Yay we finally made it, as usual the skeptical me was praying for camping trip to get cancelled or moving it to a luxurious cabin. Some people are rotten spoiled by luxuries of life, it didn't really look like an adventure to me, seemed like a torture I was purposely stepping in. Aint someone glad their procrastination was wrong.
Another couple who always gets us out of home planned this. So all of us packed up with our tents and prepacked food to wilappa bay. Some of the experiences we had were exquisite some of them not so much. My friend chose wilappa bay because of its facilities like clean restrooms, store and helpful staff in koa camping. For newbies in camping, it is advisable to bring along all stuff but be in a place where you can make up for the missing things. Hmm let me jot down the must haves camping list for a vegetarian indian.
1) Tent : Obviously you need a tent, you can either rent it or buy. We got a rental from REI , our friends bought a coleman tent. Now when you do go camping, keep in mind a 4 person tent can actually accommodate just two people with all your bags. So a 2 person tent will barely fit your needs. If you do intend to make this a hobby, you might as well buy one. My friends practiced setting it up at home but its super easy. See a video or something and it shouldn't take more than half an hour. Don't go lazy on rain cover. Put it up too. Pull it to back so if it rains, it will not enter your tent. What you can do more is get 2 tents, one for sleeping one to just put up higher to safeguard cooking place and fire pit. It helps a lot. Some people got a collapsible rack to put up spices and sauces. Genius folks.
2) Cooking equipment : No you are not going to cook on fire, you can carry your own grill or stove to heat up water make eggs etc. There is this one model that comes in suitcase, try that in super compact version. It works so well.
3) Picnic table cloth : They have 5$ ones in QFC, so get one with the clamps so you can fix it on your table.
4) Fire starter kit : I never imagined starting fire would be this easy. Just put the fire starter kit, bring along a lighter or a match box, put in the woods that you can always buy at the camping site and you are sorted.
5) Camp lantern : There is this set of 3 lanterns available for 13$ on amazon. It works really well. Don't forget to buy hooks to hang them in tent. You might need headlamps if you are going on a real serious camping trip. Also, carry a torch and extra set of batteries.
6) Water : Get at least 3 gallons of water from any store so you have enough water to last a day to cook and drink.
7) Ear plugs : I know you are there to enjoy the sounds of wild nature, trust me when it starts raining and your friend starts snoring you will miss these.
8) Cash : There is always some pit stop that won't take cards so carry some cash with you.
9) Tea coffee : If you do like your morning coffee or tea or cocoa, carry tea sachets milk packs that won't spoil if you don't freeze and sugar. The first sip of coffee on a cold dark morning is a blessing.
10) Mattress : You will need it, take an inflatable one from amazon. We got queen intex.
11) Sleeping bags : Okay so if you are planning to go to colder places, check temperature in the description and then buy. We got 2 from coleman and they worked fine. Pillows too, you don't want a painful neck. My friend carried a throw so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable directly on the mattress.
12) Hammock : If you are going to be on the side of a lake, get one.
13) Cutlery : Carry the kind of cups that are more heat resistant. Take extra disposable plates spoons bowls. Take a roll of tissue paper too. If you want to drink coffee or soup, make sure you got heat resistant bowls. Extra polythene bags might help too. Also take trash bag roll. Get fire roasting sticks too.
14) Chairs : Take your own camping chairs. You get cheap ones in QFC or walmart.
15) Food : I am going to tell you what I carried- bread butter jam eggs readymade soup 2 minute cup noodles mtr dal mix mtr aloo saag apple, banana, peanut butter choclate bar, deep khakra, orange, white wine, tequila, spinach naan, marshmallows. Mtr and deep are indian brands of food. MTR has so many vegetarian curry options. You just put the packet for 5 min in boiling water and you have a curry. There are naans that you can just heat and eat. We put them in roasting sticks and it was amazing. Its so easy to pick snacks from indian store. Carry your salt pepper sugar. We made cucumber sandwiches. My husband liked banana with jam on bread. Hehe you can eat anything when you are hungry so always have options. What we could have done more was may be potatoes onions but this much lasted enough for two days. Our friend carried milk in like small packs and heated them up in boiling water. I had coconut water, god we did pack a lot. Take knife scissor and ketchup . Also, pack something to wash utensils. Take an empty 1 litre water bottle too.
16) Towel : Its a no brainer but still carry a thin one so you can dry it out.
17) LED rotating music disk : We got it from amazon. It looked pretty awesome and no one has to play dj as it kept playing country radio which again went with the theme. If at all it failed, I had a backup speaker with pendrive.
18) Umbrella : If you do see rain forecast, carry them so if its raining less, you can use it to shade lantern and led radio.
19) Flip flops : Carry flip flops along with hiking shoes so if you need to go washroom or just nearby, you can use them.
20) Lotion : Take lotion and lip balm as it might get dry, get sunscreen and insect repellant spray with you. Don't forget to pack toothbrushes toothpaste facewash. Damn, is it a camping trip or resort visit. Pack bodywash shampoo whatever you might need in small bottles.
21) Clothing : I packed my baeleaf thermal leggings alongwith rain jacket and 2 sweaters with hoodies. If you prefer something else, pack it. Take socks with you. Sometimes in sleeping bags, its more comfortable to sleep with socks. Get hairbands too if you need them.
22) Games : We got playing cards to pass time in night. You can go with any board games of your choice. Do check reviews of your camp site, it might have a lot of things too. If you like books, take them.
23) Bags : If possible, take a backpacking bag instead of suitcase. Suitcase will always take up same space but backpacking one would free some space up after food consumption.
I think thats about all of it. Happy camping.
Our camping experience was amazing if you keep aside the sleeping part. There is something majestic about living in wild, making fire, cooking under stars. We didn't see any stars sadly as it rained throughout our trip. If the tent rental asks you to wash and dry tent, just leave it in sun to dry and then pack it. There are a lot of food options for vegetarians too, check your local indian grocery.
We did have some problems with REI as they charged us more for cancellation and their demands with the clean tent were a little too much as we camped when it poured. I would have preferred buying too.
P.S. Most of the stuff I have listed was arranged by our friends. I am super lazy and do it later kind of person so all thanks to the awesome couple.
Another couple who always gets us out of home planned this. So all of us packed up with our tents and prepacked food to wilappa bay. Some of the experiences we had were exquisite some of them not so much. My friend chose wilappa bay because of its facilities like clean restrooms, store and helpful staff in koa camping. For newbies in camping, it is advisable to bring along all stuff but be in a place where you can make up for the missing things. Hmm let me jot down the must haves camping list for a vegetarian indian.
1) Tent : Obviously you need a tent, you can either rent it or buy. We got a rental from REI , our friends bought a coleman tent. Now when you do go camping, keep in mind a 4 person tent can actually accommodate just two people with all your bags. So a 2 person tent will barely fit your needs. If you do intend to make this a hobby, you might as well buy one. My friends practiced setting it up at home but its super easy. See a video or something and it shouldn't take more than half an hour. Don't go lazy on rain cover. Put it up too. Pull it to back so if it rains, it will not enter your tent. What you can do more is get 2 tents, one for sleeping one to just put up higher to safeguard cooking place and fire pit. It helps a lot. Some people got a collapsible rack to put up spices and sauces. Genius folks.
2) Cooking equipment : No you are not going to cook on fire, you can carry your own grill or stove to heat up water make eggs etc. There is this one model that comes in suitcase, try that in super compact version. It works so well.
3) Picnic table cloth : They have 5$ ones in QFC, so get one with the clamps so you can fix it on your table.
4) Fire starter kit : I never imagined starting fire would be this easy. Just put the fire starter kit, bring along a lighter or a match box, put in the woods that you can always buy at the camping site and you are sorted.
5) Camp lantern : There is this set of 3 lanterns available for 13$ on amazon. It works really well. Don't forget to buy hooks to hang them in tent. You might need headlamps if you are going on a real serious camping trip. Also, carry a torch and extra set of batteries.
6) Water : Get at least 3 gallons of water from any store so you have enough water to last a day to cook and drink.
7) Ear plugs : I know you are there to enjoy the sounds of wild nature, trust me when it starts raining and your friend starts snoring you will miss these.
8) Cash : There is always some pit stop that won't take cards so carry some cash with you.
9) Tea coffee : If you do like your morning coffee or tea or cocoa, carry tea sachets milk packs that won't spoil if you don't freeze and sugar. The first sip of coffee on a cold dark morning is a blessing.
10) Mattress : You will need it, take an inflatable one from amazon. We got queen intex.
11) Sleeping bags : Okay so if you are planning to go to colder places, check temperature in the description and then buy. We got 2 from coleman and they worked fine. Pillows too, you don't want a painful neck. My friend carried a throw so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable directly on the mattress.
12) Hammock : If you are going to be on the side of a lake, get one.
13) Cutlery : Carry the kind of cups that are more heat resistant. Take extra disposable plates spoons bowls. Take a roll of tissue paper too. If you want to drink coffee or soup, make sure you got heat resistant bowls. Extra polythene bags might help too. Also take trash bag roll. Get fire roasting sticks too.
14) Chairs : Take your own camping chairs. You get cheap ones in QFC or walmart.
15) Food : I am going to tell you what I carried- bread butter jam eggs readymade soup 2 minute cup noodles mtr dal mix mtr aloo saag apple, banana, peanut butter choclate bar, deep khakra, orange, white wine, tequila, spinach naan, marshmallows. Mtr and deep are indian brands of food. MTR has so many vegetarian curry options. You just put the packet for 5 min in boiling water and you have a curry. There are naans that you can just heat and eat. We put them in roasting sticks and it was amazing. Its so easy to pick snacks from indian store. Carry your salt pepper sugar. We made cucumber sandwiches. My husband liked banana with jam on bread. Hehe you can eat anything when you are hungry so always have options. What we could have done more was may be potatoes onions but this much lasted enough for two days. Our friend carried milk in like small packs and heated them up in boiling water. I had coconut water, god we did pack a lot. Take knife scissor and ketchup . Also, pack something to wash utensils. Take an empty 1 litre water bottle too.
16) Towel : Its a no brainer but still carry a thin one so you can dry it out.
17) LED rotating music disk : We got it from amazon. It looked pretty awesome and no one has to play dj as it kept playing country radio which again went with the theme. If at all it failed, I had a backup speaker with pendrive.
18) Umbrella : If you do see rain forecast, carry them so if its raining less, you can use it to shade lantern and led radio.
19) Flip flops : Carry flip flops along with hiking shoes so if you need to go washroom or just nearby, you can use them.
20) Lotion : Take lotion and lip balm as it might get dry, get sunscreen and insect repellant spray with you. Don't forget to pack toothbrushes toothpaste facewash. Damn, is it a camping trip or resort visit. Pack bodywash shampoo whatever you might need in small bottles.
21) Clothing : I packed my baeleaf thermal leggings alongwith rain jacket and 2 sweaters with hoodies. If you prefer something else, pack it. Take socks with you. Sometimes in sleeping bags, its more comfortable to sleep with socks. Get hairbands too if you need them.
22) Games : We got playing cards to pass time in night. You can go with any board games of your choice. Do check reviews of your camp site, it might have a lot of things too. If you like books, take them.
23) Bags : If possible, take a backpacking bag instead of suitcase. Suitcase will always take up same space but backpacking one would free some space up after food consumption.
I think thats about all of it. Happy camping.
Our camping experience was amazing if you keep aside the sleeping part. There is something majestic about living in wild, making fire, cooking under stars. We didn't see any stars sadly as it rained throughout our trip. If the tent rental asks you to wash and dry tent, just leave it in sun to dry and then pack it. There are a lot of food options for vegetarians too, check your local indian grocery.
We did have some problems with REI as they charged us more for cancellation and their demands with the clean tent were a little too much as we camped when it poured. I would have preferred buying too.
P.S. Most of the stuff I have listed was arranged by our friends. I am super lazy and do it later kind of person so all thanks to the awesome couple.
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