Camera
There are two types of camera you can take travelling. Either an SLR digital with a selection of lenses, or a point-and-shoot camera. For the difference in quality and performance you get between both, you are better off taking the point-and-shoot.
I am a photographer and regularly use both types of camera, but if you don’t believe me or want a second opinion, read more about it here on Ken Rockwell’s excellent photography site.
Personally, I have been using an old Sony Cybershot (shown right) which gives great results.
The only thing you really have [...]
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Optional, but can be heavy if you do decide to take them. Photocopies of useful pages (or those torn out from the book) can be taken instead and are a lot lighter. You can always buy or borrow these on the way from fellow travellers, or get city maps from tourists offices, or even look up the information in an Internet cafe.
Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if you lose things and need to cancel services or get replacements sent to you (your cell phone and credit cards, for example), phone numbers and addresses of embassies/consulates, and perhaps addresses of useful travel-related websites.