What to pack when going on a long trip

Because nothing new or exciting is happening here at the moment worth writing about, I'll be taking a bit of time off this lazy Sunday to answer a question some have been asking:
" What are you going to bring to Canada with you?"
So I will be explaining what I bring with me when going on long trips. This is the same way I also packed for New Zealand, just works for me.

First of all as rule number 1: If it doesn't fit, I don't need it.
Hair dryer, can't make it fit? I don't need it. That book I really wanted to read, just can't make it fit? I don't need it.
I got a 70l backpack from Quechua. Very resistant and spacious.
Then I have 22l backpack, also from Quechua , which is honesty the strongest and most resistant backpack ever. Have had it for about 6 years, intensely used for everyday use and rough travels around the world. It is only now starting to lose a bit of its "blackness" but other than that, no holes and the zip is as good as day 1.

Rule number 2: If I can't carry it, I don't need it.
I absolutely hate trolleys and anything with wheels. Yes, it is true that trolleys are more spacious, but that only means bring lots of unnecessary stuff. Also they break easy and are a pain in the ass to walk with on uneven pavements.

                                      

The big backpack is of course for clothes. Photo below shows what I actually packed.
I did not tidy the shelves for the sake of the photo and some stuff is on the bed and can't be seen, but this should give the idea. Bottom shelf, pants, hoodies, and lots of shirts. Then some toiletry stuff. Some brought from home, some bought here of course. I don't use makeup so I don't have huge toiletry bags that fils 3/4 of the bag. C vitamins are essential. Never mind the can of beer :) No, I don't have the hair dryer. That is the most unessential item ever. Most hostels/hotels have that can be borrowed, and there is always some girl that has it.
Top shelf, bag with lots of underware, the more the better. Then a book and some random stuff that I am not even sure what it is. I have some scarves and gloves hidden in the backpack. It's gonna be very cold soon. No more clothes are needed, I just wash it and I am good to go.
I have 2 pair of shoes and 1 pair of havaianas. I had to chose what shoes to bring so this is how I decided: Nike shoes: these actually stay on my feet so they are good for walking, hiking and working. Comfortable and solid enough. So they should last at least 6 more months. The Adidas are just super cool, so these I wear for all other occasions. Not good for walking long distances, I don't tie them so they don't stick on my feet very well. I thank my mom for these fantastic shoes btw. Love them. Both pair are oldish (the Adidas are second hand) , so if I lose them, break them, ruin them it's no big deal. The havaianas are just essential and make life easier. Very good quality and solid. Any other brand is not good. I wish I had my Crocs, but as much as I love them, they could not fit in my bag, so following rule number 1, I don't need the. I did not chose vans or converse because they just don't last long.
I have 1 towel. Hostel has plenty to borrow so no more then 1 is needed. It is a real towel, not the microfiber one. I just don't like the material.
I have no clothes for special occasions. Job interview? jeans, adidas and a shirt. Date? jeans, adidas and a shirt. Funeral? jeans, adidas and shirt.


                                      

Then in the smaller backpack I have other essentials like:
My laptop, external hard disk, camera, Gopro (including all the accessories) , iPod , a box with cables, SD cards adapters and other stuff.

Laptop VS iPad. Why i chose the heavier laptop instead of the small and light iPad? With my laptop I can use Gopro Studio. Yes, I can use it on the iPad too, but because I have many videos and many many GB, it is just much easier with the laptop. Better for movies, photos and everything else. Had I been away for 2 months, I would have brought the iPad, making sure I had many SD cards for videos and photos to then process at home.

Camera is still better then the pictures I take with the iPhone. Small and compact, takes little space and does almost the same things the bigger canon or nikon do.
Gopro is just fantastic and has become a must for my travels.
iPod explains itself.
I thank my fantastic dad for the items he got me. He knows which ones I am talking about, made my life so much better :)

Now that I have the minivan carrying my things is not a problem anymore, but the fact remains that I don't need all that stuff. Less to take care of. It is nice to live just with the essential.

I hope you liked this post, a bit different from the usual :)

Calgary and sweet new ride

I had to go to Calgary to get my international drivers license done at the Danish Consulate the other day, good to get out of Banff for the day.
People at the consulate were extremely helpful but I felt 100 km and an awful greyhound bus ride was a lot to go and sigh a piece of paper. But still worth it.
Calgary turns out to be an extremely boring concrete city with almost no charm at all.
I was only in downtown but I am assuming the neighborhoods are not much better.

The city counts 1 million people, but it didn't feel busy at all. Maybe because all the buildings are interconnected, so there is no need to get out of one building to get into another. Everyone inside!

Reason I had to make an international drivers license is that I bought a sweet ride! No more greyhound busses! I bought freedom!
Welcome to 1996 Dodge gran caravan. It's name is VanMorrison. I did not name it, it's the name the previous owners gave, they absolutely adored it but hat to sell it cause they are moving back to Australia.

7 Seats!

I also got my very own number plate

I spent almost all my money on this van, insurance and other stuff that comes with it, so now I am just like everyone else here in the hostel. Poor. Now I actually need to make and save money! Damn! So hard to do in a party hostel where 100% of earnings go on alcohol and late nights.
But all is good, weather is fantastic and I am having fun :)
YOLO!!

Winter is coming!

Let's get autumn over with first, but winter is coming soon.

Lots of people coming to town to work and ski so it will be quite busy. Happy I have a job and a bed because literally every person coming to Banff is here to look for job and due to the high number of applicants, getting job is harder and hared. Guess I came at the right time!

Also traveling in winter is not the best idea because of the hostile weather conditions, so I am all settled here in Banff for the next couple of months, enjoying the nature, working and doing other things. I am of course already planning what to do next. Canada is huge so if I want to see as much as possible, a plan is a good idea.

Just to give the proportion , Canada extends for 8000 km from Victoria, on the pacific coast, to Nova Scotia on the atlantic coast. Trans Canada Highway 1 connects the whole country. And have a guess who is planning to drive the entire way? Nothing like a good road trip to explore this massive country!! Highway 1 does not go through Yukon and the Northwest territories. That part of the country is not much populated so not much to do. The southern part is where where all cities are.

these are 6000km, 2000 more km to go to Newfoundland and Labrador

Because lots of mountain roads will be closing end of October, I have tried to go see as many famous spots before it's too late. 

Sulphur mountain

on top of the world

Whatever this is, it's damn cute!

Lake Louise

I wish I had a selfie stick

This is the actual color of the lake from above, looks unreal

Lake Moraine

Lots and lots of beautiful hikes around here as you all can see!  Life is good!

It's been almost a week since I started my job at Samesun backpackers lodge.
I have had 3 training shifts during the day and I will soon start with night shifts.
The training I had is the worst training I have ever had in my entire life and it can't even be called training. Absolutely useless. Having to do with a computer system that manages rooms and money, that is of course not optimal, but shit training, shit performance so I shall see how bad I can fuck things up. The use of the computer is minimal during the night but I am of course hoping I can get to day shifts.
There are 99 beds so it is a small hostel so front desk duties includes cleaning and doing laundry, so washing, drying and folding sheets.
My dear Lise from Generator, if you read this, I miss your training!!!

This hostel is very funny to be at, lots of party and stuff but 9 out of 10 staff and guests are aussies, which is not a bad thing but it's just weird. Ghetto style. Also the way management runs this ship is debatable. I don't mean to sound better then anyone, but everywhere I turn I think of how this and that could be improved and I am shocked this place is still running.
Guess my education at CBA did pay after all.

My fancy work place

My fancy new uniform

My less fancy room

My even less fancy washroom….

Banff is a very touristy town, given it's beauty and the sky resort. Asians storm in and spend lots of money. This also means lots of jobs in retail, service and hospitality. It is very easy to find a job. Many places offer staff accommodation but not all. It is almost impossible to find a room that it is not shared in a hostel. Just like Copenhagen! and the prices for the rooms, if available, are the same as CPH with half the salaries. That is crazy and there is no proportion. So yes, my accom is a bit nasty but it very cheap so I am just happy I have a roof over the head.
For now all is good, enjoying myself and lets see what happens!

Springs Hotel

These guys are so quick, hard to take a good photo

Squares in Banff are round apparently...