What to take with you when you go away for six months to countries which people have never heard of.

Let me welcome you to Part Way Round, blog of my trip with Odyssey Overland. I hope to update this as I go, local infrastructure permitting! I am due to leave on 12th April, but I thought I would tell you a bit about the sorts of things you need on trips like these. Real essentials, stuff you can't do without.

A good bag is a given, my choice is pictured here, chosen for its practicality, size, and the fact it has wheels. This allows the lazy traveller to do as little carrying as possible, whilst simultaneously making everyone else jealous.

Next up is torches. You need something small and light, which doesn't use weird batteries and won't blow the bulb every week. Hence my top choice, the Zebralight H50 head torch, paired with the Fenix LD10 pocket torch. Both use one AA battery, both use the same ultra bright LED, and both are, frankly, stonking.

Lastly, something that many people inexplicably overlook, but its absolute necessity cannot be overstated. I am, of course, talking about the electric ukulele and battery powered amp. It has always mystified me how so many otherwise sensible people flat out forget to take these essential items. What's that you say? It's not essential and anyway I don't know how to play it? I ask you. Some people have no sense of adventure.