A wise traveler would know that he has to do research about each destination before hand. This is so he can plan, or actually, just 'draft' an itinerary, and also to prepare the necessary things such as clothing and or special requirements that each place holds. Backpacking Asia is relatively easier to do than backpacking other continents. This is because when you backpack tropical countries, you can really 'pack lightly'. And I cannot stress this enough: you cannot over pack clothes when backpacking Asia. So for every backpacker planning to go through Asia's wonders, here's my quick checklist for travel essentials when backpacking Asia (in no particular order).
> Medicine Kit
Specially for people with asthma and or allergies, a medicine kit is a must. It does not have to be huge or numerous, but just includes remedies for usual stuff that people (or you) go through or experience when traveling, such as pain killers, antacids, anti-histamine, anti-motion sickness, medicines for fever or flu and common colds and cough. It is always better to be ready than sorry.
> Toiletries
If you're looking at budget traveling/backpacking, most hostels and or dormitories don't have free toiletries. So better have yours ready. I recommend buying toiletries in the form of sachets for one time use only so that you can dispose of the pack immediately and it doesn't have to spill its contents inside your pouch or bag. I also prefer liquid soap over bar soap, but just make sure it is not more than 100 mL if you did not buy a check-in luggage. Or you could put one bar of soap inside a zip lock container. My toiletries usually include toothbrush, sachets of shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, moisturizer/lotion, facial and feminine wash, and deodorant.
> Mosquito Repellent
We're in Asia; in most countries, malaria has been extinguished, but in others, this is not particularly true. So just in case, I always bring one bottle of mosquito repellent lotion. Or you can have an anti-malaria vaccine before your trip. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!
> Water bottle
You're a traveler in a tropical continent, dehydration is a no-no. So, better be ready with a water bottle so that you may refill this container instead of just buying and buying bottled mineral water all the time. Just make sure that the source is clean, though, to prevent your trip being spoiled by frequent trips to the water closet.
> Camera
Just because you're a backpacker who wants to be distinguished from a tourist, doesn't mean that you can't be seen with a camera. Bring your trusted DSLR or SLR, or just your smartphone and get your poses ready! Because Asia's got its wonders for you.
> Gadgets and Chargers/Powerbank
Of course, this should be next to the list after mentioning the camera. It's okay to bring gadgets, just don't forget to bring along their chargers, and or a powerbank for emergency purposes. You may also want to have a back-up battery for your camera.
> Towels
I always travel with a sports towel which also doubles as a body towel. I recommend you buy those towels with features like quick-absorbent and quick-dry, especially if you're a traveler who's always on the go. This is because, compared to ordinary towels, these babies can absorb water fast but also need less time to dry. This is one travel essential for budget travelers booking accommodations that don't provide fresh towels.
> Undergarments
You can buy disposable lower body undies or, to save money, just pack more or less half the total number of days of your trip and just be ready to wash and recycle undies for long term trips. For girls, you may do the same trick for brassieres.
> Sarong/Scarf/Malong
When traversing tropical countries, I'm sure you're gonna use different forms of transportation. And in such hot and humid countries, the air-conditioning of such transport systems are usually insanely inhumanely cold. So having a sarong/scarf/malong or other cover-ups like cardigans or sweaters are very much an essential travel buddy. They can also be helpful in lots of tourist destinations in Asia with strict attire policies, especially for the ladies. It can also serve you well while on the beach or when you'd like to sit or lie down by covering the ground.
> Eco Bag
These babies will be very useful for containing stuff you've hoarded all throughout your backpacking journey. The cloth-like eco bags can also serve as a kind of separator/organizer inside your gargantuan backpack. If you're going shopping, this is a good travel buddy to have so that you don't need to carry around loads of plastic bags, etc. They can also serve as your dirty clothes bin.
> Clothes
Shorts, leggings, and pants are good for traveling in Asia. No need for layers of clothes. Spaghetti straps, sleeveless, tank tops or even cropped tops are welcome. The sarong/scarf/malong would do the saving when necessary to hide some skin. But all in all, just make sure that you're comfortable with the fabric, since most countries in Asia are hot and humid. Fabrics that are breathy and light should be your choice. The number of tops I bring are around more than half of the days that I'd be traveling, and then I always have a pair of jeans, some shorts, and at least 2 leggings.
> Shoes/Slippers/Foot wear
No special requirement for foot wear. Your trusted Nike rubber shoes, or even just comfy flats/sandals that can also double as slippers, are advisable for touring around hot and humid countries. Just make sure that you're comfortable with your footwear as it will make or break your ability to walk around the marvels of Asia. I always bring at least 2 footwear: my Nike Roshe for days with long walking required, and a pair of Havaianas as my slippers or footwear which can also get wet if necessary.
> Money
A lot of countries here in Asia would require you to use their currency, but having some USDs in your pocket is a travel essential. Most countries would accept payments in USD and then they'd just give you change in their currency. But, the extra USDs should be for emergency purposes only.
Hope this checklist helps! Ciao!
