Blogger’s note: This post is not sponsored by Osprey. After doing research on what kind of backpack is best for travel, I settled on the Osprey Sirrus based on my needs.

First stop: Cape Town, South Africa. I’m actually waiting at the airport terminal as I write this. I’m bracing myself for the 35-hour journey to Cape Town, South Africa. It will take three planes to get there. First, we go to LA and board a plane to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and finally Cape Town. The flight from LA to Addis Ababa is the longest stretch, clocking in at nearly 20 hours. Never have I been so excited to take a Benedryl to knock myself out during this one.

And! Let me show you this sweet new Osprey backpack I bought just a few days ago.

I had a unisex backpack from High Sierra that came with me for the Iceland trip. While it looks cool, it was difficult carrying it around, as I was expending a lot of energy trying to keep my back upright. This eventually resulted in back soreness. I’m in pretty good shape and can go for long distances, but this backpack was making me feel winded after walking up and downhills for a mile. It was concerning, because how was I supposed to travel the rest of the world if it made me feel this tired?

I kept hearing how comfortable and easy to carry Osprey backpacks are. The frugal nature of my lifestyle had held me back from actually purchasing one. After deliberating of whether or not it’s worth splurging extra money for a new backpack that eases back pain, I decided to just go for it. It is, after all, a three month worldwide trip. Back pain should be the least of my worries. Besides, there will be lots of walking around; l really don’t want to be regretting my decision for not buying a quality bag just to save a few bucks. It’s not worth it to me.

The Osprey backpack was purchased through Amazon. I found it funny how the bright purple one was $50 cheaper than the dark purple or black one. This might be because that color is less in demand. I like all three of those colors, so it was easy to pick the cheaper one.

When it comes to picking a wardrobe for three months, I chose 11 pieces to mix and match. I stuck to mostly greys and blacks, with some blues thrown in there for good measure.

The tops include one dress, one breathable button down shirt (Ex Officio), one moisture-wicking long sleeve shirt (Oakley), one moisture-wicking tank top (Oakley), and one sleeveless cardigan.

The bottoms include a pair of shorts, convertible pants (The North Face), a pair of stretchy hiking pants (Prana), a long skirt, and two pairs of leggings.

I do my best to be as practical as possible. Most of the bottoms and the dress have secret pockets sewn into them. That’s where I will keep my passport and payment cards. Those should be kept on a traveler’s person at all times, as bag snatching and pick pocketing are common in SE Asia.

I also have clothes for exercise. Also, I do have a separate bag for costumes for AfrikaBurn that’s happening outside of Cape Town, and those will be donated after the Burn.

And then there are the other essential items, like toiletries, small electronic devices, vegan snacks, drawing supplies, a couple books (I never got a Kindle), first aid kit, sewing kit, and including but not limited to a three-month supply of all my medications. I just hope none of the border patrols make a big stink about them. Thankfully, I do have a big folder containing all of my travel documents, including my medical reports listing those medications.

My nerves were having a bit of an anxiety storm yesterday, but it was just that: a storm. It eventually passed. Probably these feelings of worry are normal. I’m doing okay now. It feels like I have everything with me and that I did enough preparation for this big adventure. The next time I update will be in Cape Town. Stay tuned as I take off into the world!