I’ve always loved seeing what’s in people’s bags.

It’s like getting a cross section of someone’s life through the items they carry.

The last time I shared what was in my bag it was all the way back in 2022.

So, with that being said, here’s the revised 2025 travel edition while I’m here in China.

My Bag

The bag I use is a Supreme messenger bag I bought the first time I visited New York. I’ve taken this thing all over the world, and it’s been the perfect bag to keep all my essentials in one place. I like how understated it is, and the fact there’s so many different compartments to organise my belongings.

Books

I currently have three books I’m carrying with me around China.

1. Off The Rails - As you know, this is the novel I’m publishing at the end of the year. Currently, I’m reading through the latest draft of the book and making some final edits before it gets released. I’ve been finding it really fun editing the physical book with a pen compared to just doing it on the computer.

2. Ghost Cities - I bought this book at Sydney International Airport right before I boarded my flight to Shanghai. My reason for doing so was because the story is set both in Sydney and China, which I found quite fitting for my own journey. I’m about halfway through it, and can’t wait to finish it. It reminds me of my favourite author Haruki Murakami’s writing style.

3. The T-Shirts I Love - This is a book also by Haruki Murakmai, however, this is slightly different from his fantastical, dreamlike stories set in Japan. This is a simple photobook with a collection of essays about his favourite t-shirts and the backstories behind them. Which might sound boring, but weirdly, I find it very interesting, and in all honesty it was the inspiration behind writing this post.

Notebooks

I carry two notebooks with me.

1. Journal - I write all my private entries in here daily, and stick random things I collect into its pages. This is where I come to find clarity, and to document my days.

2. Pocket Notebook - This is where I take random notes, and create to-do-lists. I normally just make my lists in the notes app of my phone but there’s something much more satisfying about physicaly crossing things off.

Stationery

I used to carry entire pencil cases with me but now I’ve refined what I carry down to the bare essentials.

For most of my writing I use my fountain pen. However, for quick note taking in my pocket notebook I’ve been using a cheap pen I bought at Muji.

I also make sure I always have a highlighter on me. This is because whenever I read, I like being able to highlight any passages or quotes I like.

You can tell I’ve liked a book if the pages are painted yellow.

And finally, the last piece of stationery I like to use is my date stamp I use every morning when I first open my journal.

Miscellaneous

1. Earplugs - These cost a couple dollars and have better noise cancellation than AirPods.

2. Blistex - Must have. You can’t ever be walking around with dried lips. Like, what if you meet the love of your life one day, but your dumbass let your lips go all crusty. Fuck that.

3. Sunscreen - Duh. China is really hot, and the sun is intense.

4. Adapters & Chargers - Self explanatory.

5. Deodorant Stick - I used to love using Old Spice roll on deodorant but I can’t seem to find it anymore, so I’ve settled with whatever this is. I like that in the mornings roll on doesn’t give you the blizzardly cold sensation on your skin as does the spray on deodorant.

6. Nalgene Bottle - By far my favourite water bottle brand. Love being able to just clip it to my bag. I used to buy the wide mouth bottles but now I prefer the ones with the smaller mouths. Much easier to drink. There’s something so gorgeous about its simple yet functional design.