Sorry for being sarcastic, but sometimes when I read this forum I start thinking how did I manage to live before???!!! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> There are so many dangers around, sometimes I am getting into them, but they become good memories later so I do not sorry I had them.
Usually after I come back from abroad I write down things I took and how useful they were. In fact, I have the most recent update about my experience in the Middle East. If someone is interested I can put it here, but please don';t take it very seriously.<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
What I really find very useful are the following rules:
1. NEVER TAKE WHAT MIGHT BE USEFUL, TAKE ONLY WHAT IS ESSENTIAL (I think it is citation from one famous book).
2. The other piece of advise, YOUR LUGGAGE IS ALWAYS MORE HEAVY WHEN YOU COME BACK THEN BEFORE YOU TRAVEL (do you remember souvenirs and other useless thing you bought while travelling?).
3. And final, LIFE IS BORING WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE ADVENTURES AND WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY OF THEM (not my words, someone famous again). So, if you prepare too good for a trip, you won't have any troubles and it might be not so much fun (or I am just crazy). And if you go totally unprepared, this might be also unbearable. So, don't go to extremes.
Have fun in travel!!!
Regards,