematical equations, which formed the artwork to begin with. So, it's completely fascinating and then it just sort of goes from there.

Slobodanka: So, why did you do interior design on top of your many years of study of architecture?

Maria: It just ... It made sense at the time to do that, actually. That, I thought the two complement each other. It's a skill that I know that I had. Comments were made by lecturers in terms of you know, "You have the skill. You have a talent for it. So, do it." So, I thought, "What's four more years? Why not?"

Slobodanka: Well, I'm very pleased that you did it.

Maria: Thank you.

Slobodanka: So, let's talk about caring for the Earth. As Canberrans, we appreciate our precious environment. What do you do in your practise to uphold sound ecological practises.

Maria: So, the first question when you're delivering a project ... Let's just take something simple like a domestic renovation or extension. You ask the question, "Why? And, how much?" If you have a client for example that ... I think of one client in particular that was a couple and they have a couple of animals. And, they had a three bedroom house, and the question was, "Do you need to have a three bedroom house? While you live here, do you have lots of guests? If there are no plans of having little people running around, why do you need so much space?" Basically, because the more space you need, the greater the footprint on the Earth.

Then we have these horrible houses in these new suburbs that have no backyard, but it's essential to actually have a backyard and some beautiful greenery. And, not to just completely pillage the Earth with a built form. So, you ask with the question, "Why? How much? And, how big does the space need to be?" And, just question your clients to push them. But, they'll give you a brief, but also to go, "Well, how can we bring this in and how you have spaces that are clever than that, than the norm? Do you need to have two dinning rooms? Can we have one? You know, let's be clever with our storage." Maybe ask your client to consider culling some of their stuff that they haven't used for years. That sort of thing. So something with a very basic approach of, "Do you really need so much? Let's just re-evaluate. How about the quality of your life. Are you home so often that you really need this 500 metre square house?" The answer is, "No."

Slobodanka: And, you need to clean it as well.

Maria: Yeah. Exactly.

Slobodanka: Well, having looked at your houses. I think your houses are glamorous, and sophisticated. And I quote one of your clients, "We never dreamed we would get a result to rival the glossy lifestyle magazines we have been reading. The final results blew us away." How do you achieve this level of style while using sustainable materials? And, what are sustainable materials?

A Filardo house design

Maria: So, when it comes to sustainable materials, my philosophy is this: if you were to specify material that might be "green" in inverted commas, but your client hates it, and in two years time they're going to replace that, how sustainable is that? So, you're better off getting a product that the client loves and you know that will sit there for a long time. That for me, is sustainable, because sustainability also goes beyond the environment. It's also about mental sustainability. Someone has to be happy in this space. They have to love being there. So, it's about putting things together to consider that. If you're talking about sustainability, timber can be quite sustainable because it's really the only renewable source that we have. But, you need to consider what application do you have on top. So, will it be glued to the floor? Will it be nailed? What finish will you have on top? If you have polyurethane, that's not sustainable at all. The best is to go for oil finish, because that's more natural. So, they're the sort of things you need to question then, with your client.

A Filardo house interior

When it comes to joinery. You can have boards that have EO emissions. So, you would make sure you specify that. Again, the finishes that you apply to that. Polyurethanes tend to be very high in terms of their emissions. There are better alternatives available. Not everything is to a client's taste. So, there're always some compromises to be made. But, again it's also about making sure that it's something that the client will love for a very long time, wanna have in their house, and be durable. And, that for me, is a part of sustainability. Knowing that there's longevity there for that as well. Yeah.

Slobodanka: Good one. Well, lets move onto something more personal to Planepack. Are you a light traveller?

Maria: I am. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Slobodanka: Tell us about it.

Maria: So, the very first time I travelled, I wasn't a light traveller. I think like most people really. And, I just thought, "This is ridiculous. You have to lug around all this luggage from room to room. It's a hassle. There's gotta be a better way." And, the advice given to me as a student, the first time I travelled ... I was advised by one of the lecturers. They said to me, "Pack your bag, and take everything out, and then put half back in. And, I promise you that's all that you will need and you can make due." So, I did that and it worked, which was fine. But then, my approach, things have been even more refined as I travel. So, I'll always have a little make-up bag with me, which has the basics: toothbrush, toothpaste, basic make-up, sunscreen.

Maria Filardo, architect and interior designer

And clothes, I'll always coordinate. So, I will ... "I'm gonna go for five days. What can I re-wear? It's not gonna kill me. I'm not gonna be filthy. Know what the weather conditions are gonna be like. How can you layer? How can you make something smarter? I don't need to take 20 pairs of shoes. If I can do it in two or three, let me do that instead." So, I think coordinating the clothes makes a big difference, because you don't have to have 20 things to accompany in it, more than anything. Accessories change the look of something. Be clever and do it that way.

Slobodanka: This is the architectural approach to light Planepacking.

Maria: Co-ordination is key.

Slobodanka: That's right. It is. It is. So, what is the important object, product or device when you travel for business?

Planepack spotted @Airpocket's Trish Smith and Maria Filardo at a recent @canberrawisewomen event

Maria: My phone.

Slobodanka: Your phone?

Maria: Yeah. Simply because banking details are on there. All of my emails are on there, obviously then. So, in terms of being able to communicate with people. I've got maps, of course, to get around. So, that for me is the most essential item.

Slobodanka: You can run your whole business from your phone?

Maria: Well, vir-

Slobodanka: Virtually.

Maria: Virtually.

Slobodanka: Virtually? So, just getting back to architecture, what advice do you have for women who are considering architecture as a career.

Maria: Follow your heart. Really. Like, if it's a passionately thing, you've gotta do it. So, don't let anyone put you off. I recall when I was a student, someone made a comment saying, "Ah, you'll never get through. My brother failed it. It's a really hard course." And, hearing that made me even more resolute to get through this course. So, yes it was hard, but it's worth it in the end. Because, when I wake up every morning, I wanna go to work. I love what I do. Life's just too short to end up miserable in a job that you hate because else sugggested that you should do that. Listen to yourself. Drown out those sounds, and go for it.

Slobodanka: Absolutely, right. Thank you so much. It's been wonderful talking to you.

Maria: Pleasure.

Slobodanka: I really learnt a lot, and I'm sure the Planepack readers will enjoy listening to what you have to say.

Maria: Thank you.

Slobodanka: Thank you. Thank you

Find out more about Maria Filardo, Architect and Interior Designer

I'm sure Maria appreciates your sharing this post with your friends and colleagues.

Not quite sure how? Download my handy FREE guide that shows and describes how to share a post at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin.

Fill out the form below to download my 'How to share a Planepack post guide':

Download your 'How to share a post' guide.

I appreciate your getting in touch. Thanks for your support.

Slobodanka

I'm Slobodanka Graham, digital publisher, content entrepreneur and one time partner of an architect - so this post has special significance for me: I owe much of my own sense of style to Richard Hepner, my early inspiration. 

Richard and Slobodanka, Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, 1980