Random travel tips

Would I do anything differently if I could do the trip again? Not sure, but the contents of my bag would certainly be different. Here are a few, more unusual tips from personal experience.

Take trousers and shorts with zip pockets. It would have saved me $200, the loss of my bank cards, driving licence, wallet and friend's house keys!
Good hiking boots are an excellent investment if you intend to do lots of hiking. Many suffered more than necessary walking with trainers or poor walking shoes. My Scarpas, 7yrs old now, carried me across the Altai Mountains, along Tiger Leaping Gorge, and to the top of Mount Fansipan, Mount Kinabalu and the Pinnacles, without fuss and blisters.

You may not have to take your entire trip's supply of contact lens. I did, but found that they are available in most big cities.

Travel speakers, small and battery-operated, are great when looking for entertainment in isolated places. They're not expensive either.

An inflatable pillow may seem unnecessary when you have so little space, but it proved priceless at times, especially on long bus journeys in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Even though not fashionable, keep a poncho on you at all times (raincoat won't keep you dry) if visiting regions with heavy rainfall, as it can come down heavily at very short notice. I got caught in the monsoons on many occasions, especially in Cambodia and Vietnam, and it wasn't fun. You can normally buy cheap ones locally. Similarly, have rain covers for all your bags.

A waterproof camera is great to capture unique moments, and is light and small. I didn't have one and regretted it in Laos and Vietnam when on river trips. You won't use it often, but when you do, like in Vang Vieng, Laos for example, others will be very envious.

Take plenty of insect repellent from home. It's not easy to find good stuff in most places.

If you're a keen trekker, you may want to consider buying a gadget that measures altitude and distance. They are very cool, but not essential by any means.

An all-in-one charger (for phone, MP3 player, iPod etc) is small and excellent value, but get a decent one and try it out before you leave.

Other useful tips ...

Don't book flights too early unless on busy routes. You want to maintain flexibility and avoid charges due to changing flights. Most domestic flights in the South-East Asian region are typically available up until a few days prior to departure.

Check your visa requirements carefully and how exactly you can obtain them. Quite a few people I met had got it wrong, for example, thinking they could get a visa on arrival (you cannot in Vietnam under normal circumstances). The other classic which many failed to understand was that if you go to Hong Kong from mainland China, and subsequently return, you need a double-entry visa.

Laundry services are usually available outside of hotels more cheaply.

Get card protection in the event you lose your bank cards, passport or driving licence. It's not expensive and can save you a lot of hassle.

That's it from me.