My packing tips for South-East Asia with children - part 2

Before starting our 7-week trip to South-East Asia, I shared a few packing tips. 10 weeks later, I'd like to add few ideas that proved very useful while traveling.

- Packing items in separate pouches - one for each family members - helps keeping items well-organized. Focus on the trip, not on the luggage, and enjoy every travel moment. In all places, we were able to pack and go in less than one hour. Pack all swimming gear, with one or two ultralight towels, in a separate waterproof pouch. In that way, wherever you go, you always have all items at hand and you can easily have a swim in a pool, a river or the sea - after which you put all wet items back in the pouch and continue your journey.

- Don't pack too much. We had clothes for 7 days, which was more than enough. There are laundry shops in every city, take advantage of the inexpensive and convenient service! 2 large, good-quality laundry bags will be useful for separating, carrying and giving away dirty laundry. Pack light, comfortable clothes, but none made of fragile or sensitive fabric. We usually got clean items back, but some stains would not wash away.

- Don't forget for every family member: a sun hat, sun glasses, a poncho or light rain jacket and a pair of good sandals. I looked for new sandals for my son but, unfortunately, only had a choice of uncomfortable plastic shoes or poorly counterfeited articles. We never used the light sweaters that we had packed, not even during "cool" nights on the Bolaven plateau in Laos.

- Finally, I split my large pharmacy bag in 3 smaller pouches:

  a) one that we kept with us at all times: sun block, hand sanitizer, mosquito repellent, antiseptic lotion and strips, 

  b) one that was easily accessible when we needed it:  light pain killers, probiotics against light stomach disorders, after-bite cream...,

  c) and the last one, that we hopefully never open: wide-spectrum antibiotics, large bandages...

Our packs for 7 weeks in South-East Asia with 3 children: one mid-sized suitcase, one large backpack,  with the baby tent strapped on the backside, one good baby carrier, and 2 children backpacks.

Visiting Cambodia with a toddler

Cambodia might not be the most accessible country for young children, but it can be a lot of fun if you select it as a vacation destination. Here's some feedback to let you know what to expect.

Health & safety:

- Health might be a concern when travelling with young people. Pack a pharmacy before leaving; your travel kit should include drugs such as paediatric pain killers as well as first aid antiseptic solution and strips.

- As agreed with our paediatrician, we preferred to rely on mosquito repellents and mosquito nets to protect our children from malaria or dengue fever. Our children only had few bites, mainly when we were less attentive and didn't apply repellents properly (in areas where there's no report of malaria).

- The U-Care pharmacies in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap distribute the same products as in Europe, good to know in you're out of paediatric sun block.

- For severe health issues, it is generally advised to fly to neighbouring Thailand and seek medical assistance in Bangkok. Siem Reap has a reputably good children hospital. Luckily, we never had to assess the one or other option.

- Beware of errant dogs, particularly in packs. We taught our children not to touch or approach animals  unless we tell them it's safe. Around temples, monkeys are attracted by the food offered to the spirits. Be watchful as they can turn aggressive.

Baby and  travel gear:

- Strollers are not recommended in Cambodia. Roads can be in poor condition, sidewalks are mostly inexistent. We relied on our trusted baby carrier, a good quality backpack.

- Most hotels in the mid-range price category do not offer baby cots. A baby travel tent is the best option for tropical countries as it integrates a mosquito net.

- Most restaurants, except in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, do not have high chairs. Our little one ate many meals on our lap.

- Diapers and baby wipes can be easily found in drugstores, in every city and market. Baby formula is also easily found, although I'd recommend to bring your own as you might not get the exact same brand or formula.

- There's no need to bring too many baby clothes. Numerous shops offer to wash and dry your laundry, it is a convenient and cheap service (max. 2$ per kilo).

All that said, simply enjoy your family time in Cambodia. People will warmly welcome your little one everywhere and you'll bring back precious memories.

The truth about long bus rides with children (and how to survive them) #cambodia #laos #familytravel

When I searched the Internet prior to our trip to South-East Asia, I found that many questions were raised concerning bus transportation. Long bus rides are no one's favorites. I share here some facts and feedback based on our family experience in Cambodia and Laos.

Fact Nr. 1: There's no way around bus trips. Unless you literally want to  fly over the country and hop to major sites and cities (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Pakse, Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos) or you book an expensive luxury Mekong cruise, that will let you discover just a handful of remarkable places, buses are the only way to explore Cambodia and/or Laos within a reasonable timeframe.

Fact Nr. 2: It's cheap. Good news if you're on budget, traveling by bus is really cheap. One tip to bring the costs even further down: if your kids are young enough (mine are 4 and 6), they can share one seat and thus pay only one ticket. Babies and toddlers travel on your lap for free.

Fact Nr. 3: It's not as bad as it seems. Why are you so afraid of long bus rides? Many families I know travel to south of France for their vacation. It's an 8-hour car ride, excluding the long queues at toll gates, the waiting time in crowded rest areas, only to receive poor food and access barely clean restrooms. Does that sound more exciting than a long ride through beautiful landscapes in Laos? After all, busses offer more leg space, more opportunities to have a relaxed family chat or to get to know other travelers.

Fact Nr. 4: Be prepared. Your survival kit for a long bus ride with children include:

- an iPad or a tablet. As much as I like my children to play, read or write while traveling, nothing beats tablet applications on a bus ride. Let's face it: roads are rough and bumpy. Cards and game parts fall off trays, writing and coloring is nearly impossible. A tablet, loaded with fun apps and cartoons, keeps the kids busy and happy. 

- sufficient food and water supply. Bring large bottles of water and straws. Always ask for straws when buying water, nearly every shop has some. They are very useful to prevent children from splashing water all over the bus (remember, the ride is often a bumpy one). Snacks (candied pineapple, banana crisps or imported cookies) are perfect to keep little hands and mouths quiet. Don't forget to offer some snacks to nearby passengers! Lao and Cambodian people are very generous and will easily share food with your children too! 

Note: the bus will also stop for food and drinks along the way, but not necessarily at the usual lunch/dinner hours.

Fact Nr. 5: Don't cover too long distances in one day! A distance of 250 km is covered  in approximately 5 hours. Plan your trip accordingly. If you want to ride a longer distance, consider adding a night stop in a small town along the way (it's often a pleasant surprise) or just fly directly to your end destination.

Fact Nr. 6: Road safety is always a concern. There is little you can do about it. Bus drivers are fairly cautious and usually drive slowly, partly due to poor road conditions. By all means, avoid traveling at night. Prefer large busses over minivans. Some companies that operate minivans follow a tight schedule, and drivers will speed to stick to it. The company GiantIbis in Cambodia has a reputation of safe driving.

Fact Nr. 7: Enjoy! It will be sometimes boring, noisy and bumpy, but you and your family will see beautiful landscapes, meet friendly people and experience unique moments.

Baby cot or not baby cot?

When travelling with a baby, one of the big difficulties arises when the night comes. Where will you put your little one to rest? If you selected a family-friendly vacation resort and decided to drive there by car, you have probably packed one of those travel baby cots. All young parents know what I am talking about: bulky, heavy and a nightmare to fold and unfold too!

The theme of travel bed’s folding and unfolding would deserve a separate post, let us stick to the weight and size of the indispensable baby item. Now that you’ve packed it, your trunk is probably jammed and will not let another child’s bike or pair of rollers in. 

On a flight, you will hardly want to carry a heavy baby cot and risk to pay a overweight fee.

What's the solution?

Many hotels offer to fit an additional baby bed in your room, but what if the bed is already booked, unavailable or just too expensive as most guesthouses will charge an extra for the service?

It’s time for creativity, here are a few good - or less good - ideas we experimented:

1)      Sleep on the ground: Travel to Japan and sleep in ryokans (traditional Japanese guesthouses). Our daughter was 8 months old when we experienced it. Every evening we unfolded one additional futon bed next to mine, and there she slept, close by her mother, but on a separate mat.

2)      Camp: Camping is probably the easiest option and a fun one too! If you have the right camping equipment, it is just as easy and relaxing as it gets.

3)      Sleep in single or double beds: How many times did we end up with only that option? No baby cot available, no other place to stay overnight… We spent the night in a standard family room and tried to turn the bed in baby-friendly place. Displaced the beds, moved our suitcases next to it, re-designed the interior space. We were more or less successful in family-friendly design. I remember a very cozy hotel with high, comfortable beds and thick carpets on the floor. I remember waking up in the middle of the night, crossing the room and almost stepping on that pile of dirty laundry that my careless children had left on the floor. Luckily I didn’t: it was my baby boy who had fallen from the high bed and crawled a few meters towards the thick carpet where he resumed sleeping, all curled up on this comfy mat.

4)      Sleep in a tent: A tent that you can carry with you. The ideal way to travel with babies. Compact, light and convenient in any situation! 

      An image says more than 1000 words. Look at our ingenious set-up in the R.V.: two kids in the large bed and one baby in the tent!

      It's also perfect for a nap on the beach!

      Note: we found our travel cot on the internet where it was sold under the Deryan brand. You will probably find other brands in sports or travel shops. I mentioned earlier in this page that travel beds can be difficult to fold and unfold. The travel tent can represent a challenge, if you're not used to it! It takes 2 seconds to unfold. Folding it back in the carrying case without knowing the proper instructions would be like folding an origami crane for the first time without any guidance. Make sure to learn the folding steps, take notes, film it, and practice before you leave on vacation! I am now an expert and folds the bed back in its carry-pack in less than a minute.